Leal’s Bakery

As my tamale order fell through, (coworker got sick), I found myself scrambling around town trying to find a place that sells tamales by the piece for a potluck.
I perused Unilocal and read good reviews on Leal’s bakery and their tamales. The place was easy to find, right across the street from the McDonalds on the East Side.
I walked in to a very interesting looking bakery/​store. The baked goods were in a glass case, not extremely big on both sides of the store. Things were randomly everywhere, no real rhyme or reason. Huge fans of the Giants, so I gave one more star.
The lady at the front was very pleasant and helpful, the fact that she was bilingual was comforting… my Spanish is good but not perfect… so 1 more star.
Each tamale was $ 1.25 and had the choice of cheese, pork and chicken. I needed 24 so I ordered 12 chicken, 6 cheese and 6 pork. Since I wasn’t familiar with the place, I decided to taste one of the chicken tamales when I got home.
Each kind was wrapped in like bunches in foil and was hot. I pulled out a chicken tamale unwrapped it and it fell apart. That really wasn’t my main concern because I’ve had tamales that were good even though it fell apart. Anyhow, I took a broken piece and felt that it was extremely wet and mushy… thought that was odd. Either it was way undercooked or masa was runny, hense the mushy tamale. I’m definitely not a chef of any sort but I know this ain’t right and this isn’t what in going to feed my cohorts at this potluck. Hated the fact that I’m wasting so much food so I put them the oven to at least get them cooked, then in the steamer but it was hard to get the mushiness out of my head so in the trash it went.
In any case, a waste of $ 32 will not recommend or come back again. Sorry.

I’m from San Francisco where there are panaderias galore. The tamales at Leal’s are fantastic, I tried both the pork & the cheese. Both were flavorful and the masa was moist & flavorful. I definitely will be back when I visit Salinas to pick up tamales & pan dulce..

Great authentic Mexican breads and food.

This is not a bakery in the American use of the word bakery. It is a store to buy all things tanale: maize to make tamales and tamales… lots of them.
I have been buying tamales at leal Bakery for more than 5 years. they make hundreds everyday and they are fabulous! I usually get the pork, but Ihave had the chicken and they are great too. The salsa they give you to go with them is very complimentary to the tamale. The service is wonderful; they speak both English and Spanish fluently. The price is incredible… about $ 12/​dozen. There is a small parking lot along the side for patrons too. It is easy to miss, so look for MacDonalds and Leal is across the street.
NOTE: If you want to get some tamales for your holiday party, call ahead and order them or you will be disappointed!