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    Grandma's Tamales

    3.7 (225 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 7:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Grandma's Tamales Takeout or Delivery

    Grandma's Tamales Photos

    GRANDMA'S TAMALES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Grandma's Tamales

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    Chile relleno
    Janet M.

    The food was just okay. The tamales de raja were decent, but the chile relleno tasted like it was frozen and lacked authenticity. Champurado was very sugary also.

    Grandma's special 1
    Karla G.

    Went here for about 2-3x before we ordered diff dishes. This time we ordered special #1 and chips with salsa. The special has 3 dishes on it with beans and rice. The cheese tamales was not that hot and a little hard. The beef taco was ok. The chili verde sope was good! Service was fast and price was reasonable. I would be back here and try the other dishes except tamales. Being a tamales fan i feel like the tamales here seem a little commercialized. Nonetheless, this is still one of the good restaurants for Mexican food in town.

    Martin M.

    I was craving menudo, and my go to spot (Don Pericos) wasn't open yet so I had to look elsewhere.. Grandmas tamales had a bunch of good reviews and after our experience we can add another positive review to the list! Loved the homey feeling in the atmosphere, and the food came out quick! The menudo didn't disappoint and the best part was the portions we were served! Overall very happy with the visit and would definitely recommend!

    Indoor menu
    Amanda W.

    Homey and family business. My brother has lived in Bakersfield for over 10 years. Thank you Yelp for introducing to this spot. My brother enjoys tamales around the holidays and we are not going to see him for Christmas. This restaurant was open on Thanksgiving until 4. I got a dozen tamales- jalapeño cheese, pork, and chicken. I didn't have to call in advance I was able to walk in and order the tamales at the register! My brother is a big guy and had a midnight snack after Thanksgiving. He reported the perfect amount of meat to masa ratio. You can see a woman in the front making homemade tortillas in the front. So yummy and fresh. Definitely recommend!

    Chorizo with Eggs Plate
    Ray M.

    Great authentic Mexican food with hand made tortillas. The beans and rice were spot on and felt like my tias. The chorizo was delicious and my son loved the chilaquiles. Will definitely be back

    Cheese enchilada, sope de asada
    Jessica D.

    Came here for lunchtime! They have great food! I order one cheese enchilada with green sauce and one sope de asada with everything on it, cannot leave out a mango margaritas was fireeeeeee Service: 5/5 Price point: fair Do you recommend: yasssss

    Queda birrias with rice & beans
    Karen E.

    The food was absolutely phenomenal! The flavor of the birria was delicious, and the consomé was amazing. The only downside was the wait to order, but once the order was placed, the food came out quickly.

    Good ole Grandma....
    Gary I.

