I forgot about Mexican food is based on synergetic harmony with all the ingredients. Cuz my experience here Carnitas, good. Beans, good. Salsa, good. Rice, good. Tortilla, good. Individual ingredients fared very well. But when I put all these ingredients together and took a bite with a dash of lime. All the flavors mixed together. Amazing. read more

Carnitas Uruapan has been my go-to spot for years I've been coming here since they were back in Lemon Grove, and the quality has never changed. That kind of consistency is rare. The carnitas are always perfectly cooked tender, juicy, and packed with flavor with those crispy edges done just right. The tortillas are fresh, the salsas hit every level of heat and flavor, and every plate feels authentic and made with care. It's the kind of place that feels like home. No matter how much they grow, they've stayed true to what made them special in the first place. If you know, you know. Absolute 10/10 every single time. read more

Let me start with the best part: as you might expect from the name, the carnitas here is great: it's tender, juicy, and has a delicious flavor. If you like to DoorDash your food, I unfortunately don't recommend this place. The food I had really suffered from the trip. I ordered a carnitas quesadilla, a carnitas torta, a churro, and a chile relleno. The quesadilla was the best out of my order after delivery. Everything else was really soggy. The bread on the tortilla was unfortunately mush by the time it got to me, so I ended up deconstructing it and eating it with a fork. The fries that came with aren't much to speak of - they were soggy as well and thicker than I like. The chile relleno was also very soggy, but had a good flavor. Finally, the churro was (you might have guessed) soggy as well, but also tasty. I sympathize with this struggle, since I don't know how restaurants managed to pack things so that they won't be soggy when they arrive - I think it comes down to packaging and how you vent the packaging for things that are fried or supposed to stay crisp. All in all, everything was fine and I could tell it would be delicious in the restaurant. Just not perfect for me since I'm a big fan of delivery. If you go to the restaurant, I highly recommend the carnitas quesadilla! read more

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Bought some carnitas for a bday party, it was so good! Lived here for a couple years and just this place popped up. I've been back 2x just to get some salsa! read more

Dont have your kids wait on tables!!! IFamily spot i get it! But its not good for customer service if they have proper training!! Let them bus tables but not handle tables with no experience!!! 40 plus years in the business, been eating at Carnitas since it was in spring valley, even ate In Mexico! Very rude n argued with me about his mistakes!! Makes me not want to go here anymore... read more

I know this place is called Carnitas Uruapan, but I loved the buche (intestine) out of the carnitas, buche and chicharon sampler plate. Overall, everything was delicious, but I would come back for the buche. Service was quick and not too busy in the afternoon. Plenty of parking read more

Carnitas Uruapan - 11. Two Piece Sopes Combo - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Fantastic decor, so many little details that only a family-owned business can bring authentically. Things that mean something and wanting to share this joy with those that patronize the restaurant. The people are friendly and welcoming making every one feel at home. The food was delicious with homemade, slow-cooked goodness! People in my group devoured the carnitas and noted the deep flavor and tenderness! I asked from some spicy house made salsas and they provided a great variety, including quite spicy salsa and very pleasant tomatillo. I enjoyed the shrimp burritos covered with a wonderful sauce. All the meals had generous portions and authentic flavors. I would also return for the flautas! Everything was priced reasonably so you can eat well in a budget. I am looking forward to returning when visiting in San Diego next time! read more

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We stopped by Carnitas Uruapan after a recommendation from my husband's coworker, and he was absolutely right. This place clearly specializes in carnitas--they were incredibly flavorful, as were the rice and beans. Everything arrived on hot plates, which we appreciated. The drinks are a great deal; the horchata and pineapple aguas frescas come in huge glasses with unlimited refills, and the chips and salsa are unlimited as well. We also tried the adobada torta, which was delicious, and the tamal/enchilada combo. The tamal wasn't dry at all, and the enchilada had a nice smoky sauce. We also ordered the carne asada fries--the portion was humongous and could easily feed two people. The meat had a nice charred, smoky taste, though I wish it had just a bit more seasoning. The prices are very affordable, our server was friendly, and the restaurant was clean. We are definitely coming back! read more

