Tamale Hut Café
8300 W Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL, 60546
Tamale Hut Café Menu
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Visit below restaurant in North Riverside for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
8300 W Cermak Rd
North Riverside, IL, 60546 - Phone (708) 442-0948
- Website https://www.tamalehutcafe.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:30 am - 7:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
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.
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Mary P.
Tamales are made fresh every day and you can taste it. The choices range from chicken and pork, to veggies like mushroom and brocolli to dessert. I've tried each and every one and they are delicious. The tinga is my favorite. The corn on the cob (especially in the summer months) is so good. The restaurant is modern and airy and a great place to spend your lunch or hang out with your computer and just work or chill. Not only do you get great food, there is artwork in the restaurant and it features a new artist and is for sale. The Tamale Hut Cafe also hosts musicians, inspiring writers, painters, photographers and others once a month in the evening, Its a great way to meet new people, promote the arts and enjoy more incredible tamales. This place is great for everyone. Its definitely worth a trip, or two, or three.
(4)Jenny S.
Tamale Hut is by far one of my favorite local eateries. Prior to visiting here for the first time, my tamale experience was limited to the Tom Tom brand tamales available in the freezer section of the grocery store. Boy am I glad I made the switch! Now I can't get enough of this place's moist delicacies, and even when I eat in I still generally take a few to go so I can enjoy them throughout the week. I know some people have complained about the price, but I have no problem paying what amounts to a little more than your average fast food meal for a dinner that is delicious and satisfying. Kudos to the owner for also trying to bring culture to the southwest burbs! The artwork on display is always original and appealing, and Tamale Hut has also opened its doors to area writers eager to share their work with an attentive audience. Stop by on the second Tuesday of every month for poetry or fiction readings, and enjoy some great food while you're at it!
(5)J M.
one word, TINGA! its delicious from here, try it. my parents love this place and i love going to their house and finding tinga in the fridge.. it makes my day. i also enjoy the chicken tamales and the elotes. the owner is super nice...
(5)Rosa de C.
As the proprietor likes to emphasize, Tamale Hut isn't a taco place, they specialize in tamales. The menu is limited to a variety of tamales, frijoles rancheros, and drinks such as atole de guayaba and champurrado. Currently, they also have elotes, or Mexican-style corn on the cob. Their tamales are delicious (better filling-to-masa ratio than traditional tamales), so is their champurrado, and they have specials for breakfast (they open at 6:30), and lunch. They have coffee and tea available, Mexican and American pop in bottles and cans, and paletas (Mexican popsicles) for dessert. The dining area is spacious and comfortable, and the owners provide space for artists to display their work. The pendant lights above the counter are shaded by tall, narrow, blue Corralejo tequila bottles, very cute. They're located in a little strip mall, so parking's available.
(4)Emily C.
I love tamales, and Tamale Hut does a fantastic job. We stopped there today after a trip to the Brookfield Zoo, and I expect we'll be stopping there regularly!
(4)Nancy G.
I grew up in S. California and I am very impressed with the quality and taste of these tamales. They are light and delicate, most tamale places around here have too much corn in relation to the meat. They use a white corn and the meat inside is flavored very well. The chicken tamale had a wonderful taste of moist white chicken breast and green chili. The ratio to corn and meat was nice. My sister had the mushroom tamale and it was very good. Several varieties are available for all tastes. These are the best I have had so far in the area. They aren't huge and over stuffed like El Burrito. Tamales take two days to make and a lot of labor so I don't think the cost was too much, they are hand made and some fast food combo meals can add up to a lot of wasted money. I did not try the coffee but I will next time. They were about to close and they did have people still coming in. I will definitely return to order more, maybe even for a party.
(5)Grace G.
Hellooooooo!!! This place is ridiculous. We had to try it because that's the way we are, but this place is truly ridiculous. First of all, their tamales aren't all that. Less than 3 miles east on Cermak, you can find MANY Mexican taquerias that sell tamales that just beat this place to a bloody pulp. Second, this place is ALWAYS empty, which kind of gives you an idea how special a 'tamale' hut really is. Third of all, don't take it with you if you want any salsa with your tamales. They charge for salsa when you do take out. We couldn't believe it. They told us that if we ate it there, it was free, but they had to charge for take out. What a rip!!! I'm so inclined not to give any stars, this place is so ridiculous. We're giving it another 6 months before it is out of business. Oh, one more thing...any place that charges more than $1.50 for a tamale is really loco. Really, there is nothing special that justifies the price at all. Seriously, anyone who wants truly authentic Mexican tamales, take it to where all the Mexicans are...26th street. Now THEY know how to make tamales. Oh, and they sell them by the 1/2 dozen for $3 or a dozen for $5. AND they GIVE you salsa, whichever type you like FOR FREE. Seriously, you all know that I truly give alot of thought to my reviews, and this is the first review that just drives me batty because it is so ridiculous. Anyone giving them more than 1 star has GOT to be related because this place is seriously ridiculous. I wouldn't even recommend that anyone try it because I don't believe the trip, the food or the service is worth it. But, if you are curious to see where I'm coming from, go for it. And let me know what you think because I'm curious.
(1)Monica L.
The first time I tried THC's tamales was to test them for the '07 superbowl/Mexican fiesta I was planning. Needless to say, I ordered 60 of them and they were a hit! a favorite amongst my guests. The green banana leaf wrapped ones are a masterpiece! The second time I ordered from THC was over the weekend. Our caterer planned a tapas party to celebrate a special family birthday party. I called Jaime to inquire about making tiny "fancy" tamales to add to her menu and go with the theme of this cocktail party and not only was he open to the idea but he delivered them in person to the gold coast. Jaime... you did it again! If you count all my guests, you got my vote plus another 65 outstanding reviews. Thanks again!!! As far as the price goes? Would you ever complain about the prices you pay at Whole foods vs. Jewel? You get what you pay for!!!
