This year’s Best Sandwiches prove that chefs around the country continue to push the boundaries of the hand-held favorite. See all the winners >>
Winner: Buenos Dias
Restaurant: El Gringo Food Truck, Baltimore
Units: 1
Creator: Chef Stephen Carey
Price: $8
Food cost: $1.64
Ingredients: Spam, eggs, fresh guacamole and pico de gallo on a corn arepa.
What makes it special: El Gringo puts its own twist on the breakfast taco by using a corn arepa instead of a tortilla. Carey says the use of Spam also sets it apart and gets customers talking. The combination of a crunchy arepa exterior, fried eggs, salty Spam, creamy cheese and fresh guacamole and pico de gallo make the creation a bestseller.
What others are saying: El Gringo’s arepas were highlighted in a May article by the Baltimore Sun about the growing popularity of the corn-based item. In addition to the breakfast arepa, El Gringo also serves arepas stuffed with a medley of pork — Spam, pulled pork, bacon and honey-chipotle barbecue — or a Mexican crab cake.
