First off, how can I be the first one to review the Tamale Kitchen? Wow! I've had the supremely excellent tamales from the other TK locations in town, but the other day I was in the neighborhood and wanted a burrito SO damn bad, so I stopped at the original TK. Don't let the ghetto location or the crappy taco stand/run-down Dairy Queen feel deter you from eating in this place! I was totally satisfied, and you will be too. I had a smothered pork burrito, and my boyfriend enjoyed the cheese enchilada dinner. YEAH! Even dine-in orders are served in styrofoam containers, but who cares. My burrito was a huge conglomeration of green chili, tortilla, and pure awesome shredded pork without a hint of gristle. The cheese enchiladas must have been pretty damn good too because my boyfriend basically inhaled them in 2 minutes. Next time I really want to get one of the "family dinner" packs, which consists of a bunch of tamales, green chili, tortillas, beans and rice. Sweet! The tamales are to die for, of course. I would normally take away a star for the fact that this place is totally barrio, but the food makes it impossible for me to detract any stars. Just don't bring a first date to TK - it's about food here, not ambiance. You know it's good when a bunch of Hispanic people are waiting around for their take-out orders.
(5)
Michelle K.
I was told this place had awesome breakfast burritos, so I graciously accepted my coworker's offer to get me one ;) After stuffing my face for the next five minutes, I had to conclude: this is one darn tasty breakfast burrito! I ordered the sausage, egg, and potato one..it was very hefty and too large to eat in one sitting, but very tasty. I really enjoyed the chili sauce on the inside, although I would have welcomed more spice..all in all, this is a tasty, satisfying and very reasonably priced breakfast!
(4)
D H.
I love this place. Great food, cheap prices. The line out the door is a pretty good indicator of their goods :)
(4)
Kellie K.
the two star description above is perfect for this place. meh. i admit the only thing i have had here are the tamales. but they arent anything special in my opinion. i can get tamales as good as this or better, at about a dozen places up and down federal. especially with tamales moreno across the street. their tamales are just better, more meat, better masa....and no one in the parking lot. tamale kitchen parking lot is always full. go figure.
(2)
Paul W.
Can't think of anything to make for that pot luck or gathering of friends in the park? Tamale Kitchen always comes to my rescue. I like to pick up a dozen red and a dozen green tamales and for around $14 bucks I'm out the door and ready to party! I've tried some of their other food which is good for the price, but for me this place is all about the tamales to-go, yum!
(4)
nick f.
Best burrito joint in town. Cheap, consistant and always delicious! Beats chubbys and bubba chinos anyday
(5)
Sara H.
We are regulars at this place. I love it. It is yummy home made Mexican food at Taco Bell prices. A smothered beef and bean burrito is under $3!!! . If we get tamales we always get the green ones. They are nice and spicy. I never eat in, the decor is alright except for the big fan by the bench when you are waiting for your food, that bugs me. Also at dinner time there can be quite a wait, but you can avoid this by calling your order in. Oh and don't forget they have yummy breakfast burritos there as well.
(4)
Ashley B.
I don't know how you can beat a dozen tamales for $6-7. Hearty, cheap, and reliably pretty tasty. Not the best neighborhood but it's yummy.
(4)
Jessica L.
Love the green chili love all burritos made special.
(4)
kelsy m.
Really yummy! I love this place! Authentic Mexican food. Try the stuffed sopapilla. They have Pepsi!
(5)
Prudence D.
Tamales and green chili are sub-par. Tamales Moreno is better and right across the street. Slap some Cherry Cricket green chili on Moreno's tamales and you'd have a fine meal.
(2)
Rachel M.
Amazing Mexican food at unbeatable prices. If you are coming home from a late night out and need a quick snack, or an entire meal to combat an impending hangover, Tamale Kitchen is the place to go. I've been coming to this place with my family for over a decade, and we make stops here whenever we are in a hurry or need a breakfast burrito fix. New additions to their menu are usually advertised with colorful marker drawings (carne asada fries rendered in magic marker is a site to behold), but they have many items on the menu that are mainstays. I recommend: Chicken tacos Simple and tasty. No frills, just good food. Egg, potato and bacon burrito "Smothered" Delicious chili, and a comforting meal for any time of day. Tamales If you want to throw a party on a budget, this is a tasty option. Tips: If possible, know what you want before you go to place your order. Get a menu and stand in the back until you are ready to order. These guys are nonsense when it comes to ordering. Have a second location of where to eat your meal. While there are tables and chairs there, the atmosphere leaves much to be desired. Bonus: Open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays!
(5)
Ellen K.
