I'm a fan of Tamales any way I can get them but there are levels to this game. Keeping a moist but firm shell is key. Perfectly balancing the amount of filling. Packing it full of flavor of course and offering a nice variety of options. Salsa Verde Chicken was my favorite but none of the 4 we sampled let us down. I'll be baaaaaaaaaahhhhhck. read more

Went in today for a meal. Latin lady taking my order was unbelievably unfriendly. She didn't even say, "hello", or, "Hi". Didn't even thank us for coming in. In addition - I ordered 6 frozen tamales to go and what I received was a bag with 3 frozen tamales and 3 fresh tamales, which were placed at the bottom of the bag - squished. This was so bad because I hadn't even left the restaurant and had to have the mistake fixed. The server wasn't even going to tell me that half my order for frozen tamales weren't frozen. I'd have arrived home with a disgusting disaster. What careless people! Who would place soft tamales UNDER frozen tamales in a bag?!?!?! And not say a goddamn word about it! The woman with the short hair at the counter tried to give excuses about it and gave me a sassy face when I asked for the frozen tamales that I ordered. The last couple times I purchased at this newer location I had just stopped in to pick up frozen tamales and thought the rude staff was because they were busy, but now I know that this restaurant owner hired nothing but assholes to work here. P.S. the rice and beans are not very good and could easily pass as boxed rice and canned beans. What garbage I'll spend my dollars elsewhere and not support this business anymore. Update: Apparently when you ask for frozen ones they will dig in the back for totally freezer burned ones that were Inedible. The edible ones (4 out of 6) also tasted way bland. Something changed with the masa and they just weren't so good anymore. Bad service, declining product, 8$ per tamale = feeling totally let down. read more

This restaurant was doing a pop up for the Fremont Fair and we stopped here for a Fruit Cup. The fresh fruit paired with chamoy and tajín was so yummy and the little girl who made ours for us was absolutely adorable. This was a great way to start our day. The restaurant wasn't set up inside yet but we would definitely return here for a meal. The quality of the food was excellent and the service was very friendly. read more

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Stopped in for dinner after Freemont Octoberfest (the El Suenito beer was served there and was fantastic). Service was a little slow and confusing. Multiple staff was waiting on different tables. Appetizer was OK, Chips were a little hard. Beers were great. They had the roll up door open so the fresh air and breeze made the ambiance nice. Tamale was good. Missed some opportunity for spice or additional Verde sauce. Partners tacos were good as well but she mentioned it was missing something (spice wise). Overall your average Mexican restaurant in Seattle. If you are in the area, it's worth a try but I would not seek it out. read more

Frelard Tamales - Great beer selection. - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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In the mood for tacos and drove by, so I gave it a try. Disappointed. The tacos are average and so was the service. Although the place was nice and cozy! If you decide to try it, avoid the tacos and go for the tamales. read more

Frelard Tamales - Chicken tacos and a side of rice and beans (combo meal). Not worth it. - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The restaurant is super spacious and well lit from all of the windows. There's nice music playing in the background and tons of seating. The staff is pretty quick to get your food in. The rice and beans are delicious. I ordered the Sweet potato mole. Their masa ratios are perfect. The tamal wasn't dry or lacking filling. My only critique was of the filling. I couldn't taste the Mole at all because the sweet potato flavor was so strong. I think a regular potato could be delicious and really let the mole shine. Definitely a nice spot to eat and hangout! read more

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Love the one tamal plate. Great rice and beans too. Their flag system to get service is very smart. Always a great vibe. Pairs nicely with a beer or mixed drink. read more

Yes, I know we're on a taco tour, but this is my detour indulgence. Frelard isn't just about tacos - it's home to Seattle's beloved walk-up tamale window that locals line up for, rain or shine. Inside you'll find a cavernous dining room with more tables than you'd expect, plus a couple of outdoor patio spots for that true PNW sun-chasing vibe. I went straight for their handmade tamales - the earthy richness of a Sweet Potato Mole alongside a decadent Pork Belly wrapped in Mango Salsa. To keep it balanced, I washed it down with a Watermelon Agua Fresca, their house horchata, and even a refreshing mocktail. read more

