We’d absolutely recommend Empanadas del Carmen if you’re in Oaxaca and want a classic local taco stop that’s been beloved for decades. It’s a busy street cart in the heart of the city with fresh corn tortillas slapped on the comal and filled with great options like chile relleno, chorizo and quesillo, all for a super affordable price — most tacos are around 25–35 MXN each.

Our tip is to get there early in the morning because it’s popular with locals and often sells out before lunch. You can pair your tacos with an agua fresca or mezcal margarita next door for a proper meal.

What makes it extra cool is that Empanadas del Carmen were featured in the Netflix documentary Street Food: Latin America, which spotlighted Oaxaca’s street food culture and helped put these traditional vendors on the global map.