Whenever I want a smothered breakfast burrito, I head for Tamale Kitchen. My favorite is the egg/bacon/potato and I order it to the exclusivity of everything else. With a medium sized soft drink, it's less than $5. You can't beat it. The atmosphere in the restaurant is nonexistent, so I usually eat in my car or take the food home. Traditionally, there are lines out the door on New Year's Day, with everyone taking home their tamales. I'm not crazy about their tamales but they're cheap, and can be thrown in the freezer and heated up in a few minutes when you're hungry.
(4)
T M.
A large menu of items to try at very good prices. The tamales were tasty and even the bean and cheese burritos for my kids were great. Went in and ordered to go. Service was fast.
(4)
Toni L.
I came here with a co-worker today and was mightily impressed. Do not disregard their dessert menu. It exists and could not be more delicious. Food: I tried all three types of tamales ( yelp.com/biz_photos/wSzi… ) they have here ($1.00 each). The green "hot" tamale is exactly as described. That thing is jalapeno central. The red mild was pretty good, but the meat was sort of dry. As for the veggie, it was probably my favorite of the three. The corn meal hides chunks of corn kernels as well as other vegetables. I sampled some of the picadillo which was pretty good. Also, as I was standing in line, I watched the cooks fry up some breakfast burritos. The smell was pleasantly intoxicating. Oddly enough, I think this place shines in the dessert category. They carry flan as well as sopapillas, thin pieces of fried (yet still soft and moist) dough covered in sugar and served with honey ( yelp.com/biz_photos/wSzi… ). They look like empanadas and can be served with meat inside. I scarfed my four huge pieces down way too fast. It's not on their paper menu, but get it anyway! Atmosphere: The interior is what can be described as authentic Mexican, if that means anything... I loved the Maya-looking pictures on the wall. Nice touch. Service: The lines get long during lunch but die off rapidly. The food comes out fairly quickly. Synopsis: Get the sopapillas.
(5)
Doug Y.
This used to be a regular stop on all our south west shopping or visiting friends runs. The tamales are good and I would have given them at least another star or two except for something scary that happened with a particular tamale we got there. I don't want to alarm everyone (like I haven't already, sorry) or run off their business but it wasn't so much what we found but what the boss did when we took it into him to show him. I cook often and pretty much know my ingredients. I would never put something in my mouth and taste it to show it was edible, shudder, gasp... No thanks, I don't want another dozen. Don't even want money back, I just wanted to let you know in case you wanted to do something about... never mind, just let me out of here. Look before eating? Dunno.
(2)
Brandy M.
This place used to be really great but has gone down lately. Used to eat here at least once every two weeks.
(3)
Angie S.
We used Tamale Kitchen to cater a party. They were awesome. I e-mailed the staff and they helped pick quantities to make sure I had enough food. The price was very reasonable,and when it came to delivery they were right on time, and the food was hot and ready to go. I would absolutely use them again for catering. We WERE considering using Qdoba to cater, but Tamale Kitchen was about 40% cheaper and tastes way better in my opinion. Another plus was that it was surprisingly vegetarian and vegan friendly.
(5)
Michelle S.
Excellent food! Fun atmosphere! Fast service! These are all things you can expect from The Tamale Kitchen. The food is plentiful and the staff are a delight. If you're ever in this part of town, do yourself a favor and pull over. Their take out service is fast and delicious!
(5)
Christina D.
WHY haven't I reviewed this place? It's pretty much my favorite place in the world. I'll take a dozen tamales and some off the best gosh darn beans in the world over your cheeseburger or grilled stuffed burrito any day. We prefer the red (mild) tamales over the green, not just because of heat factor but because I think the flavor is better. The beans are delicious and my husband likes the chili and their chili rellenos. I tried their chips and salsa tonight and while I don't think the make the chios theirself, I think they are delicious. It is a dive and we pretty much ever stay there to eat but if you don't try this place your life will never be complete. Did I mention that the beans are delicious?
(5)
Audrey R.
Excellent food! From their breakfast burritos to their tamales. Fast, good food on the go. Great, spicy,flavorful green chili. A little tip for to go orders: call ahead so you don't have to wait in line very long.
(5)
Erika P.
since i was knee high to a bull frog, my families been getting take out from this wonderful establishment. the chili is hot. the beans are great. and the posole is my favorite. i dont know about the other locations,but this one has my heart. its relatively fast. not a great ambiance inside,but its not needed. they do a have a patio in the back but doesnt seem like it gets used. maybe something in the future they can look at expanding. I heart Tamale Kitchen!
