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Our Carnitas: The Dish That Keeps Mission Viejo Coming Back

Slow-Cooked Carnitas the Way They Were Meant to Be

Our carnitas plate is the dish that keeps people coming back to Olamendis Mission Viejo year after year. Tender, slow-cooked pork with crispy edges, served with rice, beans, tortillas, and our house-made salsas — it is simple food done right, and it has been on our menu since the beginning.

The process matters. We start with quality pork shoulder, season it with citrus and spices, and let it cook low and slow until the meat pulls apart with a fork. Before it hits your plate, the pork gets a final sear on the flat-top for that combination of soft, juicy interior and caramelized, crispy exterior that makes great carnitas unmistakable.

What Sets Our Carnitas Apart

Walk into any fast-casual chain and you can get carnitas. What you cannot get is carnitas made by a family that has been perfecting the recipe for over 50 years. Don Jorge learned to cook carnitas from his mother in Mexico, and the method has not changed — because it did not need to.

Our regulars know the difference. Read through our 338+ Yelp reviews and you will see the carnitas come up again and again. It is the dish people recommend to friends when they ask where to eat in Mission Viejo.

How to Get Your Carnitas Fix

Dine in — Our carnitas plate is available for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday. Pair it with a cold horchata or agua fresca.

Takeout — Call (949) 768-8991 and your order will be ready when you arrive. We are in the Trabuco Hills Center in Mission Viejo.

Catering — Carnitas is one of our most requested party tray options. A carnitas tray feeds 8 to 12 and pairs perfectly with tortillas, rice, beans, and our salsa trio. Great for office lunches, birthday parties, and weekend gatherings.

Delivery — Find us on DoorDash for delivery to Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, and surrounding areas.