Carnitas' Snack Shack – Mexican
Sun-drenched and spirited, this vibrant waterfront haunt invites diners to soak in the coastal breeze while the irresistible aroma of slow-roasted pork and sizzling griddles fills the air. Indulgent, towering creations like the legendary Triple Threat sandwich overflow with succulent meats, while crispy Nashville hot chicken and buttery lobster rolls offer a playful, high-energy take on classic comfort food. Whether you’re tucking into street-style carnitas tacos or a perfectly charred smash burger, every bite celebrates a bold, unpretentious culinary style that turns a casual meal into a festive seaside escape.
2632, University Avenue, 92104 +16192947675 https://carnitassnackshack.com/0Cuisine: Mexican
Price range: $$
Dietary options: dairy-free, halal, high-protein, low-carb, vegan, vegetarian, heart-healthy, low-sodium, pescatarian, plant-based, anti-inflammatory, dash-sodium-reduced, gerd, high-fiber, low-cholesterol, south-beach, renal, tlc, volumetrics
Diet fit at Carnitas' Snack Shack
Dairy-Free at Carnitas' Snack Shack
Carnitas' Snack Shack in San Diego has 4 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including House Made Chips + Guacamole, Garlic Fries and Shack Fries. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Halal at Carnitas' Snack Shack
Carnitas' Snack Shack in San Diego has 12 halal-tagged dishes on its current menu, including House Made Chips + Guacamole, Shrimp Tacos and Lobstah Roll. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
High-Protein at Carnitas' Snack Shack
Carnitas' Snack Shack in San Diego has 1 high-protein-tagged dish on its current menu, including Carnitas Tacos. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Low-Carb at Carnitas' Snack Shack
Carnitas' Snack Shack in San Diego has 1 low-carb-tagged dish on its current menu, including Carnitas Queso Fries. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Vegan at Carnitas' Snack Shack
Carnitas' Snack Shack in San Diego has 4 vegan-tagged dishes on its current menu, including House Made Chips + Guacamole, Garlic Fries and Shack Fries. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Vegetarian at Carnitas' Snack Shack
Carnitas' Snack Shack in San Diego has 8 vegetarian-tagged dishes on its current menu, including House Made Chips + Guacamole, Garlic Fries and Shack Fries. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Heart-Healthy at Carnitas' Snack Shack
Carnitas' Snack Shack in San Diego has 1 heart-healthy-tagged dish on its current menu, including Grilled Chicken Tacos. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
Low-Sodium at Carnitas' Snack Shack
Carnitas' Snack Shack in San Diego has 8 low-sodium-tagged dishes on its current menu, including House Made Chips + Guacamole, Carnitas Tacos and Grilled Chicken Tacos. Tags come from dish-level menu analysis and update when the menu changes.
How tags work: Dish-level menu analysis by Chefi's rule-based diet engine with AI assistance; nutrition values are estimated from ingredients unless marked verified. Allergen and certification claims are never inferred.
What to order at Carnitas' Snack Shack
| Dish | Net carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast Burrito | 102 g | 62.5 g |
| Triple Threat Sandwich | 61.5 g | 52.2 g |
| Shack Nachos | 84.6 g | 45.3 g |
| Taco Box | 24.3 g | 44.2 g |
| Citrus Chicken Salad | 12.5 g | 41 g |
| Shack Burger | 62.2 g | 37.2 g |
| Southwest Salad | 67.3 g | 31 g |
| Loaded Quesadilla | 64.6 g | 30.8 g |
| The Shack Smash Burger | 87.6 g | 29.3 g |
| Cheese Quesadilla | 35.4 g | 24.3 g |
| Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich | 61.2 g | 22 g |
| Shack Burger Sliders | 9.2 g | 21 g |
Nutrition values are estimated from ingredients.