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Delicious carnitas!! The Ranchero burrito is one of my absolute favorite burritos, with a chile relleno, carne asada, beans and rice - plus it is huge! The food here as so much flavor, my family is from Mexico and I can say it is very authentic. The service was quick, friendly and the prices are fair. The restaurant has a bar and lots of seating. Support local and check them out! read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Dinner for two Carnitas + Ranchero burrito in the back. So epic, so delicious!! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Delicious caldo de albondigas , the red salsa was so yummy and savory and not too spicy where it was enjoyable will come again ! Also very cute establishment! Nice sweet waitress read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Caldo de Albondigas (soup of albondigas) I added Avocado very delicious - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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This restaurant is super cute! The decor and setup are extensive. There was only one server running around doing pretty much everything from dishes to bussing to ringing people up. Super friendly guy! It took a few times for the kitchen to get our selected taco flavors right, but the server was super on top it with double checking. Once we got the flavors right, the food itself was tasty, we got taco sampler plate to try a little bit of everything. The chicken and potato tacos were kinda sad, but the carnitas and chicharrones tacos were super flavorful! I would come back for the carnitas. read more

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My friends and I were walking down the street from a nearby art show on our way for cocktails at the Luau Bar. We were getting hungry and decided to stop in for some lunch. I was reluctant eat at what I though was a quick taco shop, as I feared it would be quite greasy. When I walked in, I was surprised. It really was a lovely sit-down, family restaurant with a large menu and lots of beautiful Mesxcan decorations everywhere. They even had a wall with a fun photo op that my friends and I, of course, couldn't resist. They displayed traditional Mexican pottery and floral decorations with vivid colors. There was also an area where they were selling traditional Mexican candy. The women who took our orders were also friendly, and answered all of our questions. We almost decided to eat our food there, as it was so cute, but we wanted to sit on an outdoor patio and have cocktails with our food, so we took it with us to the bar. I had ordered the shrimp quesadilla, one of my favorite things to eat in a Mexican restaurant. It was huge and they didn't skimp on the shrimp or guacamole. If I am nearby another time, perhaps I will try another menu item and a Margarita, and enjoy the fun atmosphere. After all, this was a very nice surprise. read more

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We love Carnitas Uruapan and it is our goto Mexican restaurant. I found out they have bigger place in El Cajon Blvd and better parking so we head over there. The place is so nice and big!! Perfect for a huge party!! There's plenty of sitting and a bar area! I have to get my fave dish Chile rellenos. My daughter couldn't decide and got the roll tacos + potato tacos. Both are delicious!!! We also got chicharron and they are delicious!! We also tried the margaritas which is good, but a little light on the alcohol. But it's buy 1 get 1 free promo on Thursday. They also got Mexican candy in a cart for sale!! It's so cute! We all got a couple of candies. Service is always amazing!! They are very friendly and quick with refills. Will definitely come back again. read more

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Inside dining included the Padre's MLB on the big screen, comfortable seating, great service, reasonable prices, solid Margarita and generous serving sizes- the tacos are HUGE! read more

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Our family frequented Carnitas Uruapan (CU) for many years at their old location on Spring Street. It's been a local "go-to" for authentic Mexican food. So, when we heard they were gettin "squeezed out" of that cozy location we and many others were pretty upset. But, we hadn't been to this newer location. We love this place! It's so much better than the old venue. It's way bigger, has lotsa seating & tables, has very open and spacious, rooms for groups and plenty of parking! I love the huge rustic, wooden tables and chairs. There are all sorts of nooks n spaces w/ cultural decorations that create the ambiance as though you were a tourist in a restaurant across the border. They even have TV monitors w/ soccer or whatever live sports games going on. And the food hasn't changed. (We had the carnitas dinner for 4 and that was perfect. Even had leftovers.) Marco and Martha are still just as welcoming and hospitable. They recognized us and made our first visit there feel pretty special. Even though their other location was tiny by comparison, we didn't mind bringing the fam there w/ limited seating because we knew how good the food was. Now we don't have to worry about seating at this EC Blvd location! I took random pics around to give an idea of what this Carnitas Uruapan has to offer. Bring the familia and amigos. This is a great place to even celebrate a special occasion w/ a group! read more