(5)Richard B.
I couldn't disagree more with Grace G. Tamale Hut is a creative attempt to bring something interesting and unique to the Oak Park/Berwyn area. In an ocean of ho hum taquerias and burrito joints, this neat little restaurant is a much appreciated breath of fresh air. I think I know just a little bit about Mexican food, and I've never had better tamales anywhere. Yes, it's more expensive than the tamale cart at 26th and Homan but, how do they say --- you get what you pay for? No comparison. The pork is my personal favorite, and is absolutely wonderful. Tender and great flavor. The atmosphere is excellent. Instead of white walls and a handwritten menu board, there's color, art and expensive tile. It has a very hip and upscale feel to it. It feels like it belongs in Wicker Park or Bucktown. I especially love the tequila bottles which have been converted into lamps. Very creative! A great place to sit and work on the laptop, and have a tamale or three over a cup of coffee. The refreshing menu, interesting decor, and artwork collections which change regularly clearly underscore a commitment to stand out from the hundreds of safe and boring Mexican restaurants in the area. I wish more would have the guts to do the same. And NO, I'm not related to the owner --- just someone who values choice in cuisine. Nicely done. Five stars!
(5)William S.
The Tamale Hut Cafe, which is run by Jamie Flores, is a great place to eat and relax. The tamales are among the very best I have ever eaten. The prices are reasonable, the service is excellent, and the atmosphere makes you want to linger and enjoy the food and art. I work as a consultant at a large nearby business, and more than once we have requested The Tamale Hut Cafe to cater our business lunch functions, and to a person every person who ate these tamale dinners was very pleasantly surprised. For Mr. Flores, excellence in food and customer service are his passions. He even e-mails his customers about tamale specials and about special pre-orders for chicken mole tamales. Finally, every year at Christmas, I travel to central Europe to visit my in-laws and spend about 17 days there. When I told Mr. Flores I wanted to take some of his excellent tamales to central Europe on a direct flight, he kindly advised me about how to successfully pack, freeze, and ship them in our luggage. When we arrived, it was the first meal we had with our in-laws, and they too raved about the excellent quality of these Tamale Hut Cafe tamales, that I personally believe are Mexican Gourmet delights. And now the plan is to bring TWO dozen back to central Europe in 2008. So if you want to eat at a Tamale Shop where the food and atmosphere are great, and where they treat you like valued family, visit this gem of a restaurant in North Riverside. It has no equal in Chicagoland.
(5)Scott P.
Gotta agree with everyone except Grace G. and Monica A. I live in Berwyn and have had "cheaper by the dozen" tamales from grocery stores and had tamales at restaurants in Berwyn, Cicero and Little Village. Nothing I've had locally compares to Tamale Hut. Yes, they're more expensive, but they're worth it. The other tamales I've had run from lousy to okay, and generally contain a lot of corn meal and little else. And most other places don't have the variety of tamales that Tamale Hut offers. Sorry Grace, I'm giving them 5 stars, and I'm not related to the owner. I just know and like a good tamale, and I'm willing to pay for quality.
(5)Cee. D.
Bottom line, I wasn't impressed. Coworker treated me to lunch and we were the only patrons the entire time..............until we were leaving. - My chicken tamale was dry and wasn't hot -- My Mexican rice was meh --- The female restroom grossed me out; needed to be "thoroughly" sanitized :/
(2)Paul A.
Tamales year round? Why not. I generally make my own tamales at Christmas time and am very particular about how tamales taste in general. This place does pretty good by my standards. That I don't have to work all day to make them is a bonus! The unusual kinds of tamales are fun. I had a mushroom tamale and it was delicious. They had a Chicken Tinga on their menu as well and I really enjoyed that. It was different than the Tinga that I make, but I thought is was very tasty. The folks there were friendly, the art on the walls was interesting to look at. If there is a problem it is the location. It is a drag to get over to it if you are heading East on Cermak. Other than that, I've got no issues. If you want some good tamales and beans, this is the place.
(4)Katherine G.
The tinga is absolutely delicious!! A little expensive but it seems like quality food. Still have to try the tamales, but 5 stars for the tinga!
(5)Rocio P.
I love the fresh tamales. My favorite is Spinach. The albondiga soup has all the right flavors and plenty of meat. Will come again Rocio P
(4)William Q.
Good and fresh food with no pretensions. Great value and great service too. Back after 1 year and I can't be happier to stopped here again, Recommended!
(5)Joshua N.
Fun and quirky takeout (no one ever eats here) tamales in the drabbest part of North Riverside -- right where it is needed most. The guy running this place is funny and quirky, and at times almost a bit too much to handle. A little overly friendly, and a bit nutty. (Ask him about UFO's sometime.) But he clearly cares about his customers, and is quite excited about tamales. The service is fast and friendly, and the tamales are OK. The meat offerings (chicken and pork) are a bit dry, but the vegetable tamales are pretty good. Overall: good for the suburbs. Not a lot of tamale options in the area.
(3)Naureen R.
