Mi Carnal - St. Augustine

I moved from Maryland and stumbled upon Mi Carnal about eight years ago, and ever since, my family and I have been dining there at least once a week. The food is incredibly affordable for such high quality. It’s consistently delicious, and the owners treat you like family. I highly recommend the Mexican sandwiches, especially the 'torta Mexicana'—it’s absolutely amazing. They also serve the best Pupusas in the area, and I should know since I'm from El Salvador. This place is the best-kept secret in St. Augustine. You’ll find fantastic quality food at an incredible price, paired with excellent service. Just be warned—the food here is truly addictive!

We discovered this fantastic family-run restaurant located in a shopping center, away from the typical tourist spots in historic St. Augustine. We enjoyed it so much that we dined here three times during our four-night stay. Here’s what we tried: - **Chicken Tortilla Soup:** This soup was outstanding, prepared with genuine chicken broth and packed with fresh ingredients and flavors. The owner, Carlos, suggested adding five drops of habanero sauce, which elevated the dish even more. We ordered this every time we visited because it was just that good! - **Giant Burrito Pastor:** This burrito featured thin flour tortillas filled with just the right amount of rice, beans, lettuce, cheese, and spicy grilled pork. - **Taco Salad Campechano:** A delightful dish with crispy flour tortilla chips topped with lettuce, beans, cheese, pico de gallo, avocado, steak, and chorizo. - **Pupusas:** These delicious corn flatbreads were stuffed with flavorful pork chicharron and cheese. - **Tacos:** Soft corn tortillas filled with zesty chorizo, garnished with fresh cilantro, and finished with a squeeze of lime. We also loved the house-made salsas! The meals here are truly sensational – crafted with love and pride, and you can truly taste it in every bite!

This restaurant has exceeded our expectations. We've visited twice now, and both times we've experienced excellent service and delicious food. We've sampled a variety of items, including tacos, burritos, and specialty platters, along with beans and rice, and everything has been delightful. The ingredients are fresh and simple, which enhances the overall flavor. Talking to the friendly owner is always a pleasure, too. We also love the little shop attached to the restaurant, where we've found some of our favorite items that we thought we had lost.

Best Mexican Food FOR SURE that you'll get in St Augustine!. I grew up eating really great, often home prepared, Mexican Food in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. I know good Mexican food when I eat it. Unfortunately for the uninformed... there are so many Mexican restaurants that slap a conglomeration of cheap ingredients together with beans and rice, slathered it in cheese with a hint of peppers and onions, serve it up with a Mexican accent and a bowl stale chips and canned salsa, that I could scream. This is not that kind of place. <br/ <br/ The owner uses delicious fresh ingredients, prepared using authentic recipes (many from his native El Salvador) and serves it up personally with a smile. The south of the border accent is there, but it's the real deal folks. Home cooked ethnic food prepared with attention to detail (even the soft drinks are imported) and genuine concern for your enjoyment. The owner, Carlos and his family are real Americans. Immigrants who have come to America to live the American dream, by working hard and serving a delicious and superior meal at an amazing value. <br/ <br/ If you want a great meal, with great service, that is an amazing bargain, served with pride in an absolutely clean, down home (south of the border) style, honor Carlos with your business and leave a big tip, because you should be paying three times his prices for what you are getting!

Fresh, authentic and delicious!!! Friendly owner is cashier and server! Can't wait to go back!