Love this place! The staff are super friendly and it's a great small business. They make large tamales wrapped in banana leaves with the option to add mole. I got the chicken tinga tamal with mole added, and it was great! The flavor of the masa was unique and the chicken was really well done. I would definitely come back and try more things! read more

Yvolina's Tamales - chicken tinga tamal - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am so pleasantly happy to find that they have a store front! I have only experienced them at the South Loop Farmers Market. I have been so sad that the farmers market is closed for the season, but I will for sure be visiting their location now! I am obsessed with their Puerto Rican rice and their green drink! I do enjoy their tamales, the green chicken is my favorite! read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Love this drink!! - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Was cruising Chicago and got word of a legit tamale spot. Yvolina's Tamales is just the place for you. Homemade tamales and all the trimmings. We didn't have a lot of time to sit and enjoy but I can promise you Yvolina's delivers on an outstanding meal that can easily serve 2 people. Mole was out of this world, and side dishes were perfectly seasoned. Great experience and highly recommend, give them a try, you won't be sorry!! read more

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Me and my wife went here for a Valentine's day lunch. Their tamales are delicious. When I ordered the dinner plate I wasn't expecting this. The tamales are very big and full of meat. They're wrapped in banana leaf and you can really taste it in the masa. The rice mole and beans added a really nice touch. I ended up buying some to take home. I refrigerated them and was eating them for a few days after. I planning going back soon. read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Tamales dinner plate. Green chicken tamales. Mole and rice - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic food and service. When we came they only had chicken in salsa verde left so we tried that. My husband got his with rice, mole, and beans. The tamale is much larger than those I've had at other restaurants and they are wrapped in banana leaf. The tamale was very flavorful. I tried my husband's mole and beans and I wish I had ordered it with my tamale too! So delicious. They have a tasty hot sauce as well. I ended up taking some tamales to go as well. I'm definitely going back! read more

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The way I would go here and eat everyday if I could... this place is delicious. Even though we only tried one green mole tamale, it was so flavorful. The service is very fast and there is so much seating. Would definitely come back! read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Inside - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Yvolina's tamales is a local restaurant offering Oaxacan style tamales, which are wrapped in banana leaves. My friend and I got a tamales each. I got the pork and he got the beef and we both enjoyed it. The meat was well seasoned, the rice was cooked well, and the sauce made everything blend together so well. Lastly, the price was so good! This place set the bar for tamales really high, and I totally recommend it for anyone who wants to try out something different. read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Tamales - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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While in Chicago during the winter we were really craving some tamales, especially!!! Wrapped in banana leaf... Yvolina's was delicious! We even bought some of their mole to take back home to Las Vegas!! A must try. read more

I'm a sucker for leaf-based steam cooking from the zhongzi I would often eat for breakfast on the street in Taiwan to the tamales that run out early in the morning from popular vendors in CDMX. So I was naturally excited to try a tamale specialist operating just to the east of the main restaurant drag in Pilsen. The vegetarian variety stuffed with beans was a satisfying meal in itself, served topped with a delicious rich mole that may not have been brewing for thousands of days but for my purposes more than held its own. read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The best Puerto Rican tamales! I keep coming back for more! They're always at the south loop farmers market and I've been getting them for years. The tamales are huge, fresh and so tasty. The green and red pork are my favorites. They also have the best and spiciest salsas that you can buy by the jar. You must try, you won't regret! I've moved a little more north but I still come back for these tamales. They're just that good. read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Pork red tamale - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Friendly staff healthy portions and authentic food. Quick service and amazing sauces available too

Having gone to the tamale festival in Pilsen, I have tried every major tamale restaurant in Chicago. Yvolina's is by far my favorite. There's no skimping on the filling. The tamales are huge and so good I stuffed myself silly. They sell out of popular ones by the end of the day, so don't wait until just before close. They close early at 6pm (5pm on Sundays), so leave work early. Only street parking so you might have to walk a bit. -Pilsen gets congested like every Chicago neighborhood. Worth any walking. Besides, you can walk off that huge plate of food when you return to your car. read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Pork Tamale with Green Mole. Ate the entire plate - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The interior looks clean and vibrant. The person serving me was friendly and he put the meal together quickly. I had the steak tamale with red mole with rice and beans on the side. The tamale was very tasty and came wrapped in banana leaf. I will say it had a good amount of heat. I like spicy things but this was getting to my limit where I was tasting more heat than other flavors. I still enjoyed it. The steak was hard to find in the tamale, though. It must have been chopped really small and slow cooked because I couldn't really tell it was there. The rice and beans were fairly standard. The star was the tamale. I also tried their kale lemonade. I'm still drinking it and it is delicious. However it's getting warm from being out of the fridge for half hour. I wish it were colder when I first got it. I can't wait to try other flavors of their tamales next! read more

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I have celiac and this was recommenced to me, wow just so authentic and amazing! The homemade juice was even better!!

