In search of Latino culinary treasures along North Fifth Street

Along a fairly gloomy stretch of used-tire emporiums and worse-for-wear corner stores, metal palm trees start popping up on North Fifth Street as you head toward Olney. And while the tropical vibes are decidedly urban, there are Latino flavors on this street that you can’t find anyplace else in the city. It’s a lively community of Latin American hubs that’s home to a serious concentration of good eats, like sweet plantains stuffed with meaty picadillo, Dominican hot dogs, guava-filled pastries and Philly-meets-Puerto Rico pork sandwiches.

Here are just four of the gems we found:

• New to the scene, Empanadas Rosario dishes up killer appetizers

• No-joke comfort food at El Sabor de Maria

• Philly meets Puerto Rico in the pork sandwiches at Porky's Point

• Quick bites tempt at Colombian Bakery