2. Champurrado
How to order it “cham-poo-RAH-dough”
What it is A warm, chocolate drink thickened with masa (corn that’s been boiled with lime and ground) and seasoned with cinnamon, piloncillo (dark-brown sugar) and (sometimes) anise. Look for it during the fall and winter.
Tastes like Thick, cinnamony hot chocolate with a slightly slimy texture and definite corn flavor

3. Chicharrones
How to order it “chee-cha-ROHN-es”
What it is Fried pork skins, typically sprinkled with chile powder and fresh lime juice (con chile y limón, “kohn CHEE-lay ee lee-MOHN”). The tan wagon-wheel shaped crunchy snacks that many carts sell are also called chicharrones, but they are made from flour, not pork.
Tastes like Funyuns minus the onion plus some porky goodness (or, in the case of the wagon wheels, pure, crunchy, oily goodness)

4. Elote
How to order it “eh-LOW-tay”
What it is Boiled corn (or grilled, if you’re lucky), served either skewered and on the cob or with the kernels sliced off the cob and into a cup. Traditional toppings are margarine, mayo, Parmesan-like cheese called cotija, chile powder and lime juice. If you want the works, order it con todo (“kohn TOE-doe”)
Tastes like Straight-up corn, unless you load it up and then it’s a creamy, spicy, tangy mess

5. Fruta mixta or pepino
How to order it “FROO-tah MEEKS-tah” or “pep-EEN-oh”
What it is Sliced-up fresh fruit (or cucumber) in a cup or plastic container. A typical mix includes watermelon, mango, pineapple, cantaloupe and coconut. Pepino is the all-cucumber version. Traditionally, it’s eaten with liberal sprinkles of chile powder and a squeeze of lime.
Tastes like Tropical paradise. Chili powder on fruit may sound strange at first, but it doesn’t add heat, so much as intensify the sweetness of the fruit.

6. Horchata
How to order it “or-CHA-tah”
What it is A drink concocted from blending rice with water, cinnamon, sugar and (sometimes) a bit of lime zest. It can also be made from almonds rather than rice or even both almonds and rice.
Tastes like Creamy, milky, yummy liquid rice pudding

7. Nieve
How to order it “nee-EH-vay”
What it isNieve translates to “snow,” and it describes a snow cone–like concoction. Most of the carts hawk shaved ice that you can customize with squirts of bright, flavored (read: fake) syrups, but some use real fruit like coconut, strawberry and lime for sorbetlike results. Bruno Salgado, pictured opposite page, makes the best nieve around, and you can find him most afternoons around the Milwaukee-Kimball- Diversey intersection.
Tastes like The generic kind tastes like a typical carnival snow cone, the best stuff is like shaved frozen fruit with tiny bits of pulp

8. Tamales
How to order it For a chicken tamal, ask for tamal con pollo (“tah-MALL kohn POY-yo”); for cheese and green chile, ask for tamal con queso y chile verde (“tah-MALL kohn KAY-so ee CHEE-lay VER-day”); for pork, ask for tamal con carne de cerdo(“tah-MALL kohn KAR-nay day SAIR-dough”).
What it isMasa that’s mixed with water and lard, filled with meat or cheese (in Chicago, you’ll mostly find chicken or cheese with chilies), and then folded into corn husks and steamed.
Tastes like A soft, earthy, corn Hot Pocket

9. Agua de Jamaica
How to order it “AH-gwa day ha-MY-ka”
What it is Flavored water that’s made by steeping hibiscus flowers in hot water, straining them out and adding sugar. It’s served chilled.
Tastes like Tart fruit punch, but with that herbal pucker you get from pomegranate

10. Paleta
How to order it “pa-LATE-uh”
What it is A popsicle made with real fruit. One paleta, and you’ll never buy a chemical-and-sugar-water pop from an ice-cream truck again. Flavors are varied and sometimes surprising: Mango’s a classic, but if you’re feeling experimental ask for mamey (“ma-MAY”), a fruit that tastes like a mixture of apricot, almond and melon.
Tastes like A popsicle; a really damngood popsicle