Wherefore Carnitas Uruapan?

I loved this place when I visited Chicago a few years ago, and recommended it to a friend who is now visiting Chicago. He reports he can see no evidence of its existence. Is Carnitas Uruapan gone? If so, are there any other worthy carnitas places that you could recommend? Big copper vats are a plus!

Thanks.

Dave,

It's properly spelled Carnitas Uruapan* and last I heard was still going strong. If Carnitas Uruapan is out of business Don Pedro, Sabas Vega, Carnitas El Paisa or any number of Mexican groceries can provide your friend with his carnitas fix.

Enjoy,
Gary

*I corrected the spelling of Carnitas Uruapan in both subject line and post for future searches

Carnitas Uruapan
1725 W 18th
Chicago
773-226-2654

Don Pedro Carnitas
1113 West 18th Street
Chicago, IL 60608
312-829-4757

Sabas Vega Meat Market
1808 S Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
312-666-5180

Carnitas El Paisa
3529 W. Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL
773-278-2062

Dave Feldman wrote:I loved this place when I visited Chicago a few years ago, and recommended it to a friend who is now visiting Chicago. He reports he can see no evidence of its existence. Is Carnitas Urupuan gone? If so, are there any other worthy carnitas places that you could recommend? Big copper vats are a plus!

I think Carnitas Uruapan is open (not sure about holiday hours though). If it has closed that would be quite recent and a real shame. In any case there are two other carnitas specialists nearby in Pilsen: Don Pedro and Sabas Vega. I'd say all three are worth visiting but Uruapan is probably the best. There's a report on all three, including a great picture of Don Pedro's copper vats, here.

Carnitas Uruapan, Last Summer


Carnitas Uruapan
1725 W 18th St
Chicago
312-226-2654
[Note added: I believe the 312 area code, not 773 listed above, is correct.
At least that's what it says on their awning and in the current phone book.]

Carnitas Don Pedro
1113 W 18th St
Chicago
312-829-4757

Carnitas Sabas Vega
1808 S Ashland Av (1600 W)
Chicago
312-666-5180

Thank you VERY much -- I'll bet my typo is what stifled my friend. I'll send him the link to this thread and he, and I, appreciate your help tremendously.

G Wiv wrote:*I corrected the spelling of Carnitas Uruapan in both subject line and post for future searches

Think it might be good to leave at least one misspelling, especially if it's likely to be a common mistake, so that people who use it still get a search result?

Carnitas Uruapan was open and busy when I drove by today at 12:30. I don't know about tomorrow -- they are normally closed Thursdays anyway.

Dave, please also tell your friend to go there for lunch (or breakfast!), not dinner. Their usual hours are MTWF 8:30-5, Sat and Sun 7-6.

felicidades a todos,
Amata

Rene G wrote:Carnitas Uruapan, Last Summer

Saw this sign this afternoon on a dusty street in Dos Santos, Baja California Sur. Note continuation of pig cannibalism iconography, which seems to be a recurring motif in carnitas marketing, Michoacan style.

I grabbed lunch with a friend at Carnitas Uruapan today. We usually split a pound (had to be at least 1.5 or more on today's visit) of the carnitas. The pork was fantastic; crispy, juicy, salty and moist at the same time. I think we each had about 5 or 6 tacos from the plate. There were two salsas, one a little reddish green and one chipotle based that was a little bit oilier along with cilantro, onions and limes. Really friendly service, and we got to speak with the owner, Marcos, a little on the way out. Perfect lunch (if I didn't have to be sitting at my desk at work right now), great niche restaurant and a tremendous value at roughly $8.60 per pound of meat.

And I finally made it back last week and it was as good as ever. What a treasure!

Went here for the first time a few weeks ago and I'm still thinking about how great those carnitas were. Really a gem, and crazy cheap.

I went here for lunch earlier this week. I don't think much has changed, in a good way. It's still pretty tight in the restaurant with some old school 70s era molded cafeteria tables (maybe tables from a mall Orange Julius). The food was excellent. My friend ordered all the parts so we got some Buche and, I think, ear. He also got some deep fried potato tacos. Tortillas and salsas were fresh and tasty. For the three of us (maybe 8 taco's total plus the potato tacos) it cost $25 including tip and pop. Seriously great bargain, not even considering the quality of the food.

Carnitas Uruapan is open during the quarantine and anyone who has avoided a visit because of the lines would be wise to make their way to Pilsen pronto. Yesterday, at lunch time on a gorgeous warm sunny Saturday, there were just two customers.

Would be great to get this place some more LTH love so it can get the GNR it deserves. The restaurant doesn't need the award, but the GNR list needs the restaurant.