Tamale Man

(2.5k reviews)

4.4 mi

This place was a great experience form start to finish. The menu Has a lot of unique dishes but…read moreeverything fel we thought out instead of overcomplicated. The naan with the dipping sauces was the perfect way to start. and the grilled oysters had an incredible smoky flavor that really stood out. The gilled corn wasn't my favorit it was have been much easier to eat if it had been cut off the cob but that was a small detail in an otherwise excellent meal. great service worth the visit.

Dreamy dining experience. My work friends and I met for a 7pm reservation to celebrate a new…read moreposition of a friend and had a nice long table that sat a party as big as 8. We were quickly attended to by their kind staff and waiter who moved efficiently, and made great conversation. I enjoyed how knowledgeable our waiter was with both the dinner and cocktail menu! All plates and drinks were prepared just as described and had charming presentation. It's clear that their kitchen and staff valued attention to detail, and was more than considerate of a luxe dining experience. I loved my farmers market margarita, and seed smoke mezcal cocktail, they were not overly boozy, but had been made with an even blend of flavor and dressed with complimentary ingredients. As we were all men, it was pretty stereotypical that we ordered almost exclusively protein dishes lol. Each meat on the table was tender, juicy, and very savory. My favorites included their goat curry, and pork belly boat noodles. The plates were all Exciting, innovative, and an overall unique menu. I'd love to return for a date night with my lady as the vibes were very romantic.

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Zinc Café & Bar

Zinc Cafe is one of my favorite brunch spots and it never disappoints! We had the American…read moreBreakfast, the Middle Eastern Breakfast and the French Toast - everything was fresh, flavorful and absolutely delicious. The Blueberry Smash mocktail and Zinc Sunrise were the perfect refreshing drinks to go with brunch. The service was excellent - quick, attentive and friendly without ever feeling rushed. Great food, great atmosphere and consistently a wonderful experience. We'll definitely be back!

What a beautiful venue So much potential…read moreCurrently operating like a morgue The girl that's supposed to be standing at the door is standing in the back customers keep walking in and then walking out because nobody's there to greet them I had to find my server I had to ask for coffee You can smell the death of this place in the air as they cannot even open the gates because it's probably too much work Sad

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The Rising Sun

Very nice hidden gem here, it's located off the beaten path, romantic and whimsical with a…read moregoth-like feel. I tried the beignets and they were really tasty, server was attentive and a good looking crowd showed up for "The Obscure" reserved seating for tasting and I was told mocktails if you're not into the spirits of that sort.

The rising sun is an interesting spot! It has a cool gothic vibe so if you want to fit in…read moredefinitely come dressed in black. It's a small self served restaurant with a limited menu that changes, since not everything we saw on yelp was available. When we visited the options were crispy chicken/hot link sliders, different variations of tots and beignets. We went with the crispy chicken sliders and loaded Cajun tots and they were both very flavourful and delicious. The chicken was well seasoned and crispy paired with tangy pickled vegetables and a tasty pretzel bun. The combination of flavours packed a punch but we did wish for a thicker slice of chicken. The tater tots were very well seasoned too and the sauces were yummy, something acidic would be a nice addition to cut through the fatty goodness. When we asked for utensils they didn't have any forks so they gave us one spoon and one knife. We made it work. Definitely want to come back to try other things on their menu whenever they rotate it.

Beef burger sliders

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Inside as you walk in

Verve Coffee Roasters

Friendly service. Good drinks. Great for working remotely. I ordered the raspberry spritz which was…read moreperfect in this summer heat. Refreshing and not coyingly sweet. Lots of seating indoors and outdoors. Extra seating upstairs. Bonus: as a sensitive human, I appreciated the subtle and pleasant scent of the bathrooom hand soap. Not the usual pink, drying generic soaps. Didn't stay long enough to order from the food menu. But it's good to know they have a number of options. I'm told the breakfast burrito is a good go-to. Would love to visit again when in the arts district.

Place is cute. i really like their acai bowl. They charge you extra for staying at their location?…read morebut isn't that complimentary with cafes?? It's also fairly crowded and their desks are TINYYY. their charging ports are also rare. i have yet to sit next to one. But i do like their chai latte and acai bowl. so i'll cut them the slack.

Breakfast burrito and matcha latte

Interior. 3/28/2025

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Espresso Tonic

Bike Shed Moto Co - Los Angeles

This place gets 5 stars because for the area it's a no-brainer (downtown LA is devoid of good…read moreplaces other than near the business skyscrapers)- great food, cool vibe, good bar, cool people working there, well Air-Conditioned, spacious restaurant and bar and barber shop and bike shop (clothing) and moto museum all in one! What's not to love? Parking in the area a little sketch but (weekdays) they might let you park in the lot if you ask nice. ;-). Weekends you should just RIDE there.