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I was in the Ballard area and was looking for a place to check out, and Frelard Tamales popped on my radar. I am a big fan of tamales and was excited to try them at Frelard as the community seems to rate this restaurant well - so we went on a Sunday around dinner time (7PM) and were promptly seated. The restaurant itself is located on a corner of a busy intersection - I wasn't sure on my visit if there was reserved restaurant parking, so I parked a block and half away and walked to the restaurant. I can see it being very difficult to find parking on a busy time of day, so do note that when stopping by. The restaurant itself is casual ambiance wise, there is a bar at the back of the restaurant when you first enter - there are rows of tables and you are allowed to seat yourself. There are QR code menus at each table, but ordering is done through a waiter. We waited about 10 - 15 minutes for our food. I got the one tamale plate with an extra tamale ($16 for plate + $8 for extra tamale = $24) - two flavors being chicken mole and salsa roja pork. You also get an option of two salsa over the tamales - the salsa roja and salsa verde - I thought it was a bit funny that even the waiter was like "The roja isn't spicy at all don't worry about it". The tamales themselves are decent, though they definitely aren't the most flavorful tamales I have had. I was hoping for more fragrance in the tamale and even a bit more salt in the dough part, as the overall taste profile fell a bit flat and had to be hard carried by the filling. I think my favorite out of the two was the salsa roja pork as it had the deeper and harder hitting flavor out of the two tamales. The rice and beans were seasoned decently, and the pickled vegetables were a nice touch. I did see some other reviewers mentioned that the portions are too large but I thought that if you are really hungry, you will spend $24 and still leave hungry. In the end, I think Frelard Tamales is an OK establishment if you are looking to try tamales. Personally, I think I was a bit disappointed with the tamales that I have received at Frelard Tamales, the flavor was a bit lacking from what I expected from a Mexican restaurant. I do think it leans on the pricier side as I have got tamales that were on the cheaper side that had a better blend of flavors. But I could see this being catered more towards a generally safe place to go to if you are looking to please a wide variety of people. This could have been my experience for the day, so also feel free to try it and see for yourself. read more

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Frelard Tamales is attached to El Suenito brewery but you can just order food if you want. They have daily tamale specials and a variety of core tamales. There's also other Mexican dishes but given their name, seems like they're known for their tamales! We ordered two tamales plate, so it comes with rice, beans, and pickled vegetables (carrots). We ordered their crema and cotija on the side. I really like their salsa roja chicken, it was so flavorful. Their chicken mole was good too but the salsa over powered the mole. Their salsa is just so good. Tamales came out nice and piping hot already unwrapped. Presentation is pretty nice too! read more

Frelard Tamales - Salsa Roja Pork Tamale and Chicken Mole 2 tamale plate - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Love it. New fave. Finally got a chance to sit down. We sat outside on a sunny Monday afternoon. The food is exceptional. Traditional but still unique. read more

Frelard Tamales - Salsa Roja Pork Tamale - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Sooo good and great value! The beans and rice were so delicious too. Everything on the plate was top tier and full of flavor. Staff were also super kind :) Place was clean and had fun vibes. Not very busy either. read more

Frelard Tamales - Salsa Verde Chicken Tamale - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Seattle! Their tamales are perfectly rich and flavorful. We also really love their tacos - they're always packed with ingredients. The pork, in particular, is consistently very tender and juicy. The service is friendly and nice, and they're great at explaining things we don't understand. Plus, it's very fast! They also host events, but we haven't had a chance to attend. It's a lively spot to grab a light bite, perfect for weekday evenings when you're feeling too lazy to cook. (The food pictures are take-out) read more

