- The beans are just... - They're really good.
- Mwah! - This is so good.
(raspy) Oh yeah. - (PvF) Street food is such
a wonderful way to experience and immerse yourself
in a new destination and learn about its diverse culture.
And today, we are trying Mexican street food.
- (gasps) Oh my god! (laughs)
- Today's gonna be a good day. - Today's a good day.
- (PvF) While tacos are a very important part
of Mexican cuisine, we wanted to have you try
a variety of other delicious foods that aren't tacos.
- Hell yeah. - I could cry.
Bro, this is gonna be the best episode ever.
I already know it. - Tell me about it.
- Yah. - That looks amazing.
- It looks so fire, bro. - Have you seen this?
- I've never heard of this. - I've never heard of this.
- Yeah, I don't think I even heard of it either.
- This process is crazy. - I know.
I don't know what that is, but it looks so good.
- Ooh. - Okay.
- Ooh! That looks filled. Ooh. - Whoa.
- That looks crazy. - This looks artistic.
- I love Oaxacan cheese.
- Ohhh! - Oh yeah, look at that.
Yeah, you just bite straight in. - Oh, look at that presentation.
- Wow! - I'm my--
- Ooh, with the spin! - Oooooooh!
- (PvF) Tlayuda is a handmade Oaxacan dish that consists
of a large, thin tortilla that's covered in a spread
of refried beans, asiento, or pork lard, veggies, meat,
Oaxaca cheese, and salsa. - And you just fold it right up.
- Gotta get that big bite of shavacado right here.
- (Anna) Mmmm!
- Yo! - Oh my god.
- Mmm. - Oh my god!
The beans are just... - They're really good.
- Mwah! - Never heard of this before,
never had it before. I just got put on.
- Oh, gosh. - How come I've never
seen this anywhere? - You're right!
- Where is this stuff hiding? Where has this been all my life?
- (PvF) You came in saying that you knew all sorts
of Mexican street food. - You guys flexed on me.
I'm not even gonna lie. - It's thin.
Everything is thin, so it makes-- I'm getting a lot.
- But it's better, I think, because the crust is thin,
so you get to taste the-- you're not the--
tortilla is not overpowering it. - Yeah, it's not too much of it.
- Wow! I can eat this. I can eat the whole thing of this.
- This is ridiculous, dude. This is really, really good.
- Like, okay, like yeah, I've had tacos and burritos,
but so has the rest of the world. I didn't know...
- Right. - ...all this other side to it.
- (PvF) Kenneth is just eating. He's not even concerned with--
- Oh, he killed it, bro! - It's so good!
- This makes me feel wholesome. It's so healthy.
- I am so happy with this. This might be one
of the best things I've ever eaten. - (gasps)
- Ooh, okay. - Ohhh!
- Okay! - This is my favorite.
- This isn't even on the cob. - Oh, you just get
a nice, big spoonful. - Oh, god.
- And then, they do the chili. - Looks good, though.
- Ooh. - I have this a lot.
- I want some of this. - I used to play Pop Warner football.
And they would be at the park. And after practice or before practice,
I would have to get one of these. - Ooh.
- Yes. - It looks so fancy!
- (PvF) Elote, or corn, is a cornerstone of Mexican cuisine
with its roots being traced all the way back to Aztec civilization.
And while you've probably heard of Mexican street corn,
esquites is a similar cousin with mature corn off the cob
toasted and cooked in chicken stock
and then topped with all the delicious fixings,
like butter, mayo, cotija, and chili powder.
- All my friends are going to be so jealous of this episode.
- Mmm! - I'm making a mess.
- Oh my gosh. - I'm so happy with this.
- It's like a little parfait. - Flavor-- there's just
so much flavor in here. - So, it's spicy, cheesy,
and it's just a great snack. - This is definitely a comfort food.
- That's so good. - Every mouthful is just
like an explosion of happiness. - Mm-hmm.
- I feel like I could describe this as a deconstructed corn cheese.
- That looks like a thick tortilla.
- We're at a good start. We're at a good start already!
- Oh my-- look at the details
going in, bro. - Is it like a dumpling?
What is going on? - Ooh. What is--
- Oh, what's this? - Ooh, what is this?
- Sopes? - Whoa!
- Oh, really? - What is that?
- Oh, there's the beans. - This is the good part.
We're getting to the good part now. - I love those beans.
- There we go! - Here we--
- Oooh. - Now we're getting somewhere, baby.
- Everything they're putting on there is a yes.
- Oh yeah, stack that. Stack that lettuce on top.
- This is for sure the best dish I've seen!
- Yo! - That boy thicc!
- (PvF) The sopes are a fried masa dough that's topped with a ton
of delicious savory toppings. They're popular throughout
all of Mexico's territories. And each region has
their own varietals of the dish. - I wonder what's the varietals.
- (PvF) In acapulco, they're sometimes a little smaller
in bread and seafood oil for distinct tastes.
And they're called sophisitos. - (both) Mmm.
- That's cute. - (PvF) And in Oaxaca,
they're often prepared with-- and apologize for pronunciation--
chapulines, or roasted grasshoppers, as a topping.
- Ooh! - Gosh, it's so good, dude.
- It is good. I like the meat on this one.
- It tastes so good. - (Kenneth, muffled) This is so good.
- I swear I'm part Mexican for sure.
- It's thicker than, you know, what I'm used to, like whether
it's eating a taco or a tortilla. - Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
- Mexican food is-- what would we do without it?
