Carnitas El Guero

We saw the CARNITAS sign leaving Austin, and had to stop in!!! Super tasty carnitas! Hubby ordered the 'orden personal' and I ordered the 'tacote'. Next time we'll just order the 'orden personal' which was ample meat for 2 people making tacos. The 'orden personal' looks to make at least 4-5 tacos. Meat was delish and well-seasoned. Each of our orders came with 1 doradita, a deep-fried empanada filled with pork carnitas. Since it was deep-fried, it was hard and tough to bite into. Was afraid it might break a tooth! HAH! Also served was green tomatillo and red salsa, cilantro, and spicy, vinegar onions. Restaurant was very clean, as well as the bathrooms. Very reasonably priced menu items. Service was delivered with a smile--we will definitely return.

Place is great if you're looking for authentic Mexican food. The carnitas taste just the way you'll have them in Mexico and their prices are affordable. I'd give them 5 stars except for the fact that the rest of the food on the menu is not as good as the carnitas.

Best carnitas in the entire state if Texas. Quality and flavor is on point. If you happen to catch “El Guero” (believe it or not he’s a real person) it’s a bonus, very charismatic guy that loves what he does and that translates to the flavor of his food. Highly recommend this place if you’re in Austin.

Must try the carnitas ribs and chicharrones always on point and never disappoints

This place is great and has very tasty carnitas!! The owner is a kind human being and really takes care of his customers. I loved the chicharrón but everything else is great as well.

Probably best carnitas I’ve had in a long long time. The tortillas , the salsa, the spicy onions. Everything is fire. It’s cash only and it’s a great value! The service was great as well. Got samples of the meats and was walked through all the options. Love love love!

I just stopped by this place because we needed a quick bite. Got the Duo Combo for me and the wife. The food and the service are both incredible. In and out very fast with fresh food. The guy operating it was extremely friendly. I’ll be going back regularly.

These carnitas are great bc they are take out. You bring them home and heat them up however you best like, make sure you have cash though, they only take cash and you don't want to use the ATM in the convenience store because they charge you an arm and a leg to take out money ($7.5) They also make aguas frescas on the stop and they are sooo good

Delicious food. Friendly service and a great smell.... Carnitas; it's all you need. The chicharrón is one of the best ones in the Milky Way Galaxy.

First time at this location, I was hungry during lunch, and let me tell you something. The only reason why I am giving four stars is because they don't sell tacos. They sell their food by the pound or half a pound. is a great idea if you wanna share the food, but for a single person I think is too much. The food is great, also the 2 la ladies working at this location are amazing, friendly and very attentive with the guests. they also convinced me to try the Agua Fresca, which was very tasty. I spent around $18. For half of pound And my drink, I get to meet the owner. He was very friendly. I was placing my order and he said hi to me I never thought that I have been to this brand before at the north Lamar location, the food there wasn't that good and I told cashier that I tried another Carnitas in Lamar before, but I don't like it and later I realize it was the same brand, anyway I really recommend this place but would be nice to have Tacos available for those who just want to try a few of Tacos. Please excuse my back typos

Place is great if you're looking for authentic Mexican food. The carnitas taste just the way you'll have them in Mexico and their prices are affordable. I'd give them 5 stars except for the fact that the rest of the food on the menu is not as good as the carnitas.

It was AMAZING I had their tamales and it was the BEST! I also got an ice cream it's called bolis it's really good! I got the flavor Rompope it's the best! And customer service was really amazing! And they played some good music! Overall it was the best mexican restaurant!

I was lucky enough to have this awesome restaurant come to my school to cater lunch for the staff. They set up outside under a little canopy area and had everything displayed beautifully. When I say this food was fresh...I mean this food was fresh. They brought a little griddle and grilled the tortillas right in front of us and chopped up the carnitas too! They thought of everything! They had a cooler full of drinks and even a little chocolate to grab for dessert. I loved the spicy onions. They cook them up with habaneros. Yum!!! My friend who doesn't even like vegetables that much ;) went back for seconds of the cauliflower/carrot side. I mean who am I kidding....I went back for more as well. They served us carnitas and al pastor and I can't pick which one was better. The BEST thing about all of this is that the brick and mortar is so close to my home. They just got themselves a new customer!! Thanks for your amazing food and being so kind to us!!

