"Few people understand this better than Evelia Coyotzi, a longtime vendor who sold tamales and cups of atole from the corner of Junction Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue in Corona, Queens. The Mexican chef has been fined and arrested multiple times over the last two decades and continues to rally in support of street vendors across the city. Somehow, Coyotzi found the time this year to open a standalone restaurant in East Elmhurst for her tamale business, becoming one of few vendors in the city to make the leap. Her menu has grown to include menudo, weekend barbacoa, and other dishes that weren’t practical to serve from a street cart. They’re delightful, but let’s be honest: The place is called Evelia’s Tamales, and at $1.50 each, the ones sold here remain some of the absolute best in the city." - Eater Staff