Mouths from the South

Natalie Espinosa

Photograph: Jordan Hollender

Natalie Espinosa, grad student
From: Mexico City
Lives in: Jackson Heights, Queens
Our pick: Chilaquiles verdes at El Paso Taqueria
Says Natalie: “Very good. It’s not too spicy and it has the right amount of cream and salsa verde. It’s the green tomatillo sauce that makes or breaks the dish. You could get worse ones in Mexico City—in fact I’ve gotten worse in Mexico City.” 1642 Lexington Ave at 104th St (212-831-9831)

Our pick: Salsa verde and mole tamales at La Güera
Says Natalie: “Both are very good—the salsa verde is very spicy and moist. The mole tamale is mild and smells delicious. You can smell the chocolate in the mole. It’s all very authentic.” 4603 Fifth Ave at 46th St, Sunset Park, Brooklyn (718-437-0232)

Our pick: Tacos de carnitas with guacamole at Rico’s Tacos
Says Natalie: “I love that they’re in the small tortillas, because you hardly ever see that. The meat is maciza—a meaty part of the pig similar to asking for the chicken’s breast—which is the way they do it back home. The guacamole is like avocado sauce—like a salsa verde with avocado, not guacamole.” 505 51st St at Fifth Ave, Sunset Park, Brooklyn (718-633-4816)

Karina Vieira, writer
From: Recife, Brazil
Lives in: Gramercy
Our pick: Esperanto steak with yuca fries at Esperanto
Says Karina: “You could have these same yuca fries in Brazil. The main difference is the [steak’s] cut—in Brazil it’s trimmer. For me, it’s just a regular steak in New York.” 145 Ave C at 9th St (212-505-6559)

Raffael Flores-Contreras, designer
From: Arequipa, Peru
Lives in: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Our pick: Arroz con habichuelas at La Nueva Conquista

Says Raffael: “The pollo’s juicy, and the skin’s crisp and salty. But the dish loses points for not being accompanied by the right ají for dipping.” 236 Lafayette St at Spring St (212-226-9835)

Daniel Baez, promoter
From: Dominican Republic
Lives in: Bronx
Our pick: Pollo a la brasa atFlor de Mayo

Says Daniel: “The beans are yellow. In my country the beans are red. For a real Dominican, it’s not worth it.” 484 Amsterdam Ave between 83rd and 84th Sts (212-787-3388)

Wilson Sanchez, maintenance worker
From: Medellín, Colombia
Lives in: outh Ozone Park (Queens)
Our pick: Corn Empanadas from Mama’s Empanadas

Says Wilson: “The chicken and beef-corn empanadas lacked flavor. Theseasonings they use here in the U.S. make things taste completely differentthan in Colombia. There it’s much fresher. They grind the corn for theempanada shell right before they make them; its seasonings are grown infields nearby and you can tell in the flavor. I don’t really like these;I’ve had better here in New York.” 42-18 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, 718-729-1303

Download a printable checklist of all 100 selections.