Amazing food! Every ingredient is fresh and carefully brought together with rich Mexican flavors. You can taste the authenticity, love, and culture in every dish. The space and owners are super inviting and all the team is attentive! Super reasonably priced menu for handmade tamales and freshly made tortillas. Definitely plan to continue to go back! read more

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One bite and I'm already planning my return visit and trying to decide what to order next! This small, neighborhood gem serves up old family recipes with a refined take on tradition, where bold flavors and careful layering create food that feels both authentic and elevated. 5 well deserved stars! read more

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Santa Masa Tamaleria is exceptional! We came in for an early lunch on a Saturday and the restaurant was pretty empty. The space is extremely clean and the staff were welcoming. We enjoyed watching them prep in the open kitchen environment. Each dish was piping hot, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. The service was incredible, as well. You can really taste the love and care they put into their food. We can't wait to come back! read more

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Hype is definitely real. Easily one of the best Mexican dishes I've ever tried. The execution seems simple but I think the enticement of the dish is the black beans while complement the other ingredients so well. Multidimensional as it's not really a sandwich but more akin to nachos with bread. Perfectly cooked fried egg. I should've added an optional protein. This is too far to travel especially during bad traffic but if ever in the area again this place would be my first choice. read more

Santa Masa Tamaleria - chilaquiles torta - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I met a friend here for lunch. He and his wife eat here regularly. The food is amazing: delicious, nuanced, and perfectly seasoned. The space feels homey and like a neighborhood joint but the quality of the dishes is something you'd expect in the Loop or a trendy neighborhood for way more $$$. The service is warm and friendly. I can't wait to go back--and I drive 40 minutes each way!! read more

This restaurant is incredible!!! The food is packed with so much flavor. Owner is very nice and personable: he took extra time to explain the food's connection to his family, and this was inspiring to everyone in our party. It even caused one of us to cry while remembering our grandma Socorro. On to specific recommendations: The Santo Taco was amazing!! Every bite is full with savory flavors that just explode in your mouth. The cheese crusted tortilla was a good contrast to the tender meats. The capirotada was the best French toast fusion I have ever had! Bread pudding, salted caramel, orange and banana is a combination I didn't know I needed. read more

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This is an award winning tamaleria and one of the newest premier restaurants in Chicago. The press speaks for itself. I challenge and encourage everyone to make the trip to SMT. My next dinner will be takeout enchiladas. I trust these people completely. read more

I came here for breakfast and to try some of their tamales. The restaurant itself wasn't full but they had a lot of foot traffic coming in for phone orders. We were able to get seated right away and a sweet ol lady waited on us and provided us with excellent service. The entire staff was very welcoming. We started off with some cafe de olla. One of the best cafe de olla I've ever had at a restaurant. Tasted like what I make at home. It will be a must order everyone I visit this place. My wife and I ordered one tamal each. We ordered a green and red tamal. They're definitely on the pricey side but still really delicious. They serve them with the "oja" open and some of the sauce poured on top. A nice little elevated presentation for a tamal. We also ordered their chilaquiles. And red and green. They use the same sauces that they used for the tamal to serve the chilaquiles rojos y verdes. The chilaquiles were really delicious. They were topped with pico de gallo, radishes, sour cream and two fried eggs. My wife and I both prefer chilaquiles verdes but we also still order one of each to try them out. This time I would say the chilaquiles rojos were the better tasting one. The sauce they use had so much flavor. It definitely brought more than just heat. Will be returning very shortly. read more

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I wanted to try Cafe de Olla (not a fan, tastes like Christmas) so I found a restaurant with it. Santa Masa Tamaleria 7544 W Addison. Very good breakfast. Try the French toast. This guy is a chef not a cook. Very clean welcoming affordable and delicious. read more

THE BEST! I can never find tacos de adobada here in Chicago, this is the first place ever. The meat was so flavorful... reminded me of Guadalajara tacos. I love that they use handmade tortillas. The food is all worth the prices they're set at. You can tell they put a lot of care and love in their dishes. Feels like I was in my mom's kitchen, they had the flavor on point. We had 5 tacos, the pozole verde (available only on weekends) and ordered some tamales to go. I will absolutely be coming back for more! The inside of the restaurant is small but just enough to take care of a good amount of people. The decor is so cute. Santa Masa, you guys are doing great! Keep it coming. read more

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Great local family business with authentic Mexican food with a splash of gourmet. Mr. Martin was an excellent server who explained the menu very well and knew each ingredient on every plate. They have a different flavor of Tamal every month on my visit it was Barbacoa it was delicious they serve it with its consomme and a cabbage salad for dessert it's a must-try strawberry shortcake Tamal. The ambience is nice and cozy. No reservation needed. read more

Extremely disappointing experience. I ordered $140 worth of tamales and what I received was basically plain masa. The rajas tamales didn't even have cheese, and the verde tamales barely had any meat at all. The fillings were so minimal it felt misleading. For the price they charge, this is completely unacceptable. Tamales should not be mostly dough with little to no filling. Then the rajas con queso was just rajas and onion no cheese to be found at all. I would not recommend Santa Masa based on this experience. read more

