I was treated to a few of Sandra's Tamales and have to say they were the best I have had in a very long time. The Pork and Beef tamales, respectively, were so delicious and full of robust flavor - not too hot nor spicy but tasty enough to leave a wonderful after taste. I cannot wait for more!!! read more

Sandra's Tamales are pretty good. They seem to be a bit drier than they used to be (we've been going there for several years.) Still the best I've found so far in the Monterey Park/East L.A. area. There used to be a place in MPK off Atlantic (Juanito's) but it closed a few years ago. Sad. Those were THE BEST tamales I've ever had. read more

Today is the last time I purchase tamales from this establishment. I can no longer recommend, as their sauce (for all of their tamales,) is excessively runny, extremely salty, masa is too thick. I had noticed gradual changes, but kept on finding excuses to keep on purchasing. Times up! In my eyes they've had a good run. Time to move on! read more

I do recommend that everyone try out Sandra's Tamales if you've never been here before. I have been evaluating Tamales wherever I can find them from East LA to Texas and the one thing that I've noticed is that there's been a degradation of quality over the past decade. It seems like when abuelita passes away and the grandkids take over the restaurant they start getting a little skimpy on the internal ingredients. Less meat, less sauce and more MASA which is somewhat of a downer. read more

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Drove here from Torrance on a Saturday morning. There was a line out the door but it didn't take more than 10 minutes to get to the front to place our order. We come here for and have only tried their tamales. And, we love them! Moist, with soft tender shredded protein (choice of pork, chicken, beef), generous portion of sauce, oh and delicious!! Our go to is the red beef tamales. I've never really craved tamales but ever since my husband introduced me to these tamales (mind you the old name was Sandra and Lolita's but I guess Lolita left and now only Sandra remains) back in the early 2000's, every time we're back in Los Angeles we always try and make a stop here to pick a few up! Masa / sauce / protein ratio is perfect. Masa isn't dry; it's actually moist. The flavor of the tamale as a whole is spot on but the beef and pork is always so tender! They provide you with a plate and fork if you choose to eat these the minute you get into the car so you can experience these tamales hot and fresh! Oh, and they'll give you lime wedges as well!! read more

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I CAN NOT GET ENOUGH OF SANDRAS TAMALES!! Ever since I was introduced to sandra's tamales by an old friend of mine who lived in culver city, he would brag about how good these tamales were. Granted living pretty far away I thought he was crazy for making that drive really early in the morning since the business opens early. He would mention there was a huge line in the morning and at times they would sell out. Out of curiosity I decided to go one time back in 2014 and I been going ever since!! They have gain many loyal customers because of the taste and quality of the food. They offer chile rellenos and different style of tamales. My favorite is the queso with green sauce. It's priced at a reasonable amount and they also accept cards/apple pay. I always bring cash regardless tho. This is a small place so it's to go only with a small parking lot in the back. You can always ask for utensils/cutlery which they provide for you at no cost so you can eat in the car. They also sell buñuelos and the best champurrado i've ever had. I love to y tell people in the west side to come try these tamales in East LA bc they are worth the drive. read more

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Nunca nunca nunca en mi vida havia probado unos tamales tan malos $3.00 cada tamal que paresen echos de maseca no tiene sabor no tienen carne y esta lleno por arriba de una salsa que parese de lata toda hinsipida de savor jamas volvere read more

The tamales are excellent. I would just want more of the tamale sauce inside the tamales. This is my go to place for tamales. I have tried other places but it don't compare to Sandra's Tamales. Friday I will try the Enchilada...too bad that they don't make a green chili cheese enchilada. The service is excellent. The environment. Is clean. read more

Friendly staff. Easy to order masa. Priced fair. Masa texture was light, fluffy & very tasty. Perfect for tamales! Delicious when cooked. read more

I love Tamales. But I've only ever loved one other kind and it's the way my great grandma made them. It's so hard to come by tamales that are moist and not full of masa only. I tried the red pork my family ordered the cheese. Friendly customer service, and there was no line which is what I was worried about. We walked around back and sat on the floor to eat our tamales lol. One of the works came out and asked if we needed anything and brought more napkins for us, instead of asking us to leave which was really nice of him. Can't wait to go back. My picture is not the greatest but I couldn't wait to eat read more

