TOP 5 SPOTS FOR THE BEST TAMALES Story and photos by Molly Cochran
T
here are a multitude of Latin and Mexican-inspired restaurants that serve tamales near El Camino College, but Warrior Life has narrowed it down to the top five tamales within 5 miles of the college.
These tamales were rated on the grounds of taste, texture and selection. Most of these restaurants are small and a few even make and sell their own masa. Whichever one you choose, you’ll be sure to receive a quality tamale.
1. Pupusatown Pupusatown is located right across the street from El Camino College. Run by ECC alumna, Sandy Lucero, Pupusatown sells authentic Mexican and salvadoran cuisine, including chicken and corn tamales. Both were served hot and wrapped in husks and plastic with a side of tamale sauce. Address: 16300 Crenshaw Blvd
Tamale Man, located on west Carson street, serves a large variety of tamales and super tamale dishes. On May 10 at 3 p.m., the restaurant sits near the corner of Carson and Western streets.
2. The Burnt Tortilla
4. Zacatecas
The Burnt Tortilla is located on Redondo Beach Boulevard, and also functions as a sports bar. They offer beef, pork and chicken tamales. If desired, each tamale is taken out of its corn husk shell and covered in a red mole sauce and cheese. Each one was filling and satisfying, they are not shy with including a lot of meat inside each tamale.
Zacatecas is located on south Inglewood Avenue, and serves each meal with a small bag of chips and a cup of salsa. Their tamales are not made in house, but instead ordered from Diana’s Mexican Food, the same place they order their tortillas from. They only sell pork tamales, but the tamale comes served with red salsa and melted cheese. There isn’t much filling, and the masa is a bit dry, giving the shell a more grainy and drier texture.
Address: 1427 W. Redondo Beach Blvd
3. The Tamale Man The Tamale Man is located on west Carson Street. Specializing in tamales, they offer a wide range of savory meat filling options. They also offer plates loaded with tamales, avocado, rice and beans. All tamales are made in-house, and the masa is homemade as well and can be purchased. Address: 1654 West Carson St
Address: 13737 Inglewood Ave
5. La Esperanza La Esperanza serves chicken, pork, jalapeno and cheese and sweet corn tamales. With baked goods lining the walls, La Esperanza is known for their bakery but they deliver a great tamale as well. With homemade masa, the tamales are made in-house fresh every morning. Address: 22832 S. Western Ave
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