Carnitas' Snack Shack - Embarcadero Reviews

We ordered the steak sandwich which was wonderful and big enough to share. The server was friendly and attentive, and the prices were very reasonable.

While parking for this spot is not easily accessible or realistic, it’s a fun spot to stop at if you’re strolling through the other nearby attractions. Live music adds to the flavor.

Maybe it is because food in touristy locations is usually so underwhelming, and so we had low expectations. But the Carnitas and Fish tacos were amongst the best we had on our whole trip to Southern California.

We stopped by here on our way to shopping. Wonderful place right on the bay. Nice people and great service. You oder at the window and they find you with a location place mat. Great idea! Excellent place to people watch too.

Pretty decent fish tacos and the burger is big enough for two people to share if necessary. Service was very slow and you do NOT want to order food here right before you go on one of the Harbor Cruises. You need to budget at least 45 minutes to get your food and eat it.....if you eat fast. Prices are high and everything is separate. $45 for lunch for four with two people sharing a burger. Good news is that you can get discounted tickets for a harbor cruise if you eat there first and get 10% off if you've already been on the cruise. Fish tacos were very good but frankly....the fries sucked. Their bacon ketchup sauce was not good and I'd recommend skipping it. I'd probably eat there again if I was trying to burn time before a cruise but I'd look for other options if I had more time.

My wife and I visited Carnitas Snack Shack after returning on the Coronado Ferry and we really enjoyed it. We both ordered the happy hour fish taco with chips and salsa for $5 which was delicious. We also ordered happy hour drinks and for a smaller place, they have good draft beer options. Our server was great and the staff works very hard here to serve customers seated in multiple patio areas. This is a great place to chill and relax by the Ferry landing.

One of best eating experiences on our trip to Cailfornia! We went back 3 itimes and were never disappointed. Food was inexpensive and look out for specials. The pork belly sliders was divine! An excellent eatery right on San Diego`s harbourfront! Great value and service.

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, and bacon. Plus, they had some type of relish. Sounds amazing, right? The only problem with this particular sandwich was that the schnitzel was almost too thin, and the carnitas were on the dry side. And there probably could've been more relish. That said, I dipped it in the queso I bought as a side for my tots, which made it all.work. Maybe I just got a bad sandwich.

CSS is in a prime location right on the Broadway Pier waterfront between the USS Midway museum and the old sailing ship museum. They have a nice outdoor full bar and on the other side outdoor tables and bean bag games for kids(very family/tourist friendly). I had the Caesar salad with mahi added which was filling with the Mac and cheese. Service was excellent considering the crowd. Manager Jason is very cool, friendly and things were running very smoothly. Food, fun and great location...can't beat it.

Ate here before going to the USS Midway museum. Crowded and hard to get a seat, but the food was very tasty. Great place to eat on the waterfront.

The waterfront location is lovely, and there is great people watching with the cruise ships and tourists nearby. The food was quite good, and better than we expected in such a touristy area. The service was very attentive. We had the carnitas, and it was tender, flavorful, and delicious. It's a nice lunch spot while walking the harbor area.

Great outdoor spot for casual dining. Inexpensive food, good tacos (maybe a little dry), great pork belly.

We visited during happy hour (3pm to 6pm) which was a bonus as wine and beer have a $3 discount during this time. The food is also very good. A live band were playing which created a great atmosphere and I would definitely recommend a visit when in San Diego.

A little pricey but the food is pretty good - the chicken sandwich/burger is surprisingly awesome. Also good for people watching while sitting near the harbor.

I live in San Diego and did not know of this new takeout restaurant. I had amazing fish and carnitas tacos...one of each. The outdoor seating is of many kinds, from single tables to long high and low tables. Even though this is a takeout, and you order your food, the food is delivered and drinks are refilled and anything you may need is at their command. This restaurant is at the foot of Broadway and is within walking distance of the Midway, the ferry landing, tall ships and more. Were I a tourist, I would like to know about this restaurant and would use it. There is also an outside bar, $5 margaritas and tacos on Tuesday and a brunch on Sunday.

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 little place to stop by while walking down the pier/dock.

This place is a 5 minute walk from the hotel and sounded great. Perhaps I should have checked out Trip Advisor first. I ordered a two tacos - Mahi Mahi & Carnitas along with a side of garlic aioli fries. The fries were good but cold. The tacos had no flavor. I added Siriachi to spice it up and that helped. It didn’t help that it was 65 degrees with a stiff wind blowing. The heaters didn’t do any good at the bar. On the good side, service was friendly and quick. Great location to watch people.

This is right down on the harbor. Food pretty good. Price good. This staff is great. If you like Mexican give it a try

Love this place I have tried almost everything on the menu and have never been disappointed.The burger,fries and sandwiches are the best.

This is a small outdoor taco restaurant right on the main walkway along the bay. Plenty of table and chairs. Food is good and not overpriced, given its location. They do serve beer. It is informal and not a quiet sit down meal. Great place for kids.

If you like Carnitas Tacos and are in the area of the Midway Museum you may want to stop by this snack bar/restaurant. You can sit down and be waited on or, go to the counter. Plenty of outdoor seating. The view is of Sa Diego Bay. I would rate the food as a three star.

Why eat in a stuffy restaurant when you can get authentic beach food right on the pier! You can grab a couple tacos and a drink and watch the boats in the bay, listen to the seagulls and be entertained by Carnita’s DJ. Perfect day! I got the blackened mahi tacos. Very good. Note they load them up with jalapeños so be prepared!

While looking for a place to have lunch before going to the USS Midway Museum, we came across Carnitas Snack Shack. We ordered the rib eye steak sandwich and the carnitas tortas and we were not disappointed. The steak sandwiches were savory with a tangy taste with the jack pepper cheese, jalapeno, pickles, and tomatoes. The seasoned fries that were ordered separately were also good. If you're looking for a quick bite near the USS Midway Museum this is the place to go.

