Camacho's Place

We heard of this place from friends, and it is really in the middle of nowhere. That said, you gotta go there to eat. It has been there for over 70 years and serves up great, fresh Mexican food. We split Combo #2, the quesadilla special, and chili rellenos, a couple beers, and homemade flan for dessert. Easily the best dinner in the area for us. If you go, check out all the history on the walls. And day hi to Rosey.

Okay, you have to work hard to find this institution. Its in the middle of fields. It is worth the effort though because the food is very good. The decor is basic cafe, the servers are the owners and are happy to share the history of this 72 year old restaurant and maybe bend your ear about other things as well. It has a special ambiance, so go, eat well, and smile.

To get to Camacho's Place, you will need to journey through forsaken realms and lands with no songs. As your GPS guides you over El Centro's crumbling roads through dusty desert fields juxtaposed to irrigated cattle farms, you'll repeatedly check it to see if it's guiding you to the right address. Reassure yourself that this place HAS to be good if it's remained open for nearly 75 years while being this far away from civilization. I was told that there's a man from Orange County who flies here via helicopter. Probably the smart thing to do if you care about your tires. Camacho's Place, opened in 1946 by Richard Camacho and his wife, Juanita, is indeed best referred to as a "place" rather than a restaurant. It is a dining room surrounded by a museum that preserves the memories of a family that has owned it for three generations while photos on its walls pay homage to the people they've fed and entertained therein, from friendly neighbors to Hollywood film stars to literal royalty like Prince Harry, who rolled in with an entourage of 40 a few years ago. Mexican cuisine is served here and, even if it is not particularly authentic, the people who serve it to you are as real as you'll find. And, by that, I'm mostly referring to Richard and Juanita's granddaughter, 68-year-old Rosamonde ("Rosie") Cuellar, a sharp woman with a dust-dry wit who runs the kitchen. Tommy, her gregarious husband, helps out as a waiter. On the Tuesday afternoon I was in, the restaurant was empty, so I sat across from them, these two strangers who were serving me their food, and we ate, talked, and laughed. Good people. The food is superb for what it is: home cooking, more soulful than precise. I ordered the "Special Quesadilla," Camacho's Place's signature dish, copied and imitated by other restaurants in Imperial Valley. It consists of gooey melted cheese in a deep-fried pastry shell that visually resembles a very large empanada, but is chewier than you'd expect. The taste and texture reminded me of the Portuguese cheese rolls I grew up eating for breakfast. Rosie shared with me samples of her rice and beans, the latter of which literally disintegrated on my tongue like some kind of Ferran Adrià culinary science experiment. Truly melt-in-your-mouth! However, it was "Rosie's Special Carne Asada Taco" that was the best thing I ate here. Abandon the idea that this taco will use the de rigueur thin-cut citrus-marinated flank steak that you get in most carne asada tacos in the U.S. Here at Camacho's Place, they use a thick coarse-fibered chop of flap steak that has been cut against the grain, and benefited from a marinade before being blasted with blistering heat, resulting in a heavily-seared carne asada that wears a well-charred caramelized coating on the outside, and a tender, soft medium-rare consistency inside. Most Mexican restaurants in America that prepare carne asada are unable to operate a grill with this level of competence, and that's the primary reason why "Rosie's Special Carne Asada Taco" is one of the very best you'll ever have. The other reason is the buttery, rich guacamole made from Hass avocados. Everything is wrapped in a flour tortilla, Mexicali-style. It all tastes a bit salty, but it works -- the flavors are explosive, and the textures magnificent.

A visit to the Imperial Valley is not complete without a visit here. Located out in the farmland, this is worth the drive. Homestyle Mexican food like no other. I always get the Special Quesadilla to go with my meal because it's as big as a football and you'll find d nothing like it on the planet. Miss Rosie will also bring some local character to your visit. Never a bad meal here!

Been going to this fixture in the Imperial Valley since 1978. I bring family and friends here every chance I get. Homemade Mexican food like the way it's supposed to be. My go-to is the Special Quesadilla. As big as a football, it's a meal unto itself. If business is slow you'll be chatting with Rosie! Out of the way but worth it!

Been going to this restaurant since I was a kid. Love, love, love the food! Was in two weeks ago and had the enchiladas and special quesadilla...mmmmmmm. My favorites. Rosie is so friendly and funny, really love talking with her. Going to miss them while their closed, but I'll be back when they open up again. Have a great time off, you guys deserve it.