817 West Fulton Market, Chicago, IL Phone: 312.455.9200

Worth visiting in a 10 mile radius.

When you think of the Chicago food scene, you might think of Chicago style dogs or deep-dish pizza. The best dish I had when I went to Chicago, however, was the cemita at Cemitas Puebla, an order-at-the-counter Mexican place in an unassuming neighborhood.

Cemitas are Mexican sandwiches that originated in Puebla, Mexico. They are served on a sesame seed bun and filled with avocados, chipotle sauce, Oaxacan cheese, and beef, chicken,pork, or veggies, depending on what you like.

I ordered a carne asada (steak) cemita and the ceviche. The carne asada cemita came with a chili pepper on the side. Each sandwich was bursting with wonderful flavors and textures. The sauce was spicy, the meat was savory, the avocado was gooey and the cheese was chewy. Each ingredient made a contribution to the explosion of flavor in my mouth. I wolfed it down and wished that I wasn’t full so I could have another. On the other hand, the ceviche was bland and the fish not fresh. You should stick to the cemitas here.

One of the best Mexican restaurants I have ever visited, Cemitas Puebla gives you an uncommon Mexican dish with familiar flavors at a fair price.