Many consider Puebla City to be the birthplace of traditional Mexican cuisine, making it no surprise that the city is one of Mexico‘s top foodie destinations. From the tasty hybrid dish of Tacos Arabes to freshly grilled Esquites and Elotes, these are some of the street foods that you simply have to try when visiting Puebla City.

Grilled Esquites and Elotes
Corn is an ingredient that has always played a significant role in Mexico, and while this street food may be a simple dish, it is a common one that can be found throughout the country. However, while most areas of Mexico choose to boil the corn, Puebla stands out by grilling it over charcoal, and then serving it up either in a cub, known as Esquites, or on the cob, known as Elotes, along with a flavorful helping of mayonnaise, cheese, lime and chili.

Tacos Arabes
Taco Arabes is a dish that can be described as a mix between a Middle Eastern Shawarma and an Al Pastor Taco, and was conceived after Lebanese immigrants brought the Shawarma to Mexico. This hybrid dish is a fantastic example of how globalization and immigration have had an impact on Puebla’s traditional cuisine, and, served up in a large pita-style bread, packed with spit-roasted pork and topped with lemon juice, is a dish that many find difficult to resist.

Cemitas
Many destinations have their own specialty version of a sandwich, and in the case of Puebla, this would be the Cemita. These sandwiches are made in a variety of ways, but are usually always quite over-the-top, and are commonly filled with pork Milanesa, Quesillo cheese, which comes from Oaxaca, onions, and chipotles, although there are plenty of other fillings to choose from.

Chalupas
Chalupas, which are not to be confused with the chalupas served up at fast food chains around the world, are one of Puebla’s most legendary street food dishes, and can be found frying on a multitude of street corners every evening. Consisting of corn tortillas that have only been lightly fried, and then topped with onions, salsa and shredded meat, chalupas are one of the most popular street food items in the city.

Empanadas
Just like Tacos Arabes, empanadas are not a traditional Mexican dish, having originated in Spain, but, when it comes to street food in Puebla City, a local version of empanadas can just about always be found. Unlike the empanadas that are served up around the rest of the country, the Puebla City version uses a flaky, pastry-like bread, and is baked into a triangle shape. Whether stuffed with mole, pineapple and ham, or a variety of other delicious fillings, this is a street food that is perfect for all times of the day.

The cuisine that you will find in Puebla City is unlike that of any other Mexican destination, which is why this city really stands out in the culinary world. From their unique take on Empanadas to the explosive flavors of the traditional Chalupa, these are some street food dishes that really need to be experienced in order to be truly appreciated.