El Porvenir Tortilla Factory

IT IS OPEN!!!
Open daily 8−5pm, Sundays till 4pm.
I dropped in on a lark and was I glad I did. Rumor of its closure are premature. Luz is running the shop and I had the best carnitas burrito today. The carnitas were cooked to a crispy crunchy edge and the beans and salsa made it all perfect. It was only $ 3.25; well worth it. The building is funky to the max but the food is great. And there is no phone… yet.

El porvenir is now OPEN again!
Best carnitas EVER! And the carnita/​carne asada fries are AMAZING. Make sure you come check this place out if you’re ever in the area!

Las Cuarto Milpas gets more notice, but for my money, the best carnita burrito in San Diego is at El Porvenir. I mean, come on, it has been there since 1916! They must be doing something right. Behind the counter is this stove with a pot of pork on it always simmering. Tortillas are heated on a big sheet of metal over open burners. A piece of meat is taken from the pot and cleavered into crispy shredded pieces. A helping of beans and homemade (read:hot!) salsa is drizzled on with a spoon. A roll, a tuck, some paper and you are out the door

I’ve been going here for years. Don’t let the location fool ya. Excellent customer service and the Carnitas is mouth watering. They now offer 2 different sizes on the burritos! The owner gave me a free Chile relleno burrito to share with my wife while I was waiting for my order, because he noticed I never ordered anything besides the carnitas, maaan was I missing out!!! hands down the place to get you authentic carnitas fix on’

Really good carnitas. Excellent salsa. Cheap prices. You can get a small (which is kinda of big) burrito for 3 dlls or a big (havent seen it) burrito for 4.25. Their manu is simple, affordable and really good.

This has to be the oldest restaurant in san diego. It is old school and i wouldn’t change any of it. The old family is back in charge and the food rocks! Closed Sundays.

1918.
This place has been open since 1918. I barely know people still alive from 1918. El Provenir is doing something right.
At the suggestion of my +1, Rue directed us to this marvel off National. It doesnt look that old. I’m guessing they’ve had a few renovations since establishing. Lots of yellow and orange with white walls. The seating is a bit uncomfy and wobbly. The art on the walls looks cheesy as hell, save the motorcycle picture.
The menu is simple and slim. I had a burrito: chorizo, huevos con beans. TIP: if you dont see what you want on the menu, just ask for it. It can be done. The food was amazing by the way. The big burrito was the size of my forearm. You can order the smaller size if you dont wanna pig out. There is a large selection of chips, candy and sodas… both american and mexican. The tortillas are soft and chewy. I dont know what the hell these 1-​star mofos are talking for.
El Provenir is more of a home kitchen than a taco shop. You order, sit, eat, enjoy then pay. The owner is laid back cool too. He was telling Rue and I that they serve a 4.5 pound carne asada burrito. If you eat the whole thing in 15 minutes, it’s free. He went on saying that a big burly college dude tried for it, but could only finish a third of the monster in one hour.
I really liked that he had 92.5 on. Eating some delicious mexican grub with the sun peaking in with my bestest buddy and oldies reminds me why I love San Diego so much. I’m never leaving. Ever.

Alright, here it goes.
I hate to be the black sheep here, but this is a review based on an experience, and unfortunately, I had a bad one.
If you do embark on the journey to Barrio Logan and then realize that Las Cuatro Milpas is closed… DO NOT dine at the Tortilla Factory at 5pm on September 3^rd.
My tamales were awful. Dry, stringy beef cured into jerky… blah. I wanted so bad to like them that I was nodding my head yes to my cousin saying, «It’s good?»
When we arrived the novellas were blasting, and there was only one abuelo working. Poor guy got ditched there, and it was up to him to make our plate. He nodded at us, «Para llevar?». «No, para aqui.», we replied. He was disappointed for sure that we had spoiled his novella fun.
My cousin swore that his water bottle was opened and that they had refilled a Kirkland water bottle. A little extreme, I drank my water and his. But I could see how you would get that feeling the way things were going for us in there.
BOO HOO HOO :(
HOW SAD :(
I would never eat here, recommend anyone to eat here, or give this place a second chance…
and I’m a softie.

You know that moment when you eat a certain dish in just the right circumstance and you have a revelation like ‘THAT’s what that’s supposed to taste like” and then you forever become a snob about it.
I think I had that moment with carnitas at this place. They’ve had 90 years to figure it out and I guess they did it.
I could care less about burritos, just a big plate of carnitas with a generous helping of that salsa and I’m happy.
This is home cooking and the couple that runs it makes you feel like your just sitting in their kitchen.
I highly recommend this place to anyone lacking a Mexican grandma to cook for you.

It seems that most of the less-​than-​satisfactory reviews are by people who had something other than the El Porvenir burrito. They either had a taco or a tamale. Since my first visit, I have been committed to the burritos, so I can’t really comment on the tacos or tamales.
I can say that the burritos are my favorite of any Mexican place that I’ve tried. They’re a little on the smaller side so I usually order two, but at $ 3 a pop, it works out. My favorite teeters between the carnitas or the machacas. Both are so tasty and are served on a fresh tortilla with beans and hot salsa (optional, but I do recommend it)!
By buddy and I frequent this place on a regular basis and the little old man and old lady who are behind the counter have come to know us. They treat us well. They remind me of my grandparents and eating at El Porvenir makes me feel like I’m sitting in my grandma’s kitchen.
My grandma was born and raised in Mexico and this food tastes very close to what she used to make me when I was a kid.
Quarto Milpas (around the corner) is very good as well, but if I’m in the area I’m going to El Porvenir.
(Hot Tip: If you’re hungry for more than a couple burritos, I suggest getting a plate. It comes with 3 tortillas, beans, rice, and meat of your choice. It ends up being a better bargain, but I’m comfortable with two burritos.)

