Ordering the quesadilla at a taqueria is something I’d usually reserve for the kids’ table. Picky eaters, who are probably trying to avoid flavor, order the quesadilla. But the quesadilla is exactly why I headed to Taqueria Yasmin #2, the taco stand at the back of the Fresh World international supermarket in Manassas. Why is it #2? It’s a sequel to a taqueria that’s been operating in Mexico City since 1988.
Those origins all but assures the flavors I was craving. Even better? On Friday, the quesadilla gringa is filled with pork carved from the turning trompo. But any day you venture into the market, the dish is worthy of a stop.
The quesadilla gringa is a Mexico City tradition, supposedly named for a pair of American students who ordered their al pastor tacos in flour tortillas in the 1960s. The result is anything but white-bread, despite the moniker. That tortilla is filled with the deep-red strands of marinated pork, but also plentiful cilantro, onion, and burstingly sweet pineapple. The cheese, usually the centerpiece of a quesadilla, is really just there to hold the the ingredients together and provide a fun stretch. At Taqueria Yasmin #2, peppery red and tomatillo-based green salsas add a slap of heat to each gooey bite. For $7.50, the meal is a steal, especially considering the addition of crisp, salty fries to the plate.
But I can’t let you stop there. Bring a friend and try a torta, too. I savored the torta mixta, which combines flattened and fried pieces of chicken and steak, and chorizo on a bolillo roll spread with a liberal layer of refried beans and mayo. But that’s only the beginning. Creamy avocado and tangy Oaxaca cheese help to the soothe the burn of chipotle and jalapeño peppers. There’s lettuce, tomato, and onion, too. It’s a serious sandwich, worthy of a trip of its own. But when at Fresh World, I still say it’s worth embracing your inner child for a quesadilla you won’t soon forget.
9540 Liberia Ave., Manassas
Feature image by Alice Levitt
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