I love the carnitas at Carnitas Uruapan! My coworker suggested this place and we did a group order for lunch. I highly recommend the Carnitas Especial which comes with 1/2 lb of carnitas (you get to pick which parts of the pork you want). I chose shoulder and the meal comes with a side of beans, tortillas, chicharron and a taco dorado (I picked the chorizo and potato). We also ordered a side of guac and chips which we all enjoyed. Horchata cafe was also very good too! Our meals were so filling and delicious! I could not finish mine and had enough for a second meal over the weekend. Our order also came with complimentary caramel lollipops which made for a nice sweet treat afterwards. Not one thing we ordered was a flop! I definitely enjoyed this and would add Carnitas Uruapan to our occasional work lunch rotation. read more

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I bought a pound pork carnitas for $15.99. There is an option to choose the cut and I went with rib (costillas). The meat comes with tortillas and sides/salsa such as jalapeno peppers, salsa verde, and lime/cilantro/onions. The meat was very greasy but tender. The salsa verde was too light. If and when we return, I would opt for a spicier and bolder salsa. The meat was enough for three adults and two young children to share [as long as you have other sides to go with the meal]. I also ordered some tacos dorados with potato and cheese. It was crunchy and it could also use a strong salsa. read more

Food was a let down for me. We did takeout of the pork carnitas and everything was dry. I didn't enjoy the food as much as I'd expected. The salsa verde and red sauces helped but they didn't add as much flavor either. The service was attentive and fast at least. The interior is small and does not provide any seating, which does not reflect in some photos. It must be a different location. read more

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Oh my goodness the pork is the best quality! Meat melts in your mouth. Authentic carnitas. Hours tricky and I think it was cash only

So... found out the hard way that this location is now to-go only! I'd been here pre-pandemic and remembered being able to dine in, so I was surprised to see that's no longer the case. Totally wasted a Lyft ride since we were already in Little Village, and turns out there's a dine-in spot just a few blocks from where we came from. Tip: check their Instagram ahead of time to make sure the location you're heading to is either dine-in or to-go only. The owner (I think) was super friendly though. When we told him about our mix-up, he was like, "Oh, for your trouble coming out here, have a sample," and gave my husband and me each some carnitas to try. They were just as good as I remembered! He said that due to the pandemic, they did not have a need for the dine-in area so they made the space smaller and to-go only. These tacos are fully loaded with juicy carnitas, super generous portions, so honestly 2 tacos per person is plenty. The tortillas are big and come with all the fixings on the side. The only issue was figuring out where to eat them. We ended up walking to a nearby park and enjoyed them there. Definitely recommend their carnitas and making a stop here, just double-check the dine-in situation before you go! read more

Where to start? Everything was so good. We got two daily specials for two people. I think one would have sufficed. So much food, so much deliciousness. I don't care for cuero so I got mixed meat. My partner got a little bit of everything. We both thought the carnitas were outstanding. The refried beans were a highlight. So rich and tasty. If there wasn't lard in those beans then the sun don't rise in the east. Same for the chicharones. Huge, fresh, crispy, and deliciously porky. And they even give you some dulce de leche lollipops with the order! The only letdown for me was the taco dorado. I got potato and cheese and I feel like the cheese was MIA. The potatoes were under seasoned and a bit dry, too. My partner had the brain taco and was very happy with it so I may have just ordered wrong. Things to note if it's your first visit: The tortillas are house-made and the condiments are packaged separately (say "yes" to the salsa verde). This location is take-out only so have an eating plan in mind. The front seat of your car works fine. The jamaica is very good but the small is too small. Suggest upsizing. The staff's English is not fluent but communication isn't much of a problem. Great value, great taste. Run, don't walk. read more

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The spot is the go to for pork tacos. The place just oozes with the smells of pork. You can order pork by the pound or dressed up in tacos. They're super generous with the amount of pork in their tacos. Two tacos were plenty. read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This location doesn't have the frills that other locations do, it's more of an order and go but the quality is there. This location is very small and there is normally a line, I do love that while in line they give you a sample to try! Best carnitas in town and it's one of the things I look forward to the most when visiting home read more

This was my go to for carnitas... But something is wrong. The seasoning is not the same, they were bland and not good. I paid $50 for two pounds, cactus, tortillas, and salsa Verde. Won't be back read more

Took a ride from the northwest suburbs on July 4th after seeing this spot recommended by a YouTube influencer--and I have to say, it was definitely worth the trip! Picked up a pound of carnitas with a dozen warm tortillas and two chorizo fried tacos. Everything was DEEELICIOUS! The carnitas were juicy and incredibly tender, and the fried chorizo tacos were packed with flavor. Absolutely worth the drive, and I'm definitely coming back! read more

