What to eat at Imperial Night Market

The dishes

• Birria quesatacos

  Beef birria and crispy quesatacos with hot consomé. Slow-braised beef, crisped with consomé.

• Cemitas poblanas

  Puebla cemitas on a hand-layered sesame roll, with pápalo.

• Tacos al pastor

  Al pastor off a vertical trompo, spit-roasted and served with charred pineapple.

• Churros

  Hot, fresh-fried churros rolled in cinnamon sugar.

• Fresas con crema

  Fresh strawberries layered with sweet Mexican crema and warm crepes.

• Aguas frescas

  Ice-cold vitrolero aguas frescas made with real fruit.

• Sinaloa-style sushi

  Sinaloa-style Mexican sushi rolls with carne asada, bacon, surimi, shrimp, cream cheese and avocado, breaded and fried.

• Sweet crepes

  Thin wheat batter spun across a round griddle, filled with fruit and folded into triangles.

How to order

Walk the alley first, then order. Dishes are read from stall signs and menu boards, and the lineup rotates with foot traffic, so ask at the stall if you do not see something.

Bring friends and share plates. You try more for the same money. Bring cash, since many stalls are cash only and some take cards or Zelle.

Tacos at the night market

Looking for tacos? Look for birria quesatacos with hot consomé and tacos al pastor off a vertical trompo, available when a vendor is serving them. Ask at the stall what is on tonight.

Savory first, sweets to finish

The menu runs from tacos and sandwiches to fried masa, then sweets and cold drinks. A good order is something savory from one stall, a drink from the aguas frescas stall, and churros or fresas con crema to finish.

When to arrive

Come early for the full menu: the lineup is out about an hour after opening, and waits are shorter before the evening rush.