    This Grandma's Tamales is the more updated, more sterile, less charming version of Grandma's on East California Avenue. The positve aspect is closing at 9pm instead of closer to 4pm at E. California. Walk up to the counter. Look up at the menu board and order. Food comes out pretty fast especially for slow precookedfoods like stewed Guisados, Frijoles, Arroz. All they have to do is scoop it out.  1)  Chile Verde Plate:  The Salsa de Chile Verde seems meaty, chicken broth based along with thickening purée of acidic, citrusy sour Tomatillo, that originally looks like a green tomato surrounded by a thin papery leaf, piquant Jalapeño, onion, garlic, maybe some black pepper & cilantro.  Slow braised in the Chile Verde, the shredded pork has almost the same consistency as North Carolinian Pulled Pork BBQ. This shredding allows the pork to absorb all the rich, satisfying Chile Verde flavours.   1a) The Frijoles de Pinto is earthy tasting, dark reddish brown possibly due to addition of a bit of tomato sauce and thickened from cooking in its own juices.  Scattering of Totopos/fried Tortilla chips to scoop up some of the smooth, pasty Frijoles.  1b) Arroz is tinged with tomato sauce, friable, dry. Standard, nothing out of the ordinary.  1c) Tortillas Hechas por Mano: At the East California Avenue, two ladies are out in front. One forms a hand full of the Masa/corn dough into a ball, and places it in a wooden press to form a flat round Tortilla. The second lady puts the corn Tortilla on the grill to toast it.  These Tortillas are very thin & light colored so it's either made from very white corn or the corn is mixed with wheat flour for a stretchier texture which is my guess.  2) Chile Relleno: Classic treatment using "sweet" Pasilla chile stuffed with mildly stretchy, white cheese. It is dipped in egg beatened w/ flour that when fried creates an eggy, soft, puffy coating.  The Pasilla chile is still a bit tough so frying a little longer would have softened it more. Salsa de Chile Colorado has a mild chile heat as well as tomatoey Umami countered by a touch of bitterness from the Pasilla. The bland eggy coating absorbs this flavourful sauce.  Darn good, and it's accompanied by Frijoles de Pinto & Arroz.  3)  Tamales:  a) Tamal de Puerco con Salsa de Chile Colorado: Fragrant corn Masa, that may be enhanced with Umami filled chicken stock, is firm yet slightly cushy, smooth surfaced. Chew & it becomes creamy with a underlying richness from possibly lard fattiness.  The thickened Salsa de Chile Colorado has long lasting piquancy & red chile mini pieces. Garlicky, "smokey" from maybe oregano, thyme, Epazote. Tomato based gastrique. Carnitas-like, chunks of meaty, moist, pork loin.   This Tamal de Puerco is not for "hot", piquant chile wussies.  b) Tamal de Pollo con Salsa Verde: Same tasty Salsa Verde as the Puerco de Salsa Verde which infuses into the chopped, shredded, pleasantly mushy, white meat chicken. Not particularly piquant.   c. Tamal de Queso y Jalapeño: Standard, possibly white Oaxaca, Asadero-style cheese & slices of green Jalapeño chiles.  Excellent, almost home style Tamales. I imagine there would be a line during the winter holidays.  Cool place to eat Mexican food that doesn't seem to be "gringoized"   I prefer eating at the E. California Avenue branch sInce it feels as though I've been teleported to México.  4- stars

    House special
    Alex G.

    Good customer service, helpful for first time going. Not a fan of Tamales, bought one anyway to try. Was good.

    Menudo sin grano y con pata.

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    11 days ago

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    6 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

    Gross! Masa wasn't cooked. May have been good years ago but not anymore . Bough a bunch and had to throw away, raw. they are careless

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    10 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Poor service but asada burrito, soup and breakfast burritos are great. Decent price, tortillas aren't my favorite even tho they are handmade

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    1 year ago

    Hand made tacos are always good, tamales are great, my favorite are the pineapple tamales and champurrado during winter.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    8 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Great food, good service, cool interior California, air conditioned on their southern business.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Literally THE BESTT chicken and pork tamales in town!!!! Sundays are very busy so go early, but even with a long line it is worth the wait!

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Tried a pork Tamale I was looking for a dozen it's not here the Tamale was fluffy not what I was looking for

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    1 year ago

    Excellent food very satisfied great choice of food and the staff were kind of courteous food had an excellent flavor flavors

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    1 year ago

    Awesome menudo and tamales are tasty!! It's way across town for me but worth the trip.

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    2 years ago

    Get anything but the tamales. First time trying them and was sadly disappointed I will not be back.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Nice menu and great service. Went on a Tuesday morning because they serve menudo 7 days per week. It was delicious.

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    3 years ago

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Grandma's Tamales

    Does grandma's tamales have a webpage? So I can look thru it and see. I was there recently. Nice...but had spanish songs...And I don't speak the language.

    "Nice...but had Spanish songs... and I don't speak the language." No shit. Don't go to a Mexican establishment if you don't appreciate the culture. Just stick to eating your unseasoned disgusting yacubian food.

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    La Costa Mariscos

    La Costa Mariscos

    4.0
    (948 reviews)
    1.0 mi
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    We came in to celebrate my 38th birthday today. I was on the mood for some shrimp fajitas…read more We'd been to the other location and didn't have as good experience as this. First off it was a steady flow of customers for a Wednesday evening. Many birthdays! We were sat immediately and waiter came to take our drink order. I had a mango chamoy margarita, while my husband got a roasted chili cucumber margarita on the rocks. His drink was SPICY! I ordered the shrimp fajitas and my husband ordered the chicken and steak molcajete. Our food was brought out super fast! The portions - humongous! But the food is so good! My husband is super picky when it comes to Mexican food, and he said this molcajete is his favorite so far compared to other Mexican restaurants we've been to. The bright colorful colors and great music selection really make it joyous and fun dining experiences. Highly recommend.