This restaurant is awesome! Friendly spot, tidy, and convenient, right on 18th street, which has a mostly-protected bike lane from the lake path and bike parking in front of the bank. The people working there were so thoughtful, kind (and fast!) and the food is just fantastic. It's not easy to find vegetarian/ vegan tamales and these are very delicious! They're different from the more common Mexican tamale (which of course are also delicious lol)-- these are wrapped in a banana leaf with white, fine/ creamy-textured masa. The mole rocks and is a must. We also tried the cauliflower ceviche, which was well-seasoned and comes with excellent chips. Oh and the kale mango lemonade was also delicious. So in other words... no notes :) read more

I love the quality of the food and the customer service. As a vegetarian, it's hard to find authentic tamales, and I really appreciate the options they offer. I was able to buy an entire meal for my family of four, who have varying dietary preferences, thanks to their recent deal where you get 5 tamales for $35! One tamale alone is filling, and Yvolina's Green Mole Sauce really enhances the flavor. I always visit when I'm on that side of town. read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Chicken Tamale w Green Sauce - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My boyfriend been wanting to find a tamale place. And we finally found this place. We first try the tamale in Water Tower where there is an indoor farmer market for the whole month of March. The flavor and texture of the tamale worth the wait and price. So then we try to hunt down where the restaurant. They were not that far away from me! So we went there one weekend to grab a bit of tamale. Pollo verde! Highly recommend. There salsa omg to die for! Street parking and there is space for you to dine in. The server was friendly and helpful. read more

It tastes like someone's grandma is cooking the food!! You can taste the quality ingredients and love that went into the food. I've eaten many tamales and this is the best so far and there so big. The plate was filling. read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Tamales - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been craving this tamale since I had it at the farmers market a few weeks ago. so I went to get one. and it did not disappoint. I was able to get my order taken right away. The staff was nice and super efficient. I wasn't going to eat in, but I did. It was a little hot in there, but it didn't really bother me. Cute little small space I do wish they had more of the menu at the time but I believe they change it every so often and I got what I wanted so I'm not complaining read more

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Delicious tamales. Mole is fantastic!! Had one chicken tamale with green and red mole, and one steak tamale with green and red mole, perfect size and very tender and flavorful. Friendly service. read more

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These tamales are so fresh, filled, and not dry! Exactly how they should be. My partner and I ordered from their tamale stand at the Chicago Taco & Tamale fest recently and we were oooing and awwwing over the tamales! He got a chicken flavored tamale with red mole and I got the pork tamale with red mole. Both were delicious and big! The people working here were also really nice and friendly. 10/10 in my book! read more

It is rare to find vegan tamales, and if you do they are bland. It's the combination of kale, peppers, and then the red mole sauce that knocked it out of the park. You don't need to order more than two. Also order the green drink made of kale and mango. It is all truly delicious and you feel so good eating it's as if your ancestors wanted to feed you. All I would've added was more heat. read more

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Cute little place in Pilsen. Wonderful tamales in banana leaf. You can get beans and rice to make a it a meal! More than enough for one person, tamales are massive. They offer meat and vegan options! read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Oh my god the tamales here are SOOO delicious!! As a Texan passing through I was delighted to find such phenomenal Mexican food in Chicago. It seriously knocked my socks off. Amazing service too - the very kind man at the front gave us a free guac just because he saw me eying it (because it looked so fresh) and let me tell you, it was the BEST guac I ever had and I'm a huuge guac lover. Very fresh with big chunks of avocado and a zesty, citrusy flavor. I don't even know how they made it so good. Also - just trust me and buy the corn tortilla chips they sell next to the mole sauce. Again the BEST chips EVER and made right there in Chicago!! I'm very picky with my chips and can't believe they could be so good. I have to buy more when I get back. I can't wait to buy the mole sauce too. Btw I got the 5 pack and the tamales are huge! Like twice the size of the tamales I'm used to in Texas. My boyfriend and I were full after just 1 each and put the rest away. We loved the green chicken one especially. Overall I'm very very satisfied with my meal. Go here!!! read more

Ran across Yvolona'a Tamales at the Taco and Tamales Fest. We had the Pork Chorizo Tamales. They were sooo good. Best thing there. The tamale dough was flavorful, moist, and tender. The pork chorizo was spicy and flavorful and well seasoned. Going to stop by the store for sure!! Well worth it. read more

Ordered carryout tamales. Banana leaf tamales were excellent with unique flavors. Would definitely come back. Very small place. Not sure if there is room to eat there. Parking was pretty easy to find. read more

not vegan. it tastes really good but theres things in there that make it obvious its not vegan. maybe the broth.

