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This year we’re marking the hundred-day countdown to Best of Phoenix 2015 by sharing some of our favorite dishes at restaurants all over the Valley. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email lauren.saria@newtimes.com.
9. Oaxaca Special Burro at Carolina’s
There are restaurants all over the country with signs claiming they serve “The Best Coffee” or “The Best Steaks” or the best whatever it is the restaurant happens to sell. You don’t need any sort of credential to have such a sign made and posted outside your restaurant, and more often than not you won’t actually find the best anything at a restaurant claiming to have the best whatever.
Except at Carolina’s. Outside this Phoenix institution, there’s a big sign that claims the restaurant serves “The best tortillas in town!” And it actually does. This little restaurant’s tortillas are infamous in metro Phoenix, and they’re worth a trip just to get a bag. Take them home and roll them up with butter for a delicious snack or use them as the foundation for your homemade burrito. These tortillas are handmade, stretchy, and thin and can hold pretty much anything you’d like to fill them with.
But, hey, if you’re going to be at the restaurant anyway to get some tortillas, you might as well eat. And if you’re looking for a recommendation, I’d say order the Oaxaca Special burrito. It’s like a breakfast burrito without the egg: stuffed with spicy chorizo, fried potatoes, refried beans, and cheese. For under $4 you get a meal that sticks to your ribs and coats your hands in grease. You’re going to want some of Carolina’s simple red salsa to add spice, but mostly you’re going to want a napkin. And maybe another tortilla.
The 100 Favorite Dishes so far…
100. Waffle at Matt’s Big Breakfast
99. Pacific White Fish Taco at La Santisima
98. Beef Roll at Taiwan Food Express
97. Zinc Burger at Zinc Bistro
96. Goat Biryani at Khyber Halal
95. Key Lime Doughnut at Welcome Chicken + Donuts
94. Chicharrón Prensado Quesadilla at La Merced
93. Moist Succulent Pork Chop at Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe
92. Deep Fried Squid with Salt and Pepper from Nee House Chinese Cuisine
91. Coconut Raspberry Brownie at Karl’s Quality Bakery
90. Fried Chicken at Phoenix Public Market Cafe
89. The Tyler at Cheese ‘N Stuff
88. Hurricane Popcorn at Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
87. Ceviche at El Chullo
86. Date Shake at Couscous Express
85. Red Bean and Rice Burger at Liberty Market
84. Banh Thit Nguoi at Da Vang
83. Breakfast Sandwich at Ollie Vaughn’s
82. Crispy Pig Ears at Crudo
81. Parillada at Asadero Norte De Sonora
80. Warm Jar of King Crab and Butter at Little Cleo’s Seafood Legend
79. Pumpkin Spice Macaron at Essence Bakery
78. Falafel Sandwich at Al Hana Restaurant
77. Sheng Jian Bao at DingHao Shanghai
76. Baked Vegetable Pesto at Oven + Vine
75. Pollo Guisado at FrinGo’s Kitchen
74. Aloo Paratha at Tahoora Grill
73. Exotic Mushroom Pan Fry at Cowboy Ciao
72. Otro Cortado Salad at Otro Cafe
71. The Standard with Cheese at The Stand
70. Kimchee Bokum Bap at Hodori
69. The 301 Pizza at Forno 301
68. Green Chile Burrito at Rito’s Mexican Food
67. Aloo Tikki Chaat at Little India
66. Oysters Rockefeller at The Salt Cellar Restaurant
65. Bún Thit Nuong at Hue Gourmet
64. Pistachio Chicken Liver Pate at The Gladly
63. Fried Green Tomato Sandwich at Welcome Diner
62. Crawfish at Angry Crab Shack
61. The Lady at Short Leash Hot Dogs
60. Torta Ahogada at Tortas Paquime
59. Baiynchaiv Crepes at Reathrey Sekong
58. The Straw at Miracle Mile Deli
57. Fresh Shattered Potato Chips at Ingo’s Tasty Food
56. Southern Fried Chicken at Bobby-Q
55. Buffala Verace at Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana
54. Baklava at Middle Eastern Bakery and Deli
53. Tri-Tip Sandwich at Grassroots Kitchen at Tap
52. Fig, Cheese, and Caramel Empanada at Republica Empanada
51. Cauliflower Pizza at Forge Wood-Fired Pizza
50. Bandeja Paisa at La Tiendita Cafe
49. Footlong at Ted’s Hot Dogs
48. Chettinad Dosai at Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen
47. Sticky Buns at El Chorro
46. Wood Grilled Artichoke at Central Bistro
45. Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings at New Hong Kong Restaurant
44. Carne Adovada Enchiladas at Los Dos Molinos
43. Mac n’ Cheese at Lux Central
42. Carolina Dog at Joe’s Farm Grill
41. Whole Chicken at El Pollo Supremo
40. Fried Saimin at Aloha Kitchen
39. Hummus at Princess Market
38. Xiaolongbao at Chou’s Kitchen
37. No. 6 Crepe at Jobot
36. Lo-Lo’s Special at Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles
35. Banana Cream Pie Trifle at The Parlor Pizzeria
34. Bean & Cheese Burrito at America’s Taco Shop
33. Butterfish Tatki at Roka Akor
32. Pan Seared Scottish Salmon at Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse
31. Peking Duck at Hong Kong Asian Diner
30. Vic’s Meatloaf and Eggs at Dick’s Hideaway
29. Arizona Super Taco at LuLu’s Taco Shop
28. Zucca Chips at North Italia
27. Haemul Soon Du Bu at Café Ga Hyang
26. Salmon “Yasu Style” at Yasu Sushi Bistro
25. Pineapple Li Hing Mui Ice Candy at Super Chunk Sweets and Treats
24. Mixed Grill at Copper Kettle
23. Super Colossal Shrimp Cocktail at Steak 44
22. Egg Tart at Great Wall Cuisine
21. The Pittsburgher at Wimpy’s Paradise
20. Beignets at Southern Rail
19. Ricotta Gnocchi at Rancho Pinot
18. Ika Kare Age at Hana Japanese Eatery
17. Pork Belly Pastrami at Citizen Public House
16. Pig Face Dumplings at The Clever Koi
15. Grand Prix at Crepe Bar
14. Hoppin’ John at Yard Bird + The Larder
13. Churros Rellenos de Cajeta de Cabra at Barrio Cafe
12. Pig’s Feet at Christopher’s Restaurant and Crush Lounge
11. Tsukuri Six at ShinBay
10. Salted Butter Caramel Ice Cream at Sweet Republic
