I don't typically eat pork but once in awhile I'll break from that and have carnitas. We were traveling back from Santa Barbara and stopped in to get a quick dinner. This place is incredible!!! Homemade tortillas, the best carnitas I've ever had, super spicy salsa, and really kind staff. $5 for a taco that is big enough to be an entire meal. Can't say enough good things about them, support this restaurant if you're ever in the area. read more

The carnitas is still as good as ever - it's spectacular. But why the nickel and dime pricing scheme? If every taco stand in socal charged what these guys do for onions and salsa, they would have more money than Jeff bezos. I do not understand why this place wants to charge something like $30 a pound for salsa and onions read more

Carnitas El Rey never disappoints -- easily some of the best carnitas tacos around. The meat is fresh, juicy, and perfectly fatty with that deep, rich flavor you can only get from real-deal carnitas. Service is always fast and professional, and the space has a fun local vibe -- from the colorful wall art to the fully stocked salsa bar that brings just the right energy. I've been coming here for seven years, and it's still one of my go-to spots. When you find a place that nails it every time, you stick with it -- and Carnitas El Rey definitely does. read more

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The carnitas are flavorful! We ordered a combo de 2 tacos. I ordered just carnitas (5/5) and my husband ordered mescladas (5/5). The combo came with a side of rice and beans. The service was great. They took our ordered and prepped our food promptly. The ambiance is a little loud. The cooks are chopping the carnitas right in front of you. So you hear a constant sound of the knife and cutting board. There is a self serve salsa bar with a variety of salsas, indoor dining and parking in the back. Overall great carnitas! read more

Carnitas El Rey - Combo de 2 Tacos with toppings - Tacos Near Me - Oxnard, California

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I developed a carnitas recipe through trial and error that I really liked. Then I discovered Carnitas El Rey. I can't even tell you where the recipe is now. These are the best carnitas I've EVER tasted in my life! Also, the most delicious rice and red sauce on the planet I always order extra red sauce to marinate my rotisserie or baked chicken, it's amazing! read more

When the name of the shop translates to carnitas King, this place better serve the best carnitas ever and I can tell you.... It does serve amazing carnitas. I ordered an individual taco and it was huge. I had carnitas meat, braised pork skins and belly and it was so delightfully moist and flavorful. The tortilla didn't look the best, but it was very homemade and fluffy. The salsa and pico de gallo provided the right amount of acid. Amazing experience. Good service. Indoor seating. Casual. Please come and create your own experience. read more

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My brother, my wife and I love to go get Carnitas and have lunch with my mother-in-law. The Carnitas are off the chart super tender all the time. Reminds me of when I was a kid wish I had a picture of a stuffing our mouth. read more

Best carnitas I have had so far in Southern California. The salsa (guajillo chile I believe) best I've had. Service is always welcoming. Ambiance is nothing elaborate; the acoustics make it hard to talk when it's busy but nothing uncharacteristic for a taco shop in my opinion. read more

Love this place. The carnitas are so good. Love the sides too. Simple but just right. Can get enough for one person or a family. Worth the trip read more

They are automatic carnitas from Mexico. They are always fresh and delicious no matter what time you come. They also cater. I drove two hours to eat there. It was worth the drive. read more

6 years after we first tried this spot and 3 years after my first review of it, I'm still obsessed with this spot. The tacos are top notch, service is prompt and attentive, lines move quickly, tables are clean, and the food is a good value. You can't ask for anything more. read more

Carnitas El Rey - Carnitas taco - pure joy! - Tacos Near Me - Oxnard, California

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Great crispy, deep-fried pork belly Chicharróns. I use their unique dark red salsa with guacamole, chopped onions and cilantro wrapped in a soft corn tortillas Best I have found in Ventura. Now I don't have to drive to my home town San Fernando to by them at Pioneer Market cooked in a very large round copper kettle, that looks like a giant wok. If you happen to be in San Fernando for any reason and you love Chicharróns then you should check it out. read more

I really liked the carnitas here!! They ran out of skin for the mixed carnitas, but the meat alone was surprisingly tender and still juicy. It's definitely better than any carnitas I've had in the Bay Area. They also LOAD the taco up with meat. I came in thinking that this was really pricey for two tacos, but these are way bigger than your average street taco. I can usually eat 12 street tacos, but 2 tacos here got me moderately full. Compared to Carnitas El Momo, it was slightly more bland. However, paired with the salsa, I didn't have much issues. I definitely suggest salting a bit more though. The staff was friendly. I'll definitely come back! read more