Santa Masa Tamaleria - Rajas con queso sin queso - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Santa Masa Tamaleria, on the northwest side of the city near Elmwood Park, is a MUST!! Their tamales are perfect and delicious, with an impressive variety including Vegan! and then they have specials, and believe me when I say that you do not want to miss the ITALIAN BEEF TAMALES, which are love, and Chicago, on a plate! They have an excellent selection. Of other authentic dishes, including tacos (spectacular) and Pozole on Sundays! . Whatever you order, you can't go wrong. And next time I go, I might just order the left side of the menu! And then return for the right! The service is warm and welcoming, and the restaurant itself is lively and welcoming. I've lived in Mexico, and their tamales and tacos are as good as the best I've had there! Try for yourself- you will be very happy!! read more

By far the best tamales and cafe de olla. Everything is so fresh, hot and delicious and the staff are very friendly. read more

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I love, love, love everything here. It's so delicious, from the fun tamales like the Italian Beef one to the tacos.

I've been there twice now for pickup tamale orders. The tamales are so moist and flavorful, and the prices are very fair. I find myself craving more! The staff were very polite and friendly. I will definitely be returning! read more

Dont come here for tamales unless you want to have only masa. So much work goes into making tamales and they then they dont add any chicken?!?! My mom and will continue looking for a decent place for tamales as this place was highly dissapointing. read more

Wow! Very few times have I went to a restaurant and left a better person, but that's exactly what happened here. I have had Santa Masa on my list for some time and decided to finally go for Father's Day weekend, and it was the best treat I could ever offer myself. While Santa Masa may be easy to drive past if you don't know what it is, I would say this is a Michelin Star level, but above and beyond with the added love that hits you right in the soul. From the incredible coffee with Panela, the honeydew Agua Fresca, the amazing pozole, and all of the out of this world tamales, you can taste the love in every bite! The chef and staff are one big family that make you feel like you belong and want to never leave! I could seriously die happy after this meal and I can't wait to share it with all my loved ones, so their lives can be as enriched as ours now. One of the best restaurants and meals ever, top ten from my entire life of dining experiences. Thank you Chef, and thank you Santa Masa family! read more

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Food very testy and of quality Service order came in as expected Uber Eats delivery was a bit slow but delivered! read more

The food: I started with two tamales--the Rajas con Queso and the Pollo en Salsa Verde. The tamales are served opened and on top of the husk, topped with a layer of thick, rich sauce. The sauces were incredible--full of flavor and complexity--and these were, hands down, the best tamales I've ever had. I also tried an Adobada Taco (a first for me). The meat was unreal--rich, savory, and deeply flavorful. The tortillas are handmade to order, and the taco is topped simply with onion, cilantro, and a lime wedge. The meat was so good it didn't need any salsa at all. The surprise highlight: The chef/owner chatted with my son for a bit and then made him a special cookie, which wasn't on the menu. I'm not even sure where to begin with this masterpiece: a freshly baked cookie topped with flambéed bananas, a roasted marshmallow, drizzled caramel, a hint of citrus to balance the sweetness, and candied pumpkin seeds for garnish. I usually prefer savory over sweet, but this was exceptional. My son couldn't stop (very loudly!) declaring, "Wow! This is SO good!" The atmosphere: There are about five two-seater tables along one wall and a counter facing the food prep area. We sat at the counter and enjoyed watching the chef and staff prepare our meal. The staff were all so friendly and clearly passionate about the food they're creating. This place feels special--like a true hidden gem. We'll definitely be back to try all the menu items our stomachs couldn't handle this time around. Highly, highly recommend! read more

Fantastic spot on the Northwest side of the City. Not your typical tamales that you can find on so many street corners throughout Chicago (which I love btw). The tamales have been reimagined and elevated. Everything is made fresh and in house; you can taste the love and care that it took to cultivate each dish. Set up in a diner setting, the seating is limited but worth the wait. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu. read more

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The service was great and the food, exceptional! You can watch them make their homemade tamales. The special was amazing. Highly recommend you try the specials! read more

I wanted to love this place. The Tamala's were just eh. The Italian beef tamale was disgusting. They are very overpriced and the employees have attitudes. The owner cannot take constructive criticism and makes nasty comments about less than stellar reviews. I was willing to give another try thinking they had an off day. I won't set foot in there again. Good luck. read more

A nice place on the northwest side of town. Had the tamales they were yummy. The owners and staff were very friendly and welcoming. Street parking only but it's worth it. The prices are reasonable. The place is enjoy the photos. read more

