Carnitas’ Snack Shack
American · San Diego
About Carnitas’ Snack Shack
At Carnitas' Snack Shack, we're all about serving up delicious American eats and refreshing craft beer to our friends on University Avenue. Our pork sandwiches are a fan favorite, and for good reason - they're tender, juicy, and full of flavor. We also love happy hour time, with special deals that m...
At Carnitas' Snack Shack, we're all about serving up delicious American eats and refreshing craft beer to our friends on University Avenue. Our pork sandwiches are a fan favorite, and for good reason - they're tender, juicy, and full of flavor. We also love happy hour time, with special deals that make it easy to catch up with pals after work or class. And let's not forget our cozy atmosphere, where you can grab a seat on the patio and soak up some sunshine while enjoying a cold beer. We're all about good vibes, great food, and making every day feel like a happy hour.
What Customers Say About Carnitas’ Snack Shack
Carnitas' Snack Shack is a popular waterfront spot known for its delicious tacos, especially the carnitas and fish tacos. Customers rave about the friendly staff, quick service, and outdoor seating with great views. It's a casual spot perfect for a quick bite and drinks.
Popular Dishes
Best For
Tip: Enjoy the outdoor seating and waterfront views. Many reviewers recommend the tacos and drinks.
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What to see nearby
Data from Wikidata
Explore the area around Carnitas’ Snack Shack
Carnitas’ Snack Shack is located in San Diego, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.
Historical Heritage
- SDG&E Station "B" (A 372m) — building in San Diego San Diego Historical Landmark
- Panama Hotel (A 915m) — historic building in San Diego, California, United States Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
Museums
- San Diego Firehouse Museum (A 802m) — museum in San Diego, California
Parks & Gardens
- American Plaza (A 524m) — park in San Diego County, California, United States of America
- Ruocco Park (A 600m) — public Park in San Diego, California
- Pantoja Park (A 614m) — park in California, United States of America, United States of America
Other Points of Interest
- Pacific Gate by Bosa Dev (A 282m) — residential skyscraper in San Diego, California
- Grande Condominiums (A 285m) — building in California, United States
- La Punta De Los Muertos (A 629m) — historical Landmark in San Diego, California, United States
- James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse (A 693m) — building in California, United States
Data from Wikidata
Frequently asked questions about Carnitas’ Snack Shack
Carnitas’ Snack Shack San Diego Reviews
Perfect spot for some nice fresh food and great drinks, all while listening to a live DJ. 🎶We went there fore a little snack and I can say both the smash burger and the carnita queso fries were awesome. They came quick and hot and all of us loved them. The portions are great and the prices fair. The staff was super friendly and helpful with recommendations. Ps. We also loved the strong margaritas 😍 5* from Germany
This picture doesn’t do it justice, we had more tacos and fries and margaritas from the happy hour menu. This place was really delicious. I recommend the carnitas and shrimp tacos especially! Kenny took care of us with good vibes and patience. Super great experience and if you plan it out just right the sunset is the cherry on top ☺️
Very convienient stop before our departure. Nice selection of food, sides, drinks, treats. Plenty of seating. Very nice staff! Delicious warm churros too! Definitely trying the lobster roll next time. The portions are big too. Did not wait long for food, you can also order through their kiosk if there's a line, which we did.
They opened early to make us 70 burritos for a Christmas breakfast at our jobsite. Friendly, delicious and super service oriented
Louis and his team, amazing! The food hit the spot with authentic flavours and crazy portions!
Workers were very nice and accommodating. Food was great, not too overpriced. You can tell the worker genuinely loves what he does. Lobster roll specifically was great.
I am a local San Diego resident and I have been coming to Carnitas Snack Shack for quite a few years now.:) I want to specifically point out one amazing employee who I believe is also the bar manager, Reese. He is always attentive, checks in after we order food, brings us extra pico de gallo with a smile. 😊 He has a very positive energy that makes the experience the best! I bring my friends and family and will continue to... and I love the new happy hour until 5:55! 🙌
One thing I was looking forward to on my trip to San Diego was having starry tacos, and this place took the cake. Absolutely delistions food that where some of the best tacos of my life, and within less then a minute of ordering I got me food. Will definitely return if I visit again!!