(4)
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Address :5260 W Mississippi Ave
Lakewood, CO, 80226
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Nicole G.
First off, how can I be the first one to review the Tamale Kitchen? Wow! I've had the supremely excellent tamales from the other TK locations in town, but the other day I was in the neighborhood and wanted a burrito SO damn bad, so I stopped at the original TK. Don't let the ghetto location or the crappy taco stand/run-down Dairy Queen feel deter you from eating in this place! I was totally satisfied, and you will be too. I had a smothered pork burrito, and my boyfriend enjoyed the cheese enchilada dinner. YEAH! Even dine-in orders are served in styrofoam containers, but who cares. My burrito was a huge conglomeration of green chili, tortilla, and pure awesome shredded pork without a hint of gristle. The cheese enchiladas must have been pretty damn good too because my boyfriend basically inhaled them in 2 minutes. Next time I really want to get one of the "family dinner" packs, which consists of a bunch of tamales, green chili, tortillas, beans and rice. Sweet! The tamales are to die for, of course. I would normally take away a star for the fact that this place is totally barrio, but the food makes it impossible for me to detract any stars. Just don't bring a first date to TK - it's about food here, not ambiance. You know it's good when a bunch of Hispanic people are waiting around for their take-out orders.
(5)Michelle K.
I was told this place had awesome breakfast burritos, so I graciously accepted my coworker's offer to get me one ;) After stuffing my face for the next five minutes, I had to conclude: this is one darn tasty breakfast burrito! I ordered the sausage, egg, and potato one..it was very hefty and too large to eat in one sitting, but very tasty. I really enjoyed the chili sauce on the inside, although I would have welcomed more spice..all in all, this is a tasty, satisfying and very reasonably priced breakfast!
(4)D H.
I love this place. Great food, cheap prices. The line out the door is a pretty good indicator of their goods :)
(4)Kellie K.
the two star description above is perfect for this place. meh. i admit the only thing i have had here are the tamales. but they arent anything special in my opinion. i can get tamales as good as this or better, at about a dozen places up and down federal. especially with tamales moreno across the street. their tamales are just better, more meat, better masa....and no one in the parking lot. tamale kitchen parking lot is always full. go figure.
(2)Paul W.
Can't think of anything to make for that pot luck or gathering of friends in the park? Tamale Kitchen always comes to my rescue. I like to pick up a dozen red and a dozen green tamales and for around $14 bucks I'm out the door and ready to party! I've tried some of their other food which is good for the price, but for me this place is all about the tamales to-go, yum!
(4)nick f.
Best burrito joint in town. Cheap, consistant and always delicious! Beats chubbys and bubba chinos anyday
(5)Sara H.
We are regulars at this place. I love it. It is yummy home made Mexican food at Taco Bell prices. A smothered beef and bean burrito is under $3!!! . If we get tamales we always get the green ones. They are nice and spicy. I never eat in, the decor is alright except for the big fan by the bench when you are waiting for your food, that bugs me. Also at dinner time there can be quite a wait, but you can avoid this by calling your order in. Oh and don't forget they have yummy breakfast burritos there as well.
(4)Ashley B.
I don't know how you can beat a dozen tamales for $6-7. Hearty, cheap, and reliably pretty tasty. Not the best neighborhood but it's yummy.
(4)Jessica L.
Love the green chili love all burritos made special.
(4)kelsy m.
Really yummy! I love this place! Authentic Mexican food. Try the stuffed sopapilla. They have Pepsi!
(5)Prudence D.
Tamales and green chili are sub-par. Tamales Moreno is better and right across the street. Slap some Cherry Cricket green chili on Moreno's tamales and you'd have a fine meal.
(2)Rachel M.
Amazing Mexican food at unbeatable prices. If you are coming home from a late night out and need a quick snack, or an entire meal to combat an impending hangover, Tamale Kitchen is the place to go. I've been coming to this place with my family for over a decade, and we make stops here whenever we are in a hurry or need a breakfast burrito fix. New additions to their menu are usually advertised with colorful marker drawings (carne asada fries rendered in magic marker is a site to behold), but they have many items on the menu that are mainstays. I recommend: Chicken tacos Simple and tasty. No frills, just good food. Egg, potato and bacon burrito "Smothered" Delicious chili, and a comforting meal for any time of day. Tamales If you want to throw a party on a budget, this is a tasty option. Tips: If possible, know what you want before you go to place your order. Get a menu and stand in the back until you are ready to order. These guys are nonsense when it comes to ordering. Have a second location of where to eat your meal. While there are tables and chairs there, the atmosphere leaves much to be desired. Bonus: Open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays!
