Made from masa, or ground corn, wrapped in either corn husks or banana leaves and filled with meats or cheeses, tamales are a laborious, but comforting Mesoamerican staple. Whether it be for the traditional Christmas Eve fare or for an everyday portable treat, San Francisco is stuffed with plenty of classic places to grab some both authentic and more modernly made.
View this post on Instagram
2817 24th St / Website
As an entire parlor devoted to crafting a wide range of tamales, Roosevelt begins this list with their world-renowned selection. They offer shredded pork or chicken topped in house gravy, as well as a vegetarian sweet corn elote tamale, and their vegan Chivas tamale. The Chivas is a popular choice, filled with caramelized butternut squash, yam, purple potato and goat cheese, topped with tomatillo sauce and pepitas, and served with rice & beans. Roosevelt Tamale Parlor is open Tuesday-Saturday until 8 p.m., and are open weekends for brunch.
View this post on Instagram
2128 mission street / Website
La Oaxaqueña has an expansive menu filled with traditional flavors of Oaxacan cuisine. Their highlights, however, are definitely their tamales, particularly the ones wrapped in banana leaves. Providing a more nuanced flavor profile than the corn leaf ones, the distinct banana leaf tamales come in chicken, turkey, tofu, or veggie and are served with a deliciously rich mole sauce, collard greens and green salsa. They are open daily from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m.
View this post on Instagram
2884 24th Street / Website
First opened in 1953 in the heart of the Mission District, historic La Palma is dedicated to providing fresh ingredients throughout their large menu. They offer tamales in the classic chicken, beef, and pork, but they stand out with their options in Salvadorian and Nicaraguan style, as well as even sweet dessert tamales!
View this post on Instagram
75 Yerba Buena Ln / Website
Tropisueño is both a casual and quick Taqueria in the daytime, and a elegantly upscale Mexican restaurant for dinnertime. This place is the perfect stop within the museum district for not only their unique cocktails, like the Jaliscan 75 topped with Spanish Cava , but also for their wide variety of tamales, such as the smoky Chicken Tinga, recommended with their mole poblano.
View this post on Instagram
3690 18th Street, 306 Broderick Street / Website
With two locations, one right between the Panhandle and the Painted Ladies on Broderick, and the other as a pop up window beside Dolores Park, Nopalito has established themselves in the city for thoughtfully crafted Mexican food. Not only do they provide complimentary spiced garbanzo beans, but their Tamal De Rajas is a must-try, filled with jalapeños, carrots, potatoes and Oaxacan cheese.
View this post on Instagram
3161 24th St / Website
Donaji on 24th street, just three blocks from the BART station, is known for their daring food combinations, Instagrammable art venue, secret menu Fridays, and tamale preparation lessons. They locally source their ingredients from other small business such as Arcadios Produce and Alma Semillera to provide the best tamales in Chicken en Salsa Verde, Pork Cochinita, Vegan Soyrizo and Pumpkin Spice with whipped cream cheese.
Photography by: Tai's Captures/ Unsplash