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Se te hace agua la boca en cuanto entras de como huele de bueno. I came here at the recommendation of a friend, and being from Michoacán I had high expectations. These are authentic carnitas like Mexico. The carnitas are full of flavor and moist, and as a taco even better. The staff is nice and quick to serve you. I ordered 4 tacos and was only able to eat 2 because of how much meat was in each taco. While there is no seating inside, theres a park near by if you'd want to do a picnic. read more

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I've been going here for 10 years now never had a bad experience but today I did it just felt really racist in there the people are usually nice but this one brown lady asked me was I there to pick up after whispering something to a coworker and they both looked at me so I then felt outta place being the only black in the establishment I was about to walk out but I still stayed to spend my money get to the guy who takes your order he had an attitude so I say no sample today after he gave the customer in front of me a sample be say maybe next time I almost cried and cursed everybody out what a horrible experience we as both racist go through enough with everyday life why we just can't love on each other but that's my last time going to this establishment made me feel so uncomfortable read more

Carnitas was amazing here! Tortillas and chicharrones made in house. This is the original location so it's more of a take out location. If you want a dine in location you might want to stop by the ones on 26Th street or 55th Street. When you order the tacos to go you can ask for more meat or more of the soft parts or mix them. The condiments will also be separated in individual containers so your tacos won't get soggy while taking it home. That's a nice touch! read more

Carnitas Uruapan - The meats! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a pick up / carry out only location! Just something to be aware of so you can plan for that. Unlike me :). I stopped in specifically just to get a single Pork Carnitas Taco, and also got a Horchata as well. Phenomenal. The taco ($3.99) is very large and absolutely stuffed with tender, flavorful meat. It comes with salsa, lime wedges, onion, and cilantro on the side. Very authentic and probably one of the best tacos I've ever had. The horchata was also amazing. This place is a gem. read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Pork Carnitas Taco - comes with salsa, lime wedges, cilantro and onion on the side - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Affordable, tasty, and quick. They let me sample the meet beforehand and the staff was lovely. No sit in area that i could see but theres a cute park nearby to enjoy the food at. Unfortunately, the corundas are only available Saturday and Sunday. However, this is a great little spot to visit and one I'd go to again if I'm in the area. read more

We walked in and surprisingly the place was pretty empty at around 3pm. This was great though, because it allowed us to take our time to figure out exactly what we w While we were debating on what to order, the gentleman behind the counter gave us a few samples of the carnitas. It was super flavorful, not greasy and very moist. We ended up ordering some carnitas along with beans and tortillas, and 2 of each of the crispy tacos. There is no seating inside the restaurant, so all orders are to go. We luckily got street parking nearby, so took our food to go and ate in the car. On the way out, the gentleman behind the counter gave us a few lollipops to go as well which was really nice. We ate the tacos first, and they were a bit too crispy. I also couldn't really taste a noticeable difference between the potato taco and the chorizo taco. These two were not great. The sesos taco was an interesting combination of smooth creamy filling against the ultra crunchy taco exterior. I liked the contrast in the bite, but I wasn't super impressed by the taco overall. It wasn't bad, and for being the first time I ever had sesos it exceeded my expectations a bit since I was not really expecting to enjoy it at all. Overall, the tacos are worth skipping here. The carnitas on the other hand was truly delicious. There were a bunch of different textures, and the costillas were definitely memorable. It came with a red and green salsa, and both were very good. The tortillas were freshly made and had great flavor, and the beans were also very good. If you're looking for excellent carnitas you can definitely find them here. read more

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Carnitas are perfectly seasoned and melt in your mouth tender. Salsas are tasty as well. A must try in Chicago!

Authentic carnitas in Chicago! A gem! Don't miss a pass this spot up. Make sure to get the chicharrones, too. We ordered the special and it fed 2 of us with leftovers. Our order also came with a taco de papa. Small, local spot. read more

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Are great I've been going there for years. You can order on the website now and take it to go.

