Los Carnalitos Restaurant — Restaurant in Hayward

Title: A Unique Gastronomic Journey at Loa Carnalis OS

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

I recently had the absolute pleasure of dining at Loa Carnalis OS in Hayward, California. This remarkable establishment marries tradition with innovation to serve up some of the most tantalizing dishes on the West Coast.

Right off the bat, the atmosphere of Loa Carnalis OS is both welcoming and comfortable, providing an ambiance that is equal parts casual and elegant. The service was top-notch with the staff being warm, knowledgeable, and perfectly accommodating.

As for the food, I opted for the Chicken with Onion in Chipotle Sauce Quesadilla. To say this dish was delightful would be an understatement. The chicken was cooked to perfection – tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The smoky heat of the chipotle sauce complemented the chicken flawlessly, adding an exciting layer of complexity to the dish.

The onions were a revelation, caramelized to the point of sweetness but with enough crunch left to provide a satisfying texture. The quesadilla was expertly constructed, with the cheese providing a creamy and indulgent counterpoint to the savory filling. All these elements came together to create an unforgettable fusion of flavors and textures.

What set the experience apart was the attention to detail. The balance in the dish was impeccable - the smoky heat, the sweetness of the onions, the creamy cheese - it all harmoniously worked together to create an exceptional flavor profile. This is the mark of a kitchen that truly understands and respects their ingredients.

Beyond the fantastic food, the drink selection at Loa Carnalis OS was diverse and thoughtfully curated. Whether you prefer a tangy margarita or a bold, rich red wine, you'll find a beverage that perfectly complements your meal.

In conclusion, Loa Carnalis OS delivers a remarkable dining experience that goes above and beyond. If you're in the Hayward area and searching for a culinary journey that combines traditional Mexican fare with a sophisticated, modern twist, look no further. Loa Carnalis OS will not only meet your expectations but exceed them. I can't wait to return and explore more of their...

As someone who loves tacos and other Mexican dishes, I am always on the lookout for authentic Mexican food—not the kind that has been modified by adding a lot of cheese and made too fancy. I also prefer taco tortillas made of maize flour, not wheat flour, since I am gluten-sensitive.

This place hits all the right notes with their dishes. They offer common Mexican dishes like Tacos, Burritos, Tostadas, Quesadillas, and Huaraches, but I also discovered some new dishes I had never heard of or tried before.

What we ordered: I ordered three tacos—pollo, asada, and chorizo—and Gorditas. My partner ordered Pambazos and a Michelada. We didn't know what Pambazos were before we decided to order it. My partner noticed someone at the restaurant eating it and was fascinated by it, so I looked up the menu, read the description of each item, and concluded it was Pambazos—and I was right!

The tacos were the very typical street-side tacos with double tortillas, onions, cilantro, lime, and some salsa based on the meat. The meat was tender, very well-seasoned, juicy, and delicious. The Gorditas, on the other hand, were a little too mild for my palate and had too much lettuce. They could go lighter on that, I feel.

The Pambazos (a Mexican sandwich) was heavily stuffed, with great sauces, and were absolutely delectable. One was enough for my partner to be full. The Michelada was spicy, tangy, sweet, and a great kicky drink. Note: Pambazos are not gluten-free. For a gluten-free sandwich option, Gorditas is the way to go, as they are made with maize flour.

The ambience is very casual, and we saw a lot of Mexicans eating there, which is a good sign as it indicates the restaurant is serving quality, authentic items.

The price point is also great, where two people can be satiated and full for under $40.

I am so glad my friend recommended this place. This is my new favorite Mexican restaurant, and I plan to frequent it and try all the items on their menu!

Now you go and...

The atmosphere looked nice enough for a taqueria with the cashier at the front of the store.

The burrito however and I pride myself in finding great burrito spots......was not on point.

Upon my first bite I was met with literally all the salsa that the burrito would have , that it blew out my taste buds and left me not wanting to eat the rest until it subsided. after said initial pocket bite the rest of the burrito was cooled down with no salsa in the rest of the burrito.mind you I have no problem with salsa or heat.

But the texture of the burrito was all over the place. As I worked my way down the burrito, the pork(carnitas) went from Not crispy at all to crispy pork(what I was hoping for throughout). This particular place does avocado and pico de Gallo separate instead of just putting guacamole in it which for me is coo because pico is eh to me but the avocado wasn't enough to satisfy me. Miniscule amount of sour cream. the beans were also inconsistent with beans having a harder bite to them. Ive never had beans in a burrito that were al dente.

Over all. This has been and I'm being honest in all my years in the bay area. My least favorite burrito I've eaten all year.

The point in the photo is where I stopped eating and where the crispy carnitas started. Before this point was all regular pork but at the end it went from crispy to then overcooked pork that was almost like jerky. I'm also writing this as Im forcing myself to finish.

Final words:

Maybe this was a one off mistake but...

Unfortunately this was the most inconsistent burrito I've had in a long time...there was a taco truck in front of a smog shop across the street maybe I would have had better luck there.

$15 dollar super burrito and I wasn't even given chips.

Save yourself and find a better taqueria for a...