Spicy is good for you - and tasty too!

Some guy who writes a column called “The Business of Eating” in Cape Gazette rambles on about hot sauce, and who gets all the emails? I do! Am I destined to do all this character’s heavy lifting?

Like that Gazette chilihead, I love spicy food. Of course, there’s hot stuff out there that isn’t necessarily Mexican, but I’ve only got a few hundred words, so Mexican’s where we’re going.

Yolanda Pineda at Mariachi on Wilmington Avenue dishes up a tasty combination of Mexican and Salvadorean goodies. Rehoboth Foodie pick hits include the pupusas – lovingly handmade and stuffed with pork and cheese. The curtido topping (a spicy non-mayo slaw) is delicious. On the Carne Asada entrée, charcoal-grilled flank steak is the star of the show. Tamales are hard to find in restaurants because they are so labor-intensive. But fear not! Mariachi has them, and the creamy masa is a stunner.

(Very) loosely translated, “La Tonalteca” means “everywhere in Delaware.” And the Rehoboth La Tonalteca carries on their tradition of good chicken mole (a peanut/chili/chocolate sauce) and particularly tasty salsa. I finally broke out of my enchilada/taco rut and tried the Burrito Azteca. It’s now my favorite. Steak strips, grilled chicken or carnitas (you choose) join tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and zucchini wrapped in a warm tortilla drizzled with green sauce, creamy white queso and pico de gallo. The place is a madhouse in-season, so bring wiffle bats and a piñata to keep the kids busy.

Gladys Fernandez’ Cilantro on Rehoboth Avenue serves up an appetizer called Taquitos Dorados. Think traditional taquito, but on steroids. It’s loaded with all sorts of fresh goodies and is sure to please. And it’s fun to people-watch from her sidewalk patio.

Dos Locos is a mainstay in Rehoboth (and by Coastal Taproom at Rts. 1 and 24). We love the DIY tacos and the Stonegrill selection (cook it at your table!). The large margarita should come with an Uber coupon – plan to stay a while if you order that one.

The newest kid in town (Rehoboth, that is) is the huge Agave on Coastal Highway. Dubbed the “Margarita Promised Land,” the margs (and the containers in which they are presented) are certainly the stars of the show. Be prepared to wait. They’re still pretty new and everyone wants to get in on the act.

On the Forgotten Mile is El Azteca next to Delaware PC Services. Like their two Dover counterparts, the guac is certainly one of the stars, along with the colorful selection of frozen margs. And lots of parking to boot!

Celebrate the peak of the season with a hot tamale and a cold margarita. Salud!