Loved how welcoming the team was. They took care of us because we were out of towners. The crunchy tacos, delishhh. Oaxaca butcher was so nice. read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Lunch combo - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A very OG spot in Pilsen. As the name suggests, they focus on carnitas. You can pick to just buy their meat by weight or get the Es Special for a full meal, which we did. They also have a few cut options for their meat. We tried the ribs and the carnitas. Both were very succulent and rich. The Es Special came with tortillas, a drink (get the horchata!), refried beans, and a choice of their fried taco. Needless to say, this was a heavy meal but in the best way possible. We also got some chips and guac that were as fresh as can be. Crispy chips, tasty guac. Definitely a deal for what you pay for. Come hungry! read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Horchata - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Authentic. The real deal and they don't play‼ I do not believe they have seating, so this place is perfect to pick up food! read more

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A delicious carnitas spot in Pilsen! Ramon at Carnitas Uruapan greeted us as we entered and walked us through the menu since it was our first visit here. My friend and I opted to split their lunch special of carnitas, tortillas, Taco dorados, chicharron, frijoles and a drink. The carnitas were of course the star. They were so flavorful. The chicharron was also deliciously crunchy and crispy. I'll say the tacos were our least favorite, but still good. The horchata I had to drink was probably one of my favorite parts. It had the perfect amount of cinnamon in it. The staff was so friendly and the we even learned some history of the storefront during our visit. They are takeout only, just a heads up. Can't wait to go back and pick up more delicious carnitas! read more

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The only bummer here, only, was that this location is only takeout. It wasn't clear to me and likely my mistake...I am a tourist....and they had it on their website, I heard about this wonderful local institution in the Pilsen neighborhood. Let me say this...terrific carnitas. Truly succulent ...they ask if you want it with skin on meat or not...interesting. They chop it in front of you. The tacos are ample in size. I stupidly ordered three when two was plenty. They were "Gordo". The service super sweet. They were excited that we came after seeing them in the Netflix show Tacos!! When they found out we had nowhere to eat she steered us to Harrison Park a block away and packed up the whole picnic lunch. We ate on a children's playground in Pilsen...so terrific. Next to...get this... The National Museum of Mexican Art. A treasure!!!!! A treasure!!! Great experience and glad we went on the subway to visit this historic friendly neighborhood! read more

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Best carnitas in Chicago hands down. The lunch special is unreal and the lb of carnitas is also such a good deal. They also give you a sample of meat before ordering which I loved!! read more

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Carnitas Uruapan offers the best meat. Their carnitas are always fresh, and the nopales salad is amazing! The employees are consistently happy and very kind. The ambiance is welcoming, and the music brings back memories of Mexico. Even though the kitchen, restaurant, and bathroom are always busy, they are kept clean! read more

Great Value! The carnita tacos I got were packed and delicious. As was the cup of cafe de Olla. They didn't skimp on sauces, condiments, or napkins either, and they even added treats. Totally recommend. If you're in Pilsen, probably going to the National Museum of Mexican Art, go check it out. Worth the price and very filling. read more

Oh my god what a deal! Went on weekend, even though we couldn't get the weekday special it is still soooooo worth it. In Chicago we have spent lots of money on eating so tonight we felt like getting something cheap but good, gladly we found this gem. It is quite close to the L station, sadly they don't have dine in so we had to pack it and eat back in the hotel. We got 1lb of Pork Carnitas(just the meat), free Chicharron from Yelp checkin, 4 Taco Dorados(2 brain 2 chorizo), 1 horchata, for 20ish dollars (WUTTTTTTTTTT!!!!) 1. Taco Dorado：we actually didn't order the potato only one but we did get one like that, maybe we came in the wrong time so it's very tough. It's very cheap tho, I still don't recommend it. 2. Horchata：it is watery but tastes good. 3. 1 Pound Pork Carnitas：it's so much meat!!!!!!!!!! So much that I had a 2 hour food coma after it. They gave u so many tortillas and salsa, it's so delicious. 4. Chicharron：we got 2 big portion of pork skin, trust me u will never be able to finish it. So just listen to the people who work there, ask them how much u can eat, we couldn't finish ours at all. Overall, I think this is amazing. With this price this value, it's 10/10 read more

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I was recommended this spot from a friend in LA while I was visiting Chicago. The carnitas simply melts, the jerk is perfectly cooked. The various salsas and accoutrements are excellent. Very satisfying and quality done just right! Service is so pleasant. Ambiance is very friendly. Very happy to have experienced this place while visiting! Hope to be back in the future! read more

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The food at Carnitas Uruapan is delicious. Be sure to come with enough friends to order the whole menu. The staff are welcoming, charming, and they take pride in the food they serve. The Gage Park location has seating, but the Pilsen location is carryout only. A visit to Carnitas Uruapan feels like a trip to Mexico without leaving Chicago. The carnitas aren't the only reason to go. Their tortillas are made fresh in house, the nopales (cactus) salad is the best I've ever had, and the three house made salsas are each distinctive, fresh, and delicious. read more