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You want the best carnitas You've found it here They have been making carnitas for ages Their original restaurant in south TJ was amazing We get the family meal Always great flavor A must try You'll eat here again too read more

Don't get any better then this place authentic decor great food carnitas was amazing. Great service one of my new favorites read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Carnitas plate - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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This has become my family's favorite for sit down Mexican food in the neighborhood. Are the carnitas delicious? Yes! Well done and their chicharron is some of the best I've had! They are so kind every time, my son loves that there is a little table and chairs that is just his size, they always try to accommodate our seating with him. It's a lovely, clean space. I recommend that Chamango Margarita... did I mention the full bar? read more

Just ordered this from DoorDash the other day and it was so good. I had to call them and tell them that some of the best Mexican food I've had in all of San Diego. Even the refried beans had so much flavor to them. if I could get this place more stars, I would I highly recommend. read more

Even though they've changed location and not that convenient . food is still excellent . they take pride of n being a family own business.

Celebrated a dual birthday here. A staple spot for this crew. The food is great so I can see why! We ordered all the workings for carnitas tacos that we could build ourselves. Did not disappoint! Couple of us enjoyed some margaritas! I hadn't tried their blended chamango margaritas yet and it was delicious! This is a great place for groups! Salsa and chips are addicting as well! Love when we get to celebrate here! read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Carnitas plates and mango margs - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Service is good as well as Ambiance. Food is good if you eat in, but cold if you do carry out. We have ordered takeout 3 times and each time order is incorrect. Very frustrating. read more

Excellent food, excellent service, enjoyable ambiance. Wee love the carnitas enchiladas

Took my Mexican in-laws here and they were very impressed at the quality of the carnitas. We came for an early weekend brunch and were seated right away since it was still pretty empty. There was only 1 waitress working so it took maybe 10mins to get our food and drinks. She was very friendly and conversed with our group well. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated; there was a candy cart that I'm sure kids would love. The carnitas was moist and crunchy at the same time, highly recommended. Also, their drinks were also fresh tasting and well seasoned. read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Micheladas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Good Food Excellent Service Great price I'm satisfied!! Server went out and beyond to keep me happy! I will come back!!! read more

This spot gets it. Carnitas Uruapan delivers the kind of flavor that makes you stop mid-bite and just nod. The carnitas are rich, crispy-edged, and tender--clearly made with care and tradition. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the whole vibe feels like you've been invited to someone's home kitchen. No gimmicks, just damn good food. If you're within 30 miles, this place is worth the drive. read more

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Great food with quick service , carnitas recommended, best Michelada ever! We go there frequently ...

This was fantastic! I love carnitas and try them wherever we go and have been doing this for years. This was the best I had. I asked for extra crispy and they came out crispy in the outside and moist and delicious on the inside. They were not sickly sweet like some shop like to make them and all the sides were stellar. We ordered some guacamole on the side and had them load us up in salsa - it was really delicious. The ambiance is wonderful and the staff was super friendly, efficient, and quick. We loved the place so much, we just placed an order for tonight to bring to a get-together. Wherever you are in San Diego, this is worth the drive. read more

Been following these guys for YEARS!!! I can't believe I've never reviewed. Hands down the best place for an affordable carnitas dinner. Delicious!!!! Always has been. And affordable!!! Other menu items are delicious as well but I can make that stuff at home. Carnitas is king here. Oh, and their beans! OMG. Been making them as long as I can remember but they've never come close to the flavor of theirs. They've been located in a few places over the years, this current location is decorated so charming and full of Mexican art. Parking is plentiful. Full bar, beautiful hostess, yummy cocktails. read more

I took my friends from Tijuana & Michoacán here & everyone agreed that the carnitas are legit amazing. You can do the dinners & it's a great value. Also the chicharrón? Yummmmmm.... It's a family owned place & the staff speaks Spanish (how could you NOT in SD running a Mexican restaurant) & they decorate a small corner for the holidays. Super friendly & welcoming. Also, you get to support the locals. I'll be back to try more! read more

Good food, good service, good drinks, good ambiance, all you could ask for in a great Restaurant.

