elote
noun
elo·te
ā-ˈlō-(ˌ)tā 
variants
or less commonly elotes
plural elotes
: grilled corn on the cob that is coated with a creamy spread (such as mayonnaise, sour cream, or crema) and garnished with toppings (such as lime juice, cotija cheese, and chili powder)
In Mexico, elote … is a popular treat sold as a street snack by sellers that push wooden carts parked outside government buildings, public schools, state fairs … or any other place where people gather.—
Mely Martínez
Mely MartínezJust as you may see elote offered at street fairs in the United States, it's also a popular … food in Mexico. Who can resist grilled corn slathered with crema and sprinkled with bold spices?—Edgar Castrejón
Edgar CastrejónElotes is the famous Mexican street food of corn brushed with creamy mayonnaise, cheese and lime.—Lilly Higgins
Lilly HigginsElotes are almost all I want to eat by the end of the summer.—Leah Eskin
Leah Eskincalled also Mexican street corn, street corn
compare esquitesExamples of elote in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Egg on a Roll The Brisket Firecracker is a breakfast sandwich with an egg soufflé, pepper jack cheese, smoked brisket and an elote sauce with Cry Baby Craig’s hot sauce.
—Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 28 Jan. 2026
The restaurant is known for its inventive wing sauces like strawberry hot, lemon lime buffalo elote and sour cream and onion.
—Eddie Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The Instagram-worthy dish is the brisket elote, a dish of corn with slices of brisket arranged like a beefy floral spray.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Nov. 2025
Loosely inspired by the flavors of elotes and esquites, these vegetable-forward quesadillas are sweet thanks to peak-season corn, slightly smoky, and gently spiced, making for the most satisfying of summer meals.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Oct. 2025
An elote danish at Claude Bakery in Manhattan; sweet corn bingsoo at Noon Korean Bingsoo House in Los Angeles.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
Families spread blankets on the grass, couples danced to live music, and children ran barefoot among food carts selling everything from fresh elotes to sweet treats.
—Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
Guests can choose the shrimp ceviche or elotes, a taco flight and cinnamon ice cream churro.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
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Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 28 Jan. 2026
The restaurant is known for its inventive wing sauces like strawberry hot, lemon lime buffalo elote and sour cream and onion.
—Eddie Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The Instagram-worthy dish is the brisket elote, a dish of corn with slices of brisket arranged like a beefy floral spray.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Nov. 2025
Loosely inspired by the flavors of elotes and esquites, these vegetable-forward quesadillas are sweet thanks to peak-season corn, slightly smoky, and gently spiced, making for the most satisfying of summer meals.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Oct. 2025
An elote danish at Claude Bakery in Manhattan; sweet corn bingsoo at Noon Korean Bingsoo House in Los Angeles.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
Families spread blankets on the grass, couples danced to live music, and children ran barefoot among food carts selling everything from fresh elotes to sweet treats.
—Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
Guests can choose the shrimp ceviche or elotes, a taco flight and cinnamon ice cream churro.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elote. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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