elote

American  

[e-loh-tay] / ɛˈloʊˌteɪ /

noun

• elotes
  plural

1. a Mexican and Central American street food consisting of grilled corn on the cob coated in mayonnaise, crema or sour cream, cotija or other cheese, lime juice, cilantro, and spices.

2. any variety of maize which, when harvested young, produces ears of corn to be eaten on the cob.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• elotes
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

elote elotes

She has seen formats incorporating sandwiches, hot dogs and pizzas, and toppings ranging from Nashville Hot chicken and bacon strips to elote and lobster.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

If the elote corn disappears fastest from the hot bar, maybe that’s another.

From Salon ● Feb. 18, 2026

She also sells tostadas topped with chow mein, elote loco and rellenitos — plantains stuffed with refried black beans.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2023

Another item that delivered sticker shock: the elote street corn cup, a small cup of dressed-up corn, for $13.89.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 22, 2023

In the beginning of August the grains are fully formed, though still tender and white; and it is eaten as green corn, now called "elote."

From The Naturalist in Nicaragua by Thomas Belt

Between performances, attendees can eat Mexican street foods like La Pisca’s roasted corn elotes and esquites, a mix of corn, cotija cheese, mayonnaise and lime juice served in a cup.

From Seattle Times ● May 3, 2024

Or fresh-cut strawberries covered in a thin layer of cream or even elotes loco, the popular street snack that puts a fright wig of condiments on a humble ear of corn.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 8, 2021

You get it in the Southeast Asian take on elotes, grilled cobs of corn spread with coconut cream.

From New York Times ● Jul. 6, 2021

Vendors also are selling piggy banks in the shape of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, as well as raspados, elotes, diablitos and tejuino.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2021