Guadalajara's signature drowned sandwich with carnitas in birote bread and fiery chile sauce. This protein-rich, family-style street food is a bold, fresh culinary icon of Jalisco.
Prep the fiery chile sauce: Remove stems from dried árbol chiles and simmer them with the tomatoes in 2 cups of water over medium heat for 8 minutes until softened.
Blend the simmered chiles, tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, salt, and Mexican oregano until completely smooth. Strain the sauce for an ultra-silky texture; set aside and keep warm.
Warm the carnitas in a skillet over medium-high heat until edges are golden and crisp, about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally for even browning.
Slice each birote roll horizontally and spread a generous layer of refried beans on the bottom half. Pile warm carnitas over the beans; optionally add sliced avocado and finely diced white onion.
Place the assembled tortas on a deep plate. Pour hot chile sauce generously over each sandwich, completely submerging if desired. Let soak 1–2 minutes for authentic texture, then serve immediately.