Came here for the tacos after seeing they had won the 2016 people's choice for cheap eats in a local newspaper. Good pork is at the heart of what they do. And the carnitas were sensational. This is what pork should - but rarely does - taste like.

We had visited the Maritime Museum and were parked near the Fish Market and the USS Midway. We decided to walk back to our car to move it a little closer to the museum when we thought we'd look for something to eat. We came across Carnitas' Snack Shack simply as we were walking by and decided to give it a try. For variety sake, we ordered fish tacos, carnita tacos and their BLT. I have to tell you that all three were very tasty. I especially liked their sauces, guacamole and the carnita tacos. My daughter and husband loved the BLT. It's a great location and our food was ready in a matter of minutes.

Called by on the weekend for a drink whilst out sightseeing. Great atmosphere and beautiful setting. Was a little disconcerted by the fact that a beer and a coke cost $9 and some change, then a 2nd beer on it's own also cost $9....... Anyhow, we called back by there yesterday to eat, the food was delicious, fresh and tasty and I would highly recommend!!! Just had the one round of drinks to accompany our food, a beer and a coke.... the cost was $9 and some change!

As a local we have a ton of eateries here in San Diego, but one of our newest food attractions is the Carnitas Snack Shack on the Embarcadero. We love it. A unique menu and most of it spicy but not too spicy. Great value, great venue, great outside bar.

Very nice experience on the San Diego Harbor with the Snack Shack. Great draft IPAs and the Triple Pork Sandwich will blow you away. It seems like some of the pork is deep fried, giving it a crunchy texture. I would do it again

This is a great eating spot down by the water. Amazing food and drinks in an outdoor environment. The staff were excellent and the food was amazing. Try the triple pork sandwich and beet salad. Will definitely go back!

Nice location right on the waterfront with outdoor seating including and outdoor bar. Order at the window and pick it up when ready or they do have servers too. The triple pork sandwich is good but tons of meat! The tacos looked great too. Fair prices. Kids welcome. Public bathrooms are right beside it.

Excellent food and drinks at very reasonable prices and great friendly service I had a fish taco and a carnita. My wife had the BLT, both were incredible

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 was tasty and fulfilling. The bar tender was nice, attentive. I would go again.

First & Foremost, our dogs love this location of Canitas' Snack Shack. The staff is super friendly and very welcoming to our dogs. The seating is all outdoors and done in such a cute way. Half is on the 'patio' and the rest is in a garden area. Right near rest rooms. The food is great, but check the menu before you order. Sometimes they have new dishes or specials and I'm bummed I went with my 'regular' order instead of branching out. This location serves drinks as well, so it can get really busy on weekends. This location is perfect for watching cruise ships as it is steps away from the port. As a cruise/travel blogger, you can imagine how much I love this!

Just stopped for a few drinks and snacks. Perfect location and one of the best bartenders ever. Kylee was great! Thanks for a wonderful time!

This is a great place in a cool location right in the harbor area. The whole place is based on pork and serving it all different ways. I got the Triple Threat Pork Sandwich, which is pork schnitzel, pulled pork and bacon all together with a house made sauce. It was fantastic!

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 large pieces of fish with crunchy batter. I ordered them without pickled red onion and they were made as I specified. The pulled pork sandwich was large and filling. This place is close to The Midway, had a view of the water, and lots of convenient seating. The bar was really nicely set under shade with wraparound seating. The bartender was friendly and gave me the happy hour price for my drink, even though I didn’t know it was happy hour, which was so kind. Would definitely return.

Nice selection of food, great place to sit and relax along the waterfront. In walking distance to the Waterfront Park and the USS Midway. Prices are low to mid range. Great music playing as we ate in their outdoor area. Nice views of bay.

The triple threat and fries are a must have. The views across the harbor are great. Very reasonable prices make this a must.

After 5 pm, I went for a beer and sandwich. Sat at bar and was promptly served. I had the steak sandwich which was a little sloppy to eat. Needed lots of napkins. Tasty yes. Since you are at the water edge, it was cool temperature. Bring warm clothes.

Food was good but way over priced... One burger ff and chicken sandwich ff and one small drink, $31.00.

We went here for lunch I got the pork belly sliders they were very tasty just wish the buns were grilled. My friend had fish tacos they looked fantastic. The service was friendly and fast she even made sure to refill my iced tea. Great place to eat enjoy the weather and people watch.

We ate at this location right after we got off a whale watching boat tour. The food was delicious! I had the Snackshack BLT- the ham and bacon were delicious and cooked to perfection. My parents and sister had the fish and carnitas tacos and ate every bit of it. It's a nice spot to sit and have some great food, beers, and watch the world go by. So glad we stopped here!

Came here for the pork belly and I was not disappointed. The spicy and sweet glaze really added a lot of flavor. Would have given a 5 but when trying to order they were out of about half of their menu and signature cocktails. The bartender said they are revamping there menu.

I dunno, based on the reviews, I thought there would be a little more to this restaurant in terms of local beer, porky things to eat. My fault for making assumptions. The special (a triple pork sandwich and beer for $10) was a great deal, and the carnitas tacos were good, but the bartender was only semi-friendly (on a not very busy day) and beer selection slim; I got the feeling we were paying mostly for location.

Sat down for a drink whilst waiting for our hop on off bus and after seeing nearby tables food decided to try it ourselves. Was pretty good and portions were very generous. Service was quick and friendly. Gluten free options handled very well. Worth a stop at for a quick snack or drink.

We stopped for a quick snack and had one of the shareable. The carnita queso fries were perfect. It was enough for the 4 of us and absolutely delicious. This is an outdoor place but there was plenty of seating when we were there. If I lived in the area this would easily become one of my favorite spots.

