# Are Corn Tortillas Common in your Supermarket? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2012, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651 "2012-12-31T10:49:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/61 "2013-01-01T06:40:58Z")
Corn tortillas are the norm around me. Probably because the demographics in the town next to mine are 50%+ hispanic, mostly immigrants from Mexico. /not complaining, flour tortillas are flat, doughy and bad //plus there are nearly half a dozen great taquerias nearby ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/62 "2013-01-01T08:35:36Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > In another [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15847244&posted=1#post15847244) we were discussing tortillas. The only tortillas that I can buy are flour tortillas. > > I’ve never seen corn tortillas at the grocery store. I’m in Ontario, Canada. How weird is this for you and where are you located? San Antonio, Texas here, and they make tortillas in-store, so it would be weird (not to mention a business-killer) for the local grocery _not_ to sell them of all types and varieties. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/63 "2013-01-01T08:40:55Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > I just came from the grocery and took a couple photos of the tortilla aisle. > [Tortilla 1, Mexican market, mass market just visible at left](http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q168/jnglmassiv/food/?action=view¤t=tortillasseleccines1.jpg) > [Tortilla 2, detail of prior photo](http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q168/jnglmassiv/food/?action=view¤t=tortillasseleccines2.jpg) > [Tortilla 3, mass market](http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q168/jnglmassiv/food/?action=view¤t=tortillasseleccines3.jpg) > > I was surprised at how much variety in flour tortillas they have. They are basically the middle three rows. > Corn dominates of course, they don’t even bother shelving them. They just set down boxes for people to tear open for a the warm ones. > This was at the [Tony’s Finer Foods](http://tonysfinerfood.com/store/niles) in Niles, Illinois, adjacent to Chicago. Not a bad selection… for Chicago. 😉 We use a lot of the gorditas that you see on the top-2 shelves, on the left side of picture 1. I’ll cook a chicken breast, cut it up when done, and put some refried beans, chicken, bell pepper, jalapeno, and cheese on the gorditas, place the loaded gorditas on a cooking sheet and put in the oven for about 5-12 minutes @350-degrees, and eat while hot (add sour cream if you prefer.) It’s pretty damned good. Tortillas also make for good PB&J bread, at least according to my daughter. We also make “cheeseburger quesidillas”, which is pretty much what you can imagine. Surprisingly good. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/64 "2013-01-01T14:31:46Z")
(Would anyone like to venture a guess as to why my Google Image Search for \*\*\*gorditas \*\*\*returns a smattering of very attractive plus sized women in lingerie along with the expected food image results? Is \*gorditas \*slang for something fun?) ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/65 "2013-01-01T14:55:12Z")
_Gordo_ means “fat.” Masculine, since Spanish has gender; _gorda_ is the feminine version. The suffixes “_-ito_” & “_-ita_” are diminutives. Therefore, _gordita_ can mean a delicious fat little sandwich–or a cute chubby girl! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/66 "2013-01-01T15:37:53Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Not a bad selection… for Chicago. 😉 You mean for a Chicago suburb. 😛 Stop by the Pilsen neighborhood if you want a big selection. Chicago has a huge population of Mexican/Mexican-descent people and, IIRC, the largest Mexican Consulate in the US. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/67 "2013-01-01T15:38:03Z")
Raleigh, N.C. here. Corn tortillas are plentiful. Of course there are enough Mexicans in town that they tore down a Taco Bell and put up a Mexican Consulate. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/68 "2013-01-01T15:39:30Z")
Edit: :smack: Totally missed seeing **Bridget** ’s explanation. I blame the lack of coffee. > [@WhyNot](#): > > (Would anyone like to venture a guess as to why my Google Image Search for \*\*\*gorditas \*\*\*returns a smattering of very attractive plus sized women in lingerie along with the expected food image results? Is \*gorditas \*slang for something fun?) “Gordita” means “chubby”, I believe. 😃 “Gordo” is fat - maybe the masculine version of fat, so I assume “gorda” is the feminine version of fat. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/69 "2013-01-01T15:41:37Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > You mean for a Chicago suburb. 😛 Stop by the Pilsen neighborhood if you want a big selection. Chicago has a huge population of Mexican/Mexican-descent people and, IIRC, the largest Mexican Consulate in the US. I’ve only been to a corner of Chicago (area of 130th & Torrence) and yeah, that was pretty apparent. Did have time to hit a good Mexican restaurant, the name of which I’ve forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/70 "2013-01-01T15:49:43Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Edit: :smack: Totally missed seeing **Bridget** ’s explanation. I blame the lack of coffee. > “Gordita” means “chubby”, I believe. 