Carne Asada vs Al Pastor
Carne Asada Tacos are beef, charcoal-grilled then chopped. Al Pastor Tacos are pork, stacked on a vertical spit (trompo) and shaved to order. Both arrive on corn tortillas; the meat and the method are what separate them.
Side by side
The difference is the filling: Carne Asada uses beef, Al Pastor uses pork.
Which one to order
Carne Asada usually comes with onion, cilantro, guacamole, salsa; al pastor with pineapple, onion, cilantro, salsa roja.
Carne Asada is associated with Northern Mexico / Sonora, al pastor with Mexico City / Puebla.
In the US you will find carne asada most in San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Texas, and al pastor in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston.
Neither is the better taco in the abstract — they are different dishes that happen to share a tortilla. Order by which method you are in the mood for.
Which is easier to find in the US
Across this directory, 17 venues name carne asada and 28 name al pastor. Al Pastor is the easier of the two to track down. These are counts of venues that say so in their name or listing, so both undercount.
Read up on each
Carne Asada vs Al Pastor: common questions
What is the main difference between carne asada and al pastor?
Charcoal-grilled then chopped for carne asada (beef), versus stacked on a vertical spit (trompo) and shaved to order for al pastor (pork). The method is what changes the texture most.
What is a carne asada taco?
Beef (usually skirt or flank steak) marinated with citrus, garlic, salt and spices, grilled hot and fast, then chopped and served on corn tortillas with onion, cilantro, salsa and lime. Often a side of grilled onions and a whole roasted chile.
What cut of meat is good for carne asada tacos?
Skirt steak (arrachera) is the classic: thin, fatty and full of flavour. Flank steak is the common substitute. Both need a hot grill, a short cook and a rest, then a cut against the grain.
What are the best toppings for carne asada tacos?
Keep it simple: finely chopped white onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and a salsa (roja for smoke, verde for brightness). Guacamole or a slice of grilled onion if you want more. Cheese and sour cream are a Tex-Mex addition, not traditional.
What are tacos al pastor made of?
Thin-sliced pork shoulder marinated in a red paste of dried chiles, achiote (annatto), vinegar, pineapple juice and spices, stacked on a vertical spit called a trompo, roasted, and shaved off as the outer layer chars. Served on small corn tortillas with a little of the charred pork, chopped onion, cilantro, a piece of pineapple and salsa.
What is the difference between carnitas and al pastor?
Both are pork, but the method is opposite. Carnitas is pork confited, simmered in its own fat until soft, then crisped. Al pastor is marinated pork roasted on a vertical spit and shaved. Carnitas tastes of pork and fat; al pastor tastes of chile, achiote and pineapple.
Last updated September 29, 2026. Venue details refresh with each data import.