Good location right on the waterfront with outdoor seating Started with Fresh Guac with chips Triple Threat Pork sandwich with seasoned fries everything was excellent Refreshing Pink Lemonade Great service provided by Melanie

Gorgeous view of the Bay and you can sit outside. Friendly and attentive service. It is in the middle of the San Diego Harbor so you can watch the action while sipping a drink or plan excursions since all of the major tourist companies are located within a few feet.

The prices were high and the burgers, chicken sandwich, etc did not come with any sides. The $4 fries were shoestring type and there were about 20. The service is lazy; she brought out our food, plopped it down and walked away. The location is great!

After visiting the USS Midway, my husband and I looked forward to a drink and a meal - and Carnitas' was nearby and looked great. We had a glass of wine and looked at the menu, deciding to order a shared plate. We'd ordered our wine, and then our food, at the bar, so there was little for the waiter to do except deliver one plate of food. Everything was great until we got the bill. We paid with cash and the waiter asked if we wanted change. If we'd said no, the tip would have been well over 25%. Yes - we wanted change - and even then, the waiter brought less than the correct change and was clearly miffed that we didn't heavily tip - for very little service. What a bad way to end a very nice experience! We're not American, but we are aware of the standard range of tipping in the US, depending on the level of service, and happiness with the service. We didn't think delivery of one plate of food deserved a 25% + tip. Given its proximity to an international tourist destination, I think the staff of Carnitas' needs a bit of sensitivity training. Not all the visitors will be from the States, and it's only fair to give customers their full amount of change and the opportunity to decide on a tip they feel appropriately reflects the service rendered.

Great location on the bay to grab some tacos. Go on a boat tour and grab some lunch after. I was pleased with the menu selection. They have burgers as well but the tacos are the hero of this shack.

Right on the Boardwalk, near the ships that tour the harbor and near the cruise ship docking area, there is a little shop where you can get the best tacos in town. Sit outside in a pleasant area, have a margarita or shots of excellent tequila, and eat those tacos. Excellent staff, excellent food.

An excellent place to grab a bite on the San Diego waterfront. My pulled pork sandwich was truly outstanding!

For the volume of people and with how busy the area gets, they do a good job making some good food and service. The Triple Threat was very good, if you get over the meat sweats!!!

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 location. Good average place. Nice seating near the water and a public toilet close by. Fish taco;s were good as well as the burger(s) and the salads.

Just stopped by for a quick morning beverage and had a pineapple mimosa and it was very good. The atmosphere was great and the staff for friendly.

We were in downtown San Diego this weekend, so we decided to go to the Embarcadero location instead of going the North Park location where we usually eat. This choice left us very disappointed. My daughter ordered from their brunch menu, and had the bacon pancakes. I imagined it with bits of cripsy bacon in it. Instead it had a strip or two of limp bacon inside. I usually like my bacon to not be too crispy, this was even to under done for me. I had the carnitas torta, which wasn't bad, but the meat was not as good as it normally is. The fries and bacon ketchup were good. My husband had the carnitas tacos, he also thought the meat was just ok. We were disappointed that we didn't get the corn that we usually get on the side with every order. We don't know if they stop giving it out or they simply forgot to give it to us, or if they don't have it at this location. Since there is no wait staff to check on you after they bring your food we didn't ask and the line was very long and busy so we couldn't ask at the window. From my experience at this location, it's too touristy. You are paying to have a view of the ocean, not to enjoy good food.

I think these tacos are good for anyone who doesn't want to go south of the border... BIG, believe me, they are big... Love: Carnitas!!! Love: Restaurant, the area, the people Stay away: Chicharrones.... Its expensive and not real chicharrones Service: Very good Eat, enjoy the area, have a drink... and eat more! :-)

Visited twice while on a trip to SD in early March. Great spot for a casual bite. I had the Smokey Pig (super) and the Smokey Pork and Spicy Mac Tacos (tasty but a bit dry, needs something with a different texture). Friendly staff and some nice beers.

We got the seasoned fries (do it!), carnitas tacos (huge portions with good guacamole but needs salsa), fish tacos (get something else).

This was our first stop after getting off the plan & before the Midway Museum. Our here ended up being the best of the trip and the portions were so generous! We ordered chips & guac to start but could barely finish them on top of the food. Highly recommend

Stopped here for lunch on Sunday 4/9/17 after visiting the Midway Carrier. It was already quite busy but we had someone come to us and offered to seat us outside. It was quite windy there but not that bad. We ordered a beer and coke and two fish tacos with an additional order of fries. I tried to order a pork belly taco but was notified that they were out of the pork belly. The liquid refreshments came quickly and we enjoyed the music provided by a gentleman playing his guitar. It did take a bit of time before we received our food so our wait person Elisa was kind enough to bring us guacamole and chips. The tacos were quite good and the fries were seasoned and were very good, The total for our bill including gratuity was $38.01!

We arrived in San Diego later in the evening then we expected due to airline cancellations. We were staying in a hotel across the street and decided to check out the snack shack since we were starving and everything else was closed. This place exceeded our expectations and really was a hidden gem. We ordered the fish tacos and chips and guacamole. Both of these were very fresh tasting. The old saying applies here as you can't judge a book by its cover.

Having just gotten off a whale cruise, we were looking for a quick place to eat. We had gone by Carnitas' Snack Shack earlier and decided to give it a shot. The Carne Asada Fries were very nice, not to greasy and the meat was flavorful. It's all outdoors with a bar and decent margaritas. You can sit and watch the tourists or the local flavor, if you wish!

There is nothing pretentious here at this little outdoor snack shack located on the Embarcadero. We grabbed a quick lunch before a tour and appreciated our waitress working with our time crunch. The servers seemed quite overworked and the kitchen was backed up while we were here. Luckily we got our food and drinks and headed out in a timely manner. The bacon ketchup with french fries was very tasty and the highlight of our meal! Perfect place to grab a beer, sandwich, fries or ice cream. Nothing fancy but with great views and tourist prices.