As a lover of tamales who doesn't eat lard, this place seemed like a God send! They very specifically say that they don't include lard in their masa, and even have VEGAN options available! Now being (a part-time) vegetarian, gaining access to authentic, vegetarian-friendly Mexican food is difficult enough, so I'm sure this place will make Vegans happy, too! We came here again after a couple years, where our first experience with THC unfortunately wasn't too great. Perhaps we had just gotten a bad order back then or maybe THC has stepped up their game, because our latest experience was pretty good! We got the cheese tamales, as well as the spinach tamales. We tried to order their mushroom ones and the pineapple-coconut ones, but they didn't have either of them (even though we were there pretty early in the day). We particularly loved the cheese tamales, the spinach ones weren't bad though. I knock one star off for two reasons: a) these tamales were much smaller compared to the ones often sold on carts and in other establishments in Mexican neighborhoods around the Chicagoland area, and b) I felt their tamales were slightly more expensive. small sizes + larger prices = no bueno
(4)Meshia D.
Overpriced and they don't give you enough food. He wants to charge extra for small items like cheese and mayo for the elotes.
(1)Jen R.
Came in.. Got three tamales.. Rice was ok, last tamale ws on at best and a mess. I was not looking for money back but you could not even give a replacement tamale?! Whatever I've had better... Never anyone in this place?! Odd
(3)Erika C.
Sunday Funday......zoo, starving; tamales around the corner. So at 4pm on a Sunday not much left in the tamale department. I can say without a doubt it was all about the Tinga. My god was that delish. I wanted to run back and get some more. The tamales were good but the Tinga was phenomenal! See for yourself. oh and you can B to the Y to the O to the B...... liquor store next door! Yeah
(4)Mel S.
The tamales here aren't bad. The owner/server/cook, Jaime (?) was very personable. He's the kind of guy who will remember you after meeting you just once. The restaurant itself was clean and relatively modern and we were told that the tamales are made fresh twice a day- impressive! They also have vegan and gluten free tamales. I had a cheese and pork tamale. They were both good, the cheese could have been filled a little more but I wasn't complaining. We were given a sauce/salsa that paired nicely with the tamales. Each tamale is $2.25 each, which seems a little pricey in my opinion (but that's probably because I'm used to buying tamales for $1.00 in San Jose, CA). What really won me over were the sides, specifically the elote side. It's a dish made of corn with a mayonnaise-like and spice topping. The corn is already sliced for you so you don't have to worry about it getting stuck in between your teeth. I also a side that I would consider nachos (the name escapes me right now). These nachos come with pulled pork and a drizzle of what looked like cheese- these were good too, maybe a little on the dryer side, but good. Overall, the food is good and the service is excellent. Definitely order the elote.
(3)Derrick L.
This is a small restaurant in North Riverside. I've come here many times. I have tried everything from the elote to the tamales. Everything has been great and the service provided can't be beat. I would recommend this place for anybody that is going to the Loyola hospital or in the area.
(5)Kristin M.
I stopped at this place randomly one day for carry out when I forgot my lunch for work. It was really good! I got a cheese tamale and a chicken tamale. The cheese one was really good but I thought the chicken one was kind of bland. A girl at work brought the sweet ones to work one day. They were amazing! I really liked the pineapple coconut one. Delicious! The staff there was really nice too.
(4)William B.
This is a really unique place that is easy to miss if you are just driving by. The food is great, the service is quick and friendly, and the decor is nice. Highly recommended.
(5)Victoria W.
Sheesh, Riverside-ians -- I'm jealous that not only do you have a dedicated empanada shop, you have a dedicated tamale shop! A tamale shop with lots of vegetarian options on the menu, which never happens at suburban Mexican places! Since we'd just eaten at the aforementioned empanadUS, we only had room for one tamale each. My mushroom tamale was filled with fresh portobello mushrooms. It was surprisingly spicy and so very delicious paired with the chilled green salsa they give you. For some reason, I don't see mushroom on the online menu, so it may be a special, but they definitely also have cheese, bean, spinach, broccoli, and special-order mole tamales. I loved that they displayed fine art on the walls -- wouldn't have expected that! The owner was friendly and happy to chat with us.
(5)Shayne S.
Great Tamales and very fast! Great place for a fast lunch. Nice atmosphere too. Owner was very gracious.
(5)Juan V.
Check this place out!!! The tamales are great!!! Besides the great food, you can stop by certain nights and enjoy art work from local artists, comedy shows and literature nights. I'm from downtown Chicago and drive to North Riverside to eat their tamales. Awesome place!!!!
(5)April P.
I can't believe it's taken me this long to write my review! I LOVE THE TAMALE HUT CAFE! I had been trying to get to this spot for years. I finally came with my boyfriend for lunch one day and it was everything I had ever dreamed it would be and MORE! Now usually when I see a review with the owner's name in it, I write it off to be fake, but Jaime, the owner is just that personable! Not only does he create incredibly delicious tamales, but he also uses his space for events to help make our community a more richly cultured place. I love it. He's got something going on there almost every week! From live music to open mic to art shows! I am extra grateful, being a visual artist in the area. There is no place like it and I am happy and proud to say I'll be the next artist on display starting Monday May 5th through July 5th! Thanks Jaime and The Tamale Hut Cafe! And did I mention the tamales are to die for?!
(5)Joe T.
Love this place. Nicest people and good quality food, especially for the price. Love the mushroom and spinach tamales.
(5)Kathy C.
