Taqueria Los Perez 2 in Baltimore: Carnitas and Carne Asada by the Pound

Taqueria Los Perez 2 is a counter-service Mexican restaurant in Highlandtown that sells grilled and braised meats by weight, with a small dining room and a strong neighborhood base among Spanish-speaking customers and workers seeking lunch or early dinner. The menu centers on preparations unavailable at most Baltimore taquerias: thick-cut carnitas, carne asada, pollo asado, and chorizo sold by the quarter pound or pound, plated with rice, beans, and warm tortillas rather than assembled into individual tacos. Prices run lower than sit-down Mexican restaurants and comparable to other weight-based meat shops in the region.

What Taqueria Los Perez 2 Actually Is

This is not a taqueria in the sense of a place built around taco assembly. Instead, it functions as a carnicería-style lunch counter where the kitchen grills or braises meat to order, then portions it by weight. You choose your protein, your weight, and your sides; staff plate it and hand it across the counter. The space is small, with a handful of tables and limited seating. The restaurant operates primarily during lunch and early-dinner hours and draws a working crowd rather than date-night diners. It sits on the eastern edge of Highlandtown, within walking distance of other Central American restaurants and food shops.

Menu and Pricing

A quarter pound of carnitas costs approximately $5.50 to $6, with a full pound running $18 to $22, depending on current meat costs. Carne asada, pollo asado, and chorizo fall in the same range. Each protein comes with your choice of rice and beans; tortillas are included. Beverages include bottled sodas and agua fresca, typically $2 to $3. There are no appetizers or desserts. The menu does not change seasonally. Prices may shift with supplier costs, so confirm current pricing by phone before a large order.

Carnitas here are cut thick and retain interior moisture while the exterior crisps from the grill; they taste significantly different from the shredded, boiled carnitas at many Baltimore Mexican restaurants. Carne asada is marinated and grilled with a char; the cuts are generous. Pollo asado arrives skin-on and juicy, with light char marks. The beans are refried and savory without excess salt or lard flavor.

How It Compares to Other Baltimore Mexican Restaurants

Most Baltimore taquerias, such as those in Fells Point or Canton, serve individually assembled tacos and cater to a mixed clientele seeking quick meals or late-night food. Taqueria Los Perez 2 instead operates as a bulk-meat counter similar in concept to Latin American parrillas or comideras that serve construction crews and working-class lunch crowds. The weight-based pricing and emphasis on whole grilled meats distinguish it sharply from taco-focused competitors.

Relative to sit-down Mexican restaurants like those in Harbor East, Taqueria Los Perez 2 is a third of the price per person and serves no alcohol, no table service, and no dessert. A family of four can eat here for $30 to $40; the same meal at a full-service restaurant would exceed $80. If you want tableside guacamole, margaritas, and plated entrées, this is not your destination. If you want a large, flavorful portion of grilled meat at a low price, it is.

Who It Suits and Who It Does Not

This place suits people seeking straightforward, affordable lunch or early dinner; Spanish-speaking customers and workers; groups or families feeding multiple people on a tight budget; and anyone who prioritizes meat quality and portion size over ambiance. It does not suit diners seeking a full bar, a high-end dining experience, a quiet conversation space, or a late-night meal. It is not vegetarian-friendly beyond rice and beans. Seating is limited and often occupied; you may wait 10 to 15 minutes during the noon rush, especially on weekdays.

What the First Visit Involves

Walk up to the counter. Review the meat options (carnitas, carne asada, pollo asado, chorizo) listed on a menu board or posted on the wall. Decide your protein and weight. Choose rice or beans (or both, for a small upcharge). Pay, usually $6 to $20 depending on weight. Take your plate to one of the small tables or eat standing. Drinks are available cold from a cooler. No table service; you bus your own plate. The entire transaction typically takes 5 to 10 minutes if there is no line.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Taqueria Los Perez 2 typically opens at 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. and closes between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Confirm current hours before visiting, as they may vary seasonally or shift with staffing. Street parking is available along the block and surrounding streets, though spaces fill during the noon rush. The restaurant does not have a dedicated lot. It accepts cash and card. There is no phone ordering system; call to ask about current availability of specific meats if you need a large quantity.

Taqueria Los Perez 2 fills a specific niche in Baltimore's Mexican food landscape: high-quality grilled meat at working-person prices, in a no-frills setting geared toward lunch rather than leisure. For anyone in or near Highlandtown seeking that particular meal, it has few local peers.