Currently open
Hours
- Monday - Sunday
- 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Menu
Sandwiches & Burgers
- Triple Threat Sandwich - $12: Pork loin schnitzel, pulled pork, bacon, pepperoncini relish, shack aioli, brioche bun Available at: dinner, lunch
- The Shack Smash Burger - $12: Drive-thru sauce, American cheese, sauteed onions, brioche bun Available at: dinner, lunch
- Shack Burger - $12: Bacon jam, American cheese, shack aioli, lettuce, tomato, pickle, brioche bun, served with fries Available at: dinner, lunch
- Lobstah Roll - $12: Buttered lobster, chive, lemon, garlic butter, brioche bun Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Smoky Pig Sandwich - $12: Smoked pulled pork, whiskey doused grilled onions, coleslaw, BBQ sauce, brioche bun Available at: dinner, lunch
- Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich - $12: Fried chicken breast, house-made chili oil, cabbage slaw, pickles, mayo, brioche bun Dietary tags: High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Crispy Chicken Sandwich - $12: Fried chicken breast, chive aioli, three pepper marmalade, brioche bun Available at: dinner, lunch
- Mahi Sandwich - $12: Fried mahi, lettuce, tomato, tartar sauce, brioche bun Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
- Slam Diego Wings - $12: 6 jumbo wings, choice of house-made BBQ, lemon pepper, or honey chipotle Available at: dinner, lunch
Tacos & Burritos
- Carnitas Tacos - $12: House-made guacamole, pico de gallo, lime, corn tortilla Dietary tags: High-Protein, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, TLC, Renal Available at: dinner, lunch
- Baja Fish Tacos - $13: Fried or grilled fish, green cabbage, poblano avocado crema, pico de gallo, pickled red onions, corn tortilla Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian, High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
- Grilled Chicken Tacos - $12: House-made guacamole, pico de gallo, corn tortilla Dietary tags: Heart-Healthy, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, DASH Sodium-Reduced, Low-Cholesterol, TLC, Renal Available at: dinner, lunch
- Shrimp Tacos - $13: Green cabbage, poblano avocado crema, pico de gallo, pickled red onions, corn tortilla Dietary tags: Halal, Pescatarian, Anti-Inflammatory, High-Fiber, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics Available at: dinner, lunch
- Marinated Steak Tacos - $13: House-made guacamole, pico de gallo, corn tortilla Available at: dinner, lunch
- Breakfast Burrito - $12: Juicy carnitas, bacon, eggs, french fries, house-made guacamole, cheese, pico de gallo, flour tortilla Available at: breakfast, brunch
- Marinated Steak Burrito - $12: Monterey jack, three pepper marmalade, french fries, pico de gallo, house-made guacamole, flour tortilla Available at: dinner, lunch
- Loaded Quesadilla - $12: Monterey jack, roasted peppers, grilled onions, black beans, blistered corn, salsa verde, flour tortilla Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
Salads
- Southwest Salad - $38: Blistered corn, black beans, queso fresco, tomato, cucumber, avocado, tortilla strips, cilantro lime dressing Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium, Anti-Inflammatory, High-Fiber, GERD-Friendly, Volumetrics Available at: dinner, lunch
- Citrus Chicken Salad - $12: Chicken, romaine, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado, mojo dressing Available at: dinner, lunch
Sides
- Shack Fries - $7: Seasoned fries Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Garlic Fries - $8: Fries with garlic seasoning Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium, High-Fiber, Renal Available at: dinner, lunch
- Carnitas Queso Fries - $12: Seasoned shack fries, juicy carnitas, queso, pico de gallo Dietary tags: Low-Carb, South-Beach Available at: dinner, lunch
- House Made Chips + Guacamole - $9: Tortilla chips and fresh guacamole Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- House Made Chips + Queso - $8: Tortilla chips and white queso Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- House Made Chips + Salsa - $5: Tortilla chips and fresh salsa Dietary tags: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, Low-Sodium Available at: dinner, lunch
- Shack Nachos - $12: Tortilla chips, white queso, carnitas, pickled jalapeños, pico de gallo, sour cream Dietary tags: High-Fiber Available at: dinner, lunch
Lil' Piglets
- Chicken Tenders - $10: Served with side of fries and soft drink Available at: dinner, lunch
- Cheeseburger - $10: Served with side of fries and soft drink Available at: dinner, lunch
- Cheese Quesadilla - $10: Served with side of fries and soft drink Dietary tags: Vegetarian, Halal, Pescatarian Available at: dinner, lunch
Catering Boxes
- Nacho Box - $68: Tortilla chips, white queso, carnitas, pickled jalapeños, pico de gallo & sour cream (Serves 5) Available at: dinner, lunch
- Taco Box - $65: Carnitas, pico de gallo, guacamole, corn tortillas, salsa roja, and limes (Serves 6) Available at: dinner, lunch
- Shack Burger Sliders - $55: Beef patty, bacon jam, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and Shack aioli on a brioche bun (Serves 10) Available at: dinner, lunch
Frequently Asked Questions about Carnitas' Snack Shack
- Is Carnitas' Snack Shack dairy-free-friendly?
- Yes. Carnitas' Snack Shack has 4 dairy-free-tagged dishes on its current menu, including House Made Chips + Guacamole, Garlic Fries and Shack Fries.
- What can I eat at Carnitas' Snack Shack on a dairy-free diet?
- House Made Chips + Guacamole, Garlic Fries and Shack Fries carry the dairy-free tag, out of 4 tagged dishes on the current menu. Every dish's diet tags are listed in the menu.
- Does Carnitas' Snack Shack have vegan options?
- Yes. 4 dishes are tagged vegan on the current menu, including House Made Chips + Guacamole and Garlic Fries.
- What is the highest-protein dish at Carnitas' Snack Shack?
- Breakfast Burrito, at roughly 62.5g of protein (estimated from ingredients).
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