BEST AZ-MEX

Carbajal’s
Carbajal’s
7340 East Main, Mesa
480-807-0887
The love affair with simple, satisfying Sonoran-style gringo food starts with the chips. They're spectacular, crispy light, warm, and sprinkled with lots of salt. The chunky salsa purée is flamed with just enough chiles to add spark without pain. It's tempting to eat an entire basket all by our lonesome. But we resist, knowing that owner Marina Carbajal is in the kitchen, crafting her family recipes to feed the crowds at her tiny cafe (five red-tile-topped tables plus five booths).

These are fantastic favorites -- tacos with juicy rich shredded beef layered in lacy thin shells, enchiladas in spicy, fork-licking sauce, and burros bursting with luscious stuff like green chile beef in oceans of thick grayish gravy. We feast on the magical machaca, the shredded beef blended with vibrant spices, tossed with scrambled egg, onion and tomato, slathered with soupy-soft refried beans, cheese and rice, then wrapped in tears of warm flour tortillas. Carbajal's has topnotch menudo, too, bobbing with soft tripe and al dente hominy mixed with chopped red onion, minced cilantro or lemon, plus exquisite albóndigas, a kiddy-pool-size portion of rich tomato broth, rice, carrot, potato, white onion, squash and highly herbed meatballs.

This is the best there is of comfort food, Mexican style.

Best Of Search

Click here for Best Of Map

Best Of Issues - Previous Years

Latest Best Of User Comments

  • BEST COFFEE HOUSE (1)
    2009-01-05 03:51:43
    The visit was useful. Content was really very informative. From http://www.giftwithlove.com
  • Best Smoke (1)
    2009-01-04 19:41:48
    Churchill's is actually a small cigar chain - they have five locations scattered around the...
  • Best Frozen Yogurt (1)
    2008-12-29 19:07:30
    Ironic how Ice Tango had the most violations on the local CBS dirty dining segment....
  • Best Record Store Staffed by Overeducated Underachievers (1)
    2008-12-21 01:19:41
    Evidently there is this guy named ballpark there who makes Chris Hansen feel skeered. And makes...
  • Best Local Country Radio Personality (3)
    2008-12-19 00:12:50
    i hve listened to dave pratt since i was twelve im now 38 i just found out he was taken off the...

Best of Phoenix 2003 Award Graphics