Love the location and the outdoor seating. I had a chopped salad and was so happy that they were generous with the delicious bacon bits! Hubby loved his sandwich too.

Service was good. Was outside along/near the water not far from the Midway Museum. Delicious fish tacos, maybe a little pricy for tacos.

Came here for a quick drink, and stayed for food. Brilliant servers. Excellent food. Such spice. NOICE.

I had put this specific place on my to go list, I didn’t know that it was on the harbor too so that was very convenient since we were going to the USS Midway museum and then on the Patriot Jet Boat. We had time in between so we went to eat here for lunch. I had the queso fries and the kids had the breakfast sausage sandwich, kids hamburger combo and the oldest son had the pork belly. My fries were tasty, liked everything about them. The others ate their food without any negative to say. The only thing I noticed was that the breakfast sausage sandwich was kind of small for the price, it could have a side and the breakfast muffin that came with the pork belly was dry and the kids fed it to the doves which was cute to watch.

Service was good. We were able to sit down and order not just order at window. We had chips and Guac, chicharrons and carnitas queso fries. All were pretty bland no spice. Fries were the best out of the three. Pretty bland.

We needed coffee to warm ourselves after spending a day in the rain in San Diego. Bought takeaway coffees from Carnitas and was so disappointed I had to ask the assistant to dispose of the coffee. It was the worst coffee I have ever tasted. It must have been brewed for some time and was tepid. I won't be going back there.

Great location - waterfront - cruise ship in port almost in front of you. I lucked out - Triple Threat Wednesday! An excellent sandwich and a draft beer for $12.00! Triple threat is (good!) bacon, pulled pork, and pork loin schnitzel on a roll with homemade aioli and pepperoncini relish! I had to eat some with a fork before I could smoosh it down to bite it. Great people watching site too. Eat outside. Counter service or table service. It was a bit cool and windy but they have overhead heaters on. Lots to do in the area before or after eating.

Great breakfast, good service. Made sure no mayo was put on sons sandwich. Seem to be freshly made. Bacon pancakes were lovely - huge, fluffy and delicious. Good price given the seafront setting and views. Very nice.

Right on the harbor and such great carnitas! I thought it was pricey for 2 carnitas tacos for my husband and I to share, but they were the biggest street tacos with heaps of pork, fresh guacamole, and fresh salsa. We shared some great spicy fries with tangy bacon katsup too.

Stopped by the Snack Shack on a Sunday night at the end of a bike ride along the water. The outdoor seating and waitstaff wearing shirts declaring “vegan gone bad” drew me in. Ordered the steak sandwich, a side of fries and a local IPA. The sandwich was thinly sliced ribeye with thin slices of pickled Serrano peppers and melted cheese. The bread looked like toasted plain white bread, but was actually a jalapeño bread that was hearty enough to keep it all together. Chipotle mayo gave it a good kick and I thought the sandwich was pretty decent altogether. The fries were the thin shoestring kind and were not as hot as I would like. There was also a side of bacon ketchup. Table service was quick and courteous. Overall I gave this experience a 3, points were deducted for lukewarm fries and presentation (see photo).

We went on a flagship cruise around the bay and afterwards needed some food. The service was quick, they had a special on fish tacos, very enjoyable for this Quick Bite.

Fab food on the embarcadero in San Diego..... Not cheap but delicious and plentiful....the fries are awesome...the cauliflower tacos were great and the chicken sandwich lovely.... Refillable soft drinks and free water from a dispenser. If you are eating there they will give you a little tracking device to put on the central panel on your table so that they know where to bring your food.... They also have a separate bar area next door.... Lovely food and if you are travelling with San Diego harbour tours show your ticket for a discount... No toilets but there is a clean public toilet block about five minutes further along the embarcadero.

The location is great and the guy who took our order was really nice and polite. However the long wait time for food ruined our experience. It took about 45-60 minutes for fish tacos and a side of fries. The place was not busy as it was a Friday afternoon, nor did they let us know of the insane wait time for food. When we did get our food we asked for it to go as we had to leave and by the time I was able to eat my food it was really disappointing and was not good at all. Bummer since its a great location on the water but probably will not got back. I can't even imagine how long the waits could be when they are busy on the weekend.

About a year ago, my husband and I happened on this little outdoor bar. We were just visiting the SD area between Christmas and New Years and made a point of stopping there again! The atmosphere is such you could stay there all day and people watch! The beer is cold and the food flavorful! If you're in the area of the Midway, make a stop at Carnitas Snack Shack!

We went here because we wanted dinner and we were staying at the hotel right by it. I got the burger and it was so good!! The only downfall is that fries don’t come with it which is a little weird. It is outdoors and has a great view

I enjoyed a lunch at this bayside location and an Ice Cream topped with bacon whiskey truffle crumble. All seating is outside and a cool bar is next to it with live music.

I had the triple threat pork sandwich and although I was drooling over the descripton and the reviews. I thought the namesake carnitas were just okay. a bit dry.

After exploring the Maritime Museum, I needed a bite to eat and this place is right in the middle of things. So, I gave it a whirl. The specialty of this place are the different kinds of pork sandwiches, but there are other things as well like tacos. All the seating is outdoors which is just fine on a typical sunny San Diego day. The staff was quite friendly. Expect to pay waterfront prices. A bit more than your typical quick serve style restaurant. I went with the Triple Threat sandwich. Pulled pork, bacon, and pork schnitzel. It ended up being good, not great. Definitely a different style sandwich which I'm always open to try. The Snack Shack is a nice place to hang out and enjoy some good food as well.

We stopped by twice, for food and drinks. Great food and service. The only thing I disliked was the 4% surcharge. Granted, you have a small sign on the post and fine print on the menu notifying customers of the charge. However, if you have the fine print on the menu, obviously you've printed new menus. Why not just post new prices? If the menus had not been newly printed, I could see this. With the fine print on the (new) menus, it just rubbed me the wrong way. Ended up walking to Claim Jumpers for several meals, just out of protest! Maybe next vacation in San Diego we'll give you another try.

