Manolo’s Tamales

This place is great… I had a chicken gordita… it was soft, firm, fresh, with great fresh old school topping… PLEASE VISIT!!! Great fresh food!!!

we have bought these tamales for over 4yrs now, we buy them almost once a week on Fri or Sat mornings, and lately the last 6months roughly, they have really been horrible. I just purchased 1dozen this morning, and literally, all tamales only have 1 piece of meat! I even have a picture I wish I can post. I just called to complain and ask If I can return them and get my money back and they said no because I need my receipt. If I would have known this was going to happen I sure would have saved it! Plus I asked if they can check their debit/​credit machine since I paid with my debit card and I can show them proof of purchase and they did not accept that.
I also bought half dozen 1 week and a half ago and the tamales were not done yet. when you opened them, all the tamale fell apart because they were all mushy!!!
This place was the best and their tamales were always delicious, I don’t know whats going on with them now. unfortunately, they have lost one client here!

this place is just ok. the only time ull get juicy, moist tamales is when they first open in the morning and coming right out the pot. other than that, dont count on it. very slow service, tamales arent that flavorful, too much masa, not enough meat, savw ur money and go to pilsen.

quesadilla is good! except for the pieces of plastic in lettuce!:/i thought it was a mistake went bck twice again and no there is plastic in lettuce.

This place is just ok. After reading all these raving reviews, my expectations where a bit higher. Prices for tamales are standard to other places. Like other reviews, I wish the tamales were spicer. I ordered the cheese and the chicken. I felt that the tamales needed more filling. There was barely any cheese in the tamale, mainly consisting of masa. The tamales were a bit bland and didn’t have too much flavor. Will try another place in the future when searching for tamales.

TO GO REVIEW
Whenever we celebrate a birthday in the office, a coworker brings these in. 12 tamales for $ 10, not bad right?! We typically get the chicken and the pork (don’t let the red color fool you). The chicken ones have the perfect amount of spice to them. They’re a decent size too! I hear the lines get crazy long even at 7am, so go early!

My favorite spot to get tamales in the south side. Personal preference is that they’d be a little spicier. They have an extensive menu as I didn’t expect it for a place that specializes in tamales. Prices are within reason and cheaper then most stands.

Haven’t been in a year and a half. Prices went up 15 cents to a whole dollar each for a tamale. I would have grabbed a dozen or two if I were on the way home!

Very friendly customer service, no language issues, and the food is average and prices are fair. Even if you’re not from around here, you can feel at home here.

This tamales are the bomb, not to mention the oaxaqueños. A great five place avoid tge weekends lines are huge. But the wait its well worth it.

Incredible Tortas made with fresh homemade bread. Order the meat torta amazing. Includes fresh home made sauces. Workers in great mood!

love the tamales freshly made daily very early in the morning!

Quite frankly you just need to stop here, this is what your taste buds dream of. Almost as wonderful as mom used to make, and watching the ladies in back brings back memories, they obviously have a huge following, who knew they made pots that big, wow. I had the red and green tamales, the red sauce is delicious with just the right amount of spice. The green sauce is spicier but you sacrifice a little taste with it but still delicious!, sitting is a challenge as the place is a little disorganized but not a bad thing, adds to the ambience. More of a lunch place but oh so worth it.
Later…

Went there twice and will never go back! Their tamales are very dry and they have terrible service.1^st time, they are very rude and try to rush me to decide what I wanted. I asked them a couple of questions and they replied with an attitude. I thought maybe they were having a hard day and let it pass. 2^nd time, same thing happened. I got there right before they close (9) and then a lady was trying to tell them from outside the door she wanted to buy some tamales, and they refused to opened the door. I look at my watch and it’s 9:02. I also think it wasn’t right for them to talk about the lady in from of the customers that were still inside. I guess they just sell a lot during the day that they don’t care if customers don’t come back. People around the neighborhood know them for being rude!

Great tamales! My personal favorite is the chicken in salsa verde. Prices are fair, and I look forward to buy in bulk for an upcoming party. If you’re on the fence about going, GO. Tamales is what they advertise and that’s what they deliver.

They used to be good.
I used to come here all the time when I wanted tamales. At first they were really good but now their memory is all that is left.
Their tamales are huge but it is mostly masa and no filling. And not even the masa is good. It is so spongy and underseasoned.
Gotta give it to them, the arroz con leche is still good as well as their guayaba atole.
but when it comes to tamales, I drive a little bit more to the next tamaleria.
Manolo what happened to your tamales???

Every year I order tamales from this location and usually I’m very happy. This year was a mess! I ordered both meat and non meat tamales (for my vegetarian guests.)
Well as it turns out I was given someone else’s order that did not contain any non meat tamales, therefore I had nothing to serve my vegetarian guests. Not to mention I ordered more tamales than the order that I received. Since they are all mixed up on a aluminum tray you can’t tell what is what beforehand. I couldn’t do anything about it since it was late on Christmas Eve.
I tried calling immediately after the holiday and was told by a woman named Olga (who left me on hold for over 10 min) that I would have to talk to the owners, whom where not present. I called for 2 weeks about every other day and they were never available. I left my number with the same woman, Olga several times and have yet to receive a call back. I finally gave up! The tamales have changed this year not sure if they were less of quality due to the massive orders and the customer service is horrible therefore will not ever be ordering tamales from here again nor will my friends or family.

Please come here if you want to be ashamed of something.
I remember this place when it first opened up. I really like supporting local businesses and prefer giving them my money rather than going to any chain. I’ve always thought the food here was pretty good and was glad to have another taqueria that’s even closer to my house.
Until:
I walked in, asked for a torta and was told they ran out of the torta bread.
Came again, asked for tacos de asada and was told they had no more meat.
Visited again and was told they ran out of the burrito tortillas.
Saw the lady cook eating her lunch all sloppily at the counter and then proceeded to walk into the back to start cooking without washing her hands.
I’ve frequented other businesses MUCH busier than this place and *they* NEVER run out of ingredients. I will admit that the food is pretty tasty, the salsa is better than a lot of places, BUT they truly have no excuse for much of the sloppiness and inadequacy plaguing this taqueria.
UPDATE: came back for redemption visit (or because I’m a masochist). It was so nice and refreshing to see that things don’t change. The cook in the back had (and I’m not exaggerating) a volleyball size chunk of round frozen meat that she was trying to defrost and cook at the same time as she was picking it apart with a spatula. No hair net, no apron, no gloves, and a pair of lovely flip flops.

I live in Evanston and I would not go anywhere else for tamales. I was just there this past weekend and got a dozen Oaxaqueno tamales. I have tried all their tamales, but those are my favorites. They open up very early, so I was there to get tamales by 8:00 AM on a Sunday and thought I may as well get some breakfast too. I ordered the Steak Quesadilla and it was incredibly good. For $ 4 you get a Quesadilla made in a buritto sized tortilla and a very generous portion of grilled steak piled inside. It also comes with a side of sour cream, a side of Guacamole, and lettuce and tomato. I will agree that there is just a bit of a wait for the food, but just have a seat and watch the Mexican Music Videos on the television above the counter. The food is well worth waiting a few minutes. Just writing about it makes me want to make another stop there this weekend.

Love all the food here, especially the tortas and their special sauce. Highly recommen.