- I know, right? - It would be a world war.
- (PvF) Up next is the ultimate late night street food snack.
- Late night?! That's all I do!
- Okay. - Tostitos.
- Mmm. - Start now--
- Are we doing nachos in a bag? - What?
- This looks insane. - Whoa. Yes, layer that on there.
- Usually, when I'm at my most tipsy is when these sound the best to eat.
- Whoa! - Whoa.
- What did we just watch, bro? - These look great.
- Oh, the smell. - Oh! The smell!
- It smells so good, bro.
- (PvF) So, tostilocos are a better version of Frito pie.
They're made with Tostitos chips topped with cucumbers, jicama,
lime, salt, chamoy, Tajin, peanuts. They're originally from Tijuana
but have been adopted across the country as a great snack.
- Ah. Oh my gosh. - What the?
Mmmmm! - Chamoy is my favorite sauce
on anything. - The flavors in here are like--
everything just adds so much flavor. - This is so good.
- (raspy) Oh yeah. - Overall, it kind of tastes
Taki-ish to me. What do you think?
- Yeah, the majority of it, you taste the sauces mostly.
- Mmm-hmm. - Definitely a late night...
- Oh yeah. - ...food.
- This is like a "I'm done at the bar."
- Yeah, and I'm wasted. - Yeah.
- Look. There's Takis, and then there's--
it's just salsa verdes chips. - Oooh! Spicy!
- There it is. Woo! - I'm sweating a little bit.
- Is this like an onion? - Yeah, it tastes
like a lettuce onion type. - Yeah.
- But it's like gooey? Like, slimy a little bit?
- It's pickled pork skin. - Oh!
- Ahhhhh! - Oh, hold on.
Pickled pig skin. Look at that.
This thing? - (PvF) Mm-hmm.
- Not a fan of it. - Wooo!
- This might be one of the best episodes I've ever done.
- Ooh! - Oh, mangoes!
- Is it mang-- - (both) Mangoes!
- Yes! - Mangoes, bros?
- Okay, slice some mangoes. - Bro, one of my favorite fruits.
- I've seen when they do this on the side of the street.
- You have? - Yes!
- Is this what I think it's gonna be?
- Yes! Chamoy! - Ooh! Ooooh!
- Oh, are they gonna put the sauce on there?
- (growls) - It looks like
a candied apple of some sorts. - This is pretty.
It does, huh! - (PvF) Known for some
of the freshest and sweetest fruit in the world,
Mexican fruit stands are a staple essentially
in beach cities. And fresh mango carved
into a rose and topped with lime salt, chamoy, tahini
is easily one of the best street foods out there.
- Woo! That kicks! - Yeah!
- That's a kick! - Yeah!
- And the best part is they drowned it in chamoy
like I like. - Chamoy.
- The chamoy's actually-- I've been really getting
into that lately too. - I don't like chamoy.
I don't hate it. I just don't love it.
But I love the mango. - That is strong. That is amazing.
- This is gas, bro. - That looks like a--
is that a sweet potato? - Is that a sweet potato or a yam?
- Is that a sweet potato or a mango? - Can't tell.
- What is this? what is this? - Okay.
- Oh, you know this is gonna slap.
- Is it sweet? - Oh! I love condensed milk.
- A little dinner and dessert right now.
- (laughs) - I don't know what that is.
- I don't know what this is, yeah. - What's that?
Cinnamon? - And you gotta have the seasoning
on top, 'cause it wouldn't be the same without it.
(steam whistling) - Oh, that's dope!
I really like that guy's thing. That's hella cool.
- Performance. - Ohhhh...
- Look how beautiful this is - ...my...
- I know. I know. - I've never seen this before.
- The camotes cart with its iconic whistle
is prevalent throughout Mexico, similar to what we think of
in the US when an ice cream truck jingles by.
Serving up sweet potatoes cooked with piloncillo,
which is a raw form of cane sugar, and topped with condensed milk
and cinnamon sugar. It is a treat you will
absolutely fall in love with. - Dip it.
- Get some of this, get some of that.
- Whoa! - This is one of the best things
I've ever tried. - So, it's real sweet.
- Yeah, it's really, really sweet. - It's sweet, but it still has
a balance to it. - I'm giving it a nine.
- Oh, wow. - See, the thing is I've never
been a super fan of sweet potato. I don't hate it.
This is just-- this is some next level stuff right here.
- I can't believe we-- only thing we're missing
is the horn that he had. - The horn?
- (imitates steam whistling) (steam whistles)
- Yeah, you're right. It's not that bad at all.
It's like my mind making me not wanna like it
'cause it's yams. - (PvF) Well, that does it for today.
Any final thoughts about Mexican street foods?
- Mmm. - It's great.
- This was a legendary trip. - Yeah.
- My cheeks hurt from smiling this whole time.
- If you are scared to try new things,
start with Mexico, and you will probably get over that fear.
- Yeah. - Thank you.
- (both laugh)
- Thank you guys so much for watching. - What other foods
should we try next time? - Let us know in the comments below.
- And be sure to like and subscribe to People Versus Food.
- Hit that notification bell to get notified about future episodes.
- Peace out. - Bye, guys.
- Bye! Love! - (both) Bye!
- Yeah, bro. I'm digging right back into this, bro.
- (chuckles) - I don't care
if it's behind the scenes.