On my forever quest to find a new Taco Tuesday spot every Tuesday, Carnitas Snack Shack was next on my list. It’s in a lovely location located right on the Embarcadero. On Tuesdays, they have a $5 special that includes 1 fat taco, chips and salsa and $5 margaritas. I got one carnitas and one steak taco, and I must say, stick with the carnitas only. The steak was a little tough for me. The tacos were pretty decent sized and totally stuffed with meat. The carnitas taco was simply delicious. Good drinks, great food, a wonderful view, and awesome service. It really doesn’t get any better than that! Some may be deterred to come here because A) it can get super touristy, B) parking can be a pain, and C) it’s outdoor seating only - because let’s face it, San Diego is ONLY sunny 360 days out of the year, the other 5 days can be pretty chilly! However, we were very pleasantly surprised that it was none of those things at all. It’s a fun spot to people watch; if you show up after 8pm, parking is free, and there were heat lamps everywhere. Overall, I would definitely recommend it! Nice place to bring your out of town guests too - you know, to add to the touristy vibe :)

This place is located right on the road not to far from the Midway ship. Such a fun place to stop and have a drink or sonething to eat. Highly Recommend.

I liked this spot. We sat at the bar with Reese, i think. He was a very attentive bartender. He is about to get married soon. Yes, we had a full conversation. It was breezy, the heaters were on, and that helped a lot. We did arrive like an hour before closing. There was no rush from any of the gentlemen that worked that night. I liked the food a lot as well. The other ladies were just ok with it. Will go again. $43 on our meal that we split. $48 on three drinks, not including the tip.

We flew into San Diego airport (first time this far south in CA) and was looking for a quick bite close by before heading north to Long Beach. Beautiful location just ten minutes away on Harbor Drive with a view to the water! You order your food at the stand and the food will be brought to you or through the waitstaff at the outdoor tables/benches. Very casual. We ordered the carnitas, fish and pork belly tacos. So fresh! The pork belly was our favorite. Sweet, tasty and so tender! We made it a point to return for lunch the day we went back home and was not disappointed that was our last meal on our CA trip. Parking was good even on a Saturday afternoon in metered parking lots along the northside of the restaurant along Harbor Drive. No blasting of music as mentioned by some, during Saturday lunch, so it sounds like a totally different atmosphere in the evenings.

We stopped at Cartisas' because it looked like a fun casual place, and it was the only place with shade in the area we were walking. The two of us ordered 2 carnitas tacos and two carnitas tortas to share. This was the very best carnitas that I've ever had. The pork was juicy and so flavorful. Really fantastic. The outdoor seating is really casual and fun. They have a cornhole game you or the kids can play. There's plenty of shade and adult beverages available if you choose. I will go back next time I'm in San Diego.

Carnitos in this part of the world but chicaron in my home place of Cebu, this is the best carnitos in San Diego and comparable to the local chicaron of Carcar Cebu :)

If you are at the harbor visiting the Midway, Maritime Museum, or cruising, Carnitas is a great spot to get a bite. TIP: if you are taking a Flagship Cruise, presenting a receipt from Carnitas will get you a 2-for-the-price-of-1 deal.

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 sun or shade. We ordered a bunch of stuff. All very reasonably priced I must say. The "triple threat" was an awesome meat sandwich! Fries were the only let down but they weren't bad. I'd go again. Great spot.

We've visited here twice on different years, both times at night. The politeness wasn't the best and the welcoming attitude was hit and miss with bartenders. On our last visit in May at night, we were ignored while sitting at the bar by a tall white girl with pinned up blond hair who was standing directly in front of us. A smaller Hispanic girl who was cleaning classes next to her asked us for our drink order. We thought WOW, how rude of this blond girl....she must be bitter. As the night went on, we noticed that she just had a BRF and really didn't seem happy. The Hispanic girl was perfect and made our drinks just as requested while being friendly and engaging. I hate to make this review seem racist but it was our experience and I have no names to describe the women; which leads me to do using racial descriptions. The atmosphere is youthful and not for the older crowd as we fit.

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 yummy taco. Perfect place to enjoy lunch after a fascinating tour of the Midway carrier ship!

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 small place and a full bar. I had the steak tacos-they are your average tacos served with a side of slightly s picy salsa.. the smashburger on the other hand hit the spot! It is a smashed burger with grilled onions and a side of some kind of sauce. A very generous portion of a burger! the fries are served HOT just like I like them! Stop by and say hi to Miko, the bartender. A straight to the point kinda guy but attentive✝️ note: you can order from the window or the outside bar

I had the carnitas and fish taco combo which is not on the menu but they will let you order it. Pork is pork and I usually skip fish tacos as they normally do not appeal to me. Now I know the fish has to be ahi tuna. It was perfectly grilled and awesome. The pork taco was much bigger than fish and two can share them. As for the fish taco you will not want to share it. Great location, outside bar with attentive bartenders. Recommend to all. Will be getting this again as I am here all week at convention.

Was so excited to see The Carnitas Shack across from my hotel— previously visited North Park location. Ordered Cesar salad with carnitas. It was extremely small for price which turned out to be ok because it was barely edible. Romaine was old, croutons stale, and carnitas dry. So disappointing.

We should have eaten here, but we only had a few drinks. The food looked great! This is outdoor seating only; around the bar and in a nearby courtyard. Also with a spot for walk up service. The bartender was good. It was a cold day for SD, so I think business was probably slower. This place would be much more enjoyable on a warmer day. Views of the bay were nice from our seat!

My husband and I stopped here from the airport! Nice outside location with view of boats and the tacos were great!

