For dessert, a couple of the kids munched on simple, creamy white sugar cookies while the rest of us enjoyed milk and chocolate cakes. The milk cakes at Chalia's aren't tres leches, because that means "three milks. The menu promises "four milks cake," and our server mentioned that the bakers also make one with five milks.

All of that is fine with me, because Mexican milk cake is one of life's great pleasures, and those at Chalia's cover a wide spectrum of flavors: pineapple, pina colada, strawberry, mocha — all of them featuring delicious, crumby cake soaked to a pudding-like consistency in sweet milk, then frosted with cream. Oh, golly, are they good.

But if that's not your thing, there's other cake: vanilla cake layered with fruit and topped with caramel, or chocolate cake stacked high with layers of cream, held together with pirouline cookies pressed around the side. There also are cheesecake brownies, pretzels dipped in candy, homemade truffles, huge cinnamon rolls ... need I say more?

Sandwiches $3.99-$6.99, grilled chicken $5.99-$15.99, tacos and quesadillas $1.50-$5.99, combos and specials $3.39-$6.99, individual desserts $1-$4.75, half and full sheet cakes $60-$130.

Rating: ***

Where: 752 W. Center (7800 South), Midvale

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Closed Sunday

Payment: Major credit cards accepted

Phone: 562-0063

Wheelchair access: Easy

Also: Catering, takeout available

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Stacey Kratz is a freelance writer who reviews restaurants for the Deseret Morning News. E-mail: skratz@desnews.com