Shutterstock/ Aliaksandr Mazurenka
Elote is the Spanish word for corn, and it describes a Mexican recipe involving mayo or crema, cheese, and seasonings slathered on a roasted or boiled corn cob. When the corn is shaved off of the cob and served in a cup, it’s called esquites. But in the US, any decked out corn, on the cob or in a cup, is commonly referred to as elote.
Corn is probably not an ingredient that the average American thinks much about. It really only appears in the summer, gets thrown on the grill for a month or two, and then seemingly goes back into obscurity until the next summer. Latin American cultures highly value corn and rely on masa, dried corn dough, to make key dishes like tamales, pupusas, and tortillas.
In the US, elote is particularly popular in places with a lot of Latin American influence. While restaurants might be reliable venues to indulge in this treat, street carts carry some of the best elote you can get, if you catch them. One street cart in Los Angeles, Corn Man, became so famous for their elote, that they’ve been able to figure out how to stay at the same location for years.
Open every day except Christmas, Corn Man serves for a few hours, late at night, until he’s sold out. DFW may not have a world-famous corn cart (yet), but plenty can be found outside of Latin American grocery stores and at festivals.
If you want a reliable go-to when that elote craving hits, check out these seven places to get some of the best the metroplex has to offer.
El Super Elote
Address: 1120 E Parker Rd. #210, Plano, TX 75074
This elote shop is beloved because of their generous toppings and fast service. You can order your corn on the cob or in a cup and the toppings are the usual suspects of cheese, hot sauce, and chips. For a sweet balance to your savory corn, El Super Elote also has agua frescas and fruit cups.
Milagro Taco Cantina
Address: 440 Singleton Blvd. Ste. 100, Dallas, TX 75212
This restaurant in the Trinity Groves area of Dallas has elote on the menu and customers like that the corn is roasted, not boiled. Milagro is currently repping at the State Fair of Texas, and you can try their elote, along with their delectable pork belly ceviche tamale, during your visit.
Elotes Fanny
Various locations, including Fort Worth and Garland
Elotes Fanny is a Texas chain serving the self-proclaimed “best elotes in Texas.” Here, in addition to your corn, you’ll find a magical menu of shaved ice, micheladas, and smoothies and shakes galore. You can order your elote two ways: on the cob, where they will completely cover your cob with the chip dust of your choice, or in a platter, with sizzling butter. All there’s left to do is decide if you want to share or keep your elote all to yourself.
Elotes Lokos
Address: 2029 S Buckner Blvd, Dallas, TX 75217
Head to east Dallas for Fair Park, the Arboretum, and Elotes Lokos. This is where you will find barbecued elote and elote chorreado, the street corn remixed to resemble chili, with sour cream and hot nacho cheese oozing over the cup.
Rico’s Paleteria y Batons Locas
Various locations
Rico’s has four locations in the DFW, offering paletas, churros, and rows of snacks and candy, but let’s get back to the elote. Besides your standard elote order, you can try Rico’s Maruchan Chorreados. That’s ramen noodles, corn, cheese, and optional Flaming Hot Cheetos. See it in 4K here.
Gipsy Lime
Address: 8701 Cypress Waters Blvd #100, Irving, TX 75063
If you’re looking for a sit-down spot with tacos, good cocktails, and elote, Gipsy Lime might be your place. On the menu you’ll see “street corn,” a customer favorite, even amongst the list of wildly popular tacos. This restaurant has been around for a while and it looks like they took earlier comments about their street corn—on the cob years ago— and improved it. You can now enjoy the “to die for” corn in a small dish for $4, according to customer reviews.
Mentiiras
Two DFW locations
With a location in Dallas and a brand new location Arlington, Mentiiras is highlighting Mexican street food in North Texas. At first, you’ll be distracted by the mini pancakes covered in toppings or milkshakes made from popular Mexican candies, but once you get to the elote, your eyes will widen from the full cups and creative takes. If you want to go big, order the Lotechan. That’s a cup of ramen (chicken or shrimp flavored) sitting inside a trio of chips with corn and two types of cheese on top. See it for yourself.
Do you have an elote spot we should try? Email [email protected] and let us know!