I come here four times a week and I always order by fish tacos and my garlic parmesan fries everyday and sometimes I order the smashburger with garlic parmesan fries and I suggest you order that if you like hamburgers. But on Saturdays and Sundays you got the DJ you got the music everyone's here watching the games enjoy themselves having a great time and enjoying the view of all the ships. The service here is impeccable everyone choose you like family out here You must come down here enjoy your the chairs the seating the fire The heaters you will never be cold down here but I guarantee you have a great time when you're down here so order the smashburgers and order the fish tacos I guarantee that those are my favorites
Had a great time catching a game. The carnitas in the breakfast burrito was amazing. Great drinks & fun place to watch the city walk around you. Our bartender Brent was really friendly. You could tell he had a good local following yet enjoyed guiding tourists as well. Everyone was having a good time. It’s a good spot to eat, drink & enjoy the Embarcadero.
Love coming to Carnitas. Outdoor space that’s dog friendly. Love the breakfast burrito so much! I’ve been here several times and Kenny has taken awesome care of me each and every time. Can’t say enough good things about this place!
Perfect spot to grab lunch, snacks, and/or drinks. We had a lunch of tacos, a burger, loaded fries, guacamole and chips and a pulled pork sandwich. It was all incredible. On top of the great food the staff was sooo nice and friendly. CJ, Oriana, Louis, and Monse were fantastic!
Easy to grab a quick bite. Meat was great! Triple threat was delicious. Loaded fries were a hit with my son! Grabbed a bite before we headed out on the seal boat!
I had such a great experience at carnitas snack shack! Oriana was super nice and incredibly helpful. She made sure I received great care from start to finish. The carnitas tacos were amazing!! Honestly the best I’ve had in a long time. The location is also perfect! It was easy to find and also a great spot to relax and enjoy great food. Excellent service, great food, and an even better atmosphere thanks to Oriana’s kindness! I highly recommend this place!
I came all the way from Chicago to try Carnitas in San Diego after a friend recommended it — and it did not disappoint! The food is absolutely delicious — flavorful, tender, and perfectly prepared every time. Beyond the amazing food, the team makes the experience even better. Reese, Nicole, Louis, and Marioriana were all so welcoming, attentive, and genuinely friendly. They made us feel right at home and went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. Highly recommend Carnitas — you won’t be disappointed!
Great ambience and casual fun! Fantastic food, even better service—highly recommend this spot!! Shout out to Louis, Reese and Nicole for fabulous service.
Delicious food, filling, quick service. Would highly recommend especially if you are going to the Midway which is very close.
Movie night at Carnitas Snack Shack! It's their first time having movie night & they're showing The Goonies! Special menu from the outside grill guy who had pork belly (with a delicious addicting sauce) & hot dogs. Then popcorn for all movie watchers! Chairs were provided & some brought their own. People at the bar turned their chairs around to watch. Great fun along the Embarcadero!
Authentic, Tasty, and Super Friendly! I had a great experience at Carnitas’ Snack Shack in San Diego! The place was very clean and had a relaxed, welcoming vibe. The food was absolutely delicious and authentically Mexican—you can really taste the quality and care in every bite. On top of that, the staff was super friendly and made us feel right at home. If you’re looking for tasty carnitas and a great atmosphere, this spot is definitely worth checking out! Live music and boats going in and out of the harbour
First off Louie is the man! Phenomenal service and took the extra time to chat with us and we had lots of belly laughs. The Nashville hot chicken was out of this world good. I've never had a Nashville that crispy it was super crispy. Double fillets and a perfect slaw to pickles to sauce ratio. Could have been a touch spicier but that's just me addicted to spice. The brioche bun was lightly toasted, and the seasoned fries were a compliment. 10/10 will repeat again. Great meeting you Louie, I'll be back!
Light late afternoon lunch. Dining is outdoors. Ordered at counter and found a spot at a table. Food was good. Had the chicken tacos. Someone in our group had a burger and fries. The chips and salsa was good as well. Convenient.
