Carnitas Carmelitas

Reviews

• Jim H.

  star star star star star 25 June 2026

  This is 1 of the jewels of Chattanooga and you'd be hard-pressed to know it's there. Amnicola between gas station and Subway, we affectionately call it the taco shack.
  
  If you're looking for tacos with lettuce, cheese and sour cream, stick with taco bell. That's not a criticism, eat what you like. But if you want authentic Mexican street tacos...this is your place.
  
  Very small dining area. Think food truck with dining room. Or maybe the small house craze if all it contained was a kitchen and dining room.
  
  Every taco I've had here has been excellent. The al pastor and chorizo are my favorite though. Staff is friendly and courteous. Lunch that hits the spot every time.
  
  It's so good that I scarfed them down before thinking about taking pics. Smdh. Maybe next time.

• Chris D.

  star star star star star 21 June 2026

  Please for your own tastebud's sake don't pass this little gem without grabbing at least a few authentic street tacos. It's not fancy, but it's clean, the food is FANTASTIC as it's cooked to order and the mom and pop that run this are so nice. Their menu is small and simple but FULL OF FLAVOR. They have tortas, tacos, and quesadillas mainly but with about 9 protein (meat) options. Steak, shrimp, tongue (lingue), chicken, carnitas, Barbacoa, chorizo and a few others. The sauce they give is home made and great and will set your taste buds on fire (if you're not used to spicy stuff). They have a green verde salsa and red. Both have heat. I placed my order, waited maybe 5 minutes (at lunch) and then was given my order. This is not amigos or el meson, this is an authentic Mexican street taco stand and I will most definitely be returning many times in the future. The do accept debit and credit as well as denero (cash) and have a nice variety of Mexican and American sodas and drinks. For the price and quality and friendliness I have to give this little shack a 5 star review. Try them, you won't be sorry. (Oh the portions are generous).

• John B.

  star star star star star 19 June 2026

  This is fantastic food!  
  I don't know enou to say if it is only Mexican, but maybe South/Central American would be better descriptions?
  
  Really, really good.

• Andrew E.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 18 June 2026

  I went here with only moderate expectations, and it turns out that I had still set the bar too high. First of all, I asked for tacos with carne asada AND chorizo. For most places, it's an easy upcharge for an extra meat... but not for the taco Nazis. No second meat for You!... on top of that, the carne asada tacos that I did get were not good....at all. It was more gristle than meat. To top it all off, the canned drink that I bought had a mouse turd on it. I won't be back.

• Lamont S.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 6 June 2026

  I truly wanted to love this place. I've waited tables and was used to waiting on around ten tables at a time. The service should be friendly no matter what! This place has THREE tables. I got to go food. Service was really rude. Almost like I was in the way. They were not happy to see me. They decided not to make chips that day. I guess I'm an idiot for wanting chips. I'm a good tipper. Not this day.