"In the heart of Oaxaca’s Abastos Market sits a bright blue stand named Memelas Doña Vale. Here, you will meet Vale Pacheco, the esteemed Doña Vale, who makes a version of Oaxaca’s iconic memelas that are so renowned, they earned her a spot on Netflix’s Street Food. Memelas are a Oaxacan signature dish: a small corn tortilla that’s given a pinched rim while cooking to hold myriad toppings, whatever you choose. The stars of this place — besides Doña Vale herself — are the giant molcajetes where she prepares two very different and astoundingly nuanced salsas: one dark, smoky salsa made with chile morita and miltomate (green tomatillo), and another red tomato and green chile salsa. Order a couple of memelitas and ask for grilled tasajo, eggs cooked on the comal, or pork ribs on the side. For drinks, you have two options, delicious Oaxacan hot chocolate or cafe de olla. [$]" - Omar Alonso
