Carnitas El Momo

Since 2015, Juan “Billy” Acosta has drawn braised pork lovers from across Los Angeles with his tender, oh-so-juicy carnitas, originally served out of  Boyle Heights trailer but now available at Carnitas El Momo’s Monterey Park brick-and-mortar. While you can order them by the taco ($4), the commercially made tortillas aren’t the only delivery method for some of the best carnitas in the city; you can also order it by the pound, sandwiched in a cheesy mulita or tucked into a hefty torta. Choose from carne (shoulder), buche (belly) and cuero (skin), a slightly gelatinous, ultra-fatty cut, but we suggest ordering a mix of all three for best results. This is one of the hands-down best spots in town to pig out on pig. Just make sure you don’t stop by too late—the small family-run operation often sells out well before closing time, especially on weekends.