Dishes · Dinner · Botanas
Costillitas de elote: the ribs are corn
The ribs here are corn. A cob gets cut lengthwise into strips, and the strips curl as they fry until they look like a rack. Costillitas is Spanish for little ribs.
Cantina Rooftop
Dinner menu · Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm
Botanas
- Viva Guacamole$16
- Trío de Guacamole$38
- Flautas de Tinga$18
- Costillitas de Elote$13
Deep-fried corn, epazote, onions, cotija cheese & lime aioli
- Queso Fundido$18
Please tell your server about any food allergies.
Elote's toppings on a stranger shape
English speakers know them as corn ribs, which went viral on TikTok in early 2021. The toppings borrow from elote, the corn sold on the cob across Mexico.
Cotija is a firm, salty cheese named for a town in Michoacán. Epazote is a sharp and divisive herb, often cooked with black beans, and its name comes from Nahuatl.
Pick them up and eat them like ribs, teeth along the curve. It's messy and there's no polite way to do it.
Deep-fried is the menu's word. Epazote, onions, cotija cheese and lime aioli are what's on them.
Keep reading
Costillitas de Elote: questions
What are corn ribs?
Corn on the cob cut lengthwise into strips and fried or roasted until the strips curl. They look like ribs and you eat them the same way.
What does epazote taste like?
Strong and herbal. People compare it to oregano, anise and fennel, and it's an acquired taste in large amounts.
What's in the Costillitas de Elote at Cantina Rooftop?
Our menu says: Deep-fried corn, epazote, onions, cotija cheese & lime aioli. Tell your server about any allergies when you order.
How much for the Costillitas de Elote at Cantina Rooftop?
$13 on our menu right now. See it on the full menu.
When can I order the Costillitas de Elote?
It's on our dinner menu (Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm). We're at 605 W 48th St in Hell's Kitchen. Book a table.