Corn Is Infused With Memory at Mercado La Paloma's Komal

"Komal, a counter in the bustling Mercado La Paloma, comes from husband-and-wife team chef Fátima Juárez and Conrado Rivera, who previously worked together at Michelin-starred Holbox. The menu centers on corn nixtamalized on-site, spotlighted in dishes that draw on Indigenous Mexican cuisine and Juárez's upbringing in Oaxaca and Mexico City. Through cheese-laced quesadillas de huitlacoche and purple-tinged tortillas, Juarez takes diners on a journey through her own memories - from a pan de calabaza family recipe to a tribute to her favorite childhood taquero -"

"The Taco Sonia - a plate-sized tortilla topped with seared beef, housemade pork chorizo, and mashed potatoes or cactus - is a nod to Juárez's favorite taquero from her childhood. For first-timers, this dish embodies Komal's predilection for nostalgia. Tlacoyos, made from a thick layer of purple-tinged masa formed into an oval pocket, get stuffed with ayocote beans and topped with cactus, queso fresco, and salsa verde."

"A group lunch that allows you to order a handful of dishes from across the entire menu while keeping spending in check (the most expensive dish on the menu is $12). The food court setup of Mercado La Paloma makes it easy to order dishes from a few stands and assemble your own meal. Head to the adjacent Oaxacalifornia for cucumber or watermelon aguas frescas, or Holbox to add on an uni-topped tostada and battered fish taco."

Komal operates as a counter in Mercado La Paloma run by chefs Fátima Juárez and Conrado Rivera, formerly of Holbox. The menu emphasizes corn nixtamalized on-site and draws on Indigenous Mexican techniques alongside Juárez's Oaxacan and Mexico City upbringing. Signature offerings include the Taco Sonia with seared beef, housemade pork chorizo, and mashed potatoes or cactus; purple-tinged tlacoyos stuffed with ayocote beans and finished with cactus, queso fresco, and salsa verde; and molotes of fried plantain filled with queso Oaxaca served in Oaxacan-style mole. A family pan de calabaza recipe provides a sweet, tender squash bread. The market layout supports affordable, shareable group dining.

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