1. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Argentines are passionate about street food, be it choripáns or fugazzeta, but Pato Rodriguez's cheesy tortilla has even acclaimed chefs raving.

2. Salvador, Brazil

Hearty feijoada. Spicy moqueca. Beachside pirão. Bahia's food is awash with both African and Portuguese influences — and lots and lots of dendê oil.

3. Oaxaca, Mexico

Toasted tlayudas and vinegary piedrazos embody the rich biodiversity and profound flavors of Oaxaca. Meet Doña Vale, who makes peerless memelas.

4. Lima, Peru

Joyfully diverse yet singular in flavor, Lima's food culture lives for honeyed picarones, savory anticuchos and one chef's Nikkei-inspired ceviche.

5. Bogota, Colombia

Luz Dary and the women at La Perseverancia food market reinvent classic Colombian dishes such as arepas and ajiaco, reinvigorating local cuisine.