When people find out I’m a full-time food blogger, their first question almost always is, ‘‘So what’s your favorite Valley restaurant?’’
I usually explain I like different restaurants for different things, but my favorite menu item, without a doubt, is the machaca burro (pictured) at Carolina’s Mexican Food.
Wrapped in one of Carolina’s house-made tortillas and doused with a side of house sauce, it’s a soupy, dripping, yet tasty mess that you’ll hurry to cram into your pie hole before it completely falls apart.
Price? A wallet-friendly $4. The only problem is the nearest Carolina’s is a long drive over to Phoenix. It’s a tiny building that’s always packed at meal times.
Well, things just got a lot easier for me and all other Carolina’s fans in the East Valley. The eatery announced on Facebook its fourth Valley location is opening in Mesa:
The wait will soon be over for our loyal customers who live and work in the east valley, to enjoy Carolina’s original recipes and fresh tortillas! Carolina’s Mexican Food is coming to Mesa, late this fall or early next year. Located at Country Club and the 60 on the northwest corner, 1450 S Country Club Dr Mesa AZ 85210. Again thank you for your loyalty!
The original Carolina’s opened in 1968 and moved to its present non-descript, cinder-block building on 15th Street and Mohave in 1986.
Namesake Carolina Valenzuela told me five years ago she was looking for an East Valley location. It took long enough, but I’m thrilled she finally found one.
