I saw reviews that said they sell prepared rice and beans as my cousin was hosting and preparing birria for us all. When we arrived, we were told by a kind and energetic female employee that they didn't do that and they only have prepared tamales. She did let us know that there is a Mexican restaurant on the other end that had rice and beans and we thanked her then left. The store itself was very clean and there was plenty of space to browse around but it is a bit cramped. The meats here looked very fresh and the prices were very fair too! I was thinking that we should probably get some snacks and decided to pick up tortilla chips, fresh made guac, and 1/2lb of chicharron which ended up being $20.20 and that seemed like such a great deal especially with how much chicharron we got and it was so delicious! My brother told me that chicharron is usually eaten with guac and their guac here was fantastic both with the chicharron, chips and on its own. My boyfriend wants to come back to get more options, he saw that they did a specific specialty for a good price and wants to try that out. read more

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Are you in the mood for some Mexican food and looking for homemade tamales, chips, salsas in a butcher shop that has food to-go. This is the place where you are in the center of White Center where there's a taco truck 25 feet to the south and one of the best Mexican food restaurant to the north that's about 20 feet away. Or, go here and buy some tamales where they have both mild and spicy, meat or chicken tamales, guess it depends what they are making that day. Don't pass up buying some of the salsa to go along with your tamales. read more

I had called to order some tamales and was told she couldn't answer my questions because she was too busy. She said I had to go into the store to ask. No thank you. read more

Nice little hispanic market with selection of Mexican food and sauces. The lamb stew (Birria) is pretty good and it's offered on weekends only. Note that the Birria doesn't come with tortillas. Good alternative to other expensive restaurants. read more

Carniceria El Paisano - Receipt - Meat Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Pretty decent tamales, nothing too crazy. I got the spicy pork and chicken tamales with their green salsa.

Tiny little restaurant next to butcher shop and mexican store in White Center. We went searching for the most homemade tasting tamales, in the city. EL Paisano seriously lived up to its reputation! Masa is very tasty and not dry. Prices were beyond cheap, 5 for $12.95. We tried pork and chicken and I preferred the pork. Will go back and buy at least 10 jalapeno and cheese and pork. You need to come early because tamales sell out. I wish they had an alternative option of the same tamales for more money with more filling. I would definitely prefer two times the filling relative to the masa even with a significant upcharge since for our family, the issue is the drive to go get them rather than the price. read more

I LOVE this place!!! Their tamales are the BEST BEST!! And the ladies who sell them are the absolute sweetest

I'm so glad this place is right by my bus stop. It's the perfect place to grab some tamales when I'm tired and not feeling like cooking but also don't want to spend restaurant-level $$. I've gotten some meat there also but honestly I'm really ignorant on the cuts and what they're used for. I do also get some of the chicharones from time to time. Tamales - I like them all but the cheese and green chile is my fave. Sometimes I'll stick them in the fridge and then cut them up in the morning and fry them crispy alongside some eggs for breakfast. Nice to have around! On the weekends they also do some sweet ones like pineapple and strawberry. The lady at the counter is a joy to deal with; always a big smile on her face. It's also a small grocery with basic things like sauces, some basic canned goods, dried peppers, candies etc. read more

This review is strictly for the meat market side of the establishment. So many different cuts of meat and from the multiple times we've been here, everything has always been fresh and delicious. We always bring our own bag but when checking out we get charged 10 cents. Frustrating to correct that "error" repeatedly since we come here twice a month. read more

We were in the area and read that they have the best tamales. So we had to pick up 5 mild spicy pork because the really spicy ones were sold out. We also picked up a tub of the ceviche. The reviews did not lie about the tamales. They're legit! Definitely willing be back for additional flavors. The ceviche was packed with shrimp. It's a little sweeter than we like, but additional hot sauce and limes would make it perfect. read more

Carniceria El Paisano - Ceviche & pork tamales - Meat Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Tamales are great. Salsa Verde is fantastic. Chicharrones with meat were not all that crispy. Meat seemed overcooked and skin did not blister that much. read more

Best tamales in I've had besides my hispanic grandma. I'm so happy to find a tamale place with a good variety. We tried their pork, chicken, and jalapeño with cheese. It was also very cheap. I believe the tamales were no more than $2/each. They also sell great cuts of meat for grilling as well. I'll definitely be coming back here for my tamale fix and to try out other things. read more

Carniceria El Paisano - Best tamales I've had besides my Mexican grandma's tamales - Meat Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wow what a Sunday find, I mean I heard about this place however I'd never stepped into the doorways for the legendary tamales until today. A tasty treat for lunch and my gawd so inexpensive. 2 pork tamales for $2 is a total deal in my book. They exuded so much flavor you couldn't ask for much more. I only wished I'd purchased a dozen and had friends over. Now besides the tamales they have a meat counter & butcher shop for your Mexican meat needs. I also purchased some marinated steak meat for tacos later today. But various options of pork, chicken & beef plus chorizo sausage rolls for grilling. I definitely will be grilling one of those chorizo rolls very very soon. Now don't let the decor bug you cause this place is amazing. I'm sure you'll understand once you've wrapped your lips around that tamale. read more

I'm in love with the salsa, meats, chorizo and tamales!