Carnitas lacked flavor drove over an hour because they were highly recommended and we were not impressed

Guys, this place is off the charts! The owner and I had a language barrier but she was so patient and we worked it out just fine! I ordered the Ordern Personal. Best carnitas I have ever had. Typically I get home and the tortillas are ruined because of the grease from the carnitas, but that was not the case here! The meat was so tender and moist and the tortillas were hot and delicious. The homemade sauces were out of this world. I will be back and I highly recommend!

The most amazing carnitas in the most unassuming gas station location. This is definitely a take it and eat somewhere else type of place but you won't be disappointed. I drove it 25min home and it still maintained its heat and flavor. Staff doesn't really speak English but the menu is easy to order off of. The personal is large and fills four tacos.

Best. Most. Authentic. Carnitas. In town!!! Do yourself a favor and go now! Stop reading this review!

Carnitas El Guero is an absolutely uncompromising place. There is no place in Austin that serves when they've got. But you've got to be ready for what they've got. * * * Carnitas El Guero serves one and only dish only. Carnitas in the Michoacoan style. This means super super super fatty And super super super greasy. This is not a cooking fault or any mark of using inferior ingredients. The ingredients are selected by careful choice. And all-out fatty, all-out greasy is the precise effect they are trying to achieve. Oh- I forgot to note a side dish that they have, dourados or mini-beef empanadas. These are also designed to have their share of grease. * * * Why in the world would someone intentionally make a dish as fatty and greasy as possible? Three Reasons - none of which apply to me but many of which apply to other people who live elsewhere in the world. a) If you don't get meat very often . Say you are living on a diet of rice and beans . You are going to want to make the most of the occasional meat serving you do get. Notably a diet of starches or legumes will not have a lot of fat - and the body sometimes needs fat. If this is going to be your one meal with fat for the week or the one meal with fat for the month - you want to go all out. This condition applies to a lot of poor people in the Global South. I saw a lot of this in the Brazilian Northeast. b) You are going to be working all day with little access to food. You need your one big meal in the morning to hold you. This does not apply to most Latin American populations where somehow, someway, they find a way to bring lunch out to the farmers or workers. A lumberjack in the Canadian Northwest may need a big breakfast because he is going to be out in the woods. Breakfast is all he is going to get until sunset. c) People in very very cold climates. Think Eskimos/Inuit before Global Warming. Think people who live on the Mongolian steppes during the winter. If your body needs massive amounts of fat to insulate yourself against winds blowing at minus thirty degrees, Then a super-fatty diet is what you need. Eskimos eat seal and whale, both of which have a lot of blubber. Mongolians eat mutton, especially fatty parts like jowls. * * * I am a Yuppie American living in Austin. Austin is a grocery and restaurant paradise. I have constant access to meat, fried food and other oily treats. My house is filled with food for snacking and grazing. Whenever I go out, food is available everywhere - much of which I have reviewed on Yelp. Austin is a hot hot place (not counting once-a-century arctic blasts.) So there is no good reason for me to eat giant tacos that are intentionally 40% fat. And there are plenty of health reasons why I should not do so. * * * That said, if you want the real deal Michoacan uncompromising carnitas, Carnitas Guero has them. Mexicans and Central Americans come pouring through the door to get their carnitas. Carnitas Guero has the total vote of the people. The carnitas taste good. Their tortillas are excellent. (Their particular style is to make the tortillas taste like cornbread. I think that is a first rate idea.) Instead of raw onions for a garnish they offer a marinated semi-pickled onion. Those pickled onions are just fine. * * * Yuppies like me like to think that all of the food in the world is really for them. But there are boundaries between what some people eat and what other people eat. In Brazil, I learned that there are some restaurants and some cafes where I should really never go. There were designed for people who can eat and digest things I can't. (In Brazil, the question was low quality poorly inspected meat.) At Carnitas Guero, the objective quality of the meat is excellent. But you have to ask yourself if you have the lifestyle that can tolerate the fat-intensive food they have to offer. This is food designed for the Spartans. Most Yuppie Americans are not Spartans.