Music on a Winter's Eve at The Tamale Hut Cafe' A review Cedes Buck thrilled with her blend of original, truly original songs from her heart and soul. With Jim Goelitz accompanying on guitar and local recording studio owner, Bill Kavanagh playing bass the trio thrilled the audience of 60 plus tamale aficionados at the North Riverside Tamale Hut Cafe. Cedes mixed in an eclectic selection of covers including "The Girl from Ipanema," and "Walk on By". The BYOB crowd enjoyed the music, tamales and each other's company equally. They swayed In their seats as Ms. Buck drifted from Blue Bayou to the The Pink Wackadoo. Lizette reveled with a couple dozen friends, the patroness of the offering. Jamie has provided another wonderful evening to the lucky near west Chicago suburbs' 70's " kids." The final song of the evening, "The Invite," was a call to awake to current socio cultural challenges. Cedes asked questions we all should be uncomfortable considering. The email invite to this evening was a gift equalled only by the tamales and music, and Jamie's gracious hospitality. Get out to west Cermak road and meet Jaime to add your address to the exclusive list for your own invite to any number of varied entertainments he is arranging solely for your pleasure. THOSE WERE THE DAYS! 5 Starz!
(5)Padme A.
These are probably the best tamales I've ever had. I was never a big fan until I had these. They are not to ddid out. Have a decent amount of fillings (could use a more) and are FRESH! They also had something called, Tinga. It's some kind of seasoned pulled chicken. Comes in a pile with fresh creme and chips. Love it! (a little cashie though for what you get) The restaurant is cool. They have a lot of local artist on the wall and special events from time to time. Not your typical tamale joint. The owner is super cool. Really nice guy. Always happy. He makes the experience even better. Id say the only things they could do better is a different location (hard to get in and out of and odd location to begin with) and better hours. They are not open late enough for a tamale joint at all.
(4)Jennifer T.
We had a tamale tasting at work today: Chicken, Spinach, Bean, Cheese, Pork, Crab, and also the sweet Pineapple. The winner - TINGA! Don't miss this delicious chicken over corn chips! It is SO very flavorful. Everyone had their favorite tamale, but everyone's favorite tasting was the Tinga.
(5)Elv A.
Delicious tamales! They were authentic mexican tamales. The chicken ones were delicious. Good service too.
(5)Thomas G.
Been by this place a number of times and didn't think to try it until I saw a good review from a fellow Yelper. I was pleasantly surprised- I guess I wouldn't expect to find a hidden gem of a restaurant in a strip mall, but that'll teach me. Went there for a late lunch/early dinner yesterday. Had the chicken tamale, pork tamale and the chicken Tinga (shredded chicken with chips), and really liked it all. The Tinga was seasoned just enough for a nice kick without being too much. I wanted to also try the crab tamale and the meatball soup, but they were out. That'll just give me a reason to go back to try them. The owner is nice and happy to talk about tamales and such. I'll be going back :-)
(4)Elissabeth F.
This place is delicious! I'm vegan and live in Cicero, I love the fact that they have vegan options!! I have tooken a few non vegan friends here and the all loved it!!
(5)Lucy R.
We stumbled across this place driving by and tried a variety of vegetarian tamales. Most were very good. Not as good as my favorite place in Tucson but still a nice change of routine. Lots of vegetarian options most not too spicy.
(4)Michael B.
Very likely the only place in Chicagoland where you can get vegan or vegetarian tamales. Hymie and Joe do a great job and make it a personable place. to visit. they are BYOB, but there is a liquor store two doors down. there is some art on the walls and comedy night on some Fridays. the food is very high quality and very tasty!
(5)Adriana B.
I really enjoy all the different types of tamales here. The downfall is it's a bit pricey. Tamales are rather small so I usually eat 4-5. Then they charge extra for salsa to go?? And they also charge .60 for the smallest dab of sour cream you've ever seen. If you are going to charge .60 then it should be at least 1 oz. The container they give you is Barely enough for 1 tamale. The chicken tinga is delicious. But it only comes with chips. I think they should include sour cream and maybe some rice or something. Also, there are no meal deals.The food is delicious but I don't understand where the prices come from. I think if they had meal deals and didn't nickel and dime their customers, the place would be packed instead of always empty. The guy is always beyond friendly. It's a good place to treat yourself once in awhile but there are much better places to get the same stuff for a reasonable price.
(4)Joe H.
Was introduced to the tamale hut by a friend and it has quickly became one of my favorite places. The tinga is to die for and the bean tamales are so delicious.
(5)Livvy O.
This is a place I've been searching for, for years! A tamale place where you don't have to go to a guy in the back alley!! They also have elotes! I tried their pork and pork tamale. Hands down, the pork tamale was good. They also have a cheese, bean, corn, crab etc. I guess it's pretty new so they have a $5 minimum on credit cards. They prefer cash. I went during lunch so I ordered to go but it looks like a nice place to sit down. The only con about this place is it's at an intersection that is hard to get in and out of depending on which way you're coming from. If you are going east on Cermak, it is hard to get in but easy if you are going west and hard to get out of if you are heading back east if that makes any sense.
(4)Paul Z.
Good tamales' in an area where it's hard to find good tamale's , they have many different types of tamales that you can't get anywhere else like crab and broccoli tamales but personally I only like Pork or Chicken, so those do not appeal to me. The big throw back here is after tax they are $2.50 a tamale and they are not all that big. I usually go to place in the city that sells them for $10 a dozen.
(3)Brandon M.
I was in Maywood for the afternoon and after words I was thinking of taking the train to the city for lunch and a drink. Well darn it, as luck would have it I missed the train by 20 minutes, but wait out comes the trusty yelp app to the rescue. I looked at near by restaurants and this one ranked pretty high and it was only 1/2 a mile a away, I am not very happy with its corner location being in a busy intersection makes it very difficult to get to. My patience was rewarded though once I walked in I was treated with a clean restaurant and very nice server behind the counter. I ordered a tinga and two tamales one chicken, one mushroom, first I attacked the chicken tamale.... Ehh it was good nothing special, next I tackled the mushroom tamale and I was hooked, it was awesome I could not set it down I just went after it! The side chicken tinga was amazing as well The food comes out served in a straw type of basket with food handling paper inserted it's almost like a bowl which is awesome so you can scrap up any extra tamale goodness that you might of dropped.
