La Espiga Dorada

La Espiga Dorada is a Mexican food stand located next to the food court inside Plaza Fiesta. If you enter the market from the corner entrance on the Clairmont Road/Dresden Drive side of the building, La Espiga Dorada will be the very first business on your right. They occupy stall N2 and they also have a freestanding wraparound counter (K16, I believe) nearby on the market's main walkway.

I was drawn to this stand, like many other similar ones in this market, by all of the colorful, fresh fruit on display. In addition to fruit and fruit treats, La Espiga Dorada sells chicharrones preparados (a Mexican street food made with deep-fried pork rinds and a variety of ingredients like cotija cheese and avocados), raspados (shaved ice desserts), pina loca (Mexican-style pineapple and fruit salad), Jarritos locos (cocktails made with Mexican soft drink Jarritos), equites (another Mexican street food made with corn), an assortment of breads and pastries, and fresh-churning aguas frescas.

If you don't speak Spanish, you may encounter a language barrier at this stand (as well as many other businesses at Plaza Fiesta). Luckily, you can point and choose, either at the actual food that you want or at pictures, to get what you want. I visited the stand in the walkway and didn't see prices posted, so you may have to ask for pricing. I got a mangonada (a.k.a. chamango) for $5. I'm not sure if they accept credit cards. I paid in cash.

The mangonada was OK. La Espiga Dorada's version is made with a mango sorbet, chamoy sauce (a salty, sweet, sour, and spicy Mexican condiment, dark red in color), thick slices of mango, chili powder, a tamarind straw, and I think lime juice too. There was one mangonada on display behind the glass, but mine was made fresh. Some places chop their mango into smaller pieces, but La Espiga Dorada serves them in long slices and places them inside the cup so that they sort of "flower" out. It's a neat presentation.

Unfortunately, the mango wasn't very ripe or sweet. Instead, it was on the harder, more sour side. It wasn't bad, but I've definitely had better. The treat was packed with plenty of strong and intense flavors from sour to sweet to spicy to salty (like the chamoy sauce described above). The portion size was generous too.

Service was good. The lady behind the counter was nice.