I've been here a few times now and the restaurant has always been a nice, open, and welcoming place…read moreto spend time with friends. The food has been enjoyable on my previous visits, which is why this last experience stood out. The food I ordered tasted great, and the beer and cocktails were excellent. Unfortunately, my friend's burger was served cold and wasn't cooked to his liking despite being specific about what condiments he could and could not consume. What disappointed me most was that our table felt rushed. From the time we sat down until the check was brought out, exactly one hour had passed. We were still enjoying ourselves and wanted to order another couple rounds of drinks, but the check arrived so quickly that it felt like we were being encouraged to wrap things up rather than continue our evening. I would've thought that was okay if the restaurant was busy, but it truly wasn't. Aside from our booth being in use, there were some people at the bar, another 2 booths occupied towards the kitchen side, and one table behind us at the corner in use, so it wasn't about them being busy. I'm hoping this was just a one-time experience because I've genuinely enjoyed my previous visits and would like to come back. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, and I hope future visits feel a little more relaxed and allow guests to enjoy their time without feeling rushed to pay and leave.

Huevos Rancheros (Vegan Options available)

The perch: a high concrete table in the restaurant area.

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Full English Breakfast (Vegan Options available)

Sampa

Who says Filipino food can't be considered fine dining? Chef Josh Espinosa is showcasing how the…read moredishes we're accustomed to can be prepared with an elevated approach. Sampa is located in the Arts District near the intersection of S Hewitt St and E 5th right next to Urth Cafe. There's a parking lot directly across the street from the restaurant but you can also park around the corner by Arts District Park for $5. If it's your first time visiting Sampa, you have to be open minded towards the concept itself. Yes, the dishes here are smaller in portion and costs more than your typical fast casual spot. All the servers here are attentive and offer to help with what to order if you're unsure. For dinner, the Crispy Pasta is their take on crispy pata but served with spinach tagliatelle. The crab fat fried rice is a no brainer and depending on the night you come, I highly recommend the Sinigang xiaolongbao special. You don't have to be Filipino to appreciate what Sampa is doing for the culture, just come by and see for yourself.

The restaurant is Filipino food with an "upscale," aka fancy, spin…read more Ok - so, I was in the area with my son, saw the grill outside. I thought it was a taco stand. It was not. It's where they grill certain items, lobster, ribeye, skirt steak, the intestinal part of a chicken (?). So, not tacos but grilled meats so we stayed. twist. First of all, it's a lovely space. In a not very obvious area of DTLA, next to Urth Cafe but no other restaurants. We didn't have reservations so we had the option of sitting at the bar or following the waitress to a back room area instead of the front room that is visible to everyone. My son is a minor, so to the back we went! Seriously, the closer we got to the back room the more I felt I had been cast in "The Chef." Scary! Lol! The back room is black. Blackout black! Black tablecloths, walls, chairs, dark, low light. Very luxurious and open space. Which - because it wasn't full at the time - felt a bit like being in the film, The Menu." A bit too upscale and empty to feel comfortable. More guests arrived later, a large table, so that was more comforting. The food: Recommended *Kara Kara Tamales: braised oxtail with a peanut butter sauce. Wow! The taste was wonderful! Hard to explain but Filipino/African food meets Latin food. It was on the "shared plate" menu, which to me means it will be a lot. But the 2 tamales were not very big. Still, they were so rich that the 2 really were sufficient to share. Quite filling. I couldn't get enough of the sauce! *Crab fried rice: Very tasty and generous portion. Plenty share! Not recommended: The street eats menu. Now, this is what pulled us in - the sights and smells of the food being grilled outside the restaurant. Most of which was on this meme. Like a tasting menu. But for price to portion ratio, it simply isn't worth it. I ordered the skirt steak. 4 oz, cut in half. Cooked down to what looked like .5 oz! Each on a toothpick sitting in a paper plate (or maybe it was cupcake holder?) IDK. I just know it wasn't a good presentation and the taste wasn't memorable. Regular. More grill smell than taste. Not at all worth $8. Service: Really nice. And mostly good. Though they did fail short by (1) Using only small appetizer size plates and (2) Not bringing a fresh plate to eat the crab fried rice on after the peanut butter sauce laced tamale appetizer was eaten. The server brought the fried rice, but didn't bother to give us fresh plates (nor silverware). My son was mortified when I grabbed a plate from one of the empty tables! (Teenager energy on full effect). But after initial attentive service, the variety of different servers whizzing by didn't stop to ask if we needed anything. And I sat waiting at least 8 minutes staring at the rice. I assured my young man that the servers would be fine with me getting another plate to save them from having to. And once I did, he suddenly started eating from my plate of my peanut butter free fried rice. And of course, when a server did attend to us and I let her know, she was glad I took matters into my own hands instead of not eating for 15 minutes. Thoughts: Go for dinner, and order from the full dinner menu, skip the skimpy street eats menu. With reservations you can sit in the main restaurant area that has some view to the outdoors. Without it - back to the black room you go! Know that it will be expensive. And it will be original. Not sure I'll go back. It's very "special occasion" upscale dining. But If I do it'll be with reservations. The meal was memorable and worth experiencing.