(5)Deena H.
10 dollars with tax got me a cup of Spanish rice vegetarian, bottled water, and two tamales. They were jalapeño with cheese and spinach corn tamales. Gluten free, pork product free, and pretty delicious. The menu has vegan options as well but I didn't try them. They have soup but vegans beware it has pork. This was my first time here and I liked it. The verde sauce was decent too. The credit card machine requires minimum $5 and they have a sign that says they prefer cash. When I mentioned to someone working there they had good reviews on yelp he sort of got overly dramatic about how yelp is fake and how he knows because he talks with other restaurant owners and how they tell him they have their friends write reviews and so this guy told me he doesn't bother with yelp. I did my best to defend yelp and how it is pretty much on the nose for most places but he wasn't interested in hearing it. His credit card machine read error for one of my cards so naturally he asked if it was my card. I gave him another card and another error and he asked me again if it was my cards lol. I'm baffled at this point but anyways he took my card and made a copy the old fashion way. I think I would have given this place a four star review had it not been for all the drama. The food was almost 4 stars. I love yelp and I won't allow him to sour it for me. I yelp!
(3)Susie C.
We ordered 18 tamales from this place on a Friday night shortly before they closed. We ordered a dozen of chicken tamales and half dozen pork tamales. Since it was quite a wait (they close at 7pm, so they prefer you have takeouts when you arrive 640pm and after) they gave us an extra salsa for free. When we got home to eat them, they were tasty. My husband and I like the pork tamales more than the chicken ones. Although his co worker makes it better. It was hard to compare to her homemade recipe. Anyway this is a good place to order lots of tamales. They said they make theirs fresh everyday.
(4)b k.
Stopped by for the first time today and left happily fed. We tried a half-dozen different vegetarian and vegan tamales. The mushroom ones were the spiciest and very flavorful. The baby spinach were moist and well seasoned too. The tamales were a little smaller than I'm used to but they were all worth returning to have again. The only one I'd skip would be the broccoli which just doesn't seem to go well with the texture of a tamale. Overall a good meal and very friendly service.
(4)Margie M.
The tamale with chicken and green salsa was just ok. I had way better tamales in the Neborhood of Cicero! Also too much for one tamale! The tinga was good but also too much money for it! You can get home made tinga at cermack and Cicero fruit market on weekends for a lot less! I do not think I will return!!
(2)Ali Z.
El Milagro has always been my go-to place for tamales but Tamale Hut Cafe gives them a serious run for their money. As others have pointed out, these are not traditional tamales. With ingredients like broccoli and crab though, they obviously aren't trying to be traditional. These are more of a refined, gourmet tamale. The white corn masa is moist and the fillings are made with good quality ingredients. Both the spinach and mushroom tamales I had were very tasty and fresh. The blueberry/strawberry sweet tamale though was kinda dried out and somewhat bland. You can find cheaper tamales elsewhere but those often contain more corn than filling and aren't as good as Tamale Hut's. Definitely worth it for the quality you get here.
(4)mei s.
This place must be just a lunch joint because it closes at 7 p.m. every evening. And the place is empty too at 6 p.m. For a family of 8, 2 adults and 2 little kids, we figured 8 would be sufficient. But, greedy as we usually are, we ordered 14. 8 savory and 4 sweet. And we ate them ALL!! Of course, not so smart later, as they kind of expand fivefold in your belly. But, they are good. I'll rank them in order of best to just ok: mushroom--very very tasty crab both sweet ones-coconut/pineapple and strawberry/blueberry pork spinach chicken - kind of dry Did not have a chance to get the chicken tinga. I didn't even know about it. I should have read the reviews prior. Oh well. I guess I'll have to go back.
(3)Osiris V.
Ok, so I may have judged a little too fast. When I walked into this place it was dead. I walked in at 6:15, they closed at 7 that day. Only the girl at the cashier was all that was left in there. I decided that we shouldn't stay for dinner, thinking that because no one was in there it would be bad. So we ordered some tinga and tamales to go. When I got home, the tinga wasn't all that but the tamales were very good! It was kind of disappointing that they ran out of crab tamales because I really wanted to try them. I got queso, pork and chicken tamales. I will make a trip back out to try the tamales when they're fresh.
(3)Katie S.
We stopped in here before our visit to the zoo and it was dead. It also was 10 am and I can only assume not many people are looking for tamales that early. The guy working, Joe I believe was his name, was a friend of the owners and extremely nice. He gave us the background of the business, let us know the specials and explained the different tamales. The tamales were delicious. They have traditional and non-traditional tamales (such as spinach or portobello mushroom tamales). The non-traditional are good but the traditional tamales were the best. Joe even gave us a sample of the tinga chicken, and it was to die for! They sample artwork of different artists on the wall each month, which I loved, and he said they also do some type of open mic nights. While this place may not be your traditional tamale, Mexican food type place, it's absolutely delicious and the atmosphere was super laid back. We'll be back for sure.
(5)Sara P.
Hat was a great evening. My friend Chris invited us fir reading. He was a featured reader. Ut was our first time in Tamale Hut Cafe. This place us awesome the tamales were great fresh, soft, and tasty. The artwork on the walls make that place a real art spot in the neighborhood. We will come back next month. The tamales were five times better than tamales in our favorite Chicago place.