We came here after visiting the USS Midway museum for something to eat. The smell walking up to the stand was what drew us in. The service was good and food was prepared quickly. Lots of seating lo…
We came here after visiting the USS Midway museum for something to eat. The smell walking up to the stand was what drew us in. The service was good and food was prepared quickly. Lots of seating lo…
this place was really good!!!!!! food was fire. drinks were fire. view was fire!!!!!!!!
this place was really good!!!!!! food was fire. drinks were fire. view was fire!!!!!!!!
The food was great the service was fast. We went to go the patriot speed boat and had to pop in and get some tacos and and ice cream. Obviously with being at the Embarcadero the outdoor patio seati…
The food was great the service was fast. We went to go the patriot speed boat and had to pop in and get some tacos and and ice cream. Obviously with being at the Embarcadero the outdoor patio seati…
Great view, drinks and tacos are amazing, Brent and Nicole were so helpful and attentive!
Great view, drinks and tacos are amazing, Brent and Nicole were so helpful and attentive!
This outdoor spot is misleading! You think it will be some silly overpriced bar food but it has fantastic shrimp and carnitas tacos! The margaritas made by Q aka Quinton are delicious and if you ar…
Sunny waterfront location with outdoor seating near the ferry stop to Coronado. One of the best tacos Ive had in years. Flavor and quality was excellent.
We wanted a drink so this place looked really nice, whilst there I ordered some Chips and Quacamole which were really fresh and filling.
We wanted a drink so this place looked really nice, whilst there I ordered some chips and Quacamole which were really fresh and filling.
this spot serves up delicious tacos( i’m sure everything else is good too) but u go there for carnitas. this place is in down san diego right across from all the touristy boat rides so what better …
Easy ordering on a terminal. We ordered baja fish tacos, guac and chips, and a pulled pork sandwich. Everything was served quickly and was really good. The fish tacos were very good and ha…
Easy ordering on a terminal. We ordered Baja fish tacos, guac and chips, and a pulled pork sandwich. Everything was served quickly and was really good. The fish tacos were very good and had larg…
First time here. Went because we were right downtown on the water and didn't want a fancy sit down. Staff were great. They have a FULL bar (outside!) as well. Plenty of seating options in the s…
First time here. Went because we were right downtown on the water and didn't want a fancy sit down. staff were great. They have a FULL bar (outside!) as well. Plenty of seating options in the s…
It's right on the water and quick service/counter service, but it's restaurant quality food, so not fast food. All of our food was fresh and had great flavors. Portions were large. It was a nice …
Kinda bussin. You get like a pound of beef in the tacos and burrito… that’s two pounds of schmeat that I ordered. It was like $30. It’s not “omg I’m gonna die this is so good” delicious, but it’s pretty bussin.
