Carnitas El Guero

"The carnitas at Carnitas El Guero are exceptional, the kind you order extra because you want leftovers to last for days. Rich, tender, and perfectly fatty without being greasy, the carnitas are so good that the people behind it are in the process of building a mini empire of stands and restaurants all over Texas. Our favorite location is the one on North Lamar, with a full kitchen, serving quesadillas, gorditas, tortas and an unforgettable spicy pozole. You can also get cantaritos served in a clay pot rimmed with chile powder. " - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"The default and best way to order the epic carnitas at El Guero here is "surtido," and you'll get a mix of the slow-cooked meats—pork butt, ribs, belly, stomach, and skin—all chopped to order. Or you can get it however you want: lean, fatty, extra skin, or no skin. While the orden personal is technically shareable, you won’t want to. It comes with a half pound of carnitas, a mess of corn tortillas, two kinds of salsa (a green tomatillo and a smoky red chipotle), pickled onions, cilantro, lime, and a small, crispy doradita. There are a couple of locations of Carnitas El Guero in Austin: a small, cash-only affair in a gas station in South Austin in Stassney Lane, and one on North Lamar that has a full kitchen (with an expanded menu) and a liquor license. There’s even a San Antonio location now. What to get: Carnitas: either the orden personal, or by the pound " - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"The mainstay of this growing Texas Mexican chain is its namesake Michoacan-style carnitas, where the braised shredded pork is served as part of little tacos, tortas, and more. There’s this restaurant in North Austin and others in near Franklin Park on Stassney Lane and Windsor Hills. Takeout orders can be placed in person; typically there are indoor dine-in areas." - Nadia Chaudhury

"Carnitas are definitely the move at the Michoacan-style restaurant with multiple locations, including this one up in North Austin. Opt for the orden personal, which comes with more than enough food for a single person from the morning to late night hours. There’s a pile of the juicy carnitas, plus tortillas, tacotes, and a doradita. Takeout orders can be placed in person; there are indoor dine-in areas." - Nadia Chaudhury

"The quickly growing taco shop is known for its flavorful carnitas, which is served in fluffy tortillas. All locations are good bets for avoiding the SXSW crowds, including this North Austin one. Takeout orders can be placed in person; there are indoor dine-in areas." - Erin Russell, Nadia Chaudhury