Tostadas

Tostadas offer the highest topping-to-shell ratio of any street food on this list, with an average of 1.5 inches of ingredients per 4-inch tortilla. In Veracruz, the seafood version packs 120 grams of octopus, shrimp, or tuna, which is 40% more protein than the typical chicken tostada found in Mexico City. The corn tortilla, fried for 3 minutes at 350°F, achieves a 95% lower moisture content than #7 Gorditas' masa, ensuring a crunch that holds up against wet toppings. Broader than churros, tostadas provide a customizability that no other ranked dish matches: diners can choose among 15+ salsas and 8 types of protein. A single tostada costs 25 pesos, making it 20% cheaper than the average birria taco in Tijuana.