😃 “Gordo” is fat - maybe the masculine version of fat, so I assume “gorda” is the feminine version of fat. Yeah. The “-ita” ending is a diminutive (word that makes things “smaller” and more “cutesy,” like “-ette” in English.) So “gordita” would mean something like “little fat one” (feminine). “Gordito” would be the masculine equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/71 "2013-01-01T16:05:41Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > (Would anyone like to venture a guess as to why my Google Image Search for \*\*\*gorditas \*\*\*returns a smattering of very attractive plus sized women in lingerie along with the expected food image results? Is \*gorditas \*slang for something fun?) :smack: That’s what I get for posting at 1:whatever in the AM. “Gordita” is the name my then-10yo gave the recipe. They are made on, of course, tostada shells. Sophie likes making food items - last night we made “Gaffer’s Delight”, which was pan-fried potato wedges (olive oil, some herbs) placed on baked chicken breast\*. It was actually pretty good. \*Gaffer is one of the dwarves in the Hobbit. This meal was supposed to be representative of what Gaffer would eat when on an adventure. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/72 "2013-01-01T16:20:33Z")
Central Illinois. Corn Tortillas in every supermarket I’ve ever shopped at, often in the Ethnic/Mexican food aisle. Sometimes in the bread section with the flour tortillas. Hell even Aldi has corn tortillas. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/73 "2013-01-01T16:24:43Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Edit: :smack: Totally missed seeing **Bridget** ’s explanation. I blame the lack of coffee. :smack: And, me, too, apparently. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/74 "2013-01-01T16:28:11Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > _Gordo_ means “fat.” Masculine, since Spanish has gender; _gorda_ is the feminine version. The suffixes “_-ito_” & “_-ita_” are diminutives. > > Therefore, _gordita_ can mean a delicious fat little sandwich–or a cute chubby girl! 😃 This is officially the first thing I’ve learned in 2013. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/75 "2013-01-01T16:47:36Z")
I live in Las Vegas. The supermarkets here have tortilla _sections_ with dozens of different types (corn, wheat & wheat-plus-spinach/tomato/artichoke) and sizes (6"-24") and prolly about 8 or 10 different brands. In most supermarkets, Mexican food has at least half an aisle all to itself. Of course, there are carnicerias and mercados about as commonly as there are chain supermarkets, so if you think there’s something you can’t find at Albertson’s you can always try Los Compadres or somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/76 "2013-01-01T20:15:49Z")
Just FYI… I just bought a 120 pack of corn tortillas, expecting to make warmed soft tacos. I usually buy the 6" 10/20 pack, but since I devour that in a few days, why not get them in bulk for cheap. (I use two shells per taco) Unfortunately… The ones I got are supposed to be used for deep frying into hard taco or chips, not for soft tacos, unless you like that stale cardboard texture. :mad: I always cook em a little…toss them in fry pan on hi for 15 sec a side or till limp, while pressing down with spatula. They seem to have enough residual oil to not need more. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/77 "2013-01-01T22:37:28Z")
> [@Jamicat](#): > > I always cook em a little…toss them in fry pan on hi for 15 sec a side or till limp, while pressing down with spatula. They seem to have enough residual oil to not need more. 😉 Put a few drops of water on first. They will perk right up. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/78 "2013-01-02T00:04:25Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Put a few drops of water on first. They will perk right up. I steam them in the rice cooker along with the rice and veggies. Just for five minutes or so. Softens them right up. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/79 "2013-01-02T00:12:25Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I live in Las Vegas. The supermarkets here have tortilla _sections_ with dozens of different types (corn, wheat & wheat-plus-spinach/tomato/artichoke) and sizes (6"-24") and prolly about 8 or 10 different brands. > > In most supermarkets, Mexican food has at least half an aisle all to itself. Lately, that describes the more spartan Mexican aisles in Atlanta. My local Kroger (in friggin Buckhead) has 2 full aisles of Mexican items, which makes shopping so much easier than it was 5-10 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651/80 "2013-01-02T02:03:21Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I’m not really a tortilla eater, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them in our grocery stores here in south central PA You probably have. Even in my smaller town (in South Central PA), our local Giant Food has them. In Wal-Mart (Harrisburg and York, not sure about the new one in Etters), you can find corn tortillas, as well as in the area Aldis and at Wegmans. I don’t shop at Weis Markets often enough to know if they have them or not (although I assume they do). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-corn-tortillas-common-in-your-supermarket/645651.md?page=5)