The Blue Corn Quesadilla Lady is a long-time Echo Park legend. For any Eastsider in the know, it signals a great day ahead to see the cheerful colors of her rainbow umbrella peeking out from the side of a parking lot on Echo Park Avenue. Some of the best food finds in LA come from similarly informal operations who focus on doing one thing and doing that one thing well, like the “Corn Man” in Lincoln Heights or the new “Elio’s Wood Fire Pizza” guy popping up in a parking lot on Sunset. Los Angeles is a city where more than a couple taco trucks will probably end up on most people’s “Top 10” lists, and the fact that the playing field is open to all and that a fine culinary pedigree isn’t a necessity is what makes our city so special. It allows places like this to thrive.The Blue Corn Quesadilla Lady hand-presses her tortillas out of a wet blue masa right before your eyes. The tortilla comes to life with a pile of white shredded Oaxacan cheese being loaded on top. Next, you’re given a number of choices for a filling: pork, chicken, potatoes and chorizo, chicharron (fried pork rinds), flor de calabasa (squash blossom), or huitlacoche (corn smut/fungus). A personal favorite is the chicharron, as the crunchiness of the pork rinds and the oozing cheese compliment each other perfectly. Another great game plan is to combine two different fillings. Some people go without cheese, or without fillings, because the truth is that the real draw here are the blue corn tortillas. They’re on the thick side, hot, fresh, chewy, and slightly undercooked to perfection. Once her work is done, you’re left to dress the quesadilla yourself with the variety of garnishes on the side of the cart: raw onion, cilantro, crumbly cheese, nopalitos (cactus), pickled green chiles, red sauce (spicier), or green sauce (milder). All of this for only $4 or $5 (cash only). The Blue Corn Quesadilla Lady is supposedly in her regular spot on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays from 9-5, but some days she won’t arrive until 12, or she won’t arrive at all, or she’ll stay later into the evening. The surprise of whether it will be your lucky day is half the fun.
Style: Mexican
Hours: Friday-Saturday 9AM-5PM, Monday 9AM-5PM
Price: Quesadillas $4-5
Reservations: No reservations
This review was written by In The Loup contributor Lily Rogers