After months of delays, Carolina’s Mexican Food finally has opened its much-anticipated first East Valley location on the northwest corner of Country Club and U.S. 60 (map) in Mesa.
The iconic Mexican restaurant serves inexpensive burros, tacos, enchiladas, tamales, and tostadas (see menu), but is perhaps best-known for its delicious tortillas made fresh daily.
Manuel and Carolina Valenzuela launched the business in the 1950s, selling food out of their car to field workers. They opened their first Phoenix restaurant in 1968. Manual died in 1979, Carolina in 2002.
Carolina’s has grown to four Valley locations, all owned and operated by two groups of grandchildren and great-children.
One group has the south Phoenix location, which opened in 1986, and recently launched another in Peoria.
The other group opened the north Phoenix location in 2005 and the new Mesa one.
An official grand opening party will be held June 1 in Mesa.