Santa Masa Tamaleria - Wall art in the restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Although they appear to use high-quality ingredients, the execution could have been better. I had the Huarache de Carne Asada, which was basically a steak salad on a tortilla. Unfortunately the steak was too charred, and had that bitter taste to it. I didn't finish it. My wife had a few tacos, some were bland, and the barbacoa was too salty. So that wasn't the best experience either. As for the tamales, the prices are insane, and for what they charge, you expect the best tamale you've ever had in your life. Unfortunately it was bland and mushy, and the consistency of the masa was weird. My wife said it was the first time she'd ever had a mushy tamale. The tomatillo sauce had no flavor, which seemed to be an overall theme. I was hoping they'd be a good replacement for the old tenants, "Chew on This", but unfortunately they're not even close! read more

A-MAZING! We tried several different tamales- total comfort food. The taco rajas (poblano/cheese/crispy tortilla chips) was so yummy. We were totally doing a happy food dance. The owners (chefs) were super friendly. They are passionate about their work and proudly shared their story with us. There is seating at the counter and a few tables and chairs. Cute environment. read more

Hands down the best tamales I've ever had. The family who owns and run this place are lovely and so proud of their delicious food. The service is 10/10. The cafe de olla was so good! We tried the chicken tamales and the sweet one and the would recommend them to everyone. The masa is so flavorful and tender which is what makes them so special. Can't wait to be back in town and hopefully attend their supper club event "Trecena!" read more

My husband discovered this spot and we can't get enough. The pozole was yummy and the torta de chilaquil was beautiful and do delicious! And to top it all off, we had cafe de olla read more

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Absolutely delicious food, charming location, and wonderful people. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but the pollo en salsa roja tamal and santo taco are particularly wonderful. Can't wait to go back and try more. read more

Food was amazing. The tortillas and tamales are made from scratch everything about this place is so awesome. The service was excellent, and his wife were amazing. I love the fact that they make your food right in front of you and they have specials on tamales different kinds every week! Ambiance cool seating and very clean. Definitely will return asap!! read more

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The list delicious Tamales ever! I hate that it's sooo far west though. They need a Bucktown location

I live in the neighborhood, and this was the first time I tried this restaurant. To say I was blown away was an understatement. This is truly a family run type of restaurant, grandma's cooking! Owner came to the table when I came in and told me what the specials are and gave recommendations. The Santo tacos I had were well beyond what I expected. Incredible tastes flavors combination on that. Two tacos and I was full. Great menu if other items as well. Definitely check this place out, support a true family run business. read more

Santa Masa Tamaleria - Santo Tacos were incredible! Tia agrees as well! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We stopped here over the weekend for a quick lunch and were pleasantly surprised. Everything was really delicious. The juice of the day was Guava, which was really fresh. We also ordered the Jamaica. We ordered an assortment of tamales and tacos. I asked about vegetarian tacos, and the owner said that they would make something special. It was the best vegetarian taco I have had in my life that was filled with fresh vegetables and different flavors. The dessert tamales were excellent. You can tell that this family takes pride in every thing that they serve. This is one of those places that is going to be lined out the door soon, because it is much different than anyplace around. read more

Family owned restaurant; staff was very friendly. Tamales were from their grandparents recipe and were excellent. Looking forward to trying their special pre fixe tasting menu. Also BYOB, which is nice. read more

The service here is phenomonal. I also really liked how you can fully see their kitchen and how they are preparing the food. I got three tamales: chicken verde, the cheese poblano, and the tamale of the month (this was my favorite). The tamale of the month was very unique and I'm not quite sure how to describe it but it's like a loaded tamale or like a taco on top of a tamale. Their tacos were great as well. I tried the adobado, and then the combination one (adobado, chorizo verde, and barbacoa). Both were amazing. From the kitchen I could see that they would periodically use large flames to char the meat. The taco shells were handmade as well, they would roll up a ball of flour (?) and use a press to flatten it and then make it fresh to order. I'm so glad I tried this place out and look forward to coming back soon. read more

Came here to check it out . Ambiance is great ! Really love the mural they have of the tamale being lifted up by the UFO once you get inside . Owner was very nice and so welcoming . He took the time to explain every food option on the menu and even recommended us food and drinks to try . Will be coming back soon . We loved the tacos . Especially since tortillas are made fresh by hand , and tamales were really good 10/10 . Staff seem very friendly, place was so nicely decorated and clean. read more

I saw the owners cooking on WGN tv and the food looked amazing . It turns out the restaurant is not downtown for a change. The place is small but cute . The Owner cooks the food on the grill right in front of you . We all thought the food was excellent. read more

The tamales had so little filling chicken ,we were so disappointed had better at so many other places. Bought over a dozen probably should have tried one first. And their prices weren't cheap. Not going back. read more

I'm a huge tamal lover, and these are the best I've ever had! The place is clearly a family business, and the staff has been so kind each time we've been. They cook on the grill right in front of you and everything is clearly homemade. They have a monthly tamal special (this month's was Italian Beef) and a quesadilla special. I've always wanted to try their french toast for brunch but keep coming back to their salsa verde chicken tamal - plus their strawberry dessert tamal. The rice is nice too, super buttery and delicious. They even have vegan and catering options! read more

Excellent food and the owner was so kind. We tried multiple tamales and the coffee was delicious!