When I came to Phoenix my freshman year, I had three goals: do great in classes, get a girlfriend and find a fantastic, cheap Mexican restaurant.
One down, two to go.
Carolina’s Mexican Food is tucked within the cracked walls and barred windows of a building at the corner of East Mohave and South 12th streets. A walk through the door reveals a similarly sobering scene: two large rooms with concrete floors (one for people waiting for carry-out and another for eating) furnished with a few cheap booths and tables. But inside the kitchen of this arcane establishment there is a little bit of magic.
After being consistently disappointed by other local Mexican joints, I decided to give Carolina’s a try. Granted, I never expected mastery from chains like El Portal, Chipotle or Qdoba, but even the independent restaurants near the campus are a testament to mediocrity. A bit of driving yielded similar frustration, and while it would be a lie to say I hadn’t eaten any really good Mexican food in Phoenix before Carolina’s, I have never been truly impressed by what I paid for.
Carolina’s, however, is an anomaly. Not only is the restaurant renowned for its large, hand-made tortillas and elegantly-spiced chorizo, but it also has phenomenally low prices.
A quick peak at their menu will show you what I mean: hearty, delicious combination dinners for $5, burros for $3. No hidden fees, ladies and gentleman.
So far, I can testify with utmost confidence to the tastiness of the combination plates No. 5 (the machaca plate) and No. 6 (chorizo with potatoes, rice and beans). The hard tacos with beef are quite satisfying as well, although the cheese enchiladas and red chile fall a little short of the high bar that is established by other dishes.
Even the soft drink machine adds a flair of wholesome authenticity, offering both horchata and jamaica, a popular Mexican drink.
There is no doubt that the interior could use some decor besides the awards that line the walls, or that the location is both inconvenient and rather seedy (perhaps the reason they close at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays). But if you’re looking for great food at absurdly low prices, Carolina’s can’t be beat.
Contact the reporter at daniel.neligh@asu.edu
