Dishes · Dinner · Tacos
Al pastor: shawarma that stayed in Mexico
Al pastor is what happened when Lebanese immigrants brought shawarma to Mexico. The vertical spit stayed, the lamb became pork, and the seasoning turned Mexican.
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
Marinated pork with achiote, grilled pineapple, onion & cilantro
- Carne Asada$20
- Carnitas$19
- 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 spit, the pork and the pineapple
The usual route runs through Puebla, where lamb on a spit sold as tacos árabes, then to Mexico City, where the meat became pork, red with chile and achiote. Dates vary by source, so treat the timeline as rough. The name means shepherd style, an older Mexican term for roasting meat on a spit.
On the street it's shaved off a spinning cone called a trompo. You eat it small and fast with salsa, a few at a time. Pineapple is the part people argue about, and the part that brightens all that pork.
The menu lists marinated pork with achiote, grilled pineapple, onion and cilantro. It doesn't say how the pork is cooked, so ask if you're looking for a trompo.
Al Pastor: questions
What is al pastor meat?
Pork, marinated in chile and achiote. The method came from lamb shawarma. The name, shepherd style, is older and just means spit-roasted.
Is al pastor spicy?
Usually mild to medium. The chile marinade brings color and depth, and most of the real heat comes from the salsa you add.
What's in the al pastor tacos at Cantina Rooftop?
Our menu says: Marinated pork with achiote, grilled pineapple, onion & cilantro. Tell your server about any allergies when you order.
How much for the al pastor tacos at Cantina Rooftop?
$21 on our menu right now. See it on the full menu.
When can I order the al pastor 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.