How much carnitas should you order per person?

The most common question we get on the phone isn't "how much does it cost?" but "how much should I order?". It makes sense: nobody wants to come up short in front of guests, but nobody wants half a kilo sitting in the fridge either.

In 28 years serving carnitas, Don Hugo has worked out a simple rule that almost never fails. Here it is.

The golden rule: 150 to 180 grams per person

As a general reference, an average adult eats between 150 and 180 grams of carnitas in one meal, which means about 6 people per kilo. Small children count as half an adult. Known big eaters count as one and a half.

From there, everything is an adjustment based on the occasion.

Quick table: how much to order by number of guests

People	Amount	Suggestion
2 adults	½ kg - ¾ kg	A regular weekday meal
3-4 adults	1 kg	The Craving Package covers it
4-6 adults	1½ kg	The Family Package is ideal
6-10 adults	2 - 2½ kg	Generous Package or a custom order
10-15 adults	3 kg	Call one day ahead
20+ people	4 kg and up	Order two days ahead

Three rules the table doesn't cover

1. If there's soup or appetizers, order less

If the meal starts with charro beans (one of our signature sides), soup, or any filling appetizer, plan for 120 to 150 grams per person. People eat fewer carnitas when they're already full of something else.

2. If it's the only dish, order more

Carnitas as the single main course, with nothing substantial beyond guacamole and tortillas, means going up to 200 grams per person. People in Monterrey eat.

3. For 8+ people, better too much than too little

Don Hugo's rule: with 8 people or more, always round up. If you calculated 1.8 kg, order 2. Cold carnitas the next day, fried in their own fat and served in a torta, are one of Monterrey's best-kept pleasures.

The trick regular customers know

We have a customer, a neurologist, who shows up every two weeks and orders exactly 3 to 4 kilos of carnitas and 5 guacamoles. When we ask how many people it's for, he always says the same thing: "for the grandkids". Those grandkids can eat.

The lesson: guacamole matters as much as the carnitas. One guacamole serves 4 to 6 people. If you're having 8 guests, plan for 2 guacamoles. The same goes for charro beans.

And if you'd rather not do the math

We have three packages already worked out so you don't need a calculator:

• Craving Package ($155 traditional / $170 special) - for 1 to 2 people, or a solo craving.
• Family Package ($535 traditional / $565 special) - for 2 to 4 people, ideal for Sunday lunch.
• Generous Package ($870 traditional / $930 special) - for 4 to 6 people, the most ordered.

All of them include sides. And if your gathering is bigger, call +52 81 8347 2312 and we'll put together something custom, preferably with one or two days' notice so we have every cut you want.