These Michoacán style carnitas are so delicious. Ordered 1 lb of mixed, split between 2 people we had 3 tacos each with leftovers! Fixings included a chipotle and verde salsa, onions, cilantro, and lime. As others stated this isn't a sit down restaurant and the menu is real simple (in a good way). Why does every place need to have multiple menu options and sides? Sometimes simplicity equals quality, which is true for El Guero. It's straight forward food.

Don't come here if you aren't looking for Carnitas. It's Carnitas and not much else, but they are serving it up properly! it's made the pre-Columbian way, and it's 100% legit. My recommendation is to go ahead and get the large portion (family size) with all the salsas and take it gone to your friends or family. There's no place to sit and eat here. Your loved ones will not be mad / sad. You could even make some new friends with the treats they are serving up here! and that's not a joke.

Amazing food. Had the carnitas and Tinga chicken tostada. Both were seasoned perfectly. Looking forward to going again.

Best carnitas in town. Freshly made. Highly recommend it. Its inside a gas station but it is well worth a try

DELICIOUS !!! Best carnitas in town ! Do yourself a favor and try them ! So so so so so good !!!

Finger licking good carnitas! Estas carnitas are so mucho bueno! I ate some of these tacos at work and then I found the store in the gas station . Best kept secret. So juicy and tender: it was a moment of joy and éxtasis when i ate these carnitas! So good!

Super expensive, back in San Francisco I can get a pound of carnitas for half the price, these carnitas are nothing special, way over priced I'm my opinion and they don't accept credit cards, but "luckily" there's an atm that's charges you $3 for a withdraw

Good carnitas. Not as great as Don Rauls in San Antonio, but the best I've had in Austin. These carnitas are pork butt and some fatty chewy bits, but I missed the crispy bits you get at other places. Super generous portions--we ordered 2 orden personals (a 2 taco plate), with more meat than could possibly fit in the tortillas, took home as much as we ate. We think next time a single order of the build your own tacos "libre" would make more sense for us. Might be worth trying the quesadilla with mushrooms or the aqua frescas. Friendly and flexible staff who worked with our barely sufficient Spanish. You know is a family restaurant when a preteen wanders in and is immediately put to work wiping down tables. No toilet paper in the men's room.

Muy bien servicio y rapidez . Great service and quickness I definitely recommend coming in.

First things first: IT'S INSIDE THE TEXACO GAS/CONVENIENCE STORE! I almost left, thinking they'd closed, after driving around the adjacent strip center a couple of times. If you are a fan of carnitas, this is a must-try. I've never been to Michoacan so I can't definitively say these are holy-grail quality, but they were certainly delicious! The guy at the counter was clearly passionate about his product and was very friendly and helpful. I ordered the combo, which consisted of two tacos plus an added portion of meat fried in a folded tortilla. It was a giant serving, with the tacos overflowing and filling the container, so the $11 price tag, which at first seems to be a bit steep, turns out to feel like a bargain in the end. These carnitas are certainly fare for the confirmed carnivore. You can opt for a leaner portion, but mine came with nice bits of fatty pork skin diced in with the meat, making them decadently rich. The salsas are excellent and the pickled onions add a really nice twist. Carnitas El Guero definitely deserves attention from Austin Yelpers - the positive reviews are well earned. Bravo!

Lord have mercy, done went to carnitas heaven! I wish I had took a picture. The details are in the taste. Corn tortillas buttered up before they grill toast them, the pork is so tender, the onion relish is very tasty and spicy. The sauces red and green are not really needed but are very tasty. This will be my spot for carnitas. By the way they are located in a gas station on East Stassney. Don't let this fool you.

They don't take credit cards. Also they were out of taquitos? How can you sell the personal combo that includes a taquito and be out of them and charge the same price??? Yea I don't think so. Go somewhere else.

Great carnitas tacos! And la torta is awsome. It's a must if you are in Austin. Prices are good, with one taco you can make two.

Muy Rico todo! Muy recomendable excelente servicio y el personal muy amable.

