Some Pig: Macho's Carnitas Is Slow-Cooked Goodness

I had heard good things from people in the community about , a local favorite since 1997. Upon walking in, the small dining area was completely full, and I had to wait a couple minutes for a table to open up.

Checking out the menu, I didn't really know what I was going to get. But just seeing the word "Carnitas" instantly gave me a hankering for pork.

Here's a quick review of the Carnitas Burrito ($4.29).

I was nibbling on some chips and two different salsas from Macho's salsa bar when my order came up. It was a nice sized burrito, and when I picked it up, you could tell it was hot off the grill. In fact, it was too hot to even hold onto for an extended period of time, and I had to put it down.

After a couple of frustrated minutes to let it cool, I dove right in.

Bliss.

Tortilla
The best tortilla so far of all of the places I've tried for The Burrito Blotter. Macho's tortillas are super soft, without being chewy. It was like eating a cloud. A light dusting of flour remained. It was near perfection as far as tortillas go.

Carnitas
For as good as the tortilla is, the carnitas was definitely the star of the show. From the first bite until the last, there was a generous amount of carnitas in each one. The line cook told me that they slow cook a pork shoulder for four hours each day to get it tender and juicy. And was it ever! Typically, when meat is slow cooked for that long, it can sometimes be bereft of flavor. Not so with this burrito, as the sensual smokiness of the pork came through deliciously. As an added bonus, in addition to the carnitas being finely shredded, there were several large chunks of pork in the burrito, which was like getting a little piggy prize.

Guacamole
Much like the from La Posta, the guacamole was a little bit too warm to enjoy fully, an unfortunate byproduct of the burrito being so hot. But the guac cooled as the burrito did, and near the end, the creaminess provided a foundational contrast.

Pico de Gallo
Easily the least enjoyable part of the burrito, but it was far from bad. It wasn't as cool and fresh as I would have liked, but it still provided a nice flavor contrast, and wasn't overpowered by the juiciness of the pork.

Lime Wedge
I tried several bites without the added punch of fresh squeezed lime juice, and I regret it. After I tried my first bite with it, I didn't take another one without it. The lime somehow pulled all of the flavor out of the pork and accentuated it with touch of sour. I very welcome addition. As limes don't come with every burrito on the menu, it's safe to say that someone in the kitchen knows what he or she is doing.

Overall
Thoroughly enjoyable. The bonus chunks of pork were a surprising addition, and the lime wedge fully maximized the flavor profile. Having to wait a few minutes to let the burrito cool off was a bit of a disappointment, but it was worth it. Still not a fan of hot guac, however.

Ranking: 4.5 (out of 5)