(5)Jacki A.
After driving by this place for about 5 years, I FINALLY came in. The man working (owner?) was very nice and welcoming. The tamales were very good as well. I will definitely be coming back in!
(5)Kate E.
Really great place to stop in and grab a quick bite. I see people reviewing that it's dead, but the owner said that his lunch rush was already over by noon. Got the combo deal - 2 tamales, 1 side and 1 drink for about $7. Also noting that we were a party of 2 vegetarians and left very full. Recommend eating in so you can see all the amazing art work from local artists on the walls that the owner swaps out after they sell.
(5)Vanessa M.
Awesome tamales! :-) the tamales have great taste and there always fresh. The service they give is great. Very friendly and welcoming. Also their artwork is very nice.
(5)Alicia K.
Tamale Hut is pretty much just that -- Tamales, and LOTS of them! I've tried a few and they were all solid. I'm from So Cal so I know what I'm talking about when I say these have more filling than standard, $5/dozen tamales, so while expensive, you're paying for a higher quality tamale. I'm not a huge tamale fan to begin with, but what keeps me coming here is the CHICKEN TINGA. LOVE IT. Excellent flavor, just enough kick to not be too spicy, and good sized portion (half order is enough for me). Inside is very clean, modern, and the owner displays a local photographer's work on the wall -- very cool. He is also a super sweet guy and honestly, every time I am there, whoever is working is just so nice. Why 3 stars? Because tamales aren't really my thing and I'm a broke medical student. Otherwise, it's good, and for the area, there's not a whole lot else that is even close in quality! It's crazy to me that it's always empty in there... so go support them if you want a solid lunch, but be prepared to drop about $2/tamale or $6-10 for the tinga.
(3)MARIA O.
Can you say Tamales with a Twist?? Alright, so I agree with Grace....sort of. I grew up in Little Village and I can testify that you will find better tasting tamales at a cheaper price on 26th St. But can I just say that you will NEVER find spinach tamales on 26th St? I have concluded that this is why you're paying more than $2 per tamale. They're like "specialty tamales" LOL. The spinach tamale is what stood out for me and the tinga is also really good. A 1/2 order of the tinga is more than enough for 2 people. I'd like to give props to the owners for being courageous enough to gamble with a place like this. He was telling me that they've been open for about 4 yrs now. That's pretty good considering the gamble, and the economy. Although it seems like they don't get swarms of customers, probably ever, they had an interesting idea. I will probably go back for the tinga or the spinach tamales. No rush.
(3)William B.
Eh, ok. I couldn't say whether these tamales would be considered authentic or not, but I will say I've had better. Came out of the steamer holding tray fairly soggy. The masa was pretty bland. I tried a chicken & a pork. The pork had a little more flavor, but not much. The side that came with the combo, (the owner recommended the tinga (?)- kind of a shredded chicken on tortilla chips) was very good. Being the only diner at the noon hour was a little suprising, given the good reviews for this place.
(3)Mary T.
We're going here????????? This ran through my head as I followed my parent's car into the strip mall parking lot. My mom was itching to try it after one of her girlfriends raved about it. We were fortunate it was empty when we arrived because we weren't quite sure what to do. Jaime, the owner, was patient and friendly, he helped steer us in the right direction. Jaime told us there was a "buy 2, get 1 free" tamale sale going on so here's what we got for $18: 2 spinach tamales 1 crab tamale 1 chicken tamale 1/2 order of tinga 2 egg/chorizo tacos drinks The tamales were fantastic. I rarely eat them since most aren't veggie friendly, but they had several options for vegetarians or pescatarians - crab, cheese, mushroom, broccoli or bean tamales. I had a spinach and a crab, both were quite tasty. I would've like to have tried cheese, but there weren't any ready when we got there. My parent's enjoyed theirs so much they decided to take a dozen home. As Jaime bagged the order he explained how long they're good in the fridge and the proper way to reheat them. My dad was jazzed that he was able to get breakfast tacos even though we came after breakfast ended. I assume they were good, he cleaned his plate and I didn't hear any complaints. My parents also split a 1/2 order of tinga, which they said was excellent. I'm glad Jaime told them it would feed 1-2 people because it was huge. Tinga is shredded chicken breast sauteed with chipotle sauce, onion, tomato, and pepper, served over tortilla chips, and topped with sour cream. We had never even heard of the dish before visiting the place. Be forewarned the menu is almost exclusively tamales and tinga. They have several varieties of tamales including 2 different sweet ones. Bottom line: The place is really cute, they even have live music on occasion. The location isn't optimal, but I think the tamales are worth coming back for.
(4)Julie O.
I think this place is great! The food is super fresh and great quality! The lunch specials are so filling and you get a great variety of foods to try. I think I dreamt of chicken tinga for a week after my visit to the tamale hut cafe! Staff is friendly. Also great - paletas year round! Real Coca-cola from Mexico!
(5)L M.
I had a Living Social deal for the five meal punch card. I went in one day last month and the super friendly guy behind the counter told me I could get more then one meal at a time. I chose not to do that and had just one meal. It was ok. I went back recently to use up the rest of the punch card and the owner was giving me a hard time about using up my deal. Even though it stated on the Living Social website that you could. I ordered 3 cheese tamales and 1 mushroom tamale. I wanted corn as my sides but of course he was out of corn at 2:00 (they close at 7:00) and offered me tinga. I told him no since I do not eat meat. I get home and my 3 cheese tamales were actually meat. I actually believe he did this on purpose. The place was dead and I find it hard to believe he just made a "mistake!" I can get better tamales from the freezer section at Trader Joe's.
