what kind of meat is al pastor

Al pastor is traditionally made from marinated pork , usually pork shoulder (also called pork butt).

What meat is al pastor?

• Classic al pastor is thinly sliced pork that has been marinated in a mix of chilies, spices, and often pineapple, then cooked on a vertical spit.

• The cut is typically boneless pork shoulder, which has enough fat to stay juicy and flavorful during slow roasting.

Variations you might see

• Some modern restaurants experiment with chicken, beef, or even tofu “al pastor,” but those are adaptations of the original pork-based style.

• Menus usually say just “al pastor,” so if you have dietary limits, it is safest to ask which meat they use, since pork is still the default.

Quick historical flavor

• The style comes from Lebanese immigrants in Mexico who brought shawarma-style spit cooking, originally with lamb, which locals adapted using pork and Mexican spices.

• That is why al pastor often looks like shawarma or gyros on a vertical spit but tastes distinctly Mexican, with chili, achiote, and pineapple notes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.