Behind-The-Scenes Look At An All-PORK Restaurant [WATCH]
Because of the million things to accomplish in the FOODBEAST offices in any given day (shooting cap guns, discussing why Instagram should or shouldn’t be on Android, maintaing our push-up and sit-up regimens, etc), our staffers rarely get the chance to experience non-LA/OC cuisine during the tumultuous disarray of our work weeks. So when the opportunity came up to take a mini-day-trip down to San Diego for Carnitas’ Snack Shack (“The Shack”)– we obviously jumped at it.
It remains to be seen if word-of-mouth communication has been enhanced or slandered by the advent of social media — but regardless of the medium — the best of the best seems to still rise to the top. In this case regarding The Shack, it made our bellies full and hearts warm.
Menu is a big deciding factor in measuring excitement for a new restaurant. Carnitas Snack Shack seemed to have all of the elements for a successful and trendy establishment — farm-to-table menu offerings, a distinct specialty (pork), interesting kitchen and seating layout (literally, it’s a shack with awesome outdoor seating) and price points that don’t break the bank.
None of that answers the most important question: Is the food awesome?
First up, the Foie Gras. We know there’s an ongoing controversy about Foie Gras, and we respect both sides of the argument. But plain and simple, we’re going to eat what’s in front of us. And it was delicious:
The BBQ Pork Belly came up next. And to be quite honest, it was probably the fattiest thing I have ever eaten. Quite possibly a quarter inch layer of fat throughout the entire portion. Bad for those with potential congestive heart failure issues. Great for those who don’t give a f–k:
Onto the ‘Triple Threat’ Pork Sandwich or as Yeezy would proclaim – Pork on Pork on Pork. That’s right pork loin schnitzel, pulled pork AND bacon topped with CSS’s pepperoncini-pickle relish and shack aioli. Barely fits in your mouth. #pause
And then the Steak Sandwich. And I know you’re thinking, ‘didn’t you say that this was a pork place? Why do they have a steak sandwich?’ BECAUSE THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT. And you’ll want one too once you take whiff of that cheddar toast its placed on.
The Grand Finale. Poutine with Vengeance. The gravy alone takes 5 hours to prepare, and did we mention it’s a bacon white cheddar gravy? CSS meets Epic Meal Time when they add MORE BAAACCCCCOOOONNNNN on top of the seasoned fries with the gravy. It’s not a tradtional poutine, and nobody cares because if they don’t immediately start diggin’ into the fries, the plate will be empty in 30 seconds. They don’t always have this on the menu, so make sure to stop by on a day that they do:
If you’re in San Diego and you have a hankering for all your food to be laced with some quality pork, look no further than Carnitas’ Snack Shack. The price points settle between $7 – $12 per menu item, and for the amount and quality of food you get, you definitely can’t go wrong.
Wait until that poutine plate comes out, your heart will skip a beat. Both figuratively and literally.
Carnitas’ Snack Shack
2632 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92104 USA
Telephone: +1.619.294.7675