Carnitas El Rey - Tacos Near Me - Oxnard, California

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Cartitas taco. All meat. $5.60 If there's 1 reason to come to Oxnard- this would be it. Large. Tender. Flavorful. Chips were also excellent- crispy and think. Salsas are fresh. Red has a kick. Order. Grab it. Pay. Sit. Every one was very nice. Very clean. This is there thing. They own it and rule their domain. read more

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Best place to get carnitas! The service is always FANTASTIC!! Super friendly and family owned restaurants. I have only been to this location, but I'm super excited to see that they are opening a new location walking distance from my home!! The carnitas are always so flavorful, tender and fresh. Everything is so good! The tortillas are freshly made and huge! I love their green salsa, pico de gallo, rice and beans too. Their portions are very generous! My family have been coming to this location for years and we'll always be faithful customers. The restaurant is clean and the decor is cute! My mom is from Michoacán and I tell you that the food here is very authentic! read more

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Everything was delicious and perfect to order. The service was friendly and helpful. The Restuarant was clean and went well with the rest of our visit there! read more

I was told that this is the Carnitas spot of all Carnitas spots in the 805. I had been eager to try this place for awhile now and finally had the chance to come in for an early lunch on a weekday. The restaurant itself is small, unassuming, and a real local treat. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant which made it easy to get in and out. The restaurant itself isn't too big and we were really in awe of how crowded it gets here, even for an early lunch on a weekday. So definitely come early so you don't have to wait in line too long and so you can grab a table. The layout is simple enough, order at the counter, they chop up the carnitas servings fresh and build your plate. Once done ordering you pay at the register and grab a seat. Pricing is average, a two taco combo plate with rice, beans, and a drink ran me about $15+. The portions are a really good size though, they don't skimp on the meat. Staff were friendly and kept the line moving, no issues. The carnitas are solid but I personally found them to be a tad overhyped. I don't cook a lot well but I prefer my carnitas over theirs here (and that's shocking to say). I think while they give a good portion of pork and it was juicy, there lacked any real seasoning or flavor to the meat. I also prefer a bit more of a crunchy skin. For carnitas tacos they were definitely good but not a place I'd rush right back too. Another good bite was the rice. Traditional Mexican rice it was moist and flavorful. The beans were average, not bad but not my preferred style but that's more a preference thing. Lastly I was a bit disappointed that the Jamaica drink wasn't freshly made, comes out of box soda stream thing in the back. Bummer. All in all the service was friendly and the atmosphere felt very family like and inviting. Good classic neighborhood vibes which I can appreciate. And clearly their carnitas are good to the general public, I just like mine with a little more seasoning and crunch. It's nice to have a spot to go to for some good carnitas tacos when I'm not in the mood to cook them myself. If your in downtown Oxnard it's definitely a staple taco spot to try out at least once. read more

Carnitas El Rey - Tacos Near Me - Oxnard, California

After getting new tires at the pep boys down the street I needed food. As I sat in the lobby I came across Carnitas El Rey and I'm so happy I did. They've earned those stars and reviews. First off the burrito was huge they aren't stingy. The main attraction the Carnitas was supper tender with every bite, no pulling the meat out with every bite. The chili was a perfect amount of heat. The service was pretty fast and super easy. They have a pretty simple menu to choose from. The ambiance was chill for this hot day, great music playing, super clean and I appreciate the murals on the wall. All in all, now I'm craving their burrito after all this read more

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Best carnitas ever! We loved them so much, we had to take some home. Can't wait to bring our friends from New York here so they can experience carnitas done right. read more

Good is good the carnitas are amazing Every thing went well. The service was fast and good read more

Training of front host personnel to know how the kitchen prepares certain meats especially their namesakes to explain how their carnitas is prepared and whether deviation ca be handled by the kitchen. One of my daughters favorite Mexican restaurants so I tried it for takeout read more

2nd time coming here, it was AMAZING! I wish I could come here more often... I got the two taco combo. The tacos were humongous, the rice was AMAZING, and the beans, delish! I also ordered an agua de Jamaica, so delicious. Salsa verde was so bomb! read more

Amazing service and food. Quick, efficient and all done with smiles! Stopped in for a few pounds of super yummy carnitas, rice, beans and pico to enjoy at home on a rainy evening. Great prices and again, the food and service! Just loved it all, thank you to the Carnitas El Rey team tonight for everything, a definite must try if you haven't been! read more

Service was great. Staff is clean, quick and helpful. Everyone engages in customer service, food prep and delivery. Food of course was excellent! The fresh tortillas are the chef's kiss. Grade A+ with a few read more

