1. Cacao Mexicatessen
8.5
1576 Colorado Blvd (at Townsend Ave), Los Angeles, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Eagle Rock · 88 tips and reviews
RobTak: Wouldn't expect it, but the turkey tacos are great! Mayan Feast special (Duck Carnitas & Shredded Venison) is more than enough for two and super tasty.
Eric Lane: I like their hibiscus (flor de jamaica) tacos best, followed closely by the shrimp, duck carnitas, fried potato, and cochinita pibil tacos. Be adventurous: nearly everything on the menu is terrific.
Daniel L.: The one thing you need to eat here is the carnitas de pato taco - juicy duck confit, avocado, pickled onion, crunchy radish and spicy chile oil.
2. Mercado
8.6
1416 4th St (at Santa Monica Blvd), Santa Monica, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 82 tips and reviews
Jeff: Their carnitas - pretty awesome, AND it's on the happy hour menu!
Gregory R: Many great items: choriqueso, duo dip, carnitas, fish tacos. Went in a group of 9. had an upstairs table. The food was outstanding. Service excellent. Would go back again and again.
Deborah Abib: My favorite Mexican in LA ! Try the Carnitas and the Trés Leches Cake (it's divine !)
5. Los Cinco Puntos
8.7
3300 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Boyle Heights · 20 tips and reviews
Michael Villegas: Order the carnita tacos with salsa, qucamole and nopales. They have home made corn tortillas that are to die for!
Carolina Miranda: The best cheese and green chile tamales, as well as tacos de carnitas (order with everything!). They also sell their spongy hand-made corn tortillas to go.
Cat Vega Hernlund: Carnita tacos are to die for!
6. Villa Moreliana
8.0
Grand Central Market (W 3rd St), Los Angeles, CA
Mexican Restaurant · 13 tips and reviews
Paul Andrew Dunker: Amazing carnitas! Don't miss the salsa bar with onions and cilantro.
Christian Van Der Henst S.: The best carnitas of Downtown Los Angeles. Beware of the onions with Habanero sauce. Spicy!!
Pedro Sanchez: The people who works here is super nice and kind, they gave us 2 free tacos just because, we are Impressed. also, they are very good carnitas the can compete with the real one from Quiroga Micoacan
8. Tacos Tumbras a Tomas
7.7
317 S Broadway (Grand Central Market, Space A-5), Los Angeles, CA
Mexican Restaurant · 41 tips and reviews
Matthew Hudson: Carnitas tostada is amazing!! The beef is a but fatty but it's always a win win with carnitas. Marinated and cooked to perfection! That and a drink for lunch is only $5. Booyah!
Daniel Lui: Try the Tacos De Carnitas Y Lengua - Some of the best and most tender lengua I've ever had!!!!!....gaaaah
LA Weekly: Tacos Tumbras built its success on the famous fried pork dish of Michoacán, carnitas - the meat is juicy, tender, and fresh. Read more.
9. TLT Food
7.6
1116 Westwood Blvd (at Kinross Ave.), Los Angeles, CA
New American Restaurant · Westwood Village · 57 tips and reviews
Layla Alizadeh: Carnitas fries, corn, cauliflower, and ultimate taco are gluten free.
Winnie Khoo: Faves: Guava limeade, steak fries, brussel sprouts; Skip: carnitas fries
Poonam McPhee: Try the carnita fries!!!
11. Gilbert's El Indio
8.6
2526 Pico Blvd (26th street), Santa Monica, CA
Mexican Restaurant · 69 tips and reviews
Mallory Maske: A margarita on the rocks with salt and carnitas soft tacos can't be beat! Cash only.
Dave Howard: Mucho servicio menos sabor. Best service EVER! Shockingly effecient and attentive. The chicken and carnitas tacos tasted flavorless, however. I won't be back. Too bad. I wanted to like it.
R Williams: Cash only but ATM on site. Excellent food at a place they learn your name. Shredded beef tacos and carnitas super burritos are delicious. Ask for diablo sauce if you like very spicy salsa.
13. El Albajeño
7.9
4515 Inglewood Blvd (Culver Blvd.), Culver City, CA
Mexican Restaurant · 28 tips and reviews
Brian Marcial: The Carnitas taquitos are awesome! Huge portions, cheese and topped off with a slice of avocado.
Dennis Colato: Taquitos (carnitas) are the best!
Yan Lee: After all the good reviews I was very excited to try this place. Dis-a-point-ed. Chile Verde was dry, carnitas were bland, and everything left me fealing cheated and used.
14. Yuca's Taqueria
7.9
2056 Hillhurst Ave (at Ambrose Ave.), Los Angeles, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Los Feliz · 54 tips and reviews
Danielle Neufeld: You are the best burrito I've had in LA! Yessss! Carnitas are so good. Cash only!
Tamara Ross: We had the carnitas and carne asada tacos; tamale; and cheeseburger. Not impressed. Barely any seasoning at all. So if that's your thing, go for it. It's not mine. (Cheeseburger was mostly lettuce. )
Joyce Tamara: Get one of each taco- cochinita pubil, Carne asada, and carnitas. Then spend the rest of your life deciding which one you like best!
15. Homegirl Cafe
8.8
130 Bruno St (at Alameda St), Los Angeles, CA
Café · Historic Cultural · 37 tips and reviews
Christina: Get the carnitas taco and substitute the tortilla for a grilled nopal (cactus leaf). And of course the limeade (Angela's potion)!
Annie Park: White fish and carnitas tacos were delicious!
Connie Chiu: Such a powerful and vibrant space. The carne, carnitas, an achiote chicken tacos are on point.