Best Tamales!! We had pork and chicken tamales and both were delicious!! Their salsa (red) in the plastic containers are super hot and so good. So beware it'll getcha!! read more

Came here to get some milanesa meat, which was really good. However, will not be back due to how the crowd was handled. There was a line outside the door, so I thought people would be respecting social distancing. Once you make it inside the small store, there is no capacity limit and it's free for all. Most people in line are pushy about getting their turn to order or to pay and the store did nothing to keep order. The counter is at the back of the store, and I stood in line, almost shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of people, for over 15 min. The cashiers would take masks off at random intervals. We are all in this together, and I'm glad this business is still doing well, but there has to be some measure to keep the density inside the store limited to 2-3 people at a time so you don't feel unsafe. Maybe will come back after the COVID situation is under control in Seattle. read more

Authentic Mexican meat market.. plenty of options to be had.. the carne asada was put in marinade right in front if you, so good! The staff was more than helpful and very pleasant! Two things.. the store front is hard to distinguish and it's not in a great neck of the woods.. perhaps during the day light while visiting.. read more

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Small hole in the wall grocery store located in White Center. I was in search of some authentic tamales and I came upon this place on yelp. After reading the reviews, I had to try it out. PROS: Service: Excellent customer service. I called a day before to place my order since after reading the reviews they usually run out of tamales at the end of the day. The gal who answered the phone was very sweet and helpful. You can call ahead to pick up as little as one tamale! Price: Very affordable! $1 per tamale or $11 for a dozen! Food variety: They offer a variety of butchered meats, jerky, candies, spices, pastries, etc. They also sell homemade fresh salsas! I ordered salsa verde, salsa roja and pico de gallo. All very fresh and VERY spicy. CONS: Tamales: I ordered the chicken, pork, cheese/jalapeno and spicy pork (my favorite). They were very fresh and the meat were well seasoned. The only thing was that there wasn't enough filling and too much masa. I felt like they could have added more meat to the center so it wouldn't be mostly dough. TIP: Call ahead if you plan on buying tamales towards the evening. read more

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Cookware that I can hide inside of is a good thing. I can't say if there is an actual correlation, but it seems to me that the bigger the pot that the tamales come out of, the better they are. My loose reasoning being that who in their right mind would buy a giant steamer pot big enough to hide Jimmy Hoffa unless they meant business? Today they had both chicken and pork tamales in roja sauce. You remember those water snakes you had as a kid? The weird squishy water-filled plastic tube toy that would slide of your hand while you held it? Most tamales feel like that to me--except maybe a little flatter. And I swear that [these] were just as heavy. Really solid. Like how dense you imagined Hobbit bread would be like in Lord of the Rings. I've had bland tamales but these are seasoned expertly. A definite cut above the rest. Most days, I'm picking up meat here (it's not called a Tamal-ceria, after all!) My husband is particularly fond of their carne asada. Pounded thin, and seasoned heavily. I had only one tasteless prep of chicken that I can't remember the name but I'll tell you the Pollo Adobado was really flavorful! We threw the pounded flat, bone-in chicken onto the grill and it was explosive in flavor without being salty. They even had game hen Adobado! You can also get plain butchered chicken for $1.69lb. That gives major grocers a run for their money. And their HOMEMADE SALSA made my tongue sing. Spicy with large chunks of jalapenos (or serranos?) Our dinner guests and I fought over the last of the 16oz container we had. FOOLISH. I'm buying two next time. Meats, canned goods, and...Palo del Brasil. Packed in a 'SnackMex' baggie, that advertises it could contain a snack, candy, toys or spices....Palo del Brasil is Log Wood. Pieces.of.wood.in.a.baggie. Not sure what it's for, but if I got a SnackMex bag in my stocking at Christmas with wood in it, I'd be p-ticked. read more