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Sandcouch Cafe

Amazing food quality and place please visit the matcha was very good and flavorful they use…read moreJapanese authentic matcha so even if you don't want js food go grab drinks here

the food was so so amazing!!! usually i don't like arugula, but they put this delicious dressing on…read moreit and it really elevated the taste of the arugula. it also really went with the sandwich, which was equally as delicious. the brie was perfectly melted and went amazingly with the cranberry walnut bread. i also got the chocolate bread, which is so good when warmed up. the owner was also so sweet and the food came out pretty fast. the interior of this cafe is also so clean and relaxing. perfect place to study!!

Try out Johnny's Breakfast Sandwich; the swiss cheese and chipotle aioli make this no ordinary ham+egg+cheese sandwich.

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Prank

This is one of my favorite spots to meet up with friends for a casual get together when in the…read moreDowntown LA area! It's conveniently located to the LA Convention Center, Crytpo.com arena, and LA Live which makes it a must visit before or after an event! I am obsessed with their happy hour, which offers healthy items at discounted prices with generous portions! I have been here so many times throughout the years but most recently found myself here during a busy World Cup match! Regardless, the service and quality of food was not sacrificed! I was greeted as soon as I got there and the bartenders were overwhelmed but still friendly and helpful. I was so tempted to get a margarita, since theirs are amazing, but decided to keep it dry and just get their vegan nachos. I was able to score a table outside on their lovely patio, which felt secluded enough from the main street. My food was brought out quicker than I thought and I was delighted, as I was famished! The vegan nachos here are fantastic and the happy price is only $10, which is a steal for what you get! They are costed in the most magical concoction of a bean puree, cashew cheese sauce, and guacamole which all have the most creamy, luscious and savory flavors. It's so hearty and well seasoned and not only filling, but you feel great after. Parking is pretty easy, as there are usually ample meters available nearby. I cannot wait to return again soon the next time I'm in Downtown LA! I am hoping to try more of their vegan options and next time I will for sure get a drink to go along with their delicious food!

Prank has a fun atmosphere and a great location in DTLA, but my experience was a bit mixed. The…read morecocktails didn't quite live up to expectations. I ordered the Espresso Martini, and it tasted pretty watered down and lacked the bold coffee flavor I was hoping for. On the bright side, the food was definitely the highlight. The mussels were flavorful, the calamari was crispy and cooked well, and the fries were delicious. Those dishes really saved the experience . Overall, I'd come back for the food, but I'd probably steer clear from cocktails and order a real drink. Prank is a convenient place for dtla residents in surrounding apartments to come get some quick bites and drinks and catch a live game

Prince Edward Island Mussels

Nachos

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Distrito Catorce

4.2

(46 reviews)

3.4 mi

Distrito Catorce is a gem in Boyle Heights that delivers on all fronts. The food was outstanding!…read moreFresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared, with authentic flavors and quality ingredients that stood out from the first bite to the last. The ambiance was welcoming and the art was tasteful. What truly elevated the experience was the service. The staff were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, making us feel genuinely welcomed throughout the meal. They were quick to offer recommendations and ensured everything was perfect without being intrusive. We ordered the tostaditas de atún agua chile negro, beet salad, carne asada taco and Al pastor taco and watched the World Cup game. Distrito Catorce combines exceptional food, a great atmosphere, and top-notch service. It's the kind of place that leaves you planning your next visit before you've even finished your meal. Definitely plan on coming back to watch more World Cup games.

I knew heading into Distrito Catorce that I wanted to see three things . The closing art exhibit,…read morehear the live band, and finally try Chef Jonathan's menu. It was basically a grand slam. To be honest, I was already biased because his Smorgasburg pop-ups were consistently good. But Distrito Catorce is different , it's like art. My favorite dish was the tacos de papa with salsa macha. The crunch of the potato taco riding into the salsa macha and crema felt like home, but with some extra pop. His salsa game is on point. The scallion salsa on the ribeye taco was also gas. Lastly, I really dug the tostadita de atún. It hit perfectly on these hot summer days. Low-key, I still want to try the El Rey de Noche. Tacos de beef trompo are starting to hit LA, and dude was ahead of the curve making picanha-brisket tacos de trompo. Service is smooth too. The servers are helpful, and solid at the bar. Overall, it's a cool spot with a menu that feels unique to LA.