(2)jenise r.
So in Berwyn Elote carts are NOT ALLOWED to roam the town and feed us Elote cart goodness. So that being said no tamales. I ended up buying their Groupon (yeah i know) because i LOVED the place before. They have such a variety of tamales, from mushroom, to spinach and of course the regular pork etc. Try it out.
(4)Nick H.
The chicken tinga which was the first thing I got after reading reviews was juicy and spicy. Only problem I had though was that it wasn't filling. You'll get a half-styrofoam container full of the stewed chicken + spices with some chips on the side for about $6. Tamales run at around $2 per, and there's a few options of sides like the corn done mexican style with chili, mayo, and cheese. Worth it? Kind of- the price is a bit on the high side for the portions you get for a fast-food joint but for anyone craving a tamale- worth checking out.
(4)Tay H.
tinga...Tinga..TINGA!! Love the tamales, but would marry the tinga. I love this place and have introduced many people to it - all who are now major fans (my 12 year old brother begs to go there). My mom, who said she didn't like tamales, found out she actually loves them...but only when they are well-made like at Tamale Hut. Plus the owner is super nice and helpful whenever I've stopped in and when I needed help catering a meeting.
(5)Victoria h.
On a whim, husband and I decided to stop by for lunch. What a great choice! Jose (the owner) has different types of tamales (chicken, spinach, crab, pork, beef, etc.). You can tamales by dozen or 1/2 dozen, just call first. The tamales are fresh and moist. The corn is flavorful and can be served on the cob or off the cob. The chicken tinga was moist and came with sour cream and cheese on top, served over a bed of chips. The food is filling, prices are reasonable, and we'll definitely be back!
(4)Scott M.
Great atmosphere. The owner is always friendly..and the Tamale's are great! The Tinga is the best!
(5)Corbin B.
Best Tamales in the city! I'm so glad I found this gem...fresh, quality ingredients, and wide variety of options. I usually order a few pork, chicken, or crab tamales with a half order of the chicken tinga w/ chips, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu...it's all delicious! The restaurant is clean and welcoming and the staff is friendly. What more can you ask for...they also put on a wonderful reading series which is a blast to attend.
(5)C J.
The food is good, but the owner is a pain. He loves to skimp on the salsa. I think that you should get one container (they are small) of salsa per tamale. He doesn't see it this way. Sometimes, he'll charge you for extra salsa. Other times, he'll give to you, but is clearly annoyed by the request. The tamales are small and cost more than $2, so adequate salsa is the least he can do.
(2)Jennifer Y.
Love it!! Best tamales I've ever had So fresh! And the nicest man is always there! Broccoli is my favorite and make sure you try the tinga!! :)
(5)Joe D.
I can't get enough of this place. My daughters are vegetarians and Tamale Hut Cafe has an extensive vegetarian menu - Crab tamales, Cheese tamales, Mushroom tamales, Spinach tamales, Broccoli tamales, Bean tamales and 2 types of Sweet tamales, (strawberry/blueberry then pineapple/coconut). I talked to the owner and he can also do a Vegan variety if the person calls at least a day or two in advance and orders at least six of the type wanted. Everything is so good! I highly recommend.
(5)Tiniko S.
Food is ok, I may be back. My 5 year old is a picky eater, but instantly took a liking to their chicken tamales. I mean she smashed!!! I pass this place all the time and had never been until I purchased a groupon...
(3)Patty S.
If you want a unique and delicious experience, take a break at Tamale Hut Cafe. You will enjoy a very LARGE tamale served with smiles from the staff.
(4)Rene T.
It's nice to find a restaurant that specializes in tamales, it has unique options on the tamales and sides. The tamales are pricey but any tamale lover should try it!
(4)Joanne G.
Great variety. Fresh ingredients. Polite service. Definitely try the sweet tamales and the roasted corn. Not sure why it's ALWAYS empty, but as long as they stay open, that's all that matters to me.
(5)Johnathon O.
good quality, low cost food. tamales are amazing!
(5)AllAround C.
I love their tamales! The owner is very nice, but the price! I guess you get what you pay for. The variety of tamales provide an option for everyone, but the price. Did I mention the price? Sorry, but I lived in Humboldt Park for a while and I know tamales should not cost that much. I will return, but the location is less than ideal.
(4)Justin G.
If you cannot tell what they primarily sell at this establishment, then you are not very bright. If you don't like tamales, maybe you don't want to come here, but they do sell a couple other things you may enjoy. Overall, I think they have a good variety of tamales that are tasty. They knock the price down a little bit for orders of half dozen and dozen tamales.
(4)Joe H.
I work right by this place and have eaten here for lunch a few times as well as ordered take out a few times. There have been times when all of my coworkers have gotten take out as well and we have all always liked it. The prices are good and they have a wide variety of flavors. I would suggest the lunch combo since it's what I usually get. I always get two tamales and the Tinga.. The tamales are good but the Tinga is awesome. Good assortment of sodas and service is always fast and friendly.
(4)Michelle B.
There's no confusion in the name of this place -- they have a ton of different tamales to choose from. I agree with the other reviewer. I'm not sure why this place is always empty because the food is great! I've tried the chicken, pork, and spinach tamales and LOOOOVED them. My husband had the crab and chicken and agreed. They are extremely flavorful and fresh. Also the chicken tinga and corn on the cobb is great. I'm hungry just thinking about it. The service is fast and you can dine in or take it home. The price is reasonalbe also. We got 2 tamales each and shared a chicken tinga and were stuffed. We'll definitely be back. Hopefully people go here, I'd hate to see it close down.