IF these great folks chose to put a nice barbecue sauce on the carnitas, change the refried beans to baked beans, and swap corn for the rice they would be gazillionaires and be featured on every Travel Channel/​Food Network «Best BBQ in the Nation» show.
Since Carnitas will likely never get its props I’ll settle on them making an UNBELIEVABLE plate of real food for real people.
The pork was crispy, smoky, moist, and just plain good. Don’t get cheated, have them add the hot sauce. awesome, awesome, awesome!!!
You get way, way too much for your money

I ordered one carnitas taco no to my satisfaction, it was not for me.
I had much better, tortilla was hard, carnitas dry. Not much to say.

ok Maybe we went on the wrong day (Saturday afternoon) but the carnitas was Dry. The tortilla was not fresh and the beans were watery and flavorless. I only ordered 1 taco to see what all the hype was about. this place is not for me. on to the next taco shop. maybe if I am drunk and in that part of town I will try another item on the menu. I would rather wait in line around the corner at quarto milpas.

Act now and beat the hipster rush!
Yes, El Porvenir is a potential hipster magnet. Authentic, delicious, and cheap Mexican food located in the Barrio? Are you kidding me? Five bucks says that soon pale, thin, white kids in obscure band tees will be making out in the corner booth on a regular basis.
The carnitas is excellent. We’re talking tasty shredded meat that begs to be wrapped in a tortilla. And the sauce? Oh yes. These guys put together a spicy taste sensation. It’s not just about heat, there is complexity to the flavor… lovely.
So head on down before the rush. Porvenir means future, and this place deserves a good one. I’ll definitely be back.

This is on the hubby’s list of must-​have stops every single time we are down in SD and I happily oblige.
One could call it a dive but I see it more as old school and authentic. You can tell this guy has been cooking this way for years and years… established 1918? Seriously… they know what they’re doing and the prices are unbelievable. $ 2.50 burritos, $ 5.50 carnitas plates with fresh, hot corn tortillas, beans and rice. These are the best carnitas I’ve had, ever. They are perfectly crispy, seasoned and flavorful. Delicious.
We were in San Diego over this past weekend and as always, made a stop at El Porvenir. I was reminded of just how amazing the carnitas are, and I sampled a really delicious chili relleno as well.
The word on this place is the food is just as amazing as Las Cuatro Milpas around the corner, but with no lines. I really wish the wonderful people running El Porvenir got more love because they and their food are completely deserving.

Great place to buy fresh tortillas (still hot from the grill), but the killer app is by far the AMAZING little mixed burritos they make here — like no burrito you’ll have anywhere else in San Diego. Just beans and carnitas made on their ancient stove in a FRESH tortilla with a little salsa. Oh man, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. There’s a reason this is one of the oldest restaurants in San Diego!

Simply amazing food, and cheap! Best carnitas and tortillas I’ve had. Too bad they don’t have horchata :(Only a couple minutes from downtown makes this an easy place to get to for lunch. They sell tortillas by the dozen, so stock up and make your own delicioso food at home!

Dude if you are low in Cash and you want a Bomb Ass Burrito…
Well EL PORVENIR TORTILLA FACTORY is the one for you!!!
Once you taste one of their Burritos you will be HOOKED!!!
I’m Serious the Carnitas and Chile Relleno Burritos are the BOMB!!!
YOU GOT TO TRY IT!!!

A tidy little joint with a little old man and his tortillas. And it dates back to 1918. *Nothing* in San Diego dates back to 1918, but this place does.
Nothing against Chipotle, but these burritos are pretty much the exact opposite. Sloppy, small, very tasty. Grab 4 or 5 napkins. If you get there too late in the day, they will be out of tamales.

********UPDATE 3−11−08*********
my favorite here is the carnitas burrito, second is the the taco. the burrito is made with the best flour tortillas around, while the tacos are a corn tortilla affair.
don’t write and tell me the carne asada tacos are just okay. i don’t know about the carne asada. it is all about the carnitas.
i have been back to san diego about 5 or 6 times since i wrote this review. every single time el porvenir is my first stop for food while in san diego!!! show this guy and his family some love people. you won’t be disappointed!
when those lines around the corner at las cuatro milpas are way too long for your short lunch period, el porvenir will have you in and out in a fraction of the time las cuatro milpas will. FYI, i do like milaps too, i’m just saying.
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there is this little hole in the wall in barrio logan on national ave. down in san diego. it has 4 or so tables and even less parking out front. but the best carnitas burrito i have ever had in my life is in this little hole in the wall. a tortilla hot off the griddle, meat, runny beans, and hot sauce. that’s it. the meat has crispy bit’s with the moist flavorful pork.
and it is cheap. i live in san francisco now and it has been a while since i have been there. the burrito is something like $ 2.50 or maybe $ 3. super freaking deal. tacos are big and even cheaper. not going to touch those prices here in san francisco. i can’t wait to our visit next month because this will be one of my first stops.
so anybody heading down to san diego to take the rug rats to the zoo or legoland or some shit, it is close to downtown, and the zoo. if you have a car and are staying in that area it is a fast trip there and back.
still looking in san francisco for good carnitas. so if anybody has any rec’s…