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    Yolanda's Tamales

    4.9 (47 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican, Food Stands
    Closed 8:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Yolanda's Tamales Photos

    YOLANDA'S TAMALES ATMOSPHERE

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

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    The sauces didn't come with it. I just put them near t to show how large the tamale is. Amazing.
    Julianna C.

    GOD BLESS Yolanda & her tamales! When I first moved to this area, I saw her on the map. So I went out looking for a restaurant named Yolanda's Tamales. Never found it bc Yolanda's Tamales is a tiny stand outside the 137th subway. This little stand is on the map though! That's when you know they're good.

    Yolanda's Tamales outside the 145th st 1 train station.

    I was worried after reading an earlier report that Yolanda was no longer actively selling, but I texted her and she confirmed she is there every day except Wednesdays. Such good tamales - I bought 20 so I can have a good supply in the freezer.

    Some awesome tamales. Spicy, please!
    Peter K.

    After reading all of these reviews, I just had to find you and have you vetted by my personal Oaxacan. The outcome: The only thing that would make this any more authentic is fresh ground corn from Mexico. "Yolanda," you are legit. She is by 137th, but also by 145th in the afternoons (thanks, JJ). My personal favorites are the puerco, pollo, and Oaxacaqueño (whenever they are around). The flavors and spices are amazing. My office is actually forming a pool so that we can clean her out and leave some in our office freezer for a rainy day.

    Queso & frijole tamales
    Deborah N.

    So, so good. Got one cheese and one frijole. Surprisingly spicy, so delicious. Found a new addiction.

    Yolanda's Tamales

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Best tamales on NYC. PERIOD. Willing to argue with differing opinions The lady that sells the tamales is the sweetest person.

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Lovely woman, amazing tamales. A few different options including chicken, beef and vegetarian. Really enjoyed the queso + jalapeño.

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    12 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    4 years ago

    I order thru the web page, I got the best tamales I had in NYC, great service and not expensive at all!! Support small businesses

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    11 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    12 years ago

    I'm Mexican. I grew up eating tamales. These are the real deal. Amazing. Like crack. Yolanda is my woman.

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    14 years ago

    AMAZING! I love this lady. I order 45 tamales for my last new years party and they were a total hit! I order from her again and again

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    10 years ago

    Bomb TAMALES!!!! Coming from a small little cooler cart, these will blow you away. Real authentic food.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Yolanda's Tamales

    Are these Mexican or Guatemalan tamales?

    Is she still in business? I'm coming from the UES to find her!

    YES! She mentioned she does not sell on Wednesdays, but she said she's always on the NE corner of 145&Bway,right next to the subway stairs.

    View All 5 Questions

    Review Highlights - Yolanda's Tamales

    I usually see her on the NE corner of 145th & Broadway, but I think she's also by the 137th stop sometimes.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Cinco De Mayo

    Cinco De Mayo

    4.6
    (38 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    Cinco de Mayo landed on my radar when a bunch of us at work were looking for a place to grab some…read morelunch. We had our usual list of spots in Midtown East, but this time we wanted something a little different. We ultimately landed on Mexican, however even then there were several spots to chose from. One of my colleagues found CdM, and since we had nothing to lose we decided to check it out. In terms of physical space at CdM, there is very little; this is actually a walk-up spot hence it is solely a takeout restaurant. The menu is pretty straightforward - lots of Mexican staples with a good variety to choose from. The burrito bowl looked good so I decided to go with that - I was given choice of protein (I chose pastor) and types of beans (I chose black). The bowl was really good - all the ingredients tasted fresh and they were generous with the portion. They added sour cream to the top of the bowl and it came with a side of salsa verde which I thought was a nice touch. We also ordered some bags of tortilla chips to share - these were my favorite kind as they were semi-thick and super crunchy. Overall, I had a solid experience at Cinco de Mayo. It definitely hit the Mexican craving spot and I would have no qualms returning for another meal.

    First time here - pretty solid meal with decent pricing as well…read more I got the cinco de mayo plate which came with beef. Good lunch portion and it was also pretty tasty. Also got guacamole and chips as a side - which was on the smaller side given the price. All in all it's a good lunch option in the city!

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    Tán by Chef Richard Sandoval

    Tán by Chef Richard Sandoval

    3.9
    (247 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    I had this place bookmarked for a while. Finally came for my birthday dinner. It was a rainy…read moreevening and I was hoping there'd be umbrella sleeves offered. I didn't see any but saw buckets for umbrellas. I opted not to leave it there since I didn't wanna forget or risk someone taking it. I took it upstairs with me. My friend had arrived and was seated. Apparently, they do offer sleeves because she got one. But the 3 people who were at the hostess booth failed to offer me one. The beautiful ambiance will get your attention immediately. It is a stunning space. The tableware was gorgeous as well. We waited for our last friend to arrive who was almost half an hour late before ordering (we thought she'd arrive sooner). Our server, Matias was gracious about it the whole time. What we ordered: Drinks: Passionfruit Margaritas & Mojito - we were happy with them. Tlayudas, Guacamole y Salsas - this was really good and a great option for the table to share. The homemade chips alone were excellent. Liked all the different dips. Guac could've used some cilantro and more acid/spice. Tán Ceviche - I loved this. Super fresh and great flavor. Could use a touch of acid. My entree was the Shrimp & Crab Enchiladas - This was pretty good. The sauce could've used some spice and some acid to cut through the richness. My friend ordered the Yellow Corn Soup as part of her meal and she did not like it. She said it was too sweet which I thought was strange. I tried a spoonful and I agreed with her. It needed a savory note and again, acid would've done wonders. Also, the crab was a bit fishy in this. She enjoyed her tamal though. I tried a touch of the sauce and it was delish. My other friend had the Quesabirria which she was also happy with. To sum up: Ambiance: 5/5 The space is undoubtedly gorgeous. Food: 4/5 Beautiful presentation on everything but each dish lacks an element or two to make it a home run. Staff: Wait staff 5/5. Downstairs staff (greeters/hostess) 4/5. Needs to be more on point like offering customers sleeves for umbrellas or pointing out the buckets to put them in. At some point through our entrees a group of 3 women were doing a 10-minute photo shoot by the stairway where our table was. Absolutely inappropriate behavior and a manager should've stopped it. Camera flashes all up in our faces while we're eating wasn't cool. Overall, still a great elevated Mexican cuisine option. The slight tweaks would make this a 5 star place for me. I'd return to try more things.

    What a GORGEOUS space. Whoever interior decorated this restaurant deserves their tens because it is…read morea spectacle. I had only seen daytime pics, but being there in the evening is a treat. If you are someone who is looking at an aesthetic place, this is a top contender. Unfortunately, I would say this place is better looking than the food is good. The food was fine, appetizers were all fresh but lacked any real depth in flavor. I wasn't too thrilled with the bone marrow I had either (but the tortillas come in the cutest basket). Personally, if it wasn't for the drinks and the space, I cant say this place is worth it - you're not coming here for the food. Another little complaint I have is the women's restroom on the second floor - right by the door is a floor to ceiling mirror which I understand was included to make the space seem bigger, but my friends and I agreed that it is a little misleading - I kept wanting to walk into it thinking there was more space there and not wall. I would recommend maybe putting a decal on it to clearly show its mirror.

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    Yolanda's Tamales - mexican - Updated July 2026

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