Got the 2 lbs of carnitas with a large side of rice and beans and the fixing. The tortillas were amazing. The staff was very kind. Mind you I went in 20 min before closing and it was in and out. I did not call it in or order online so I was very satisfied on the service being quick.I seen him prep my food to go and he was very generous. Before leaving I was given a delicious sample of some chicharone (pig skin) overall this gem in Oxnard has the best carnitas in town my family will be sending me here again for carnitas read more

Carnitas El Rey - The menu - Tacos Near Me - Oxnard, California

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By far one of the best carnitas. Recommend for sure. Service was good. Restaurant was clean Unfortunately we don't live close by to come often. read more

Food was great, the ambiance is very chill and nicely decorated, as well as in a good part of downtown. All of the workers were very kind and welcoming. Big portions for cheap. Tortillas here are unbeatable. read more

Family Dinner #2 is our perfect meal for 4 adult eaters ordering bonus lg size salsa roja, salsa verde and pico. Comes with 2 lb carnitas, lg whole beans & delicious rice and homemade tortillas- had some tortilla chips at home to scoop up all the great flavors! That's how we do Taco Tuesday!! Service is friendly and efficient and there are some inside tables but I always take my order home. Carnitas are flavorful and perfectly roasted without drying out meat. Consistently good and can't wait for the new Ventura location to open on Main St! read more

Wanted some carnitas so I came where they sell the best. Food was on point like always. The customer service was great. The ambiance was chill, definitely worth coming here for your carnitas fix. read more

hot sauce was not hot, rice was good, carnitas were not the best , beans were not good paid $50 for 2lbs read more

They're all wearing mask! Anyway, this place is consistent!!! Consistently the best!!! read more

We got the 1lb combo for 2 people and loved it! We got a mix of carnitas savory carnitas and creamy buche. The tortillas were warm and soft, way different from tortillas I'm used to, and they were halfway between street taco and burrito sized. The salsa was bomb! The rice, beans, and pico de gallo were fresh but about what you'd expect. My friend and I were stuffed and could only finish half of the food. This place was delicious and I highly recommend! Parking is street parking or in the lot behind but it can be full fast. read more

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superb carnitas. easy pick up. price is right. plentiful portions. highly recommend.

So finally got down to Oxnard to try these carnitas everyone on social is loving. Unfortunately I didn't think they were that great, just ok. read more

If you want carnitas? this is the only place in Oxnard to go. It gets INSANELY busy here around lunch time. So be prepared. And or go early or later to avoid the long lines. Their carnitas are fresh and absolutely cooked and marinated to perfection. Their options on salsas are great. They have MANY. Their pico de gallo is fresh. I overlooked the old look inside that needs to be remodeled. I would of given it 4 stars because of this. But the fact that the food just outweighs all of it. You look past it. The staff is very friendly and always helpful and I've never had an issue here. Been coming here for years. Would I recommend this place? without question YES. This is the GO TO spot for carnitas. PERIOD. read more

Best carnitas in town definitely!!! Whenever I'm in the mood for carnitas, El Rey is the first place that comes to mind ! read more

Staff was helpful, since this was our first time here. This restaurant serves ONLY carnitas. Tacos. Burritos or family style,carnitas by the pound or combo plates. The atmosphere was chill and relaxed, family friendly. The carnitas were tendery delicious. We will be back. read more

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It true two stars Why .?? Money had changed this business not in a good way for the customer.!!! The food is low quality and it's measured like we are animals.!! They have kids working there so expect that kind of attention on your order m read more

The best. Nothing comes close. Get the Two taco combo, one with all Carnitas and one "Surtida" with all the different cuts. Enjoy! read more

We usually go to Carnitas El Brother, which is delicious, but a neighbor recommended this place to us so we thought we'd try it for our Dia de los Muertos party. The menu on their website wasn't working and the only one I could find on yelp was from April 2023. At that time, 15 lbs of carnitas was $289.99. So I figured the price was going to be at least similar now. I sent my roommate to pick it up and I just saw the receipt and it came to a total of $349.59! So the price has gone up to $319.99. I looked an an older photo of the menu from January of 2022 and the price was $100 cheaper at $219! They've raised thier price for 15 lbs of carnitas by $100 in less than 2 years. The meat, while tasty, was not at all crispy and had way too much skin in it (which I don't like). We asked for it to be put on the side and they sent it all mixed in. Not a difficult instruction to follow. So, we'll be going back to Carnitas El Brother. read more