The Snack Shack was right behind our hotel and was also right on the water. We were told they had great Tacos so we went to visit. Our fish tacos were the most bland tacos we have ever been served. It was in the evening and we felt the staff was ready to go home. The cabbage on the taco was fine but the fish was just not acceptable. It was also over-priced. Surely they can do better. I hope we just hit a bad day.

This is a busy place where you can order at the counter or get full menu service at the bar. We did the latter. The food was decent (I had the fish tacos). For whatever reason, they had run out of several of their draft craft beers at 11:30 in the morning, but I was able to find one I liked.

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).

As first timers on Holland America, we cannot board until 5:00 pm. The sun is out. A musician is playing his guitar and singing his heart out. They have a fun and good drink menu. I am enjoying a pineapple mimosa and my husband is enjoying a Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

I was looking forward to trying to food here and sitting out beside the harbor. Unfortunately, my experience was underwhelming. The outdoor seating is directly next to the cars zooming by on Harbor Drive and the food was mediocre. There are far better taco places in San Diego - skip this.

We had a dolphin/whale watching tour right next door and hadn’t eaten so we stopped in on a whim. The service was great and fast. Our margaritas were delicious. Our food was even more delicious. Some of the best food I’ve had or at least I think and less I was just starving? Lol. We ordered the carnitas queso fries as an app and omg they were unbelievable. Also ordered the carnitas tacos and pork belly/Mac n cheese tacos. Carnitas were great! The pork belly and Mac n cheese tacos were unreal. Never thought they would be that amazing combined but wow. Just all Delicious and I highly recommend.

Stopped by Carnitas for a quick snack and a cold beer. It's a walk up outdoor counter that does have outdoor table service as well as an outdoor bar. Being a Saturday night, the bar was a bit lively with music and dancing taking place at a covered stage/dance floor just away from the bar. Greeted by a very friendly server sporting the Carnitas t-shirt emblazoned with the words "Vegan gone Bad" we thought this is the place. After all,it seems very popular with the locals so we figured why not give it a try? We tried the fresh made chicharrones, one order of beef tacos and an order of the local fish tacos. The chicharrones were excellent, nothing like the store bought ones left in plastic for months on end. The tacos equally good. Two tacos on the plate that were absolutely huge. You didn't leave hungry that's for sure. Service was excellent and very prompt. If you're on the Embarcadero and looking for a quick informal bite, definitely give Carnitas Snack Shack a look.

We stopped for lunch before touring the U.S.S. Midway. So glad we did!! The food is delicious!! We ordered pork sliders and garlic fries for my hubby and I and the kid’s chicken/fries for my kiddo. We thoroughly enjoyed it!! Our waitress was awesome!!! It was a cooler day and the sweet waitress brought out a blanket for my kiddo to snuggle in. They do have heat lamps in use if the weather is cool. Do yourself a favor and try this place out!!

We were strolling the harbor and were hungry so we stopped here. The food is Mexican inspired and it is licensed so we could get drinks. The food was very expensive but it was a convenient food to eat. Would not return.

Good place to stop while you’re exploring downtown. It has a party atmosphere and is an open air place on the embarcadero. I got the marinated steak tacos-a very good deal. The chips and guacamole are $12 and a huge serving. Service at the bar is really good and you can order food there Instead of at the window.

We were tired of walking around the USS Midway all day and were passing right by this on the way back to our hotel. Decided we'd rather try it than go find another restaurant. Was a very pleasant surprise. Food was very good and portions large. Much more bang for the buck than I was expecting in a tourist area.

It was close to our hotel so we stopped, we were pleasantly surprised with the Mahi Mahi sandwich. Only problem was no indoor seating in cold weather so we took it back to the hotel.

Sat outside. Had a Alright, Alright, Alright beer that was just alright. The tacos were okay but nothing special. Our waitress was awesome.

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. Definitely recommend if you are in the area

We stopped in between a boat trip and the ferry to Coronado. A good varied menu, very decent portion sizes and tasty food. Well worth it

My wife and I had a quick dinner on our first night in San Diego. We were tired and hungry. This really fit the bill. You can have counter service or sit down. We chose for the sit down and have a couple drinks. My wife had the Mahi tacos and I had the carnitas tacos. Both were wonderful. Though, the Mahi tacos did shock us with the serrano's....hot hot hot.

Taking my daily walk at lunch, I chose to walk the Embarcadero. I happened upon a nice surprise - Carnitas' Snack Shack harbor side! I have been a fan for a while and decided my walk needed to be lunch! I chose the "Triple Threat" sandwich (pork loin schnitzel/pulled pork/bacon/pepperoncini relish/aioli) along with fries and soda. I took my pager to the bar area and chatted with the bar tender until my lunch came along. The Triple Threat is a large sandwich! It was a great combination of meats with the right amount of pickles and aioli sauce. Large sandwich so be hungry or share this one! Unfortunately, I ate the whole thing! Whew thank goodness I was walking! The Snack Shack bar is a great place to people watch too. I enjoyed my lunch while watching folks heading to the Holland America cruise ship. Several passengers stopped in with their luggage and had lunch. Overall, the Snack Shack is a good lunch stop! It is open/outside so be prepared for whatever weather the day offers

By far this was the best meal we had in San Diego! We had the Triple Threat Pork Sandwich. Amazing! Also had the Steak sandwich which was equally amazing. Friendly service. Great outdoor location. Don’t let the word Shack scare you away. The best!

We had lunch at Carnita's while visiting the Midway Museum in San Diego harbour. As it was a nice day, we ate at the outdoor tables. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and my wife had the clubhouse. Both sandwiches were very big and with one drink, the bill came to $20. We both enjoyed the sandwiches and the service was efficient and friendly. The menu is fairly extensive and there is food for all ages and tastes. Good place to eat.

Delicious carnitas tacos, huge, lots of pork. The beet salad is really unique and fantastic. Happy hour prices on beer were $5. Nice open air waterfront location in the shade.

