Carnitas El Indio

Reviews

• Michelle C.

  star star star star star_border 9 June 2026

  I found this hole in the wall a while back and have been eating at this restaurant several times in the past 2 months.  I found this place using yelp as well as my co-worker comes here and gets the birria soup made with goat.  We came here last week on a pretty crowded day as it was Sunday.  When we opened up the doors, we noticed the only seats available were at the bar area while all the tables were completely full with customers.  We were greeted immediately upon seating, given our menus and asked what we would like to drink.  We settled on 2 corona's while we were deciding on what to eat. When the corona's came to our table, do did chips and salsa which were so amazing as the chips were nice and hot and the salsa was just perfect on it's spice. I asked for a carne asada burrito wet with extra green sauce while the partner settled on a carne asada torte.  
  
  Our food came out fairly quickly and we were greeted with good size portions of food.  The carne asade burrito was smothered in cheese and green sauce on top and tasted amazing.  The torte was good but not exceptionally wonderful because I think the breading could have been made a lot better.  The service here is always pretty good as there always running around being over worked trying to get to everyone with the little staff they have on hand.
  
  The only cons I have is the parking is pretty small and is shared with numerous other stores in the complex and I always seem to have difficulty finding parking if I come in the afternoon on a busy time for them. The other con that I have is when you pay for your bill using a credit card, you give them the card and typically you have to sign and give a tip but with this restaurant, there is no signing and it won't let you give a tip using your credit card so I didn't have any cash on me which I never do and felt so bad by not leaving the hard working waitress a tip and they never even asked me if I wanted to add some extra to my card for a tip.  This needs to be fixed as these waitresses work so hard and expect a tip at the end.  I love this place and I will keep coming back but I now know to either bring cash with me or tell them how much extra to add to my card for the tip.

• T Lee S.

  star star star star star_border 7 June 2026

  We tried the birria and nachos, very good
  Handmade thick corn tortillas were awesome

• Eddie C.

  star star star star star_border 28 May 2026

  There certainly isn't a lack of Mexican foods in the area and as the competition increases the bar is set higher each time. Carnitas El Indio is definitely one that is authentic and above the bar.This unpretentious homestyle restaurant underwent a facelift since the last time I was here; a much needed renovation. Still the place is simple, choosing rather to concentrate on good food - and good food it is! The helpful server helped me navigate between the two options for Birria de Chivo - the plate or the bowl of soup. She suggested the plate which came with a small bowl of soup and a couple of tortillas on the side.I had chosen Carnitas El Indio hoping to score a plate of Mojarra Frita for lunch but when I saw Chivo, one of my favs, I knew I had to abandon my original plans. The Birria de Chivo was all that! Flavorful tender cubes of goat lounging in sauce like a sea otter in the ocean on a sunny Pacific day.
  
  Come here if you want good food without the glitz nor the incessant chatter of hipsters.
  
  Next time? Mojarra Frita or maybe Barbacoa Plate.

• Fran D.

  star star star star star_border 22 May 2026

  Ok I been here many times but I stop being really petty and demand customer service to b on point. If the food is good just take that and be on my way
  
  Both times I went both food and service was good

• Jose B.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 21 May 2026

  this place has a special on weekends where you come in and buy authentic "menudo"for whatever the container you bring costs to fill up but you will get ripped off!!!you will be robbed, and you will be treated like if you are an ignorant child, so beware and do not make the same mistake I did,I let the owner know of the portion discrepancy and they treated me as if was broke and complained because I want to get over for a $20 order ,I could have paid 40 bucks for something I didn't want to eat,what counts (to me) is my preference and the experience, bad move 'EL INDIO 22816 S. WESTERN AVE. TORRANCE  CA. 90501 do not recommend this place the food may be good but bad business is BAD BUSINESS. I dont suffer from dementia