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I've been a Frelard Tamales loyalist for years, so I knew that when they moved into their new spot AND had beers, that it was destiny for me to love it. And I was not disappointed... I was fired up to see that the place was poppin' when I came in, love to see a new restaurant thriving in The Center of the Universe. Being able to order a full tamale meal and sit down with them is a game changer for the overall tamale experience. The presentation (see picture) takes it to a different level. They let you pick between green or red sauce and absolutely drown these tamales in them. They also open up the corn husk for you so you don't have to play any games, straight to business. Same tamales as always, packed with a flavor punch right to the face, and absolutely stuffed with meat or veggies. The rice and beans were also fantastic, turning this meal into a masterpiece. We also ordered the chips and guacamole. The guacamole was very good, and the chips seemed to be homemade as well. They were a little bit hard though, so I wouldn't recommend those to the dentally challenged. That would be my only critique, but not worthy of a deduction of a star. The vibery is also top notch here, I would come just to hang out and have a beer as well. It looks like they're also putting on a bunch of events in the community that look like a blast. Well done, Frelard Tamales . read more

Frelard Tamales - Salsa Roja Pork Tamale - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

One of the few reasonably affordable places for a meal in this part of Seattle. 1 tamal may not seem like a lot, but these are BIG tamales. They have a few tamales always available plus some rotating specials. They also sell frozen tamales to take home. Beer is from the partner brewery El Sueñito. Unlike the Bellingham location, this place is almost exclusively indoor seating plus a couple picnic tables outside read more

Mixed Feelings After Years of Loyalty As a longtime Seattle resident and vegan, I've been frequenting Frelard Tamales since their Green Lake days--usually sticking to their tamales, beans, and rice, which were reliably satisfying. I was excited to discover their Fremont location recently and had a good first experience with the vegan al Pastor tacos. Flavorful, comforting, and aligned with what I've come to expect. However, my most recent visit left me disappointed. After receiving a promotional text (which I don't recall opting into), I stopped by to try their weekend special: the gigantic burrito with vegan mushrooms. I wasn't aware that the mushrooms came in a barbecue-style preparation, which drastically shifted the flavor profile--unexpected for a Mexican dish, but I'll own that oversight. The chips and salsa were a letdown. The chips were unusually thick, overcooked, and had a texture unlike any tortilla chip I've encountered in 45 years. The salsa tasted generic, like something from a bulk store--not bad, but not memorable. The burrito itself was a tale of two halves. The first was tolerable despite the barbecue flavor, but the second half contained mushrooms that were nearly raw and unpleasantly chewy. I had to discreetly spit out several bites, which is not something I take lightly. I shared my concerns with the waitress calmly and respectfully. She still charged me the full amount, and when I expressed disappointment afterward, she admitted she was new and unsure how to respond. I suggested she pass the feedback to a manager, but it didn't seem like that would happen. I also noticed other tables waiting long stretches for food, and overheard a nearby diner mention understaffing--something I unfortunately observed firsthand. The Fremont space is lovely, but the experience felt misaligned with what a restaurant should prioritize: quality food and attentive service. It seems the business may be more focused on cultural programming and community events than on delivering a consistent, satisfying dining experience. While I appreciate their broader mission, I hope they recalibrate to ensure that the basics--flavor, texture, and hospitality--aren't overlooked. read more

Frelard Tamales - Giante burrito - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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**vegetarian review** Lemme start off by I like frelard tamales and have often done take outs for tamales and enjoyed that. I plan to still do that in future. The jalapeno cheese tamale is sooo good. The review here is for my in store meal for non tamale items. Personally I thought non tamale items are little underwhelming. To me they were pricey and not as flavourful. The nachos here were very basic for $14 without added proteins $6 for mushrooms. To me lack of any veggies like onions and tomatoes or some sauce - left this to mainly carry the flavour of refried beans and cheese. The special quesadillas were $13 for 2 taco size quesadillas with squash blossom and cheese. This was little different than other places but still felt expensive. The service was good and the place had awesome atmosphere . I guess tamales set the bar high so I was expecting more ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ read more