If the weather is good as it usually is in San Diego this is a great place to enjoy the waterfront and have a good bite to eat.

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 than ocean views, taco and alcohol. 😁

We came here on a weekday for dinner as it was highly recommended by a friend who lives in the area. I ordered the fish taco and was surprised at how big the serving of the fish was. I also got an order of the seasoned fries which comes with the bacon ketchup. I wasn't too crazy for the bacon ketchup but the fries were good. Hubby had the pork belly app (highly recommended also by the friend who suggested this place). I would say that the food and the service were good but I don't think it'll be worth the drive for us if we were further away.

Nice place to have some drinks with the Pier’s view and the vessels dock in it. They sell some snacks. I found it quite expensive for what they offered. You can wait for the trolley and the boat tours enjoying a drink there.

Craft beers available as well as many pork items and fish tacos, plus soft serve swirled ice cream! Waterfront location.

A great find right on the harbor. Wife had the fish taco's. She said she has never had fish taco's that were so loaded with toppings - and that was not a bad thing. I made the "mistake" of ordering the Triple Threat Pork Sandwich and the Carnitas Queso Fries. I say mistake because I thought I was ordering a side of fries. They were clearly a meal to themselves - and only $9. The Triple threat is carnitas, bacon and pork loin. I hope I make it back before we have to leave town.

We went on a Tuesday because of the Taco Tuesday offer. Basically it's $5 tacos, but you only get one, but the main menu is $9, $10 or $11 depending on which option you choose and you get 2... So the offer is completely pointless unless you just want one taco. The guy explained it to us, and after thinking I'd misunderstood he confirmed the above was correct! I ordered at the service hatch and went to sit down, he gave us a buzzer for when the food was ready. I went back to the service hatch and stood there for 3 minutes waiting for someone to hand me my food that I could see sat on the side. Eventually I was handed the two dishes (we went for the normal menu because we wanted to try one of each of the mahi mahi and the indulgence tacos) but got no chips. I asked if they came with any because the taco Tuesday offer does and he seemed really put out that I'd asked him to empty some chips onto a tray for me! Just say no?! Really weird experience, the offer makes no sense and the service was pretty poor considering how easy it should be! The mahi mahi was tasteless and the indulgence taco was really good! Wouldn't bother again nor recommend it. Much better tacos in the downtown area.

This location despite being by the water with the skyline of downtown behind it doesn't draw me to it. Honestly there isn't much else around though during tourist season it could get plenty of foot traffic as people meander past. Depending on the weather it could be nice for outdoor dining or it could be cruel, cold and windy. There is no indoor dining and you order through the little opening that is nearly at the opposite end of where you can sit and eat. They do bring the food to you. Yes, the food is good but some might say the prices are high for the level of dining. Alcohol is available and the seating options are plentiful as long as you don't mind the outdoors. You could even take your food and sit closer to the water. We ordered their carnitas tacos, fish tacos, torta carnitas and fries. Flavor is good, portion size is good, presentation is good. Authentic Mexican? Definitely not but then again this is not the location where you would expect authentic. So yes, you can enjoy a satisfying meal with a decent view here. Realize metered parking is pretty much the norm depending on the time you visit.

Our family visited and really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. We had Smoky Pig Sliders and they were outstanding! We also shared some of their garlic fries, which were great! The whole staff was very nice and helpful!

Awesome staff. Great beer. Amazing view. This fun, new, trendy outdoor bar (that also has a yum looking and reasonably priced menu) was a great stop for my husband and I after a day at the zoo. The relaxed atmosphere was exactly what we needed and the Uber from the zoo was less than $7 and is within walking distance to our hotel. Oh and happy hour from 3-6pm (Tuesday) was an added bonus. Great find.

Right on the harbor walk. Literally across the street from Marriott Springhill Suites on Bayfront Ct. in downtown San Diego. It is under a permanent roof, but outside - there are no walls. You can sit at the bar or at some high tables. On a Thursday afternoon in January, it was about half full, and from order time to having blackened fish tacos on my table was maybe 4 minutes. They were very good and very fresh. About $11-12 for two, so a little expensive but not bad for the location. Fast, friendly service. Definitely wheelchair accessible but I can’t swear there are lower tables, but I think there are. I am wheat free, and the Blackened fish tacos were just perfect, as they were in a corn tortilla.

I got fish tacos and they were solid. Niece LOVED her “gigantic” carnitas taco. Guacamole and chips were great. Pilsner was a refreshing complement to the meal

Fun location, great views and lots of outside seating. Food was delicious. You order outside and grab a table then they bring you the food. You can either sit on the bar side or the side with spread out tables in a little treed area.

A little pricey for what you get. You are paying for the location on the embarcadero. It is very convenient however to the attractions like the Midway, Star of India and Seaport Village.

I had the Snack Shack Burger and a local stout Both were delicious, and I also had a good view of the bay!

we spend the first day of 2017 in this bar and enjoyed the sun, the view on the sea/bay. The bar is cool and modern and so many people joined the bar starting at 10 am. We had many drinks and nice conversation with locals.

The Carnitas Snack Shack is pure San Diego. Great tacos and other mexican food while sitting on the harbor and watching the cruise ships and sailboats in the bay.

Another one of those things my poor husband had to hear about continuously was the carnitas I had when I lived in Cali. I'd gotten close but they were still lacking a little something. Carnitas Snack Shack brings it to the table! Fast, friendly, and absolutely delicious!! Great spot to eat and watch foot traffic and harbor traffic and local business people. They have a full service bar and public restrooms are very close. I'd say it's a "must do" if you happen to be in San Diego!

If you are down by the harbor looking for lunch this is the spot. The carnitas fries were really good and the burger was also.