It's hard to find good carnitas in Texas...Guys, this place is off the charts! The owner and I had a language barrier but she was so patient and we worked it out just fine! I ordered the Ordern Personal. Best carnitas I have ever had. Typically I get home and the tortillas are ruined because of the grease from the carnitas, but that was not the case here! The meat was so tender and moist and the tortillas were hot and delicious. The homemade sauces were out of this world. I will be back and I highly recommend!

I searched for great carnitas and I found them here. The meat was flavorful, juicy and had crispy bits. The person who helped me asked if I wanted my meat to be more fatty or lean. I really appreciated that and it helped me get a carnitas taco that I really enjoyed.

Nice hidden gem inside of Texaco. We picked up a lb and it was delicious. Meat was tender and not greasy at all. The classic green salsa is great, but don't sleep on the red as it has a nice chipotle smoky flavor that compliments the meat. The owner was super nice as well. We'll definitely be back.

super good and authentic but wish it was its own restaurant instead of being in the market.

Delicious tacos Al pastor y carnitas. Only two seats but worth getting and taking outside to eat sitting on the curb. Inside the gas station. Would 100% stop by again

Amazing place. The closest you'll get to authentic Michoacán Carnitas in Central Texas. Well worth the over 45 minute drive if you are north Austin. The cueritos and fried taquitos are great as well as the salsas. Only problem I have is that we can't be there more often due to the distance.

This little place was sooo good!!! My girlfriends and I really enjoyed the food and the owner himself was really nice abc friendly! We highly recommend this place for good Mexican tacos and service. We will definitely going back to eat here next time we're in Austin! (;

AMAZING! Some of the best carnitas I've had since moving here! Huge portions, great deal, and simply delicious! The tacos come with their house specialty salsa which is red & smokey (so yummy), a typical salsa verde and a pickled onion relish. Their escabeche (Mexican pickled veggies) are made in house (I asked cause I wanted to know which jar to buy at the store) and sooooo lovely! I also got a Agua Fresca that she made fresh while I waited! I've eaten here a few times now........perfection! It's INSIDE the Texaco mart!

I went to the Stassney location, and it did not disappoint! Beware if you don't eat pork though, because that's what they serve. My poor BF thought he'd go with me and order something other than carnitas and ended up having to go somewhere else. But if you're like me and love pig, this place is for you. The service is stellar, especially for a place located inside a gas station. The man behind the counter was super friendly and eager to make sure I had the very best for my first visit. I also recommend the aguas there. They taste much fresher than others I've had around town that probably come from a powder mix.

Really enjoyed my first visit here. Had the 2 taco, 1 taquito combo. The carnitas were incredibly juicy and the red sauce was delicious. I'll be back!

Such fantastic carnitas and a great bargain. It's in the Food Mart so tricky to find but well worth it! Make sure and try each of the kinds of pork with the different salsas! My new go-to taco place!!!

Carnitas El Guero is a must! I had the tacos for the first time and everything was delicious! The owners told me they do private events as well!

Friendly people, great carnitas huge portions. Something a little different than your average taco truck. The salsa is smoky and delicious, they have pickled onions that are a great compliment to the rich and fatty pork. Stop by if you are in the neighborhood, you won't be disappointed.

If you're into authentic Carnitas, El Guero, is pretty much on top of the rest... I haven't explored north Austin, but if you're in South Austin and and to try authentic carnitas tacos, this is the place. If you don't like fatty meat, order only the meat not the mixed and get a few doraditos!

I called ahead of time trying to order the torta which he said yes and just hung up. I come in trying to pick up my order and he starts saying there isn't any Tortas and there's obviously a language barrier. Horribly ran business apparently if you want food here you have to speak Spanish.

Best carnitas ever !! We had the personal plate wich came with 2 big tacos & fried taquito it was so good while we ate or food he made agua frescas right their the agua frescas where so good it had pino pina y limon amazing!! I defanantly recommend this place I will keep coming back !!

Excellent Carnitas!!! Gustavo and Patty really know how to get the best flavor out of the carnitas! This truly is one of the best places for Carnitas in Austin.

This is one of the best kept secrets in Austin. Guero knows what he's doing. The carnitas and taquitos are fantastic. Always fresh and there's usually a line. That's how you know it's good!