Where are the paletas?

this summer, it seems like I haven't seen any paleta street vendors and the freezer cases seem to have disappeared from the usual places (smaller grocery stores, convenience stores, liquor stores). Anyone know what gives?

They are plentiful in the park and along the beach between Montrose and Foster.

There's been one guy roaming the area around the Mexican consulate at Ashland & Monroe...I've seen him there every afternoon this week.

We take our dog to the dog beach pretty regularly and there are always paleta pushcarts along the beach. I also see them pretty regularly outside the Kimball Brown Line station.

Speaking of paletas, anyone have any recommendations on good paleterias? (North side preferred but not necessary)

Paleteria La Monarca
6955 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 274-6394

They have my favorite flavor: Mamey

I second Paleteria La Monarca. We were there for the first time last weekend and it won't be the last. The coconut I had was creamy, refreshing and not too sweet.

I like Palleteria Arco Iris - they are sold in several supermarkets and taquerias, but they also have a store of their own at Belmont and Sacramento. It is right by my condo, so I tend to go there both for convenience and because I know they'll have every flavor in stock (I like Horchata).


Palleteria Arco Iris
2950 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60618

Hellodali wrote:I second Paleteria La Monarca. We were there for the first time last weekend and it won't be the last. The coconut I had was creamy, refreshing and not too sweet.

Sounds like they're from Michoacan. Do they have changunga? The local paleta distributor here in Morelia is also Paleteria Monarca. (The famous butterfly wintering grounds are here in Michoacan, the local pro soccer team is Los Monarcos, a local cab company is Taxicab los Monarcos, etc).

trpt2345 wrote:

Hellodali wrote:I second Paleteria La Monarca. We were there for the first time last weekend and it won't be the last. The coconut I had was creamy, refreshing and not too sweet.

Sounds like they're from Michoacan. Do they have changunga? The local paleta distributor here in Morelia is also Paleteria Monarca. (The famous butterfly wintering grounds are here in Michoacan, the local pro soccer team is Los Monarcos, a local cab company is Taxicab los Monarcos, etc).

They are definitely from Michoacan (it seems many businesses in Rogers Park are owned by Michoacanos), but I don't remember seeing changunga (nance in English). I was curious about why so many brands of paletas come from Michoacan, so I did some research and found out about the connection between paletas and Tocumbo, Michoacan. The city's entire economy is based around paletas. The town is fairly well off with good schools, hospitals and other public amenities, all financed by the sale of paletas made in Tocumbo and sold throughout Mexico. They even have a 2 week long popsicle festival when they decorate the town with paleta shaped lights, not to mention the 3 story high statue of a paleta at the town's entrance. How very cool (no pun intended). It is like the annual Castroville artichoke festival and giant artichoke statue in neighboring Watsonville, CA (Marylin Monroe was once crowned the Artichoke Queen). I was amazed at some of the flavors too, like cucumber and chile, pico de gallo and pumpkin seed (and hundreds more). If I ever get back down that way, I will have to spend a few days exploring the paleterias of Tocumbo.

linked from samquinones.com


linked from panoramio.com

For those who are ice cream and gelato connoisseurs, and are in the area of Franklin Park ... this place is awesome. They serve Paletas or Mexican ices and ice cream which I think is better than gelato. Not sure why the mainstream population has not embraced them as much as gelato but they really are missing out on some of the most delicious, healthy and exotic treats... They make their own popsicles which come in water based or milk based and have some very unique flavors.. some I have not seen anywhere else. My favorite is the milk based coconut popsicle. They also have their own yogurt again with unusual flavors like grape and caramel... or tamarind.... This I would expect to see in a Rick Bayless restaurant... this place is always hopping especially for the Mexican community. I think they have another site in Lombard or villa park...Neveria Arcoiris means Rainbow Ice Cream in Spanish .... This stuff is high end stuff.... very good quality and so good...


http://www.yelp.com/biz/neveria-arcoiris-franklin-park

Next door to the second location of Cremeria La Ordeña on Lawrence is a wonderful Paleteria, La Plaza Paleteria (3804 W. Lawrence). They also have a location at 3046 N. Cicero. I've been largely disappointed with paletas I've tasted around town but these have really impressed me, particularly the milk-based ones . . . coconut, prune, oreo, cajeta, etc., though I think the arroz (like frozen horchata) is my favorite. The also have ice-based paletas, frozen bananas, ice cream and more. They make them themselves - very friendly people. Visit the Lawrence location with Cremeria and you've got yourself a hell of a 1-2 punch.

Here's a look at the Lawrence location's menu:

BR wrote:Next door to the second location of Cremeria La Ordeña on Lawrence is a wonderful Paleteria, La Plaza Paleteria (3804 W. Lawrence). They also have a location at 3046 N. Cicero. I've been largely disappointed with paletas I've tasted around town but these have really impressed me, particularly the milk-based ones . . . coconut, prune, oreo, cajeta, etc., though I think the arroz (like frozen horchata) is my favorite. The also have ice-based paletas, frozen bananas, ice cream and more. They make them themselves - very friendly people. Visit the Lawrence location with Cremeria and you've got yourself a hell of a 1-2 punch....

The 3046 N Cicero location is just up the street from GNR Sol de Mexico for a similarly wicked one-two punch, a perfect sweet treat after a rich mole. The arroz paleta has been my go-to, but I will have to look for the cajeta and the prune flavors. Paletas are one of the saving graces of living in the city!

An Albany Park neighbors group has organized a paleta crawl for the last couple years. It's already taken place for this year (in July). I haven't been able to attend but here is a facebook page.

https://m.facebook.com/GoAlbanyPark/alb ... 059596995/

There have been a few vendors this weekend around the Albany PArk World Fest (Kimball by the Brown Line station) this weekend, and outside the gate of the carnival rides on the parking lot of Roosevelt High School. They are making a killing on all the fairgoers.