Dining Review: Carnitas Y Tortas Ahogadas Guadalajara

Michael James reviews Carnitas Y Tortas Ahogadas Guadalajara Restaurant

In the olden days, I liked to eat. But it wasn’t just about the food; much of it was challenging what I knew that I liked, and expanding horizons. For example, I (as most people) like hamburgers.  But I’ve searched out and also enjoy bison burgers. So the experience of researching, finding and trying something different was all part of the challenge.

Mexican restaurants can be tricky. We’ve all been to places like the departed Chi-Chi’s chain… a corporate boardroom’s version of Americanized Mexican food completely smothered in rich creamy, cheesy sauces. In my younger days, I actually thought that was Mexican food, well, because tortillas. That was until my early-20s when one of my best buddies married a Mexican girl who trotted out homemade tamales, chips, and salsa during a Monday Night Football game.

As soon as I got the feeling back in my tongue after my first glorious bite, I asked her about her recipes, and she said that she had none; she had watched her mom in the kitchen for years and made everything with whatever was in the house.  And chiles.

They then decided to teach me about Mexican restaurants by taking me into a local grocery store in the Latin neighborhood. I was trained to say “Dos tostada al pastor, por favor, y Una Coca-Cola.” I didn’t exactly know what that meant, but I could tell that it was two tostadas and a Coke. Al pastor, though… huh?

What I ate that afternoon about 25 years ago was this delightfully crisp corn tostada with this wonderful not-too-spicy pork with little bits of pineapple, garnished with onion and cilantro. Oh, and a Coca-Cola. It was life-altering, as it taught me to search out more of the local Mexican goodness. But what that first grocery store Mexican meal taught me was that with some good research, your taste buds will be rewarded.

Fast forward to this past Super Bowl weekend, when my son and I made an overnight trip to Las Vegas. When we were planning a couple of meals, I asked for him to suggest something, he asked for dinner at a Mexican restaurant, and the hunt was on.

I first found Carnitas y Tortas Ahogadas Guadalajara in my on-line searches before that trip, but during that trip, we audibled to a different meal and never got there. I filed it in my memory bank, though.

So in April, with my wife in the car, because the MJ Live show in which she had a ticket was canceled, and with Aaron in the car because we were going to be too late for a bowling tournament, we needed dinner ideas.

Enter Carnitas y Tortas Ahogadas Guadalajara.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were told to sit where we wanted, and a waitress (speaking perfect English) gave us menus and offered us beverages. My wife ordered a Diet Coke (served in a can) and Aaron had a bottle of Sprite. I asked the waitress for a suggestion, and she offered a homemade lime soda, so I gave it a go. Pleasantly tart, which is right my wheelhouse.

Then we ran into a little issue… the menu was all in Spanish (Menu prices were in effect on April 22, 2017).

Ever since I found write-ups and photos of Carnitas y Tortas Ahogadas Guadalajara, I had my eye on the eponymous sandwich, which was served on a durable roll that was made in-house. It was served with pickled red onions as a garnish, and a bowl of onion, cilantro, and lime on the side.

Aaron also had the sandwich, while my wife (who is not fluent in Spanish menus) pointed at the tacos, one each of carne asada, al pastor, and Birria. I know what Birria was, and I debated not to let my wife know that it was, but it was the first day of seven days together, so with discretion being the better part of valor, I explained that it was a stewed goat. Uncharacteristically, she was OK with that and didn’t change her order.

Aaron raved about the torta.

My lovely wife, Melissa, said that she was amazed at how juicy the Birria was and that it tasted very similar to roasted beef.

The meals were all served a la carte, so we also ordered a bowl of rice and a bowl of beans on the side, which we all shared.

If $42 is too much for a meal, they have an on-going Tuesday specials, featuring Buy One / Get One tortas from 8:30 AM through 8:00 PM.

The only catch with dining at Carnitas y Tortas Ahogadas Guadalajara is its location on N. Eastern, which is about two miles east of the Fremont Street Experience. Not sure if walking is advised, but a quick Uber/Lyft or a drive if you have a rental car and you’ll have yourself some tremendous, authentic Mexican food.

[Author’s Note – My beautiful bride and I spent 7 days and 6 nights in Las Vegas in late-April, and this article about this dinner at a Mexican restaurant is the second in a number of articles about my experience that week. For my entire trip report, feel free to read it over at the Vegas Message Board. But be warned; if you’ve noticed that I can take 1000 words to say “I like Elvis” on Vegas Bright, imagine what I can do with unlimited characters on a forum!]

[Photos: Aaron James, Michael James, menus courtesy Endo Edibles]

Michael James

Michael James is a true Vegas Nerd. First falling in love after hearing details of an aunt’s visit in the ’70s, and nurtured when the gambling bug hit as casinos started opening on every street corner across the country in the ’90s. When not reading Vegas blogs and message boards, he’s a metals buyer by day and a competitive bowler by night in Milwaukee.