For nearly 10 years, the Carnitas El Michoacano food truck has been a favorite on 856 E. Bilby Rd., just between Park Avenue and S. Nogales Highway.
On Saturday, August 5, the food truck officially completed its transition into its first brick-and-mortar location at 5256 S. Nogales Highway— rebranding to Las Originales Carnitas El Michoacano.

Tacos, quesadillas, and an array of salsas — the familiar and beloved menu is all there with the addition of an air-conditioned dining room. The restaurant, which is considered to be a hidden gem for many, has kept the menu simple: Tacos de Carnitas, Tacos de Chicharron, Tacos de Birria, Tacos de Cabeza, Quesadillas, and larger orders of birria and bichi.
The tacos come individually (it’s up to you how many you’d like to eat in one sitting) and are paired up with a side of shredded cabbage, diced onions, and sliced lime. Be sure to stop by the salsa bar, too, for maximum flavor overload.

The hours of operation are also the same as what they were when operating out of the food truck. The new brick-and-mortar location is opening 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Thursday – Monday and closed on Tuesday – Wednesday.
Las Originales Carnitas El Michoacano is located at 5256 S. Nogales Highway. For more information, follow the restaurant on Facebook.
Disclaimer: Las Originales Carnitas El Michoacano is not associated with the Carnitas El Michoacano food truck located at 3030 N. Oracle Rd.
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Article written by:

Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.















