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Platter of grilled carne asada street tacos with lime, radish, and cilantro

Authentic Carne Asada Street Tacos

Prep Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 40 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 650 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2.0 lbs skirt steak or flank steak
  • 0.5 cup fresh lime juice
  • 0.25 cup fresh orange juice
  • 0.25 cup soy sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic , minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
  • 12 to 16 small corn tortillas
  • 1 cup white onion, finely diced
  • 0.5 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 2 fresh limes , cut into wedges
  • 4 radishes , thinly sliced
  • 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a non-reactive glass bowl or heavy-duty resealable bag, whisk together lime juice, orange juice, soy sauce, minced garlic, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
  • Submerge the steak in the marinade, ensuring total surface contact. Seal and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, ideally up to 8 hours, to allow enzymatic tenderization and flavor penetration.
  • Remove steak from refrigeration 30 minutes prior to cooking to reach ambient temperature. Pat the surface dry with paper towels to facilitate Maillard browning.
  • Preheat a cast-iron grill pan or outdoor gas grill to high heat (approximately 450°F to 500°F / 230°C to 260°C).
  • Place the steak on the high-heat surface. Sear for 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare doneness (target internal temperature of 135°F / 57°C).
  • Transfer the steak to a clean cutting board and tent loosely with foil. Allow the proteins to rest for 10 minutes to redistribute internal juices.
  • While the meat rests, warm the corn tortillas directly over a gas flame or in a dry skillet for 30 seconds per side until pliable and slightly charred.
  • Carve the steak across the grain into thin strips, then rotate 90 degrees and dice into 0.25-inch cubes.
  • Assemble the tacos by placing approximately 2 ounces of diced beef onto each double-stacked tortilla pair.
  • Garnish each taco with diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and two slices of radish. Serve immediately with lime wedges for manual acidity adjustment.