We weren't sure if this restaurant was run by the same family that ran the Carnitas we grew up on in Spring Valley/later Lemon Grove (we were informed it wasn't), but came for the carnitas plates and weren't disappointed. We started with a chicharrones plate for appetizers, and they were great - nicely crisped on the outside and tender inside. It's been a while since I had these and I forgot how good they were. For our entrees, we all ordered the carnitas plates, which come with the usual accompaniment of tortillas, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lemons. On the side were rice and beans, and both dishes tasted great. Really liked both. The carnitas were flavorful and tender, and will order again. Will also be trying the carnitas burrito and sopes on future visits. Service was solid and there was plenty of parking out front. Nice interior inside the restaurant and plenty of seating, including a room for larger groups. read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Carnitas, with rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Brianna was our cashier. Not sure of server's name, but she was terrific. My sister and I enjoyed the dinner for one each and had plenty for dinner later and then some. Can't be beat! Music from days of old played. Lunch was perfect. From TJ to Spring St to El Cajon Blvd. Always delicious. read more

Many years ago, I went to a restaurant by the same name in Tijuana and loved it. Although this restaurant doesn't have mariachis, the food was delicious and the prices were affordable. We received great service as well. I will definitely be back soon and recommend it highly For a yummy family meal at affordable prices. read more

We've been here twice in the past year for birthdays, once with a party of 9 and the other time with a party of 7. The food and drinks were excellent both times, but the service could be better. In both visits, we ordered about 1 lb or carnitas for every 3 people. It comes with rice, beans, and tortillas. I'm picky about my Spanish rice, but theirs is good. It's not bland at all. You can tell they make their beans fresh and they are so flavorful. It almost goes without saying, but their carnitas are amazing. There's a reason they built their restaurant around it. Their salsas are great too, especially the red salsa. The flavor is so deep and has a good amount of spice but not too much. I would bathe in it if I could. We ordered a shrimp cocktail this most recent visit and it was *chef's kiss. It tasted like they put some fresno chilis in there along with the typical ingredients, so it has an extra kick. The chairs aren't comfortable, but that's whatever. As far as service goes, we had to ask for more plates and silverware numerous times as well as for more tortillas. Once we asked they do t always remember so we had to ask again. I would still for sure go back and the service wasn't terrible, but is just an area of opportunity. read more

Carnitas Uruapan - La Catrina, so tasty - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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So sad they no longer in La Mesa. Glad they are near by in the neighborhood 92115 area. I am Mexican and love their authentic food.

The service was good and friendly. They let us do some substitutions to our order with no problems. There is plenty of seating inside. The food was good. Ordered the 2 taco combination that included beef and carnitas tacos with rice and beans. Also ordered the carne asada fries. The beef taco had a fried shell while the carnitas did not. The rice and beans were tasty. The carne asada fries were great. The fries were nice and crunchy and had a lot of meat. read more

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Love this place! Highly recommend the carnitas plate for one as it will be enough for two meals. The meat was moist and flavorful and came with a generous portion of toppings and tortillas. Festive atmosphere and good service with reasonable prices. My go-to spot if craving carnitas. read more

Carnitas Uruapan - Carnitas plate - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

The food was delicious, the service was excellent thank you! I will came back soon ! With my family and friends to enjoy it!

Duuuuuuuuude... don't sleep on this place. Seriously, it's so good! I have been to Carnitas Uruapan and it's been great each and every time. Twice I went in for breakfast and the last time was to sit at the bar and enjoy my food inside of the restaurant - I love the vibe. The carnitas, I mean, come on. They're insanely good and I suppose we'd all expect that especially since it parades their specialty in the name of the restaurant. After having the carnitas and eggs once, I needed to come back for more, which I did. Beyond me being impressed by this place, so were all of my friends. But wait, there's more. Here's something I don't believe many people will think about when visiting this place. When you're craving a carne asada burrito, consider coming here before taking a trip to the local taco shop. Call ahead, place your order, walk in, sit at the vibey bar, get served your burrito, and close your eyes to savor the juicy carne and well built burrito after you take each and every bite. So what are you waiting for? Get your butt over to Carnitas Uruapan and thank me later. read more