(5)Ellen K.
Whenever I want a smothered breakfast burrito, I head for Tamale Kitchen. My favorite is the egg/bacon/potato and I order it to the exclusivity of everything else. With a medium sized soft drink, it's less than $5. You can't beat it. The atmosphere in the restaurant is nonexistent, so I usually eat in my car or take the food home. Traditionally, there are lines out the door on New Year's Day, with everyone taking home their tamales. I'm not crazy about their tamales but they're cheap, and can be thrown in the freezer and heated up in a few minutes when you're hungry.
(4)T M.
A large menu of items to try at very good prices. The tamales were tasty and even the bean and cheese burritos for my kids were great. Went in and ordered to go. Service was fast.
(4)Toni L.
I came here with a co-worker today and was mightily impressed. Do not disregard their dessert menu. It exists and could not be more delicious. Food: I tried all three types of tamales ( yelp.com/biz_photos/wSzi… ) they have here ($1.00 each). The green "hot" tamale is exactly as described. That thing is jalapeno central. The red mild was pretty good, but the meat was sort of dry. As for the veggie, it was probably my favorite of the three. The corn meal hides chunks of corn kernels as well as other vegetables. I sampled some of the picadillo which was pretty good. Also, as I was standing in line, I watched the cooks fry up some breakfast burritos. The smell was pleasantly intoxicating. Oddly enough, I think this place shines in the dessert category. They carry flan as well as sopapillas, thin pieces of fried (yet still soft and moist) dough covered in sugar and served with honey ( yelp.com/biz_photos/wSzi… ). They look like empanadas and can be served with meat inside. I scarfed my four huge pieces down way too fast. It's not on their paper menu, but get it anyway! Atmosphere: The interior is what can be described as authentic Mexican, if that means anything... I loved the Maya-looking pictures on the wall. Nice touch. Service: The lines get long during lunch but die off rapidly. The food comes out fairly quickly. Synopsis: Get the sopapillas.
(5)Doug Y.
This used to be a regular stop on all our south west shopping or visiting friends runs. The tamales are good and I would have given them at least another star or two except for something scary that happened with a particular tamale we got there. I don't want to alarm everyone (like I haven't already, sorry) or run off their business but it wasn't so much what we found but what the boss did when we took it into him to show him. I cook often and pretty much know my ingredients. I would never put something in my mouth and taste it to show it was edible, shudder, gasp... No thanks, I don't want another dozen. Don't even want money back, I just wanted to let you know in case you wanted to do something about... never mind, just let me out of here. Look before eating? Dunno.
(2)Brandy M.
This place used to be really great but has gone down lately. Used to eat here at least once every two weeks.
(3)Angie S.
We used Tamale Kitchen to cater a party. They were awesome. I e-mailed the staff and they helped pick quantities to make sure I had enough food. The price was very reasonable,and when it came to delivery they were right on time, and the food was hot and ready to go. I would absolutely use them again for catering. We WERE considering using Qdoba to cater, but Tamale Kitchen was about 40% cheaper and tastes way better in my opinion. Another plus was that it was surprisingly vegetarian and vegan friendly.
(5)Michelle S.
Excellent food! Fun atmosphere! Fast service! These are all things you can expect from The Tamale Kitchen. The food is plentiful and the staff are a delight. If you're ever in this part of town, do yourself a favor and pull over. Their take out service is fast and delicious!
(5)Christina D.
WHY haven't I reviewed this place? It's pretty much my favorite place in the world. I'll take a dozen tamales and some off the best gosh darn beans in the world over your cheeseburger or grilled stuffed burrito any day. We prefer the red (mild) tamales over the green, not just because of heat factor but because I think the flavor is better. The beans are delicious and my husband likes the chili and their chili rellenos. I tried their chips and salsa tonight and while I don't think the make the chios theirself, I think they are delicious. It is a dive and we pretty much ever stay there to eat but if you don't try this place your life will never be complete. Did I mention that the beans are delicious?
(5)Audrey R.
Excellent food! From their breakfast burritos to their tamales. Fast, good food on the go. Great, spicy,flavorful green chili. A little tip for to go orders: call ahead so you don't have to wait in line very long.
(5)Erika P.
since i was knee high to a bull frog, my families been getting take out from this wonderful establishment. the chili is hot. the beans are great. and the posole is my favorite. i dont know about the other locations,but this one has my heart. its relatively fast. not a great ambiance inside,but its not needed. they do a have a patio in the back but doesnt seem like it gets used. maybe something in the future they can look at expanding. I heart Tamale Kitchen!
(4)