I mean I was just walking in San Diego looking for a place to eat and stumbled upon this one, I ordered the loaded quesadilla 8/10 I wish I added chicken oops anyway if I ever come back to San Diego I’ll probably try their chicken sand which next :D anyway service was good the cashier was pretty she was nice the place is pretty chill pretty nice 10/10
Visiting SD for the weekend and was staying nearby, this was highly rated and suggested and thought to give it a try. \nThe place has great views, good vibes, lots of outdoor seating, good for grou…
The food was great, the order and pickup was fast, the seating area and bar outside was very relaxing to look out on the water. \nHowever, this restaurant is ~50 feet from the ocean, and when I was g…
The food was great, the order and pickup was fast, the seating area and bar outside was very relaxing to look out on the water. \nHowever, this restaurant is ~50 feet from the ocean, and when I was…
The food was great, the order and pickup was fast, the seating area and bar outside was very relaxing to look out on the water. \nHowever, this restaurant is ~50 feet from the ocean, and when I was…
We decided to grab burritos and nachos before taking the train to head to OC. The shack is conveniently located amidst a touristy place, with plenty of outdoor seating, in the evenings DJ kicks in …
We sat outdoors at the bar. It was nice, comfortable, and scenic. (gorgeous weather) We had drinks and food. It was around 1700 on a Thursday. The drinks were normal, i.e.nothing special. The food…
We sat outdoors at the bar. It was nice, comfortable, and scenic. (gorgeous weather) We had drinks and food. It was around 1700 on a Thursday. The drinks were normal, i.e.nothing special. The f…
We sat outdoors at the bar. It was nice, comfortable, and scenic. (gorgeous weather) We had drinks and food. It was around 1700 on a Thursday. The drinks were normal, i.e.nothing special. The …
Great spot on the Embarcadero to enjoy the view and people watch. This unpretentious snack shack serves fresh, reasonably priced Mexican food. We had a Carnitas salad and our brother-in-law chose a…
Great spot on the Embarcadero to enjoy the view and people watch. This unpretentious snack shack serves fresh, reasonably priced mexican food. We had a Carnitas salad and our brother-in-law c…
Great spot on the Embarcadero to enjoy the view and people watch. This unpretentious snack shack serves fresh, reasonably priced Mexican food. We had a Carnitas salad and our brother-in-law chose…
Great spot on the Embarcadero to enjoy the view and people watch. This unpretentious snack shack serves fresh, reasonably priced Mexican food. We had a Carnitas salad and our brother-in-law chose…
Looking for a quick bite? I stopped by this outdoor snack shack and ordered a wine because...wine not? They serve wine in a can - I prefer a bottle. They have a nice selection of beer for a s…
Good food , quick service. Quite expensive for what it is, but the setting makes up for it somewhat (next to the pier and very close to USS Midway).
Good food , quick service. Quite expensive for what it is, but the setting makes up for it somewhat (next to the pier and very close to USS Midway).
Delicious lunch! We're visiting from out of town and found this restaurant as we walked along the boardwalk. Food was fantastic- we had nachos, queso fries, a burrito and Grill cheese sandwich. …
service was really great! Food was okay. I got the Nashville Hot Chicken Sammich and it was not hot at all. I am very happy with the size of it and the crispiness of the chicken. However, there was…
Nice place to eat a taco or burrito. We ate here a few times. We were at work close to here. Chicken could be a little greasy, depending on the day. prices are good enough but not cheap. Seen the…
Nice place to eat a taco or burrito. We ate here a few times. We were at work close to here. Chicken could be a little greasy, depending on the day. Prices are good enough but not cheap. Seen the l…
Went to this place on a whim as I love carnitas. I ordered their staple sandwich, the triple threat. The concept of this sandwich sounded amazing. Three types of pork - schnitzel, carnitas, an…
Based on all of the rave reviews, I wanted to love it, but just didn't. The marinated steak tacos were bland, and the chips tasted overdone and in desperate need of salt. Barely touched the salsa because I didn't like the flavor. Forcing down my second taco because $30 is a lot to waste on a meal. On the plus side, atmosphere is great, staff was friendly, and the service was fast.
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About Carnitas’ Snack Shack
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1004 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
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1004 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
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What people say about Carnitas’ Snack Shack
Carnitas' Snack Shack: San Diego's Waterfront Bite with a View
Alright, San Diegans, if you haven't made your way down to Carnitas' Snack Shack, what are you even doing? Tucked right by the water, this spot isn't just a place to grab a bite; it's an institution, a true local gem that consistently delivers on flavor, service, and atmosphere. I've heard from more than a few folks, including long-time residents, who've made it their regular haunt for years, and it's easy to see why.First, let's talk about the grub. The kitchen here truly hits the spot, dish...
Carnitas' Snack Shack: San Diego's Waterfront Feast
There are some spots in San Diego that just scream "local favorite," and Carnitas’ Snack Shack is definitely one of them. Nestled right by the water, it’s the kind of place you stumble upon and immediately feel like you’ve found a hidden gem – though it's hardly hidden, given the fantastic aromas wafting through the air!Seriously, the smell alone is enough to draw you in from blocks away, especially if you’ve just spent a few hours exploring the USS Midway museum nearby. It’s an almost irresi
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