Sitting in the dusty gravel of an empty parking lot off a bustling Tucson thoroughfare sit a few lone food trucks. The wind carries the smell of Mexican food across the lot from a bright orange truck in the middle of the scattered carts, called Carnitas Los Reyes.
The truck has been parked in that same spot, at 5050 E. Broadway Blvd., since owner Karin Reyes started the business almost three years ago. Since then, she has worked hard to forge a community of carnitas-loving customers.
Carnitas Los Reyes opened three years ago and is located at 5050 E. Broadway Blvd.
Carnitas, described by the expert herself, are “shredded pork, and then we add the mix, which is the pork skin and the belly mixed with the meat.”
This woman-owned food truck makes all their food daily, including fresh tortillas, so Reyes is constantly busy ensuring her customers are happy.
“This is a 24/7 job. You don’t get no days off,” she said. “But we had a really good turnout. We have a lot of clients, since we’re only been here three years. We do have a lot of returning customers and new customers day by day.”
The care Reyes puts into the stand is evidenced by the long line of eager customers during lunch hour. Even with people filtering through all day, the tables are clean and nicely shaded, the drinks are cold and the food is hot.
The menu is simple, with only a few options available. Reyes puts her heart into perfecting these items.
Grab an order of carnitas and quesabirria with a soda for $10.50 and snag a seat at one of the shaded tables. While waiting for your food, listen to the sound of cars whizzing by competing with the crackling sizzle from the grill.
University of Arizona student Alexa Kroencke was giving the food truck a try on a recent afternoon.
“I always drive by it and finally decided to stop and try it. Their carnitas are literally so good,” said Kroencke.
Reyes said “it takes a little longer… because the food is made fresh every day,” but the five-minute wait is quicker than other establishments.
A plate of food from Carnitas Los Reyes. There is a carnitas taco (left) and a quesabirria (right).
The plate comes with a steaming carnita taco, a greasy quesabirria and guacamole salsa. It’s finished with two lime wedges and a cup of birria juice on the side.
“The top selling item is carnitas, just because that’s what we’re known for,” Reyes said.
The carnitas filling the taco sport a smokey flavor, with tender and juicy pork on a fluffy corn tortilla.
The quesabirria is birria-style beef, folded between cheese in a corn tortilla. This can get messy so make sure you have lots of napkins. The cheese is gooey, stretchy and flavorful.
The meals at Carnitas Los Reyes are cheap, filling and delicious. It’s a quick lunch stop, with a casual, unique street-food vibe. The employees are eager to assist, always smiling and welcoming customers both new and old.
The simple menu on the side of the truck lists four main items; carnitas, birria, tacos and quesadillas.
“We like to be known for our authenticity, because we make everything fresh. We try to provide good customer service and good fresh food,” Reyes said.
“We’ll be hopefully opening a restaurant, but we’re gonna see about that,” she added.
When they do open one, the line will definitely be out the door.
Carnitas Los Reyes is open from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays at 5050 E. Broadway.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