Carniceria El Paisano - Log Wood: snack, candy, toy, or spice? - Meat Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Most people who know me, know that time and distance don't really stand between me and good food. I don't think my kids have figured that out yet, so its a good thing that they like riding in the car. :-) A typical weekend day might look something like us loading up in the car and then driving down by Seatac to pick up my absolute favorite corn tortilla chips. Then cruising by this place on our way back. What makes it so special you may ask? Well, those who know me also know that Al Pastor is near and dear to my heart, and I am on constant quest to find better and better versions. This is it my friends. Probably the best Al Pastor (pork) that I have found in this grand ole state of Washington. Beyond that, they have a great selection of other Mexican style meats as well as ingredients and grocery items. Be forewarned, it isn't fancy, but it is a great store/meat market that I can highly recommend. read more

I usually avoid White Center, but the reviews made this place so tempting that we had to go on an adventure. The little grocery is a really cute hole in the wall and you will always know a place is good if natives shop and eat there! The tamales here are amazing, huge and only $1 (12 for $11!). Two of them will fill you up, three will induce you into a food coma. There are tons of types of meats, salsas and desserts to shop for but on our first trip we went straight to the tamales. I will definitely go back soon. read more

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I came here for the tamales they have here and wondered why it took me so long to try this place out. I came about 2pm on a Saturday and all they had left was cheese/jalapeño and spicy pork. So I got 4 of the spicy pork. OMG they are bomb ass tamales! It was filled with a good amount of tasty pork and the masa was so flavorful. I could have eaten all 4 in one sitting cause they were that good. They were pretty big I must say and only $1 each. They had all kinds of meats for sale. I ended up getting marinated pork steaks for dinner, which was really good with the lime/orange juice, onion and spices marinade. They also had fried pork bellies and pork rinds. I don't usually see that except at an Asian store. They also have a case of Mexican pastries and all sorts of different salsas. The staff was super nice and helpful. I will be back often to fulfill my tamale cravings. read more

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The best tamales! I grew up in So Cal in a small Hispanic town and these are as good or better! Freezing them for Christmas. They warm up very well by steaming. read more

TAMALES!! And they're only $1! I haven't paid $1/tamale since I left New York. And. They are delicious! I got the spicy pork, cheese, and pork. My favorite would probably be the pork since I could eat it without shedding a tear, but that's just cause I've gotten pretty weak against jalapenos. I initially bought a few so I could save some for lunch the next day, but after sharing one, the rest were quickly devoured. read more

Fantastic Mexican Butcher Shop in White Center. Cannot speak highly enough about this place. Great assortment of fresh meats as well as homemade Chorizo (pork sausage) and Longaniza (beef sausage). Their Tamales are hands down the best I've ever eaten. On weekends they have many wonderful, delicious, special things on offer...Real Mexican Homemade Crispy Tacos (beef/brains/potatoes) 3 for $1...Shrimp Ceviche for either Tostadas or Shrimp Cocktails and AMAZING Birria (stewed goat) at $10/pound with lots of free sauce... LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! The Restaurant of the same name next door is also Excellent read more

This little gem is located on a side-street in White Center, so it's not the easiest to just notice. The parking lot is a bit bumpy, but there's plenty of parking. Everyone was friendly and helpful, and I felt very welcomed. Inside, there is fresh meat, grocery items like canned food, rice, and beans, and homemade tamales. We started at the meat counter and ordered pork al pastor (bright red marinated pork with pineapple), chorizo, and skirt steak. The prices were good (skirt steak was $6 a pound, the al pastor was about $4 a pound). We cooked the al pastor at home on a cast iron grill pan. The meat had a sweet and sour taste (probably from adobo seasoning), and it was great on corn tortillas. We also got tamales, which are only $1 each! They have pork, rajas (cheese and peppers), and chicken. They were out of pork when we went, so we got chicken and rajas. The tamales were good, and I can't wait to try the pork. read more

Carniceria El Paisano - Chicken tamale and cheese tamale. - Meat Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I walked in this afternoon on December 24th a gentlemen by the name of Osbaldo game me the best customer service ine could ask for. I explained my experience from the last which was nor too goo, he rook time away fron himself to remove 99% of the fat on the meat, I hope that the owner could recognize him & acknowledge his hard work ethics I will definitely return to this food market, & hope that I can get him foe assistance excellent read more

THE BUSINESS IS STILL OPEN. I'm not sure why it was reported closed. They have the best tamales around and I've been coming here for years. The pork and jalapeño cheese are my faves. read more

My fav tamales - super friendly peeps working there too Next time I'm going to buy some meat from the huge butcher case read more