Art counter entrance a safe space Paint & Brunch at Distrito Catorce Facilitated by Liliflor Art

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LA city line

Manuela

Insanely good apple butter biscuit 10/10. Great service…read moreChilequilee 7/10 mostly just sauce not much else Popover Benedict 8/10 signature good but not my favorite Smoked dipped albacore just albacore 7/10 great presentation but a lil too rich for me Ocean trout tartar 10/10 super good easily one of the best things Steak 7/10 quite small for the price Canadian bacon 8/10 pretty bomb if you like sweet bacon and grits

Wow - I'm impressed with this place! First off, the restaurant environment is beautiful, with…read morecovered outdoor seating and in a building filled with art. But seating is still comfortable and not stuffy / pretentious. The food is truly above average even amongst restaurants of similar caliber. Some stand outs from the appetizers: the biscuits, served warm, so soft and buttery with the perfect spreads. The albacore spread. Their salads are actually great (this is coming from me, usually a salad hater.) The potato appetizers. Now from the entrees: I was pretty shocked by the eggs benedict popover and the bacon steak. Namely because these are generally pretty straightforward brunch dishes, but they were just so much better here than other places I've had them. I don't know what the secret is for the benedict popover - is it something they put in the benedict sauce? The way the ingredients come together? Whatever it is, it's perfect. For the bacon steak - it cut like butter, and wasn't too salty, sweet, or chewy / thick. So good! The service has also been great here each time I've come, both in a large party (10+ people) and in a small group. The food somehow still comes out when you expect it to and the staff is friendly and helpful. Reservations recommended especially for big groups!

Now offering Wine & Beer for takeaway and delivery. Visit our website for more details. manuela-la.com

Cast Iron Cornbread, Steen's Butter

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Black Beans Chilaquiles, Crema, Fried Egg, Radish, Cilantro, Queso FrescoChilaquiles

Bacari Silverlake

4.6

(4.1k reviews)

5.7 mi

The service was excellent! ( Special thanks to Tube ) . The…read morestaff was friendly, attentive, and made our dining experience very enjoyable. The only downside was that the tables were placed very close together, which made it feel a bit crowded and reduced privacy. Other than that, everything was great.

Michael G. was fantastic! He was friendly, attentive, and made sure our table had everything we…read moreneeded without ever being overbearing. He had a great attitude, answered our questions, and made the whole dining experience even better. Excellent service from start to finish, I'd be happy to be seated in his section again.

Sea bass with roasted corn and sundried tomatoes

Indoor area

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Glazed Pork Belly

Din Tai Fung

I frequent this place often and it never misses. This is…read moreone of the restaurants you can always visit, any time, in any city or country they have them and you know they're going to be good no matter what. This location is no different, staff is always friendly and professional. The food is always delicious, the place is always bustling with business, it's rare you'll find this place empty so note that if you're looking for something quiet and intimate. This is more of a family, and nice date spot. Nothing quiet though but the food will be worth it!

Made a reminder on Yelp to join the waitlist! It was closer to the back end time it said it would…read moretake to get a table! Service is very friendly and quick and attentive!! Crab and pork Bao's are tasty! Wrapper is perfectly thin! Noodles and green beans were delicious. Steak was tender, but I think the skinny cut pork would be better because it's tossed in the noodles and this was just steak cooked separately and put on top!

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Holbox

Well husband and I are always so impressed with the food and we keep going over and over and over…read moreagain and take new friends which we never disappoint by bringing them to delicious seafood servings .. we had a little mishap nothing to do with the food but their general manager Briana, fixed the issue right away and we kept on enjoying our food!

Well I finally made it to Holbox! It's been on my list for two years!…read more Was it worth the hype? Absofreakinlutely! When we were there, there was this person standing at the counter and told us we can just sit there instead of waiting in line. What??? Shout out to that guy! He also said he can't go wrong with anything on the menu. He was completely right. The flavors are still on point. Tacos were great! I recommend the scallop one. I really wanna try the smoked kanpachi taco! but didn't realize there was a cheese one until after I left. Other must orders: Ceviche de Atún Spot Prawn & Scallop Aguachile Erizo Seriously so good!!

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BCD Tofu House

Great turnaround for everyone to enjoy the vibe and great food. Promise of estimated time for…read morewaiting to table is right on the nose and accurate, impressive.