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The food was so simple and delicious, and we were stuffed! We picked up the lunch special with 1/2lb carnitas, taco dorado, horchata, chicharron, beans, tortillas, and horchata for around $11. It also came with a bunch of toppings and salsa to make our own tacos with. We got the shoulder meat, and it was so tender and amazing. The taco dorado was a bit dry and the horchata was watery, and if they weren't already included in the special, we would not have ordered them. The beans and the chicharrones were nice sides to eat, and it helped us get through all the meat without feeling like we were eating too much of the same thing. Overall, the special was delicious and very filling! If we weren't so hungry when we showed up, we could have split one and still been satisfied. read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Lunch special and toppings - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing carnitas and excelente customer service. What else can I say I love this place

There is no seating. It is a small space but extremely welcoming The food is off the chain. The tacos are made fresh and delicious. We enjoyed the fresh food and sauces. The service was good. Be patience you'll receive LOTS of condiments. read more

I've only had takeout from here that a coworker had picked up for me, so this review will be short. All I can say is it was amazing and reasonably priced. I loved the carnitas and they're some of the best I've had. Can't wait to go in and check out the place in its true glory. read more

If you're a carnitas fan then this is your first stop. You need to make it your first stop. This is the standard for which you will base all of your carnitas comparisons to. It's got an industrial, soup kitchen feel inside. Long lines and single file. You better not take too much time. But you want to experience that during your first visit. Then you can order ahead and use the street pick up window. Time saver... read more

Since we were near the Pilsen area, I checked my Yelp bookmarks. I knew Carnitas Uruapan was the place to go. Placed an order online. Street parking is not easy. I got lucky and found a spot. Restaurant is small, I believe takeout only. When we got home, I noticed how well everything was packaged. I appreciate how the onions, limes and sauces were in individual cups. We are not cilantro-likers so ours did not come with cilantro, but it does normally come with cilantro. Holy moly the carnitas especial comes with so much food! Generous portion of meat, chicharrones, a taco dorado, refried beans, 5 tortillas and 2 choices of salsa. For my meat, got the Surtida (Mix of all cuts). I was trying to be adventurous. My daughter got the pork shoulder. I think the pork shoulder is for me. Great flavor and not overly salted. We tried all 3 salsas. Loved them all. My daughter doesn't normally like salsa and loved the chipotle. The beans were very tasty. Chicharrones were so good, so crispy. My daughter hates packaged chicharrones. She said the chicharrones was her favorite thing in the meal. She also said the pork was the best she's ever had. I love good simple food. Everything was fresh. The best Mexican food I've had in Chicago. I will definitely be back. read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Carnitas especial - Surtida (Mix of all cuts) - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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There's really no need to go anywhere for carnitas in Chicago. This place has been the best for years and remains the king even as their popularity has skyrocketed. This location doesn't have seating but the line moves quickly and carnitas has a good shelf life. Don't forget the homemade tortillas. read more

I recently had the their catering for my son's birthday party. I can't stress enough how great their service was. I will 100% have them again. read more

Let me preface that I am not a big pork eater just because of personal preference of taste, etc. But this place is definitely an exception! The carnitas tacos are $3.75 each but so worth it! The meat is tender and they give you a choice of meat + skin or either one individually. I normally get a little hesitant when eating skin but the one here is SO GOOD (not overly chewy or hard but just right). They give you a lot of meat as well and the tortilla is way bigger than a street taco size. I can normally eat about 6 street tacos and 2 carnitas tacos here filled me up. They also have a fried taco they premake. These were pretty tasty but just a little dry in my opinion because I like a lot of filling (although that's a personal thing and not on them). They are 3 flavors to choose from: chorizo, potato, and brain which I all enjoyed. They also provide complimentary salsa which def had a kick. Unfortunately, the day I went they were already sold out of their guac but I'll have to try it next time I come back! read more

We ordered the carnitas, which comes with salsa, tortillas, lime, onion, and cilantro! 1 pound is $12.99, and we got 1.5 pounds for 4 people and had leftover meat. The meat was so delicious and flavorful, and the tortillas were also amazing!! I loved the salsa (we got the jalapeño & tomato salsa), and it wasn't very spicy or anything. We also got the refried beans, which were a delicious addition. We also wanted to try a few other things, so we got a corundas rellenas de queso, tacos dorados, and hibiscus tea. They were all great, but the carnitas were definitely the star of the show!! Next time, I'll definitely try the ensalada de nopales (cactus salad). We ordered it but they ran out. They were nice enough to call us and ask if we wanted to replace it or if we wanted a refund, which they gave right after we got off the phone. This place is delicious and authentic, all for a great price!! Definitely recommend checking it out! read more

Carnitas Uruapan - 1.5 lbs of carnitas!! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois