10 Must Try Latin American Street Foods in the U.S.

street food stall where a woman does the food preparation

Latin America is known for many things; a vibrant culture, rich history, warm people, breathtaking scenery, and delicious cuisine. There’s no denying that Latin America is the land of flavor and each country offers something unique. When it comes to street food, Latinos go all out! If you want to have a true foodie adventure, here are the 10 must-try Latino street foods that have made their way into U.S. cities that you have to hunt down, no planes needed (well, maybe...not all of these street foods can be found in every U.S. city!).

And if they aren't in your city, you now have a good excuse to hunt them down in their homeland. Happy hunting!


Pupusas revueltas from El Salvador

Pupusas filled with pork and cheese and squash and cheese.

Photo by Ron Dollete on Flickr

Pupusas are one of the brightest stars of Salvadorian cuisine and for good reason. While people often compare them to dumplings, pupusas are their own thing. They’re made with corn or rice-flour dough which is filled and flattened into a disc. Pupusas are fried, so they’re crispy on the outside and gooey inside. Though there are many kinds of pupusas, the most popular are the pupusas revueltas, which are filled with beans, chicharron, and cheese.

Cachapas from Venezuela

Venezuelan sweet corn cachapa

Photo by Garrett Ziegler on Flickr

Moving on to Venezuela, the variety of street food in the country would make anyone’s head spin. One of the most popular options is the cachapa, a sweet and savory pancake made from freshly ground corn kernels. The cachapa is grilled until golden brown and filled with butter, “queso de mano” which has a similar consistency to mozzarella, cheddar cheese sauce, and finely grated aged cheese. Ham, chicharron, or grilled pork can also be added to the cachapa. It’s a decadent dish!

Choripán from Argentina

Argentinian street food Choripan

Photo by David on Wikimedia Commons

Choripán is a pride and joy in Argentinian cuisine, so it’s a popular street food you shouldn’t skip. It’s basically a sandwich but taken to the next level. It consists of crusty bread (similar to a baguette, but smaller in size and softer on the inside), grilled chorizo sausage, chimichurri, and crunchy onions. Choripán is the brainchild of gauchos (Argentinian cowboys), and it dates back to the 19th century, so you know it’s good if it has stood the test of time.

Anticuchos from Peru

Anticuchos on the grill at the "El Peru Viene a ti" Festival in Los Angeles.

Photo by Ricardo Diaz on Flickr

Peru is another Latin American country where street food is delicious and exciting. One of the many things you need to try is the “anticuchos,” which are very special for Peruvians. Anticuchos are beef skewers so it doesn’t get any simpler than that, but they’re super flavorful, and the meat is always juicy and tender. They’re the ultimate street food and a comfort food for many Peruvians. Anticuchos are usually served with Andean corn and potatoes, a perfect combination.

Torta ahogada from Mexico

plate of "torta ahogada" Mexican street food

Photo by Ron Mader on Flickr

Hailing from Guadalajara, “torta ahogada” is a mouth-watering street food option that has become popular all over Mexico. If you know a little bit about Mexican food, you’ve probably heard of “tortas” before, which are yummy sandwiches made with bolillo bread. Torta ahogada takes the torta to the next level by “drowning it” in a flavorful red salsa made with tomatoes and chile de arbol. The sandwich usually consists of refried beans and shredded meat, usually pork. Sometimes, pickled onions and avocado or guacamole are also added to the mix. Get the napkins ready, you’ll need them for this one!

Acarajé from Brazil

"acaraj\u00e9" dish Brazilian street food

Photo by Claudia Baiana on Flickr

Moving on to the streets of Brazil, we have “acarajé,” which is the Brazilian version of fritters. Acarajé is made with black-eyed peas and deep-fried. Then, they’re split in half and stuffed with shrimp and herbs. This delicious, crispy, and flavorful street food has roots in West Africa’s "akara" dish, but Brazilians have made it their own. Usually, acarajé is topped with a drizzle of spicy sauce, so get ready for some heat, which goes really well with the complex combination of flavors.

Baleadas from Honduras

plate of "baleadas" Honduran street food

Photo by fabulousfabs on Flickr

In Honduras, “baleadas” are a simple yet highly popular street food. They’re similar to tacos in a way, but they’re traditional in Honduras and you won’t be able to have just one. Baleadas consist of flour tortillas filled with mashed fried red beans, thick cream known as Honduran butter, crumbly and tangy cheese, and often topped with avocado, scrambled eggs, or different kinds of savory meat. They’re a flavor bomb and very filling!

Shrimp ceviche from Ecuador

shrimp ceviche dish, street food in Ecuador

Photo by VV Nincic on Flickr

We can’t talk about Latino street food without mentioning Ecuador’s shrimp ceviche. This dish is refreshing and addictive, consisting of shrimp marinated in citrus juices, often lime and orange. Then, it’s mixed with freshly chopped onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and a bit of spicy peppers. It’s usually served with crispy plantain chips, which are also savory, providing a heavenly combination of flavors and textures. Ceviche in Ecuador is also made with octopus and fish, but shrimp is the go-to option.

Completo from Chile

A hot dog or completo for lunch in Pica Chile

Photo by James on Flickr

When in Chile or near a Chilean restaurant, you have to try the “completo.” This is the Chilean version of a hot dog, but they’ve added a lot more toppings. The traditional completo is topped with chopped tomatoes, sauerkraut, and an amount of mayonnaise that would make anyone gasp. It works though, and Chileans love their completo. Other toppings include guacamole, spicy chili sauce, melted cheese, or the usual ketchup and mustard combo.

Chipa from Paraguay

Freshly baked chipas, street food in Paraguay

Photo by Cmasi on Wikimedia Commons

Last but certainly not least, “chipa” from Paraguay is the kind of street food option anyone can get behind. Chipas look a lot like bagels, but they’re a bit different. The dough is made with fresh corn, egg, oil or lard, milk, water, salt, and Paraguayan cheese, so it’s nice and savory. Chipa exists in many different varieties, including stuffed varieties, but the traditional cheese one should be the priority. You’ll fall in love with this baked treat, for sure!

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.