The service like Maria was very kind and generous!! The food was really yummy from the beef…read morebulgogi, bibimbap, to the soon tofu soups. The ambiance was very good and I had a great meal with my best friends. I will definitely be coming back soon.

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Philippe the Original

116 years in business

Casual dining

The best food experience in all of LA that has lasted so many memories over my lifetime. Nearly 80…read morenow, and my mother recalled going there when she was young.

Historic landmark restaurants tend to fall flat for me, more often than not. I can't help but feel…read morethat some of the old vintage diners are still popular because they're relatively cheap / good value for large portions... but I care more about quality than quantity. There just aren't many other places even trying to do what they do at Philippe the Original. The beef dip and lamb dip sandwiches hit every time. Everything works in harmony.

Classic Beef Dip & Pickled Egg

French (double) Dips and Citradelic IPAs for two, please.

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Mm.. lamb

Pine & Crane DTLA

Great food! One of my go to places in LA…read more I go there every other week. Fast service and easy going staff!

We were craving some Taiwanese food and decided to stop by Saturday morning. There was a short line…read moreas we arrived, because they were transitioning from their breakfast to lunch menu. We were greeted by a friendly hostess who took our order and told us to look for any spot we'd like. The Dan Dan noodles came out quick and was delicious. The noodles had a nice chewy texture and the thick peanut sauce and chili oil that coated it made it super scrumptious. The freshness of the cucumber and herbs cutting through the rich sauce balanced it out. The pan fried pork buns however were rather forgettable. The meat was juicy but I was left wanting more flavour in both the meat and the buns. I also wish the bottoms were a bit crispier. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back to try their breakfast menu and other items though. Because peeking at the other tables they offerings looked delicious.

Interior of Pine and Crane

Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken 鹽酥雞

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Popcorn chicken!

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27 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Iman D.

12 years ago

I saw the place on an episode of Hungry Investors and was intrigued to check it out - so I took my mom for her birthday with grandma and my wife.... all I can say is wow! Before I share my experience - I have a rant about Mexican food. There are waayyy too many Mexican restaurants that are forgettable , the food is pretty much the same in most Mexican restaurants, service is decent most of the time and attention to detail is almost never in existence. The Tamale Man most definitely stands out - everything was excellent from the moment we walked in - to the moment we walked out. It's rare to experience that in restaurants and especially in Mexican restaurants. Their horchata is excellent - Charlie has a great personality, for me to see him come out from behind the kitchen and talking to tables and interacting with a family sitting next to us was unique, then to come to our table and introduce himself.... I was impressed! Then the food came.... It's been a long time that I've had such excellent fluffy , tasty memorable rice... the beans were so simple and tasty...memorable is the word that keeps coming to mind... not greasy or refried - the beans were light! Then I started in on my tamales.... they were unforgettable! The masa was the best I have ever had hands down. The green chili , was perfectly balanced. It was like a harmonious concert of flavor and the ideal ratios of masa, meat and sauce. Charlie comes out and announces that they made Champurado - and if anyone wanted some it was on the house. I agreed cause I was curious to try some... man that Champurado - kicked butt plain and simple! Let's not forget the red salsa and chips on the table... chips are chips but the salsa was so yummy!! You just wanted to drown your food in it! My wife got the red tamale - and that was awesome! My grandma got the dulche tamale - and she enjoyed it... grandma doesn't enjoy very much of anything since she is 90 and her taste buds have changed over the years. Here is where things get even better. Charlies sister took our order - she explained that they were out of Dulce Tamales - however she thinks they had two halves of a dulce tamale in the back and bottom line, she was going to make a whole single tamale happen for grandma! She made grandmas single tamale happen! She doesn't eat much at her age anyway - so she was happy with just one tamale My mom was in heaven - she was already making plans to come back , without even having finished her plate. We drive 20 miles to eat here - and I would happily come back again and again for such great service, food and memories. In conclusion - The Tamale Man is what Tamales should be. read more

Annette G.

105

752

3 months ago

Hidden Gem in El Sereno! Tamale Man is hands down one of the best spots for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in El Sereno, Los Angeles. This place is a true hidden gem with a menu full of incredibly flavorful, home-style dishes that never disappoint. One of the standout items has to be their barbecue rib plate the meat is unbelievably tender, literally falling right off the bone, and even the bone crumbles as you bite into it. Another must-try is the mixed fajita plate, which comes loaded with steak, chicken, and shrimp. Everything is cooked perfectly and seasoned so well.it's easily one of my favorite dishes on their menu. And of course, you can't leave without trying the tamales. They are, without a doubt, the best tamales I've ever had anywhere. Super soft, incredibly flavorful, and just melt-in-your-mouth good. You can really taste the quality . To top it all off, their aguas frescas are fresh, natural, and perfectly sweet--not overly sugary--making them the perfect refreshing drink alongside your meal. read more

Jose C.

