Tortas Ahogadas Don José

Mexicaltzingo, Guadalajara · Mexican · $

The torta ahogada - a birote roll stuffed with carnitas, then submerged in fiery chile sauce until the bread softens into something between a sandwich and a stew - is Guadalajara's defining dish, and Don José built his reputation selling them off a bicycle. His brick-and-mortar in Mexicaltzingo has been standing for decades, serving the same formula: aggressive heat, tangy tomatillo, and enough carnitas fat to make the chile manageable.