Memelas Doña Vale

"Before appearing in Netflix's Street Food, Valentina Hernández, known as Doña Vale, was already popular in Central de Abastos, the largest food market in Oaxaca City. For more than 30 years, she’s been preparing the same thing at her stand: a simple meal of memelas to which she spreads a little lard, and tops them with quesillo, tasajo, or eggs cooked on the comal. Get one for breakfast that’s bathed in her famous chile morita or tomatillo sauces, and be prepared to wait in line." - liliana lopez, kylie han

"Before appearing in Netflix's Street Food, Valentina Hernández, known as Doña Vale, was already popular in Central de Abastos, the largest food market in Oaxaca City. For more than 30 years, she’s been preparing the same thing at her stand: a simple meal of memelas to which she spreads a little lard, and tops them with quesillo, tasajo, or eggs cooked on the comal. Get one for breakfast that’s bathed in her famous chile morita or tomatillo sauces, and be prepared to wait in line. photo credit: Carlos Elizondo photo credit: Carlos Elizondo photo credit: Carlos Elizondo" - Liliana López

"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

"She earned a spot on Netflix’s Street Food for good reason: Her crisp-edged memelas are nothing short of profound, made using lard (optional), fresh cheese, and a variety of toppings like thinly sliced grilled beef or pork rib." - María Ítaka