8 years ago

Tried the Tamale breakfast special. It comes with two tamales, two eggs and rice and beans. The eggs come served on top of the tamales which have been husked already and not on the side.. We had the chicken tamales in green sauce. The masa on the tamales was very smooth and light. I do not especially care for chicken but the first bite took any hangups I may have had away. From the first bite all you taste is flavor, flavor and more flavor. We had a chance to speak with Charlie (one of the owners). He was just a very personable gentleman. We brought home red pork and green chicken tamales and they were just as delicious as the ones we had in the restaurant. They do not make green pork tamales but if you call ahead and request at least a dozen they will make them for you. They will make fish and shrimp tamales for you as well if you do this. They are closed on Mondays and close early on Sunday. The neighborhood is not the greatest but do not let that deter you from eating here. read more

Melissa G.

7 years ago

To start off I LOVE this place for the holidays or for any family event I have. It's the first place Where i seek for my tamale goodies ! I've been coming ever since they were around the corner ! Back in the late 80's family would purchase them back then ! wow has time flies right !? They have NOT failed me once ! Clearly the best tamales in LA. Thank You Carlos & Maritza You're tamale recipe has stay in my family as tradition they remind us of my moms tamales and she's no longer with us ... But Thank You for giving me and my family that... read more

Leonard M.

4 years ago

My wife and I checked this place out yesterday afternoon. And the minute we walked in we were greeted with a friendly smile. Since the was are first time here we wanted to try everything lol. We got the pork tamale with red sauce/cheese tamale with green sauce/chicken tamale with green sauce/aside taco/carnitas taco and rice n beans. Everything was amazingly good, especially the hospitality! The owners even sat down to talk with and even a couple pictures. Super cool people! Can't wait to go back with friends and family. read more

Danny S.

15 years ago

The owner of tamale man is a shady guy. My wife placed a order for her work and used our atm card to pay. The receipt that she brought home did not reflect what tamale man charged to our checking account. She picked up the tamales from the counter. I did the math and figured out that he gave himself a 20% tip. When I confronted him he denied the overage and so I get home and check my balance online to see that he corrected the overcharge. read more

E M.

12 years ago

Ill be honest i can only get here on the weekends and i always look forward to it. I love the new redone inside, it's nice and clean, The service is great, family run and owned. no one to tell them how to skimp on size for profit. Sweet and the cheese are by far my favorite along with their good coffee not a bad combo. A great place in El Sereno. read more

Stone C.

17 years ago

this is a bomb spot..the food is very good..not just the tamale..they recently remodeled and moved locations.now they're on eastern..the only bad thing is that they raise the prices during x-mas and dia de los reyes...fyi..i've been told that fool used to stand in the corner selling tameles way back in the day..pretty good to see someone come up read more

J S.

4 years ago

Owner is very pushy. Instead of letting you order what you want to order, he recommends more expensive items, but you don't know how expensive until he rings up the total. Very deceptive. Will not be going back. Apparently, he did the same thing to my coworker. She told me she won't be going back. read more

Mandy W.

11 years ago

Breakfast tamales combo was fairly good according to my boyfriend. The eggs were piping hot over soft soft tamales which is loaded with succulent meat. The only downside for me was I cant handle any level of spiciness. And all their tamales are cooked in red or green sauce, which is spicy. read more

Denise G.

13 years ago

Me and my husband went this restaurant one month ago. I love the food there. The service and the owner came to us asking if everything is all right. Very nice place. I want to go again. I will recommend my other friends to try their food. Its very tastie. read more

Clarence C.

4 years ago

Could be that I'm not the biggest fan of tamales but thought this place was good, and it is probably one of the better tamales I've had, but not a place I feel that I have to go back to. Want to try a lot of the other restaurants in this area though. read more

Louis S.

2 years ago

Probably the best tamales that I have eaten in the last decade, filled really well with meat and the flavouring was also spot on and they were not dry like most of the other places. Definitely coming back here as long as the quality stays the same! read more

Jose P.

9 years ago

I got the tamale breakfast and coffee and it was delicious. One of the best coffees I have had and believed me I am a trucker and I have being around the block from coast to coast and that coffee is killer, top 10 coffees I had in recent years read more

Lawrence W.

734

7 months ago

i ordered from their new website at thetamaleman.xyz and its the bomb . the food was hot and the sauce is just nummy. i cant say enough good things about this Toarrance Tamale near you read more

Rodolfo B.

8 years ago

Awesome place with a great atmosphere. Came a few days ago and back again because the food was so good and I was craving their burrito! Always a great food and service here. read more

Dorothy D.