Frelard Tamales - Vegetarian nachos - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My family has been ordering tamales before the brick and mortar location. We love the consistency of the masa, the generous ingredients, and the quality of each tamale. You can't go wrong on any of the flavors and the mole and vegetarian mole are my favorite. I love the salsas that come with the food and the brick and mortar location is cozy. The restaurant had donated tamales to my kids school for a multicultural night. I truly appreciate seeing local businesses share their love of food. This makes me want to support them even more and I encourage others to dine here. read more

It's time to write about the Frelard Tamales side of the business at El Suenito Brewing. The original location is in Bellingham and we were just thrilled to see that another location opened up so much closer to us to enjoy. I mean we love going to Bellingham but realistically we make it up there about once a year if we are lucky. So with a much closer location for us it wasn't long before we went here to enjoy the beer and the totally awesome tamales once again. We had some regular horchata to drink and a horchata type beer both were wonderful. But then I got the Salaa Rojas tamale and the Jalapeño Cheese tamale and that was all I needed to go over the moon in foodie bliss. The rice and beans that came with the tamales were excellent and I devoured everything and left pretty full. I probably should have gotten just one tamale but my gluttony for this wonderful food made sure I ordered two. Definitely some impressive tamales and I highly recommend! read more

Frelard Tamales - Delicious tamales and the rice and beans are fantastic! I ate everything and left quite full! - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Sooo excited to have this awesome place in Fremont. It's dangerously close to my apartment so I might be a frequent customer soon. We tried the Fajita Veggie Tamal and the Sweet Potato Mole Tamal and made them both a meal with rice and beans. Highly recommend making it a meal! We loved the rice and beans and pickled veggies! It was the perfect amount of food because these tamales are BIG. The sweet potato mole one was our favorite but the fajita veggie was solid too. They have lots of vegetarian options which I love! I was a bit confused about the rotating flavors. There are 3 rotating flavors but they only serve one of the 3 each day. I thought it meant that they rotate seasonally so I was disappointed that I couldn't try the spinach flavor. But I'll be back. We took our friends from out of town here and they asked us to go back again before they left! read more

Frelard Tamales - Sweet Potato Mole tamal combo with salsa verde - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The Frelard tamales are awesome - we liked the pork and nopales the best. They're are quite filling, 2 a la carte was certainly enough food. We got them will all the fixings too which included crema, salsa, and pickled carrots. They have six or so standard flavors and then a rotating tamale menu as well. We finished the meal with champurado, a sweetened chocolate masa drink, which hit the spot on a cold night. They came in traditional clay mugs that were super cute. Next time we would forgo the chips and salsa ($9) which were very overpriced imo. Chips were super thick and not very pleasant to eat. The salsa was a creamy verde that was good but not spicy at all. Service was slow at times, but everyone was very kind. Ambiance was loud but in a good way. It felt lively! Will definitely come back again. read more

These tamales were soo tasty! And the price is very reasonable! My husband and I made a stop here to grab some food so we could enjoy at Greenlake! We found parking on the street across the way. It's a small window where you can order and take it to go. We had the lunch special which came with a tamale of choice and rice and beans. I got the salsa roja pork and my husband got the chicken mole. We also ordered chips and guac and a watermelon agua fresca (the largest size which strangely had a lid with no straw hole so we had to drink it without the lid), and they sold tres lecheria tres leches cake so we bought one of those to try out! It was a hearty meal for sure! The tamales were very good and the rice and beans made a nice accompaniment. Really enjoyed our meal and would come back again! read more

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Everything about this place is nourishing: the atmosphere, the people, and the food. I always feel at home when I come in here and the food is so authentic and made with love. It's my favorite. read more

The food tastes amazing but the tamales are too huge. Wish they had smaller options so you could try two or more. Because as it is I can't finish 2 tamales here and I'm a big guy that can eat a lot. The one thing I didn't enjoy here was the music blasting so loud it's hard to hold a conversation. Also, when you walk in it's not clear if you sit yourself at any open table or if you wait to be seated. read more

