Ran into these folks at the W. Seattle farmer's market on the weekend. Rarely pass up a chance to get some homemade tamales, although you're gonna pay a bit more if you get them here than if you were to, say, order them in bulk from someone who knows someone at work (been there done that). I liked that their tamales were not spicy, although on the other hand, I'd also like at least one spicy option. The reason less than five stars is that there was such a clear winner, taste-wise, between the chicken, barbacoa beef, and pork - chicken! - didn't like all of them equally. Enjoyed that they add in some unusual veggies without going overboard (the vegan would have been overboard for me). Warm corn wrapped goodness. Service was somewhat blunt. read more

See all

I hadn't stopped thinking of finding these tamales since I first tasted them when I traveled to Seattle and found them near Pikes Place and boy they did not disappoint! I found the food truck and was honestly surprised that they weren't a little restaurant because this food is just worthy of having a whole sit down vibe! I ordered the veggie, a chicken, and a breakfast one to try it out and wow! They are even more delicious than I remember! The ladies taking my order were super nice and pretty quick and just the flavor of the masa and the portion of filling to masa was so perfect! I'm definitely coming back for more next time I'm in town even if I have to drive the 20 minutes extra like I did today. I do have to say the price for one tamale is high so I did take one star off for that and with that said...It is so worth it! They have several other items in the menu too but these tamales just send me back feeling so nostalgic I'm just coming back for them and if these are that tasty, I can only imagine how delicious the other food items are. You should check them out. I doubt you will be disappointed! See for yourself! read more

El Chito - Chicken tamale and veggie tamale - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

SO DELICIOUS!! Came here for breakfast and the service was so fast and friendly. El chito classico burrito was incredible highly recommend it read more

El Chito - El The Chito Classic - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

One of the BEST tamales I've ever had is the vegan mole tamale at El Chito. Super savory and I love that there's plant based protein and it's not just veggies. Definitely try the vegan tamale even if you aren't vegan! read more

El Chito - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was born and raised in Mexico and I can confidently say that these are the best tamales I've ever had in my life. I've lived in AZ and CA and I haven't found any that are as good as these. Not even my grandmother's tamales are this good I added extra habanero salsa because I love spicy food and they were delicious. I would recommend this place! 10/10 read more

El Chito - Beef tamal - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I saw this place at South Lake union Farmer market on Wednesday and decided to have a try. They sell mainly tamales, either by singles or meal combos which come with 2 sides. I decided to try a pork tamale and a special vegetarian tamale. The tamales are decent size and is pretty filling. Between the two tamale I definitely like the vegetarian one a lot better. It was not as dry as the pork one and more flavorful. Definitely would come back to try more flavors. read more

See all

Best tamales ever! They go to farmers markets mostly but their vegetarian and vegan options are amazing! I love their salsas too. Highly recommend for veggies and omnivores! read more

Was wandering around Capitol Hill last Sunday and luckily found these tamales!! You can get them frozen or steamed, and they also have bundles. Super filing and great, yummy texture. read more

El Chito - Tamale of the week - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Delicious beef tamales hit the spot on a cool fall day. I picked up to-go on the way out of Pike Place Market and a quick microwave reheat at home did the trick! Apple/tap to pay via Square. Good price for a downtown tourist spot and good portion. Service was friendly! read more

I've been getting tamales from El Chito for a few years now and they have always been consistently good. My favorite, the pork tamal, is authentic Sinaloa style (which unfortunately is not the most popular style) but they're the best out of every tamal style. I grew up eating this kind of tamal, so finding it here, so far from Sinaloa, makes me feel right back at home. I wish they did sweet corn tamales. TL;DR pork tamales with vegetables are the best. And authentic Sinaloa style. read more

I got them from Capitol Hill Farmers Markets (Sundays 11am to 3pm) as a food stand. Got chicken and pork, $5 each. Can't complain on the price. There were several choices: a paper holder for immediate consumption, a plastic bag to take home, and frozen ones for much later consumption. I microwaved it for 30 seconds when I got home and opened them. The corn aroma was so nice. The flavors were mild and refreshing. I considered adding fresh salsa, then against that. Went well with a beer. I will definitely tried other choices next time. read more

Got a few tamales from the stand at the Cap Hill farmers market this Sunday. My curiosity got the best of me because since I moved here a year ago I was aghast when I saw $6 tamales. Being from CA, I was like WTF ARE $6 TAMALES?! Are these dipped in gold...? In CA a dozen tamales are no more than $40...often times they can be found out if the trunk of a family's car in the parking lot of a grocery store and they are AMAZING and bomb so I held off on trying these. My curiosity got the best of me this morning and decided to try them. Got 2 pork and 1 pastor...I mean the flavor was good. But just my personal critiques: the masa has too much lard. I can tell from the get go when I was unwrapping them. The masa to filling ratio was off for a tamale this price. If I'm paying $6 for a tamale that puppy had better be filled with meat. Also, if I'm ordering a meat tamale (pork) I expect just meat sans fillers like carrot and peas. I get this is Seattle and things are expensive and I wanted to give this place an honest try because I wanted to know what a $6 tamale was, but this Mexican has to respectfully decline next time. read more