11 years ago

Excellent customer service. Great cleaning job, friendly and attentive service. Pleasant personnel.Very impressed with the job done. Will definitely call in the future. read more

Charlie B.

4 years ago

Love the food .. Great people .my choice for tamales all year long ...don't let these other reviews discourage you ..you be the judge . best TAMALE in town read more

Candy H.

1 year ago

We are very sad after a friend told me that Tamale man was sold. we come here mostly every other week, for almost 15 years. good luck tamale man read more

Sammie G.

11 years ago

I used to take my kids here at least twice a year when they were little. We never got tired of it. Great displays, in a beautiful old building. read more

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Tamale Man - mexican - Updated August 2026

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La Favorita

(33 reviews)

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We have been coming here for our tamales for almost 30yrs now & they never disappoint! This family…read moreowned business is business is always friendly & the very definition of mom & pop. Their tamales are the best because their masa is unbelievably good! Thanks for making another Christmas a memorable one!

This place looks like it has been here since the 1950s! Very old fashioned and the store is a bit…read moreworn but they know their masa. My first bite of the chicken tamale was perfection due to the wonderful ground corn masa. I also purchased tortillas with a wonderful scent and some tostadas. It reminds me of Cinco Puntos with the authentic old vibe. Service was good.

Birria Pa La Cruda

4.7

(19 reviews)

This place never disappoints! Hands down the best street tacos in town. Service is lightning-fast…read moreeven during the busy lunch rush, the ingredients are always fresh, and the house salsas have the perfect kick. Highly recommend!

Solid place to get a plate of birria. I had a craving for a plate like the kind I ate at parties…read morewhen I was a kid and this totally hit the spot. I'll def be coming back.

Tamales Lilianas

3.1

(1.1k reviews)

I've been coming here for over 15 years, and I still find myself stopping by just for the tamales…read morethey're that good. They're always flavorful, authentic, and consistently delicious every single time. I usually order them to go, and they never disappoint. If you're looking for great tamales, this spot is definitely worth it!

Tamales Liliana is my go to spot when I'm craving tamales for breakfast. I always order the cheese…read moreand chile tamale. During my last visit, I ordered two cheese and chile tamales. The first one was really good, as usual. The masa was soft, and it was filled with melted cheese and chile. The second tamale, however, was overcooked. The masa was dry and slightly burnt, and there was barely any cheese inside. It seemed like the cheese had dried up from being overcooked. I really don't like the inconsistency. Their prices are still reasonable at $3 per tamale, and they'll give you salsa if you ask. The customer service is still good, and I like how quickly they get to go orders ready.

Betty's Birria

4.7

(14 reviews)

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Two words Goat Birria! What's not to love! There are no thrills or frills here, just good ole…read morehomemade style birria! Just delicious! Taste just like when you are in Mexico, they tie up the flavor with hand made tortillas to make everything pop! From the birria to their tacos de tinga, this place is as authentic as you can get! Usually only here Saturday morning, but we'll worth it! PS don't forget to stop at Miche Mikes micheladas right down the street! Soooo good!

This puesto or food stand has the best birria. They are there early (earliest I've been there was…read more8am) on Saturday and Sunday only, and usually busy after 9am-10am. Take cash. Soo worth it. Order a quesadilla de birria, a cup of broth, or go all out with a big bowl of birria. They also have tinga, tacos, and tacos dorados. Amazing food!

La Abeja Restaurant

(447 reviews)

I had breakfast today it was delicious. My huevos con machaca was excellent. This was my first…read moretime eating there. Can't wait to go back. Roy was very nice and service was great.

WOw! Jus WOW! It…read morebeen a while since I had such delicious green chili verde. I m a bit disappointed at myself for not discovering this place sooner. Better late than never, right? Was getting my morning coffee and craving some savory foods. Happened to find this place on Yelp. Called in to order. Was advised that the wait would be about 20 minutes because they were busy. 4realz! They were supAaa busy. I saw the line out the door when trying to find a parking. I decided to just park and waited in the car for a bit more. When I got inside the restaurant it was a full house. Kinda look like they were having a conference or something Hahh everyone would turn around and look at you.. The owner said the food wasn't ready so I waited for like another 15 minutes. While waiting I noticed there were tons of Togo orders. Mostly for burritos...I know what I m getting next time lol Also, people were entering nonstop. I m confident that my food would be good lol Yup! It was friGGin delicious. Just the presentation of the enchilada was mouthwatering lol Like I said, the chili verde was so yummy. The flavor really hit the spot. Very cheesy. The frijoles were yummy as well. I didn't really like the taste of the rice. The tortillas were fresh and better than most places. Overall, I enjoyed my foods. I couldn't wait so I tried some right when I received my order lol hot & fresh =] yummm

GE Chano's

3.6

(376 reviews)

This review is mainly for the burritos here. In my humble opinion, I believe it's The Best burrito…read morein all of Lincoln Heights! My late great father would take us here back in the day and they never disappoint. They're very flavorful and packed with meat. I bring my kids here from Torrance anytime we in The Heights and want a bomb burrito. I highly recommend this spot for burritos and I'm sure everything they sell here will be bomb. Give them a try if you're by Lincoln park and want some bomb Mexican food.

