Carnitas El Momo serves up authentic Guanajuato-style cuisine in Los Angeles, California

Romulo “Momo” Acosta owns the Carnitas El Momo truck and has been making Guanajuato-style carnitas and other authentic Mexican specialties for years. Loyal fans flock to his truck spot on Melrose and Vermont in Los Angeles to witness and taste his carnitas. Romulo shows his nose to tail cooking skills first hand and carries on the tradition and legacy of authentic Mexican cuisine.

Carnitas are absolutely amazing! Carnitas means “little meats” in Spanish, but it is BIG in flavor. The heavily marbled pork meat is braised for hours until tender. It’s the Mexican version of Hawaii’s kalua pig. It’s totally addictive and can be eaten as is, stuffed in a taco with cilantro, onions, and salsa verde, or in a burrito. Rating: 5/5

Migajas are the leftovers of the carnitas process which includes meat, fat, skin, and the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. The flavors and textures are amazing – from the salty browned bits of pork meat and seasoning, the tender meat, and crispy fat and skin. As you open the foil, you can just hear an “AHHHH” as the steam rises from the meat. Rating: 5/5

On the weekends, you can order Goat Birria which is made by braising the goat for hours on low heat. The time the goat spends in the braising liquid and seasonings condenses to a rich flavorful meat that is so tender it just falls off the bone. It’s great on its own, stuffed inside a taco with fresh onion and cilantro, or even in a burrito with refried beans, rice, onions, and cilantro. Rating: 5/5

You can also order the consommé or braising liquid from the birria. It has a strong “goat” or “barnyard” aroma to it, but the flavor is just absolutely pure rich goat meat flavor. It is much richer than beef consommé and great if you have a hangover. Rating: 5/5

It would be shameful not to use the whole goat. Montalayo is Mexico’s version of haggis which is the goat stomach stuffed with the goat heart, kidneys, liver, and intestines. As a lover of innards, Montalayo is simply divine to me. The tender tripe and soft, velvety organ meats are just perfect inside a taco with some onion, cilantro, and a splash of salsa. I’m just salivating as I write about it. Rating: 5/5

Make a drive up to Los Angeles this weekend for a one of kind experience!

Service: 5 out of 5 stars

Food: 5 out of 5 stars

For more information:

Carnitas El Momo

Look for the truck on Melrose Avenue and Vermont Avenue

Carnitas El Momo (pop-up on the weekends)

2411 Fairmount Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90023

+1.323.627.8540