I wish I would have tried these right away I took them home and recooked them so my review of here probably would have been 5 star. I'm a tamale freak so I've had them in a lot of places. These are super authentic and huge flavor. The place is in White Center so the area is very urban. The chili and cheese was good it wasn't the best ever but they were good. The chilies are absolute fire as they leave the seeds in the jalapeños so they lit my mouth on fire! Good thing I had some guac nearby that I made. These are very authentic though. The mild chicken was pretty general chicken tamale. The verde surprisingly was even spicier than the chile and cheese. It did me in for the night. Too spicy for me. I normally like spice but I'm medium spicy I guess. I will have to check out some of the other things they have as the butcher and some of the chorizo and other meats looked legit! The woman that was working the counter did me a huge favor so big kudos to her. She saved me some verde chicken tamales as they were going fast. Oh what the hell service brings it up for her efforts to 5 stars. Just know this place is not for the timid or medium spice level. These tamales are super spicy! They kicked my ass! read more

Aqui se venden los tamales mas ricos en todo Seattle! But really... They do sell the best tamales in Seattle. And a lot more. I popped by when I was eating lunch in White Center and asked about getting some tamales. I'd long heard they made some amazing one heres and in addition to that, I walked out with some carne asada to make later, some fresh Mexican pastries and breads, tamarind candy and loads more. If they're out of tamales just ask when they'll be getting more in. Sometimes they get two fresh batches made a day and other times they sell out and won't have any for a while. If they're out, they offer to take your phone number and call you when they've got more. In my case it was just going to be a few hour wait. Which was well worth it! read more

I came here to pick up some tamales that a friend told me are the best you will find in Seattle. When it comes to tamales, most options you might run across around here are either too small, no flavor, or too dry. Carniceria El Paisano does not suffer any of these problems as each delicious bite I had was full of flavor and they tasted oh so fresh like they were just made moments ago...and this was hours later after I had returned home and even threw them in the microwave for a few moments. Keep in mind this is a meat market, not a restaurant so don't expect to sit down and have a meal although the owners do have an actual eating establishment a couple doors down. Oddly enough, they do not serve the tamales there so your only option is to take yours to go. You may also want to call ahead to make sure they are not out as this does happen quite often with as popular as these hot little items are. On my first visit, they only had two left which were cheese and jalapeno so I grabbed those as quickly as I could. Second time around, they had cheese, pork, and spicy pork. If you can't handle the heat, stay away from the spicy pork. Personally, I loved them, but I know several of my friends who would be in serious trouble if they were to wolf down one of these bad boys. read more

The best chicharrón and tamales in town! (ah, price wise - freakin affordable). The owners are genuinely friendly and happy. If you are looking for Mexican ingredients, this is your place. The store is quiant but their selections are huge. read more

Holy tamales! These tamales are truly authentic and so freaking delicious. Did I mention they're cheap, too? If you're paying with cash, they're $11 for a dozen. Most days they get two huge, fresh batches... but they sell out quickly (and for good reason) so you may want to call ahead to make sure they've got some. They have rajas (cheese w/ jalapeno), chicken, and pork. My absolute FAVORITE are the pork tamales with salsa verde. They also sell homemade salsa for the low! An 8oz tub is less than $2 and a 16oz tub is under $4. Both are hot enough to burn your face off, but the red salsa is way hotter than the green. Although they're incredibly spicy, they're so flavorful. Oh, did I not mention the meat? Come get some marinated meat for your grilling needs. Seriously, I've put a few people on to this place who drive from all over Seattle to experience the authentic deliciousness this joint has to offer. Noms. read more

Best tamales I have ever had. Fresh and truly spicey salsa. If you can get there on a Friday or a Saturday, try the fried tacos. The butcher has exceptional quality meat for a great price. I genuinely cant get enough of this place, I come here every single week. My fridge feels empty if it doesnt have their salsa in it! read more

Amazing tamales and salsa. Great hole in the wall place to get authentic Mexican food and ingredients.

So, I haven't actually been inside El Paisano, however, I have tried their carne asada and al pastor at barbecues with the Seattle Spanish Society, most recently last weekend. This is one of the places to go for organizing a carne asada on the beach or for picking up some quality meat. I'm sure when our group goes camping in the San Juans this summer we'll be getting some meat from there again. El Paisano and Carneceria Azteca are the best in town that I know of... Provecho cabron! read more

Tamales are wonderful! Taste like my mom's! They do sell out, though. So try to get there before noon.

We found this through Yelp, and were intrigued by the descriptions of the tamales. I gave it a try today, and you know what? they were right. Awesome!! Some of the meats looked amazing, and I want to go back and try some of the pre-marinated meats. read more

Holy Mary, these tamales are AMAZING. If you read my previous reviews, you'll see that I've been searching for the Holy Grail of Tamales in Seattle. I have now found it. Go early or call ahead to reserve from the friendly Tamale Goddesses. They sell out fast as the locals know what's up. Ask for 16oz of the authentic frijoles, grab a salsa of your choice (they're all great, depending on your spice tolerance) and you're off to heaven. read more