Sandra's Tamales - Red pork. - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It's tough seeing the critiques from both old and new Sandra's customers in the reviews considering how seamless my experience was as a first-timer. I had never had a "wet" tamale before, so I was interested to see what the diehard fans were so defensive of and what the critics were so eager to deride. Their storefront is a quickly revolving door of customers - walk in, order at the counter, they bring out your tamales, you leave, you come back again. Came in at 8:45 AM on a weekday for breakfast and picked up 7 tamales for myself and family, and they had everything except for the chili verde chicken tamales (which I was super excited to try). I was helped by a very peppy staff member who was thankfully very patient as I hemmed and hawed over which flavors to try. The red chili beef, which the employee mentioned was their most popular one, was absolutely delicious: moist, tender, and flavorful. I really enjoyed how the sauce and masa (which was very well-apportioned) interacted not unlike naan and curry, keeping it from being too dry while acting as the perfect vehicle of flavor. The green chili cheese was also a winner with the perfect level of spice, as was the red chili pork. I will say they're impossible to eat without making a massive mess, but it's a small price to pay for what you get. Hopefully the quality stays the same for my next visit because I would absolutely make the drive. read more

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Love their tamales my faves red beef and Green chili cheese moist wet tamales! I used to not like tamales because they were always dry and no flavor- not Sandra's Tamales. The staff are always polite and the store is always clean. read more

Charge the extra price, just don't take away the filling, meat, sauce, cheese, or make them small.

Opens early and super affordable! I couldn't sleep one night and was craving tamales so I eagerly looked up a bunch of tamale places near the 626 and stumbled upon this gem! I got two of the Red Porks, two Red Beefs, 2 Cheese, and 2 Green Pork tamales and it was the best decision I've ever made! The tamales are super soft and packed with meat. The store itself is meant to be a picked up spot, but the workers are super nice. Combine this with the fact that the store opens up at 6 AM, it's almost perfect. I definitely would come back to Sandra's Tamales again and highly recommend it to anyone in the area! read more

They wont have menudo "until January"..........................................................................

I've been coming here for probably 15 years now; hands down the best tamales this white guy has ever had. I now live 70 miles away but will still make the drive down 1-2 times per year. I've never had more than a 10 minute wait - but I've also never gone the week of Christmas, so I'm not sure what that rush looks like. Their tamales have more sauce than others, which I think make them so delicious. read more

E.L.A.at its BEST!Love this place.its the best around.I eat them in the morning with my eggs and coffee.Wow makes my mouth water.This is the Best tamales in ELA. or any where around. read more

Awasome tamales this is the place to go even if I have to get up at 4:30 in the morning to get my tamales. I won't get them anywhere else. Great customer service. read more

Today, we arrived at 6:00 am. It was was raining and no waiting line. In and out 15 minutes. The Red, Green and Green Cheese tamales were great moist and flavorful. read more

That's the best food. (Tamales) I love it. Super juicy super fresh really good. I love them. The service is really fast. I'm friendly.

Went this morning for the first time after it was brought up on Christmas Day...glad we did! We picked up a couple of dozens for the office. The staff were very friendly. The place is spotless: very clean! Got green queso, red chicken, red pork and corn: all tamales were very delicious, moist and flavorful. They run out tamales fast but the wait is 15 mins, I'm okay with that!! I'll rather wait and get them fresh, than leave and miss out on them. I get they sell out because they are first come first serve, and I'm good with that! Definitely coming back for more. read more

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My dad recommended this place when we just so happened to be passing by. The tamales were good but really fell apart. It wasn't so busy when we went so it was quick service. read more

I crave these tamales so much. I wish they were on a delivery service app. Best tamales in town for sure.

The food is the best and service always quick and ambiance the people waiting in line very kind and the workers of Sandra's I've known for 50 yrs, excellent service and great food read more

In this neighborhood you're either team Sandra, her sister or Liliana. We've been coming here for years and I've bought a dozen to bring to work for parties and have frozen a bunch for a quick dinner. The cheese tamale is great (got a kick). The chicken with red sauce not hot (cheese is spicier). Both were enjoyed during Thanksgiving potluck. $30 a dozen. read more

Best tamales ever! I've tried other places over the years and Sandra's has the best tamales overall. Perfect amount of masa, sauce and meat! Great selection and very delicious! The drive from Ontario was worth it and we didn't have to wait long! Friendly service! Definitely a repeat!!! read more

Even then, I leave all the way to San Diego. This tamale is the best tamales. That's the only place I will go buy the tamales. every year we go to buy tamales twice. read more

Best Tamales, freshly made on the spot. Eat one before leaving the place!Elote Tamales is great for dessert.

