Navarro's Grill in Baltimore: Carryout Carne Asada and Al Pastor from a Fayette Street Cart
Navarro's Grill is a street cart operation in downtown Baltimore that specializes in grilled meat sandwiches and plates, primarily carne asada and al pastor, prepared fresh to order during lunch and early evening hours. It occupies a consistent spot on Fayette Street near the Lexington Market area and serves office workers, market visitors, and neighborhood residents looking for quick, filling food at lower cost than sit-down restaurants.
What Navarro's Grill actually is
A mobile food operation rather than a brick-and-mortar establishment, Navarro's functions as a standalone cart with a grill, prep surface, and order window. The owner works the grill and builds orders while customers wait, a model common in Baltimore's street food ecosystem but less common than it was 15 years ago. Expect to stand at the cart window, order by pointing or describing what you want, and receive food wrapped or plated within 5 to 10 minutes depending on how many orders are ahead of yours.
Menu and pricing
Carne asada (grilled steak) and al pastor (marinated pork) are the core offerings, sold as sandwiches on soft rolls or as plates with rice and beans. A carne asada sandwich runs approximately $8 to $10, while a plate with protein, rice, and beans costs roughly $12 to $14. Confirm current pricing when you visit, as street vendor prices shift seasonally and with input costs. The cart typically operates from late morning through early evening, with peak traffic at midday; hours may vary on weekends and holidays, so confirm before making a trip.
How Navarro's compares to other Baltimore street vendors
Baltimore's street food landscape includes taco carts (more numerous in Fells Point and Canton), hot dog vendors near stadiums and transit hubs, and roving sandwich carts. Navarro's distinguishes itself by focusing on char-grilled proteins rather than fried or assembled items. If you want speed and minimal cost, a hot dog cart is faster and cheaper. If you want variety and sit-down options, Lexington Market itself offers dozens of stall vendors with broader menus. Navarro's suits the middle ground: higher-quality protein with visible cooking, faster than a restaurant, and priced below casual dining.
Who it suits and who it doesn't
Navarro's works well for office workers on a lunch break, people shopping at Lexington Market who want a fill-up meal, and anyone craving properly grilled carne asada without driving across the city. It does not work for anyone who needs to eat indoors, requires seating, or prefers menu variety beyond two or three proteins. Children may struggle if they are picky; the food is straightforward and not adapted to finicky tastes. Those with accessibility concerns should note that ordering happens at a window, not a counter, and there is no seating at the cart itself.
What the first visit involves
Walk up to the cart and look at the grill to see what proteins are ready or cooking. The owner or staff will acknowledge you and ask what you want. Point to the meat you want (carne asada or al pastor) and specify sandwich or plate. If you want rice and beans, they come standard on plates; on sandwiches, specify if you want them added. Pay immediately, then step aside and wait for your food to be wrapped or plated. Bring cash; the cart may or may not accept cards, so confirm before ordering.
Hours and logistics
Navarro's typically operates from 11 a.m. to around 6 p.m. on weekdays, though hours may shorten on weekends or shift seasonally. The exact location on Fayette Street near Lexington Market can vary slightly from year to year as street permits and cart assignments change; verify the current spot by asking longtime market vendors or checking recent local food photos online. There is no dedicated parking for cart customers, but street parking exists nearby on Fayette and nearby blocks, and the location is a short walk from Baltimore Street bus stops.
Navarro's Grill fills a practical need in downtown Baltimore: affordable, visible-cooking meat without table service or corporate overhead. It succeeds because the owner commits to a repeatable product and location, which is rarer than it sounds for street vendors in the city.