    Stopped here after work. We sat at the bar area but got a table back there. The service was lacking…read morejust a bit, the girl seemed overwhelmed and didn't check on anybody for a min. Some showed their displeasure. Since I was willing on a drink I was just watching. I ended up getting the chile verde plate and my wife got the chicken quesadilla. My chile verde was ok, the beans were cold. The quesadilla was not great at all. The ambiance in the room was good with the decor and natural lighting.

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    La Costa Mariscos
    La Costa Mariscos
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    Ay Mi Pa

    Ay Mi Pa

    3.3
    (145 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    Me and my best friend decided to meet Monday night for dinner and she choose this spot. I called to…read moresee how long the wait was and It's was recommended that I make a reservation and so I did but when we walked in the restaurant it was empty. The server was patient and we tried to decide what we walked to drink and eat. The restaurant had a quiet atmosphere even though they are located at the Valley Plaza and it was the beginning of spring break. We both ordered the same drinks and food. Both drinks and entree (it was actually a shareable plate) tasted great but the salsa that came with the chips was a bit ordinary with no spice. Another staff member brought out two more salsas and jalepenos torneados. These salsas had more bite to them.

    My bartender was cool until I asked for my bill and he decided to entertain the ladies on the other…read moreside of the bar. I couldn't really taste the difference between the Paloma and the margarita ‍. The place is decorated really nice but what they should've focused on was making agood food. I'm so glad I only ordered appetizers because had I ordered food I would've wasted so much money. Birria tacos simply taste like red beef tacos, no real authentic flavor. Shrimp skewers I was told was okay but even that had more veggies than actual shrimps. The rice wasn't cooked all the way. The presentation on nachos was excellent but the nachos were gross. No flavor in guacamole. Beans were plain beans bland af. The chicken wasn't seasoned and had an awful charbroiled taste, just awful! The salsa weren't spicy or tasty. I can only recommend this place for a good happy hour spot because prices are outrageous for drinks. Once again they should've focused on the food than the decor.

    Photos
    Full Beautiful Bar
    Full Beautiful Bar
    Ay Mi Pa
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    Sancho's Tacos

    Sancho's Tacos

    4.1
    (361 reviews)
    1.2 mi
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    I feel as though Sancho's Tacos has been coming up in my feed, or I hear about the place from…read morefriends. I finally had an opportunity to stop in myself and was not disappointed. So good! The place is pretty easy to find on the corner of 18th & R. There isn't a lot of seating for more than parties of 4. We were a party of 6 and we all smooshed into a horseshoe booth inside. There are only 2 of these booths available and they indicated they are not able to place additional seating at the booths. I imagine you might be able to put tables together outside for a larger party. We were greeted warmly, and while I felt overwhelmed by the amazing choices, the gal taking our order put me at ease by walking me through the menu board. We got amazing carnitas quesadillas and tacos and another dish that came on top of a mound of delicious fries. It's the kind of place where you order, then sit down and they bring you the food. We were well taken care of. Our drinks were refilled and they brought us 'to go' boxes. Their portions are generous and just tasty. And the iced tea was perfect! We ordered a full order of chips and salsa. That is extra. It was $6 for a full order ($5 for half) and these chips were well worth the cost. We will be back!

