Moms Recommend the Best tamales in Town
In California tamales and Christmas go together.
“There are several types of tamales, but they all rely on the same base: fluffy, steamed dough pockets wrapped in either corn husks or edible leaves, filled with anything from meat to veggies, and often eaten with salsa. They’re usually a special-occasion food because they take a bit of time to prepare — all the stuffing and folding has to be done by hand.”
Traditionally several women get together for a whole day of making tamales and gossip. It’s a social occasion and an art! Even making a small batch by yourself takes 3-4 hours.
That’s why most of us purchase from tamale pros and are willing to pay $30+ for a dozen! Searching for the best tamales? Moms know where they are and like the ones with “enough” filling inside the masa. Price ranges matter to moms and the best deal is fair price and delicious taste. So what are you paying for? Not just the seemingly simple ingredients, but the loving labor that goes into the making.
D’La Colmena Market & Catering – Amazing everything. Epic tamales. Special: $69 for 2 dozen + beans, rice & salsa.They do all the carnitas and carne asada, etc. for most of the taco trucks in the area. So when you think, “that was a great taco truck,” it’s usually D’ La Colmena. Also the potato Chorizo breakfast burrito’s awesome. Have you had an asada torta, so good. We usually do the carnitas dinner for $13.99. Or we use them for big parties. (831) 724-4544, 129 W Lake Ave, Watsonille, https://dlacolmenacatering.com/
El Rosal Bakery – Green chiles tamales are tasty. El Rosal are the best! Yep, El Rosal in Live Oak near Portola and 17th. You can’t go wrong there. El Rosal bakery. They sell out all the time. El Rosal hands down. Those Mexican bakerys just hit different. El Rosal. Take them over to the cove to eat. Tamales! Tamales! Hot and fresh out of the pot, come by to pick out your favorites or relax and #stayhome Find us on Uber Eats so we can come to you. Dozen Mixed Tamales $28-$34/dozen. Green chicken, red chicken, sweet corn, and cheese or jalapeno. (831) 462-1308 21513 E Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, https://www.elrosalbakery.com/
Mijo’s – Want to escape from the kitchen without missing traditional holiday Tamales? Place your pre-order with Mijo’s today and pick up your house-made Tamales the week of Christmas! Orders accepted Nov 10- Dec 22! $33/dozen. We only sell the Tamales for the Christmas Holidays ever year. This has become a part of our restaurant where everyone gets involved in the making of them. All of our staff gets to learn how to prep and fold the tamales, some it may be there first time. However, without my 3 main cooks I wouldn’t be able to accomplish the orders without Teresa, Macaria and Mari. We usually prepare about 100 dozen for the orders over 3 days to get them ready for pickup. Customer Favorites- Red Chile Pork and Salsa verde chicken Anthony Guajardo. 408.824.4928, 200 Monterey Ave #2, Capitola. https://www.mijostaqueria.com/
The Tamal Factory – The best TAMALES in town, prepare daily – The richest tamales prepared daily. Good afternoon everyone and just remember that we meet at the tamale factory every day. The holy day comes soon and we give thanks for all the beautiful thing that happens to us. We know it is a very hard year for all including us who work preparing food for each of you and looking for ways to move forward. We ask all of you apollaros who are waiting for tamales to make your orders for the holidays. Come visit us! (831) 724-7214, 611 Main St, Watsonville, https://www.facebook.com/thetamalfactory
The Tamale Lady, Mission St Safeway – If you can find the ladies that sell in the Safeway parking lot they are delish. The lady that sells them out of her trunk in the Safeway parking lot! Wednesday and Friday 7-7:30am. Actually she told me she gets there by 6:30 and leaves when she is empty…I got some last Wednesday at 9…she was gone by 10! They are the BEST!
Manuel’s has bomb tamales. 831-688-4848, 261 Center Ave, Aptos https://www.manuelsrestaurant.com/