(4)Rocky's Mommy C.
My husband and I decided to finally go eat at the Tamale Hut. Overall I can say the food is good, I am a Mexican American whose mother can cook some pretty good homemade tamales;- So I am going to be a bit more critical. The only problem we had was the wait, since there was only 1 young lady taking care of the place and she had quite a bit of customers to tend to. I still think they should wear GLOVES when handling the corn on the husk or served in a container. - Since being on her own, she handles quite a bit of money......and you just never know where money has been.
(3)logan j.
The only problem with this place is that the only food item they offer are tamales. Sure I guess you can have a cup of soup as well but its hard to bring friends with you if they don't like tamales. The tamales are fantastic though! Great home cooked flavor and a lot of different choices. A+ for quality
(5)Kevin Q.
Good selection of tamales. Will be back soon
(3)Alex B.
Wow- why all strikes and gutters on this place? I just had to check it out for myself, so I shared about a dozen tamales with a coworker. I had chicken (solid), cheese (excellent), bean (blah) and spinach (darn good. She also had the coconut (which she said was awesome). So what's the problem? For six tamales, which was a sufficient quantity for lunch, and tax, my tab came $13.80!!!! I mean WTF? Where I live tamales are six for five bucks, but more than two dollars each? Are you serious? Although they do offer bulk discounts, that only knocks about 20 cents off each tamale. In sum, better than average tamales for sure, but you better be willing to pay for it. If you are going to pay for it, I'd love to try the more adventurous tamales (if I had to do it all over again!!) including coconut and mole (apparently only available by special request and at the beginning of the month).
(3)Cody Y.
Terrific tamales here. As a native Texan, it can be hard to find good ones in the Chicago area. They have: Pork, Chicken, Cheese, Spinach, Broccoli, Crab, Mushroom, Sweet (Dulce) and Bean tamales at roughly just over $2 a piece or by the 1/2 dozen or dozen for a little less. I love that they open early enough (7:30) to get them for breakfast at a Buy 2 tamales get one free special. You can also get chorizo with egg in the morning. While I didn't get to sample it, they do have Albondigas which is a Mexican meatball soup that is really hard to find in the Chicagoland. The owner also let me sample the Chicken Tinga. It was really quite good. They have a nice variety of Mexican beverages and popsicles. Overall a very good experience and I'll be back for more.
(4)Emily E.
Quick and easy and very tasty. Nice local business, terrific food. I'm a vegetarian and had a terrific lunch. Broccoli tamales were a nice enough surprise to see on the menu and man, were they good. Owner was also super nice. He gave my boyfriend some of the chicken tinga to try with his tamales and it looked (and was reported as) delicious as well.
(4)Larry K.
Super friendly place. I've eaten here about 6 times in the last few weeks (I won't review the Loyola University Hospital cafeteria I've been avoiding ;-), and have been figuring out my favorites on the menu. I like the cheese tamale the most - I think it has pasilla pepper in it, great with the green sauce. The sweet corn, and chicken and pork tamales are also great, but then I've tried them all and have liked each one. The chili is a treat also. The corn on the side is overcooked, I'd skip that, and the flan is ok but just store bought. A couple tamales, side of chili, and a jarritos on the lunch special makes a very reasonable and filling lunch (and it's gluten-free as well!!!)
(4)Kimberly W.
We had tamales and Mexican corn for carry-out. The corn... holy COW was it good! It's got mayo and spices on it. The tamales are fresh and flavorful, and there are lots to try. I really enjoyed the mushroom.
(4)Cynthia G.
Close to my house and work. Nice atmosphere and free Wi-Fi. To those that say you can get better on 26th street, that's nice but that would be a special trip not a quick, tasty and inexpensive option. Yes they're $2 a tamale, but they said 2 to fill and I agree. My bf and I got a half-dozen to split (they get cheaper the more you order), and I absolutely could not finish the 3rd one.
(4)Chee K.
Yummy Tamales!!! Not your average "tamale from a cooler" tamales. If you want that, hang out at a bar and you can get them. These are more refined and better made than most tamales out there. If you want to try something made with love, these are it. My favorite are the pork and cheese tamales, just thinking about them makes me hungry. The only complaint I have is that there aren't more places like this in my neighborhood. Instead we have "Trash Tacos" and Picante, not a good choice for a tamale lover. If you're complaining about the price, than you should just stick to Taco Bell. These tamales are a step above.
(5)Vito R.
Growing up in Los Angeles, CA and being accustomed to eating authentic Mexican cuisine, including home made tamales for breakfast at least twice a week, I thought I would never find great tasting authentic tamales made from scratch here in the Chicagoland area until I found THC. These are the real deal made fresh from scratch daily. I believe the family's uncle Tony, 84 years old, has been making them for over 40 years using his family recipe. My favorites are the pork and chicken, but the other selections are terrific as well. If you think the tamales are out of this world just wait until you try the "Tinga"! But if you prefer to eat the tamales from Jay's Beef or other hotdog and Italian Beef establishments you are truly missing out.
(5)Carol N.
What a wonderful surprise! On a bikeride along the Salt Creek Trail, I saw their sign and stopped in. Boy am I glad I did. Best tamales--in all sorts of varieties--this side of the Rio Grande! If you've never been wild about tamales, you need to try these. Fresh, flavorful and served with a mild green chili salsa. They are inexpensive and delightful. I can't wait to try all their other flavors, and the chicken tinga!! I'm in love!
(5)