by John Huetteman

Created on: March 07, 2010   Last Updated: March 08, 2010

Best Tamales In East Los Angeles, California

East Los Angeles, California, which boasts a population of 121,000 according to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey of the United States Census Bureau, of which 91 % is of Mexican origin, is home to some of the best tamales this side of the border.  A tamal is made from a starchy dough and depending upon its origin is often corn-based, filled with meats, cheese, vegetables and chili peppers, or fruits, then steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper.  Of Mesoamerican origin from the Aztec empire, tamales were one of the staples discovered by the Spaniards upon arrival in Mexico.  There also are reports of tamales in the Incan Empire long before the arrival of the Spaniards in Mexico (Tamale, 2010).  Needless to say, since the discovery of tamales, the use of which rapidly spread throughout Latin America and today is common throughout Colombia and Cuba, Central America and Mexico, each region proudly boasting its own style of tamale.

In East Los Angeles, the tamales found are typically made from a corn-based dough, or masa, and are stuffed with pork, chicken, cheese, beef or fruit and steamed in a corn-husk wrapper.  Sold in restaurants, bakeries and through street vendors, tamales are typically sold at a price between one and two dollar(s) per tamal depending upon where they are purchased.

Street vending has come under scrutiny in Los Angeles as it is largely illegal and there is a heated debate concerning unfair competition of street vendors to local business coupled with regulation and food safety concerns and public health.  Many local residents don’t share this view and feel street vendors add rhythmic activity to the area and that their “ephemeral nature bonds people and place together” (Gilbert Estrada, Eastern Group Publications, 2005).  

From a personal perspective, the best tamales in East Los Angeles, California, located in restaurants and bakeries (of which all locations have received superior ratings on Yelp) are as follows:

La Mascota Bakery
2715 Whittier Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90023
Telephone: ( 323 ) 263-5513

La Mascota, in my opinion, is the only location that sells tamales typical to tamales one would find in rural areas of Zacatecas, Mexico, of which I find to be the most pleasing to the palate, with respect to Mexican tamales.

Lolita’s Tamales
6050 Whittier Boulevard
Montebello, CA  90640
Telephone: (323) 264-8546

La Casa del Tamal (Tamale House)
2100 East Cesar Chavez Avenue
Los Angeles, CA  90033
Telephone: (323) 980-9299

Los Cinco Puntos
3300 East Cesar Chavez Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90063
Telephone: (323) 261-4084

With respect to street vendors, there is only one street vendor that I frequent who I refer to as La Morenita who on Monday through Friday after 6:00 a.m. until provisions are exhausted at the intersection of Soto and 4th Street on the Northeast corner in front of Olympic Doughnuts 14 at 2337 East 4th Street has the most delicious and freshly steamed Chicken Mole Tamales, among others, for only one dollar per tamale.  Try the hot champurrado which is equally as delicious along with a selection of tamales resulting in a perfect breakfast on the way to work. 

References

Tamale. (2010, January 5). Retrieved March 7, 2010, from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamale

Gilbert Estrada, Eastern Group Publications. (2005, May 9). Los Angeles Street Vendors Under Scrutiny. Retrieved March 7, 2010, from News America Media: http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.ht ml?article_id=d940ca8d120eb99c441e609b3e5a083b

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