My first visit to Yvolina's hadn't been in years and I really enjoyed their tamales. Weeks ago I returned and this visit was just as good as the last. They have a wide selection of tamale fillings to satisfy both the vegetarian and the carnivore. The price for one tamale with your choice of mole sauce is roughly $8 each. It's shockingly steep but the size makes up for the cost. They're big, juicy and full of flavor! Street parking only. Go get you some tamales like ahora! read more

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Very large tamales, get them with rice and beans and the delicious mole sauce!! Go early if you can, because they can sell out of the day's specials! read more

The tamales wrapped in a banana leaf??? Yea please! There's a reason why this place has won best mole awards. So good! Even their frijoles and arroz are fantastic. Highly recommend! read more

My daughter and I would pass this place all the time, either during dog walks or drive-bys (not the violent kind, of course) but it was always closed. I often wondered if it was even operational, but after doing searches, it was definitely open. One day when I didn't feel like cooking, my teen asked what were we having for dinner. In my mind I was like, "Them damn spicy ramen noodles you insisted we purchase from 88 Marketplace. And oh yeah, you can add a couple of them frozen shrimp to jazz it up. Get out my damn face." But instead, I was like, MAYBE Yvolina's is open right now. And there but for the grace of God, they were. So we grabbed our dog and took a walk. It was pretty empty inside, but the intoxicating smell told us somebody's Mexican grandmama was cheffing up some absolute deliciousness. Was it Yvolina? Only time would tell. Finally a young man appeared along with a customer, who was clearly a regular. She and the young man struck up a friendly convo while the teen and I tried to figure out what to order. The customer raved about each tamale and finally we ordered the chicken tinga and poblano tamales. Whoa! What we received far outweighed our expectations! Instead of the typical small tamale wrapped in corn husks, we received our extraordinarily large tamales wrapped in banana leaves...basically 2 tamales in one. AND they come with Spanish rice. So perfectly seasoned, moist and plentiful, the portion size easily makes 2 meals. I asked the young man about Yvolina and he said she was traveling but obviously left her amazing recipes in great hands. Colorful, inviting and warm with friendly service, Yvolina's will easily become one of your favorites! read more

Glad I found this place. Other spots around Pilsen seem to be closed before 3/4pm. Really glad they can assure you they don't use lard or chicken broth if you are looking for vegetarian tamales. The guy was super friendly and helpful. The tamale itself is special too. Look forward to going back. read more

Awesome tamales and mole as always. So legit! Moist, flavorful, and amazing mole! Bonus for the vegetarian options and fast service. I always recommend this spot. read more

This place has the best tamales with so many different options. I love that they have banana leaf tamales which are my favorite. The owner is such a nice sweet lady. Will definitely be going back for more soon and often. read more

MOIST!!! These tamales are the mostest and moistest tamales that I ever had! They are moist! They are filled the most! And they will cost the most! I normally get a dozen of tamales for less than I paid for these two tamales ($8.50 ea), but.... This tamales are delicious, but their moistness comes with a price! read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Queso Tamale and Green Chicken Tamale - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Got the red pork tamales at the Printers Row Farmers Market. So delicious that they didn't last long enough for a picture (my wife ate BOTH of them because she was RAVENOUS). I highly recommend this place. Nice people, good food. read more

Vegan tamales delicious & fresh made. Authentic, quality food otherwise a low key simple place

Parking : Street Payment: credit card friendly Must get: Mole tamales (green or red sauce chicken or steak ) I don't know where to begin when it comes to Yvolinas Tamales. As I been there 7 times already and had tried the green tamales with chicken , vegan tamales and the red mole steak(highly recommend). They were all fantastic! For about $10, you will get yourself a fresh warm delicious tamales dinner with rice and beans on the side. The environment of the restaurant are not very fancy but definitely very homie. Staff are very friendly too. I would still need to go back and try their sweet Tamales as well the famous almond sauce that everyone are talking about . Head up: been trying to ordered for pick up through phone , but it has been three times that the gentleman on the phone seems to forgot my order(not going to take it personal). And I can't seems to order through yelp either. My recommendation is just go to the restaurant and pick it up, since it doesn't take that long to get it ready either way ). read more

Yvolina's Tamales - Pork tamales - Vegan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best tamales in Chicagoland... I love love all of them but my favorite are the chicken with verde , bean cheese and poblano cheese. A cold or fever in our house is fixed with these delicious tamales... never fails to get appetite back!! read more

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Pretty good chicken tamales. Better than most. I had it at Taco and Tamales Festival so I'm sure the quality is better at the restaurant, but they're still bomb read more