Really though. Some of the best tamales in Seattle. Big and filling. Love the spicy salsa and the tamale of the day (today was asada). Wish they had a storefront but willing to run around town trying to find them. Call for larger orders or catering options! read more

See all

Any restaurant I go to if they have tamales, I will always try them out in search of a good one. I'm 60 and have sampled many in my time. El Chito by far has the best pork tamale I have ever experienced. The flavors you taste with these are over the top. If you like a good tamale you have to give these a try. I guarantee you will want to go back again. read more

Saw their cart at "Best of Hands" and had to try tamales as I'm originally from Fort Worth, Texas and I would pick up a dozen handmade tamales when I was there visiting. I was impressed with the appearance of the tamale and how the ends were tied neatly. Asked who made the tamales and was told by it was his father. Initially, I was hoping to see some chili sauce to cover the tamale, but found they were fantastic as-is with the habanero sauce. BTW, I had the special carnitas and the pork tamale. I would not hesitate to have them again and looking forward to seeing their cart again as it goes great with a beer at a brewery. read more

See all

El Chito comes to the Regrade Farmers Market every Tuesday near the Amazon Spheres during the summer. It seems like many people go crazy for their tamales, and their stand is probably the most popular in the market. I had the chicken multigrain and actually got the very last one. The multigrain is supposedly healthier and more nutritious, so why not spend the extra dollar for an already inexpensive tamale. It tasted alright, but wasn't the best. If I had to describe the tamale I had, I would say it was a dry conglomeration of random mexican food mushed together like play-doh. That being said, it was still a cheap and quick lunch that was decently flavorful. read more

El Chito - Chicken multigrain $6 - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I am crazy for tamales and when I came across this vendor at the Broadway farmers market, I bought a number of them. They have a unique take on a traditional food. I am still enjoying them even today since I bought a bunch that we're frozen. Super easy for lunch at work, or whenever. The meat and filling is very flavorful, filled as much as they can, and unique ingredients unlike any other tamale I have had and I have tried many! If you see them and like tamales like I do, stop by and pick some up! read more

Oh. My. Gosh. I went to the EL Chito taco truck at Capitol Hill farmer's market. I have no had a burrito this good in yearsssss!!! My husband got the pastor burrito and veggie burrito. His came with the chipotle mayo and we got it to the side and used it over both of our burritos. DROOL !!!! I'm going to keep coming back every Sunday. Spreading the word. Best Mexican food I've had in Seattle. read more

A must-have when we go to the Capitol Hill Farmer's Market! So freaking good I've only tried the chicken and pork tamales, but my vegan family members also loved their vegan option!! read more

They come to the farmer's market by my work every summer and it makes my day 10x better! The filling is plentiful and the tamales are huge. Homemade, authentic, and hits the spot. They have a couple of salsas that give a nice kick as well. read more

Oh. Wow. It's been a while since I've written a yelp review and I kind of don't want to because omg these tamales! I want all of them to myself! People! If you love tamales, these are it. I used to make them by hand with my family growing up, and it's incredibly exciting to have found this treasure. They have a stand right outside the west door in Pike Place Market, which is how I discovered them today. I bought 12 to freeze and I really don't think they are going to stay in our freezer for long. read more

I did the Farmers market at El Chito and the tamales were authentic but kind of weird for me. They odd things in the tamale that I kind of felt like was filler instead of good stuff like more meat, cheese, etc. They were just kind of more veggie to me. Maybe it's because I went to the farmers market. That and the person who was working the booth was kind of not really interested in talking to me about specifics that I like about tamales and what is inside them. I arrived at home to eat then and they were just kind of bland. They were forgettable for me. I love tamales but I didn't really love these they were just kind of plain Jane for me. read more

Stopped by Broadway Farmers Market and decided to try out their pork and chicken tamales meal with the Jamaica drink (I think the meal was around $8.50...reasonable in my mind I think!). The best part was the taste of their tamales! Yumm...very well spiced and so hard to refuse! I'm typically not someone who's fond of Mexican food (partly, because I never really found any good Mexican places around this area), but these tamales, both pork and chicken were the best! I wouldn't mind eating them days after days even. Loved it so much that my friend and I decided to go back after we finished our two-tamales to ask for a dozen of frozen ones ($38) to go! Yes, they were that good! The owner was very friendly and helpful in letting us know how best to prepare our tamales at home. Can't wait to have the convenience of having access and eating them at our home at any time (and not just waiting for the Farmers market) now! read more

I am not a huge fan of tamales. It must speak to the quality of El Chito's tamales that I come back week after week for the pork tamales! I get the tamale meal which for $9 gets you two tamales (I always get pork) Spanish rice and refried black beans. There also various salsas from mild to hot and some sour crema sauce you can douse over everything. I often find tamales kind of chalky and w/o much flavor. Somehow these nice, moist and flavorful. Far superior to other stands that serve tamale at farmers markets. Check El Chito out! read more