Frelard Tamales - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Where else in Seattle can you find such large, flavorful tamales? I recently visited with my boyfriend and a friend, and as someone who loves a good tamale, I was thoroughly impressed. Tamales can be tricky to get right--affordable, with a good filling-to-masa ratio, and moist masa. Enter Frelard. We tried the salsa roja pork, salsa verde chicken, and nopales tamales, and they were all perfectly seasoned with generous, delicious fillings. The masa? Spot on--moist and flavorful! We also got the horchata, but I found it a bit grainy and not quite to my taste. The service was super quick, and the casual, friendly vibe makes it a great spot to grab a quick bite with friends. Highly recommend for tamale lovers! read more

I was looking for a Latino-owned business to order from while planning a local Latino event I was hosting. I ended up choosing Frelard Tamales cause their website was super easy to use, it showed they were very client-focused, and they made the ordering process easy/transparent in pricing. I am so glad our team ordered from them! Delivery was on time, the food was hot and ready to go, and our group loved the tamales. The tamales were really good, and even the minis were a full-sized portion. My favorite was the chicken en salsa verde. The beans and rice were fresh, and I loved that they came with pickled carrots and cream. It was also great that their menu had some vegan options to offer to my few vegan guests. I will 100% use Frelard tamales again for catering events, and will stop by to grab some next time I am looking for a meal and a drink down in Fremont. read more

Frelard Tamales - Salsa Verde Chicken Tamale for a catering order. Mini size! - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Excellent tamales at Frelard / El Sueñito! Highly recommend the chorizo & cheese (good chorizo, not overly spicy) and the jalapeño & cheese. Cheese seems worked into the masa, which makes it savory but not super gooey--just the right balance. Both salsas are fresh, green for mild & red for spicy. Rice & refried beans are perfect! (Rice & beans can be so hit/miss, but Frelard's are wonderful.) I'm from South Texas & I highly recommend! read more

Frelard Tamales - Beer taps - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Excellent food, beautiful ambiance so colorful and comfortable furniture. Quick and easy service, kind servers. 10/10 will be coming back for more! read more

Frelard Tamales - Mushroom tamales - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is so freaking good! On a rainy day, or really any day, it's the perfect stop for a warm, satisfying, nourishing meal! The vegetarian and vegan options here are exceptional! I tried the jalapeño cheese tamale and the sweet potato mole tamale, but the flavor options are actually endless (even for us veggie folks). The masa to filling ratio was good as well. I preferred the sweet potato mole one, with the warm filling and the perfect ratio, but the jalapeño-cheese was also spicy, cheesy, and filling. It comes with sour cream and pickled veggies, and you can choose a milder salsa verde or the spicy salsa verde to coat your tamale. The horchata was also delicious and had a unique, rich flavor compared to other versions I've had before. It was genuinely so delicious! I would highly recommend everyone go if you're craving a tamale. The price is super reasonable too, costing $7 for one tamale and you can also get plates. They also offer the option to take out frozen tamales. This is a fairly new brick and mortar location for them. It's a fast casual space with nice tables, and they also offer takeout. read more

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Best tamales I've ever had. Hands down. Ambiance could be improved. Service was confusing, no drink refills.

Great food and ambiance! Guacamole and chips are fresh and homemade, not your typical chips and guac out of the box. Tamales fantastic and fresh. Prices are a little steep as have become across most restaurants in Seattle but I appreciate that they didn't charge some hidden made up "tax" that has become so common. I'll be back and highly recommend for tasty tamales! read more

Frelard Tamales - Chips and guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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very yummy tamales i got the chicken one and tried a bite of the pork one and both were really good! the meal with the rice and beans was a good quantity for the price also got the chips and guacamole to share that was good, nothing life changing read more

Super fun environment, we got seated quickly, waitress was attentive. They have a lot of food and beer/drink selections. We tried two of their tamale flavors and loved the sweet potato mole. The salsa verde chicken was a little salty for us though. We got the meal and beans and rice were on point. I will say I think the tamales had a little too much masa for my personal preference but overall very tasty. Will come back to try their beer and drink selections! read more

