Where to find real menudo in Phoenix

Carolina's cranks out some of the best homemade flour tortillas in town. Try them wrapped around a breakfast or bean burro or order up a dozen to go for $2.65. Both red and white menudo are available on Saturday only starting at 7 a.m. Bring your own pot, and they'll happily ladle it in for you.

Enjoy a bowl of red or white on weekends after 7 a.m. on the outdoor patio, and plan to return for Sylvia's chicken fiesta, created in honor of her mamacita.

Weekends only, a large bowl of red menudo. Open at 8 a.m. The menu features competent seafood dishes too, like shrimp enchiladas and Seven Seas Soup, a rich broth with squid, shrimp, crab and scallops. Landlubbers will like the chips supreme, topped with carne asada, beans, cheese, guacamole and sour cream.

One of downtown's oldest businesses, the family run eatery offers both red and white menudo daily from 7 a.m. The rest of the menu holds no surprises, just big platters of enchiladas, tacos, tamales and burros, plus a dependably gooey cheese crisp.

This huge, banquet-hall-style restaurant, which is great for large groups, has been around for more than 25 years in downtown Phoenix. It mainly serves Mexican selections, with some American and Greek choices thrown in. The Mexican stuff is greasy and filling, and each day means a different lunch special. Try the chalupas ($8.95) or seafood tostadas ($8.95). Head to the Matador on Friday nights for hip-hop and Latin music spun by a DJ from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. — you also can sip on $2 margaritas.

This roomy, family owned South Phoenix eatery serves its red menudo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Eat in or order to go. Also serves all the usual south of the border items.