We picked up two Grande Breakfast Burritos and the smell in the car was so heavenly. As you can see…read morefrom my photo of a half-eaten burrito, we tore into them immediately! Beyond the food, the service was top-tier. We got our order incredibly fast and the lady at the drive-thru window was absolutely lovely. She had the best "mom energy" and made us feel so taken care of. The burrito itself was incredibly flavorful, but the red sauce is the absolute star of the show. It has that perfect balance of deep, rich flavor and a serious kick. It is the kind of spice that keeps you coming back for more even while your lips are burning and your nose is running. The green sauce was great too, but the red is on another level. This is our new go-to spot! Definitely going back!

King Torta

3.6

(902 reviews)

The tortas here are ridiculously good. Like "I'll ignore my bank account for this sandwich" good…read more The food overall is great, the place is clean, and the environment is decent and chill. BUT... who approved $19-and-change nachos?! At that price, the chips better come with a financial advisor and free therapy. Seriously though, hopefully the price gouging doesn't end up hurting the business, because the tortas are absolutely phenomenal and deserve all the love.

My wife and I just flew back into LA and needed to pick up our dogs, but first we needed to curve…read morethe hunger that was taking over us, and that lead us to King Torta on the East Side. We've driven by this place before but it doesn't really stand out much, but when you want a sandwich and see the word torta, it's destiny. The menu here features a bunch of different taco, torta, quesadillas, burritos, and all the other classics you expect from a Mexican restaurant. I ended up ordering a torta with carnitas and it only took like 4 minutes to make and get it to me. Now, I've always been a pretty simple person to please with a torta as they are usually big and packed with ingredients. This was somehow the most disappointing and lackluster torta I've ever had. The carnitas were boring and lacked any sort of flavour, while the rest of the sandwich together just didn't hit. This was a boring sandwich that I didn't enjoy eating. Overall, King Torta was a disappointment and not somewhere I'll be revisiting in the future. As the first place to serve a boring torta to me in LA, it left me wanting to eat somewhere else after.

Chilaquiles Los Hombres

5.0

(4 reviews)

Food was delicious. And the portions were great. Enough for 2 people. Highly recommend.read more

Me and my man shared a plate of the half & half & WOW! These chilaquiles hit the spot mid morning…read more They were so full of flavor and cooked to perfection with the best crisp. They didn't get soggy at all! The flavor for both chilaquiles sauces is 100/10 & not super spicy where you can't enjoy your food! If you wanna add a little more spice, they also make a salsa on the side that they give to you and it's so spicy and yummy! One thing about the cook is his flavoring is A-1 Not to mention they over pack your plate to get you full. It's so hard to find places like this where they are not stingy when it comes to portions. It's always nice to have a little extra to share or even save some for leftovers later when you crave them again! The cucumber limon agua Fresca he made was also so delicious!! It was the best one I have ever had in my life! So sweet, tangy, and refreshing all in one. Service was amazing. They are all so kind and were fast with making the food. They have a little seating area off to the side you can sit at also if you want to eat right there after you receive your food. Overall, this little pop-up is 1000/10 and I highly recommend. Give them a try, you will not regret it. Also, on a side note....they have two other people selling next to them and they serve michis and Mariscos. Get the best of all three in one stop!

Oakland Tacos

4.9

(9 reviews)

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Came here because we weren't up to making dinner. It's a nice spot set up outside a home. The food…read moreis delicious and my husband who's end all and be all is King Tacos hot sauce thinks the hot sauce here is even better. He got one of each kind of taco, his favorite being the cabeza. He also loves the horchata here, which he recommends because they add fruit to the drink. I got the al pastor and chorizo tacos which were delicious! Tip: parking here is tough so I'd park on Huntington and the walk the 2 short blocks to get here.

The folks at this spot are very kind and professional. They've clearly been doing this for a long…read moretime - they have a very clean and smooth system. The burritos were pretty big and they cook the chicken fresh when you order it. I love supporting family/people of color owned businesses and this one is worth visiting. Overall, a great experience and I'll be coming back very soon and often!

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