Frelard Tamales - Salsa Verde Chicken Tamale, sweet potato mole - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love getting the Two Tamales Meal Combo, which comes with two tamales of your choice, vegan Mexican rice, refried pinto beans, and small containers of salsa, sour cream & pickled veggies. It's a great deal that you can split between two people. At this point, I've tried a majority of the flavors that they have, but my favorites are definitely the Salsa Roja Pork Tamal and Chorize & Cheese Tamal. I like to buy frozen tamales to store in my freezer for the times that I'm too lazy to cook, which you can steam properly on the stove following the instructions they have on their website. The tamales are also labelled with different color strings, so you never have to guess what tamal you're pulling from the freezer. The tamales are more expensive than most because it goes back to paying staff, quality ingredients, and accounting for the size of the tamales. Frelard Tamales also donates free meals to anyone who needs them and supports local causes around immigrant and LGBTQ rights. If you're traveling by car to this location, it is important to note that it's difficult to find street parking (avoid parking in front of the window because there is a bus stop there). You may have to park a few streets over and walk. read more

Frelard Tamales - Horchata - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I was so excited to hear Frelard Tamales was 1) opening a full service restaurant and 2) that it was closer to me than the old window! While I will miss picking up tamales on the way to Greenlake, this gorgeous big space is so awesome! The tamales were delicious as always and I love that there are always good veggie and vegan options. The watermelon agua fresca was a refreshing treat, and you can get them spiked if that's your thing! No, the food is not cheap but it is high quality and umm, are you familiar with Seattle?? This city is freaking expensive!! The reviews here complaining about service are laughable to me. The person who waited on us was so friendly and attentive, and my many previous experiences at the old window have also always been 100% positive. I'm so happy to have another place to put in my favorite restaurants rotation! read more

Frelard Tamales - One tamal plate (bean and cheese) with guac and a Watermelon agua fresca hiding out in the background. - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wow this place is amazing! Not too many Yelp reviews yet so I'll provide some details. There is a lovely, large, well lit and lovely dining area. Plenty of tables and seats at the bar plus a little side couch area. There are posters advertising queer book clubs and drag brunch. Seems like a fun hang out spot! There's also a take out window for picking up to go orders. Dining in is a great choice though. Fun music, fast service (like 5 minutes from order to food). Lunch special was a great deal--12 bucks for one tamale, beans and rice with a tasty carrot and onion garnish (it tastes better than it sounds!). Tamale was served with a beautiful sauce drizzle--very artful with the corn husk cut off the top for easy eating. Really good house made horchata. Tortilla chips seemed fresh and house made too. Highly recommend. Place was pretty empty. (It's new and not super well advertised yet.) Come fill it up!! This is the kind of place I'd love to see do well and stick around read more

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Tamales is not my favorite use of masa (vs. pupusas or a fresh tortilla for example), but this was so warm and lovely. Good flavor, not too salty and the perfect snack to take to Greenlake. read more

Frelard Tamales - Salsa Verde Chicken Tamale - Mexican Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Visited Frelard Tamales for the first time to grab some frozen tamales, and the experience was mostly great. The smell of fresh tamales being made was incredible, and the staff was super friendly when I asked for recommendations--they said everything is good, depending on your preferences (vegan options available). I got 2 chicken, 1 pork, and 1 cheese & jalapeño. The chicken was moist and flavorful, the pork a bit dry but much better with hot sauce. One small critique: the pick-up process wasn't very intuitive. I initially went to the pick-up window, but when no one responded, I had to go inside. That could be clearer. Bonus points, though, for hosting queer book clubs, drag shows, and a running club--such a cool, inclusive spot! read more

Just got their from-scratch pozole for the Fremont Soupocalypse--utterly delicious and generous portion too!

The reviews don't lie, these tamales are fantastic. Truth be told, no tamale I've had at a restaurant has measured up to homemade ones--until now. I'll happily shell out a few bucks for these. They're stuffed enough to give Chipotle burritos a run for their money, the distribution of meat to masa is perfect (check out the review photos), and there's nothing soggy or crumbly about the masa. These reheat beautifully, so don't hesitate to make it out to Fremont and get a dozen of these. read more

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