So totally disappointed, after paying a very good price for couple doses tamales. No one was happy with the product. I will never purchase or recommend this place, sorry read more

Best tamales de res I've ever had in my life! Excellent service to the community for many years. Never had a better tamale, to this day. read more

Tamales the sauce inside not good it's too thick and no flavor. Service is good very friendly people. I do recommend there carnitas atleast the day I got some they were good. Quiet place everyone is on the go go go. read more

Red pork and green cheese tamales are delicious. Next time I'll try their white menudo.

Have been coming here for years since my mom and Tio introduced me. My uncle now lives in Arkansas. Yes I do tease him with a picture. He asks are the green chili cheese still spicy. Yes they are! See you soon the holidays are coming and I will need a few for the familia up north! read more

First let me say I've gone to battle for this place when people brag about their Tamale spot. It hurts to have to rate theme so low but this was based on my last 2 times having them recently. My nephew recently visited from Texas(Originally from East LA) and of course Lolita's as us OG's know it is a must for him every time he's in town. So he picks some on his way in. Instantly I knew they were not the same. Tamales that were know for their Sauce barely had any on them. Many won't understand because tamales are generally on the dryer side or more of a paste these are known for being very saucy. Day 2 of his Visit he goes for Round 2 and same outcome. A dab on top and all Dry masa(under cooked or different masa too). Who ever did this batch didn't read the Instructions. Look at my pic and Look at others and you'll see Exactly what I'm talkin bout! Sad part was all the way from Texas and his one request was to have his childhood favorite Tamales only to get bamboozled Twice!! If this their new Tamales I'm done with them. Sad to say because it was so good for so long. Different than a red traditional tamale which are fantastic too but this one was like Holy .... Different and Delicious!!! If I decide to pick some up I'm going to have crack one open at the counter. No way I'm paying for Dry tamales. read more

Sandra's Tamales - ZERO JUICINESS/SAUCE - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I stopped in to pick some tamales and ordered a dozen, 1/2 red pork, and 1/2 green chili. The red pork were large, tasty, and on the wet side. Some will like them, others may not. The green chili were very good as well. The service was great and spit looked well maintained. read more

Once you've had Sandras Tamales, you'll realize that the other tamale places just aren't as good. They aren't stingy with the meat and the masa is ALWAYS moist and Tasty. I've had them in my refrigerator for 3 weeks and then took them out and steamed them and they were just as good as the day I bought them! read more

For my money Sandra's has the best tamales. This is a favorite family spot dating back to when it was "Sandra & Lolita's"

Long wait for holiday tamales (approximately 40 mins at 8am 3 days before Christmas) but they are better than your average store bought tamale. I especially enjoyed the sweet corn one. If you want to guarantee you get your desired tamale make sure you get there extra early since they were sold out of some options when I got to the front of the line. Definitely check this place out. read more

I have been eating Sandra's tamales for probably 20 years and have been traveling from San Diego to get them multiple times a years even after I moved from East LA to San Diego. I tried her sister's tamales when they went their separate ways and I was ALWAYS a die hard Sandra's fans. That is what makes me SOOOO incredibly dissapointed and sad. I traveled all the way to Whittier to get tamales as I always do this time of year and I bought 5 dozen. 2 dozen chicken and 3 dozen pork all with the red sauce. When I got my order, the chicken were as they always were but the pork were different. I got 3 that were the same as I usually get and the rest of them were half the size and wrapped in parchment paper. I asked the cashier as to why they were different and she said that they are EXACTLY the same but just a different person was making them. She said that they are really the same size, just the originals were longer but the paper wrapped ones were shorter but plumper. NO SO!!! Not only are the paper wrapped ones half the size as the original ones but they are HORRIBLY dry, no sauce, no flavor!! I savored the 3 original pork ones but I paid more than $30/dozen! Whatever you changed Sandra, PLEASE change it back!!! The chicken tamales were exceptional as usual but my favorite are the pork ones. If you go there to pick up tamales for the holiday, do NOT buy the ones wrapped in paper and let them know to go back to the original=ginal. I REALLY hope that you change them back so that I can come up and get them again and again and again. Otherwise you have lost a customer of more than 20 years and all the people that I have always bought them for! read more

I don't mind the wait or how expensive they are. It seems like everything nowadays is; that is life. U can't beat how delicious and big but not juicy as they used to be. I have to buy an extra red sauce. (I'll even stand in the rain). Coming here for years. I love this place. read more