Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Carnitas are pork cuts braised and then fried in their own lard until tender inside and crisp outside, chopped to order for tacos and tortas with salsa and pickled chiles.
Carnitas, literally little meats, is a Mexican dish from Michoacán made by braising, simmering and frying pork in lard, its own fat or oil, a process that takes three to four hours and leaves the meat tender with browned edges. The name was historically the Mexican colloquial name for the French rillons de Tours. In Cancún, Carnitas Don Enrique on Avenida Tikal has served it since 1974, by the cut: shoulder, rind, ribs, shank and hog maw, or the mixed surtida. El Polilla on Avenida Nader makes carnitas tacos its house classic.
2 editor picks for Carnitas in Cancún, ranked by editorial score. All Cancún signature dishes · Carnitas across every city.
Also in: Mexico City.
Carnitas Don Enrique, on Avenida Tikal in Cancún, has served pork carnitas as tacos and tortas since 1974 from a taquería with a covered patio.
OrderA surtida of mixed cuts as tacos or tortas, with the pickled green habanero salsa.
TipHours are short, closing early afternoon and all day Monday, so go for breakfast or an early lunch.
El Polilla is a breakfast-and-lunch taquería at Avenida Carlos Nader 8-9 in downtown Cancún, where carnitas tacos are the classic order, with a midday queue.
OrderTacos de carnitas, the house classic; order one first and add more, as the servings are generous.
TipIt closes at 14:00, so go for breakfast or an early lunch, and arrive about 15 minutes before you are hungry because a queue forms at midday.
Carnitas makes more sense with someone from Cancún explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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