    Vibe 10/10. Caliguey burrito 10/10. The salsas too. These were made with heart…read more Love

    Photos
    Comfortable seating.
    Comfortable seating.
    Burrito bowl (i think this was a burrito with tri tip, but he was able to make it without the tortilla)
    Burrito bowl (i think this was a burrito with tri tip, but he was able to make it without the tortilla)
    Tri Tip Burrito

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    Tri Tip Burrito
    El Puesto Cocina y Cantina

    El Puesto Cocina y Cantina

    3.5
    (335 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    We went to El Puesto Cocina y Cantina without a reservation and it seemed pretty crowded. I don't…read moreeven know if they take reservations. We had our order to go and went back to our hotel. It was just the best. Next time we will eat there. The place is spotless and really pretty. It is festive looking and ever so comfortable. We loved everything about it. Parking is easy. The prices are super fair. The food is amazing. We had burritos that were just packed with meat. We had chicken and beef. We also had chips and coffee to go. I have to say, their coffee is great. The service is so nice. This was our first time here so they were so helpful with the menu. We also took Papa Tacos and wow were they great. We loved the rice and beans. The rice was perfect, not dried out like some places. We will be back. Try it.

    I came in expecting a relaxed dinner where I could actually sit and catch up, but the experience…read morefelt rushed and poorly handled from the start. Before my guest even arrived, I was told the kitchen was closing in 10 minutes, which made it impossible to plan or order properly for both of us. About 30 minutes after being seated, the waitress asked to close out my tab and mentioned they were closing an hour and a half early, something that should have been communicated when I walked in so I could have chosen to go elsewhere. To make things worse, about 10 minutes before closing, they turned the lights all the way up and shut the music off, which made it very clear we were being pushed out. No one came by to offer boxes for our food (I had more than half my meal left), and my guest didn't even get to finish her drink. We were essentially rushed out before the already early closing time, with no proper send-off. Overall, the experience felt very unprofessional and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

    Photos
    Eating area
    Eating area
    Not your regular Chips and Salsa. YUM
    Not your regular Chips and Salsa. YUM
    Lunch hour margarita

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    Lunch hour margarita
    Buena Vida Tapas Lounge

    Buena Vida Tapas Lounge

    4.1
    (200 reviews)
    5.2 mi
    $$

    We came here for breakfast with my parents and my husband, and every single dish was amazing!…read more I ordered the Flauta manana, and they were hands down my favorite. They were stuffed with chorizo, potatoes, and eggs, then fried to perfection so they were crispy without being greasy. The salsa on the side paired perfectly with them, and I even dipped them in the consommé from my mom's meal, which took them to another level! My husband ordered the A Huevo Que Sí and it was packed with flavor. The birria was incredibly tender, and the combination with the eggs and sauce was absolutely delicious. My mom isn't usually a breakfast person, so she ordered the quesabirria tacos, and they did not disappoint! The tacos were cheesy, flavorful, and the consommé was rich and perfectly seasoned. I definitely stole a few dips for my flautas! My dad had the Huevos Rancheros, and they were also excellent. Everything tasted fresh, the portions were generous, and every plate looked just as good as it tasted. The service was friendly, the food came out hot, and you can tell they put a lot of care into every dish. The photos speak for themselves, everything was fresh, colorful, and absolutely delicious. Highly recommend!

    Buenas Vidas Tapas Lounge has always been one of my favorite spots when I'm in Bakersfield for…read morebusiness or spending time with my son. The food was absolutely delicious, which is why I'm leaving this review, but unfortunately the service missed the mark during our most recent visit. We ordered our steak medium rare, but it came out well done. When our server took our order, our appetizers arrived quickly and then our entrees followed, but we had to remind him about the Starry soda that was ordered and never brought out initially. The biggest issue occurred when the Aguachile Ribeye was brought to our table. One of the plates was broken, causing food and sauce to spill all over me and the seat. While the server acknowledged something happened, there wasn't much concern shown about the spill on my shorts, and no replacement plate was offered. A simple apology and a little more attention to the situation would have gone a long way. Later, when we asked for a box for the leftover steak, it took quite a while and I ended up having to remind our server again. Overall, the food was fantastic and is the reason I continue to come back. The kitchen clearly knows what they're doing. However, the service could use some improvement, especially when it comes to attention to detail and handling issues when they arise. I'll still be back because I genuinely enjoy the food, but I hope the service experience improves on future visits.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Taquitos Dorados
    Taquitos Dorados
    Margarita flight!

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    Margarita flight!

    Grandma's Tamales - mexican - Updated July 2026

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