A mid-week visit for take out was disappointing. The food was old, cold, stale and tired. Asked for grilled fish on the tacos, got fried, also ice cold. We think we got leftovers from the previous weekend. We responded to a survey sent to our email and were offered french fries as compensation. We didn't respond - we didn't want cold French fries!

rolled into town and our hotel wasn't ready so we walked towards the bay and settled at Carnitas. We had a large group and they had just opened. Food was hot and fresh. Beer was nice and cold...good variety! Great place to hang out by the water!

I came here on the first evening of being in town for a conference, and it was a really nice welcome to the city. The food was good (I had the carnitas queso fries) and was definitely reasonably priced for the quality. Seating mostly consisted of either sitting at the nearby open bar section or a collection of benches around the area. The location also offered a nice view of the harbor, which was an added bonus.

Another jewel on the bay that we loved! Lunch was delicious with great service and choices for the whole family.

Tasty pork items. Excellent BLT, nice salad. open pretty late, but the bar closed early so no beer with the tacos. Bummer.

It’s triple threat Wednesday, comes with a beer, bacon, chicken and pulled pork. It’s worth to try for it’s price. They also have $5 taco Tuesday

This was an easy jaunt for a casual outdoor Happy Hour by our hotel. Good drink and food specials. But the BOMB was the BACON Sandwich!!! I don't usually order a bacon sammie because they lack bacon. This Sammie was chock full of bacon and ham and practically oinking as I bit into it. Yes!

There are so many restaurants along the Embarcadero on Harbor Dr. I just wanted ice cream. Carnita’s Snack Shack serves a beyond delicious cup or waffle cone of vanilla, chocolate or swirl. I had the swirl of vanilla and what looks to me like dark chocolate. Delicious! Huge serving! My friend had a huge burrito….looked like enough for two meals. She enjoyed it as well. I was back several days later with other friends just for the ice cream! Too bad I couldn’t get there every day of the week I was in San Diego! There is also a large menu and bar on site.

Stopped here for lunch and had great service and food. Portions were large and very tasty. Great stop for the Maritime or Midway Museums.

This was my 2nd time in San Diego and I stayed at the Intercontinental hotel downtown and this restaurant was located at the Broadway Pier. Therefore I decided to try it. The food was good and worth trying. The view while eating was awesome.

I was very hesitant to get lunch for my family at this place given it was in a very touristy area and I thought the quality of food would be low and prices high. Not only was the food delicious, fresh and good portions, the service was great, prices on par and place was very clean. The fried chicken burger was exceptional and the garlic fries enough to share among the 4 of us as a side. Self serve free iced water was provided which a nice touch. Thank you!!

Had the Carnitas Tacos and the Beet Terrine and ate every atom off that plate. Delicious both. Right across from our hotel, prices are reasonable. Quality was excellent. Service friendly and fast. I didn't care for the plastic utensils, but other than that, no complaints.

Quick walk from the Residence Inn Bayfront and to area sites. Great food and quick. 9 of us ordered the cauliflower tacos and everyone one enjoyed them. Guac was good too!

Staff appeared so focus on closing for the night that they failed to give us our full order that we paid for and did not prepare the sandwiches as requested.

What a great find! The food was outstanding, drinks were great and the manager Louis Phan came out to make sure we were enjoying our food. Stop by for the best guacamole and tacos! Delish!!

The carnitas are juicy, plentiful, full of flavor, and a good value for the price, <$9.50. Service is exceptional and everyone had a friendly smile and can do atitude. We where in San Diego for 5 days, and we ate here 3 times!

Four of us ate brunch here before touring USS Midway on a Sunday. We sat at the bar and had good, friendly service and enjoyed our food. I had the sausage sandwich and it was really good! It wasn’t too windy, hot or cold, just an all-around good experience. I recommend this restaurant for a quick bite if you’re in the area.

Instead of heading to a loud Mexican restaurant stop here to enjoy real carnitas tacos and a beer. The food is really good. It's super casual by the water.

Blackened Mahi sandwich was great the fries were cold and over seasoned the Mac and cheese was nothing special. Pork belly was very small portion good thing it comes with two sides, also the tables were really dirty

I want to warn people that I was eating at this restaurant yesterday afternoon and I found a piece of a knife blade/metal in my taco. Thank goodness I felt it and didn't swallow it. I went to the staff and showed them the metal, they seemed slightly concerned but that was all!!! They should have been really upset, taken my number and looked into this! I have always loved this establishment and visited it many times when it was located on University Ave. I will NEVER eat here again after such a dangerous mistake on their part and their disinterest in the safety of their patrons.

The food is decent albeit a bit on the pricey side. It's one of the only food options in a 1/2 mile radius. At night they blare music really loud so you're better off getting food to go.

It's super windy and cold sitting outside. But food is delicious here! It's in a good location and price is also reasonable.

We needed a quick lunch before boarding the USS Midway for a tour, and happened on Carnitas Snack Shack nearby. We ate at the outdoor (fully stocked) bar. There was one waitress handling everyone; in addition she was using a computer cash register that seemed to be possessed - but she took care of everyone with good grace and in good time. Admirable! My husband and I shared a BLT that was over-the-top delicious, loaded with bacon. We each had a beer, and it was a perfect vacay lunch!

We wanted a drink so this place looked really nice, whilst there I ordered some Chips and Quacamole which were really fresh and filling.

Stopped by for a snack. The BLT was HUGE, living up to the description! Super bartender and outdoor ambiance with heaters.

Grabbed lunch here before heading to the USS Midway. Parked at the Midway parking lot and walked over. Order at the window then find a table. Even at lunch time we found two tables for our party of 7. Food was served quickly and was very good. Seating is outdoor between the harbor and the street with a full bar in the center. Drink service will come to your table. Nice place to hang out and have drinks on a lovely day or to grab a quick bite and be on your way.

The carnitas tacos were quite tasty and filled to the brim with meat. The garlic fries with Parmesan were yummy and a generous portion to share. Mahi-mahi fish taco also good. Excellent service. We ate here after riding on the Patriot jet boat, which was a blast!