El Porvenir has closed. It will be missed.
mmm-yoso is not on vacation. Cathy is blogging and Kirk is relaxing….don't worry, we'll trade places.
Hi. So, on Christmas Eve I made tamales with my neighbor and I blogged it. Howie wanted to know why I did not put an olive in them (the lady who was showing us how to do it said she never saw it done that way and it must be a regional thing), Liz kind of was going to follow a recipe, of which I didn't print since its just using the ingredients and to taste… and Trent wanted to know where he might find masa preparada in a larger than one pound package..and fresh…presumably at a tortilleria.
I know where I *used to* get fresh masa preparada…and tamales already made for 60¢ each. Its still there, but they aren't selling the preparada during the holidays (competition you know;why do most of the work for someone else) and the tamales are now $1.50 each. It *has* been there forever- 1901 actually…El Porvenir.
Yes, that is it…technically two parking spaces in front, 4 tables and 2 booths inside…the cooking grills for the tortillas in front…and the best darn carnitas you will ever have. A plate of what feels like a pound is $5…the mixed carnita burrito is $2.75 It feels like a half pound.
The mixed carnitas taco is not on the menu and is $2.
I love the taste of the carnitas and the beans here. The beans are made using lard (from where, I say aloud to myself…where oh where can they get such yummy lard?).
Oh and the chile relleño burrito, also $2.75. Just with beans and the home made salsa…
The whole menu is written at the top of these neat pocket calendars. Burritos: carnitas and chile relleño, beans w/ rice, cheese, chorizo and eggs, machaca, chile con carne, pork and beef tamales. That's it…oh but they do sell tortillas $1.95 for a dozen flour and 95¢ for a dozen corn. You know they make them right there, and cook the flour ones for you if you are buying a dozen, or are just getting a burrito. It is excellent here, close to the entrance of the Coronado bridge (2 blocks west, two blocks south).
El Porvenir 1786 National Avenue San Diego 92113 (619) 702-2445 Mon- Sat 8 am-6 pm (mas or menos…it says so on the sign out front)