Visit any Mexican city or town, from Agua Dulce to Zamora, and I guarantee that you'll find certain things in common:  A town square, a prominent church, and street vendors, selling anything you could imagine. However, what always grabs my attention are the food vendors, who sell some of the best food created on this planet. The delicious food is prepared, cooked and sold out of push-carts, bicycles and little semi-open air taco stands. To me, there's nothing better than watching someone prepare your food right before your eyes.  Now that's Mexican fast food at it's finest!  Move over Bell!

Left:  Situated next to a shoe store on Calle Matamoros, this guy sells churros from his cart.  Right:  A nut vendor across from Mercado Zaragoza takes an order.

What do I look for in a vendor who sells food on the street?  The secret is observing, or asking the locals; if you see locals flocking around a vendor, then you know it's good. Health issues? Do you think the locals would eat there if they got sick?  I don't think so.

Left:  This elote (grilled corn) vendor works on Calle Guerro.  Note he uses an old auto wheel for a grill.  Right:  I have my photo taken with this guy.  Elotes are grilled corn on a stick, with mayonnaise and red pepper flakes, and make a tasty snack.  After the photo was taken, I helped myself to an elote for $6.00; about U.S. 55 cents.

I also like to go to a place where there are at least two guys working.  Why you ask? Well it's simple: One guy prepares the food, and the other guy does cleaning chores and handles the money. Since there is no running water at these operations, it makes for a more healthful environment for everyone.

Left:  Near the Mercado Zaragoza, these venders sell elotes and vegetables.  Elotes are a very popular snack in the lower Rio Grande valley.  Right:  Mercado Zaragoza, perhaps the biggest street vendor in Reynosa.

I also avoid places where "gringos" congregate, as the food caters to the taste of "gringos" and is usually overpriced. When I'm visiting a foreign country, I want to taste the country. My Big Macs, Six Dollar Burgers and JumboJacks are left at la linea.  In Mexico, the vendor prepares your food, cooks your food, and, as you eat, will chat with you, or eat with you. I love it!

Left:  Street vendors set up shop in front of bustlin 3 Hermanos department store.  Note the worker on the roof. Right:  Hey, elote vendors deserve to take a break!  Note the auto wheel used for a grill and the grilled elotes speared on sticks, waiting for customers.

Another thing to avoid is any vendor that, along with selling tacos, sells hamburgers, or as they are known in Mexico, hamburguesas.  They cater to "gringos;"  get your hamburger in San Diego before you cross the border.

Photo:  Not excactly street fare, but very close to the street, this carniceria (Spanish for butcher shop) proudly display their meat through an open window.  Small stores like these are common in Reynosa and other cities in the Lower Rio Grande valley.

Street food in downtown Reynosa... ain't life grand..? Your taste buds will love you for it.

Many of the photos from this article were taken by my friend Jerry Flinn.