The best Tamales that I've had!!!!! I'm so glad We found this place around the Seattle area.. read more

So so good!! Being from Texas originally have a high bar for tamales. These guys exceeded expectations. Can't tell you what a hit and how perfect their product is. Clearly handcrafted hand wrapped with care and my guess plenty of love! We had guests that had never experienced tamales (and chili) on Christmas Eve, they are now a believer and have been transformed! Thank you for helping our family extend an amazing Christmas Eve tradition. read more

Wife is from Arizona and she is really been missing good tamales. She was going to go back until I brought her these. El Chito saved my marriage! Seriously, these are fantastic. Have them at a farmers market and they alone are reason enough to go back the next week. read more

We ordered a mixed pack of Tamales to have for Christmas( to busy to make them ) . We sampled them and they were the driest tamales that I have ever had . It was also really difficult to tell that there was any meat in them . I wouldn't write this review or any bad review if I didn't contact the establishment first . I did and they didn't respond . I guess$60 worth of tamales are going in compost . If you like dry sandy Tamales I recommend them if not maybe try some where else. read more

Last Wednesday at Optimism Brewery I had the chance to try out El Chito Food Truck and it was excellent. I also loved how the food is presented with such attention to detail, large portions and in a beautiful and clean setting. I love the bright colors of the truck. The profesional staff and clean environment is almost as important as the food itself. You cannot enjoy good food if the experience is unpleasant, chaotic or the environment is dirty. We ordered the torta, the quesadilla and the lower carb multigrain tamal and we all tried each others plates ... all of the food was excellent! read more

This is the best tamales in Seattle!! It's authentic Mexican tamales, it's perfectly wrapped tight and clean. The Masa is perfect, and the filling OMG!! Is the bomb!! Go checkout their taco truck, their tacos are amazingly good! The owner Marlo is very nice, and friendly. Go check them out at farmers market in Tacoma every Saturday on Proctor. They sell frozen tamales to go. Like I said the tamales is bomb.com! Go follow them on Facebook! read more

El Chito is the best authentic Mexican food truck in Seattle. The service is great, and the food is delicious! We stopped at his truck at the Capitol Hill Farmer's Market, where they serves their famous tamales, and other classic Mexican dishes. Highly recommend! read more

El Chito - El Chito Burrito Bowl at Capitol Hill Farmer's Market - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Holy cow this was the best tamale I have ever had. We stopped by this place while walking around Pikes Place market and were blown away by the flavor packed into this corn husk. The chicken one was so tender and soft it just melted away with filling of the tamale. The sauces they provided on the side were a great addition to an already flavorful experience. My girlfriend got the vegetarian one and it was loaded with all sorts of veggies and goodies to dip in their mouthwatering sauces. I will certainly look for this place next time I'm in the area. read more

The food here is hands down the BEST food I have had. I personally tried the torta with carne asada meat. The meat was ACTUAL meat and not grease or fat. After I ate it in less than 5 mins lol i had to go back to get another one to go! If you're skeptical about the prices , just know, it is 100% completely worth it! He uses real meat. Not grease soaked, fatty pieces. I don't ever do reviews but I had to come and do this one. The world needs to know about this truck. You will not be disappointed. Also, most places that have good food, don't have pleasant workers. The owner and workers of this truck were sooo friendly. The had patience with me since I was very indecisive because everything looked delicious. I would give this business 100 stars. Go! You will be in heaven! read more

El Chito - The girls ordered quesadillas and they note they were the best! - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I decided to walk up the street to try out their tamales. These are the BEST tamales ever! The masa was perfect as was the filling. And they are big - great value! Will be returning! read more

Not sure what to say because of how much we love this place/truck/cart. Incredible tamales, delicious tacos, and zesty, fulfilling salsa.

Super tasty Tamales... I love the breakfast tamales the flavor takes you to Mexico. It is great I can find it here in Tacoma at the farmers market read more

Best and healthiest tamales! I buy them and freeze them. I love the Breakfast , Vegan, Special, and Vegetarian!

Best tamales in Seattle! The rajas tamal and the veggie one are my favorite! Plus Great costumer service and very reasonable prices...

These tamales are delicious (and not just "for Seattle")! I ordered tamales and rice and beans for a meeting of about 30 people. The owner is very communicative and helpful as well, making sure everyone's dietary needs are met and making sure we are coordinated on picking up etc. After we ate these tamales for lunch (which were gobbled up!) people emailed me and asked for the name of the restaurant because they wanted more! Highly recommend! read more

We looked forward to Chito Tamales on weekends at the Magnolia farmers' market all summer til October. In a panic on the last day of the FM season, we bought 24 frozen. In the morning, I put one in the double-boiler steamer for 20 minutes, stuff it into a food thermos (where it continues to cook and stay warm), and my kid unwraps and gobbles it up for lunch. There's NEVER any leftovers! Very, very, very delicious even frozen and reheated. Mmmm. If y'all do a tamale-making seminar, I'll bring my family! PS: steam these guys hot, don't nuke em. Steaming keeps them moist, and it's the right way to do it. read more