Dishes · Dinner · Tacos
Carnitas: soft and crunchy in the same bite
Carnitas are pork simmered slowly until soft, then browned so the edges go crisp. The name just means little meats.
Cantina Rooftop
Dinner menu · Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm
Tacos
Three corn tortilla tacos per order, with creamy zucchini sauce, chile de árbol sauce, onion, cilantro & lime. Flour tortillas +2
- Birria$22
- Al Pastor$21
- Carne Asada$20
- Carnitas$19
Slow-braised pork, crisped to order, onion & cilantro
- Taco Vegetariano$19
Same dish and price on the brunch menu (Saturday and Sunday, 12pm to 4pm).
Please tell your server about any food allergies.
The copper pots of Michoacán
Michoacán claims it, and the town of Quiroga calls itself the capital. Cooks there traditionally use copper pots from nearby Santa Clara del Cobre, and the method, simmering in lard, is close to a confit.
Good carnitas mix soft and crunchy in the same bite, and that's how people judge them. Eat them with something sharp, since pork this rich needs lime or a green salsa. They fill you up faster than you'd think, so pace yourself if you're trying more than one kind of taco.
The menu's word is braised: slow-braised pork, crisped to order, with onion and cilantro. It doesn't mention lard or copper.
Carnitas: questions
What meat is carnitas?
Pork. The name just means little meats, and traditional cooks in Michoacán use a mix of cuts from the same animal.
Are carnitas fried?
Traditionally they're simmered in lard rather than deep-fried, which works more like a confit, and then browned at the end.
What's in the carnitas tacos at Cantina Rooftop?
Our menu says: Slow-braised pork, crisped to order, onion & cilantro. Tell your server about any allergies when you order.
How much for the carnitas tacos at Cantina Rooftop?
$19 on our menu right now. See it on the full menu.
When can I order the carnitas tacos?
It's on our dinner menu (Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm) and our brunch menu (Saturday and Sunday, 12pm to 4pm). We're at 605 W 48th St in Hell's Kitchen. Book a table.