I will always recommend Pilar's Tamales! We always get the pork tamales with Pilar's sauce and they heat up perfectly for dinner.

Love this place. The ambiance has an intriguing maximalist vibe. Tamales were moist and flavorful. Owner is super friendly and easy to talk with. read more

Pilar's Tamales - Latin American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Lots of character and flavor! So glad I stumbled upon this spot while running an errand nearby. Small interior, but warm, eclectic, and colorful, with just a couple tables for dining in. I'm assuming most of their business is pickup/takeout. As it was my first visit, I was recommended the Perfect Pair special, which allowed me to try a bit of a lot of things. One tamale of choice, one pupusa of choice, salsa, casamiento (a Salvadoran beans and rice side dish), fried plantain, curtido (Salvadoran cabbage slaw), AND a choice of drink. Phew! All of this for $18, and it was more than enough for leftovers (though I can see why a lot of people would clean their plates with this dish - everything is delicious). I got the Chicken and Cheese Tamale, Pork Pupusa, and Horchata for my choices. (They had great sounding vegetarian options as well.) Everything was served together, very hot and fresh. Everything tasted amazing and the flavors and textures really complimented each other. The tamale and pupusa were the stars of the meal, but I also really loved the vinegary curtido, and sweet plantain. The horchata was fantastic also, with a generous dusting of cinnamon on top. Even my to go box for leftovers was cute, with a little hand drawn heart on it. Believe the owner was working, and she was really sweet. There are fun wares and knickknacks around the interior on display and for sale, as well as a donation station for Pilar's Foundation, supporting local and international organizations. read more

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Love the tamales. Always good service. Have not eaten there but dining in is available. My fave is the papusa!!!!!!

This place is a hidden gem in A2, and is a must try! It is located in a small, unassuming strip mall. Upon entry, you are greeted with a relaxing vibe of zen music and colorful displays of Salvadoran jewelry and art.The walls are full of articles about the wonderful food and philanthropic mission. I ordered the Perfect pair. It came with a pupusa and tamale of choice. I opted for the pork pupusa and chicken tamale with horchata. They were accompanied with Casamiente and curtido , which are a light rice and bean dish and delicious vinegar slaw. Fried plantains were also part of the meal, and they were unbelievable! The horchata was the best that I have ever had; full of fresh cinnamon and with a hint of sweetness . I must say that the meal was one of the most delicious and balanced meals I ever had in a long time. I will be returning soon to try the other options. read more

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I went here with a friend and it was phone orders/takeout only, although they had a little space to sit outside (perfect for us). Not the best view, but it's quiet enough and good for chatting. The owner was super warm and friendly, telling us to let her know if we need anything else and grabbing our trash after we were done. The pupusa I got was hot and fresh, had a crunchy exterior, and delicious blend of pork, bean, cheese filling inside. The chicken & cheese tamal was made with masa that was so soft, it cut like butter. The chicken and cheese filling was fresh and well proportioned. Pilar's salsa went very well with both the pupusa and tamales: its consistency was like marinara sauce, not spicy, and didn't have cilantro like a lot of Mexican salsas (cilantro tastes like soap to me). The horchata I got was outstanding: it had a lot of complexity with different spices. It was refreshing and delicious. The curtido (cabbage slaw) that came with my meal was okay, but not my favorite. It was pretty tart with the apple cider vinegar, but that did help cut through the heaviness of the other food items. I'm not a fan of raw onions. This is a fantastic local restaurant that I highly recommend! read more

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Pilar's Tamales recently appeared on Yelp's top tamales and horchata lists for the state of Michigan. After seeing these a couple of weeks ago, I made it a priority to try them out. Upon entering the store only about an hour before they closed, we were greeted warmly by the proprietress, Sylvia. She was fantastic and was able to easily answer all of our questions about the menu. Since we went pretty late, they had only a limited selection of tamales left. We went with Sylvia's recommendations. The food took about 20 minutes to come out in total - I guess everything is made fresh per order in the kitchen. Tamales ($5 each) - We got one chicken, one pork, and one jalapeno and cheese of these Salvadoran-style tamales. This was the first time trying this style of tamale and we were quite surprised at how soft and tender the masa dough is - almost bordering on mushy. It's like the texture of a potato cooked all the way through. It's so different from a typical Mexican tamale that I had to look up how these are made afterwards - it's basically a very liquidy masa batter which is poured into the wrapper, typically banana leaf. The interior ingredients are added to the top, then the wrapper is rolled, closed, and the entire construction is steamed. This is totally unlike a Mexican tamale, which is more of a masa dough that is smeared on a corn husk and rolled around the ingredients. Flavor-wise, I found only a bit of light savoriness probably from meat or vegetable stock mixed in. There's a bit of vegetable aroma, almost like the fragrance of a mire poix. For the Pork Tamale: The Interior is nice, with whole green olives, capers, a bit of tomato, and the pork. The ingredients all work well together. The pork is ripped into shreds and is overall kind of dry. (2/5) For the Chicken Tamale: There's quite a bit of potato added inside, approaching something like 1/3 of the filling. The potato is tender and pretty much exactly the same texture as the masa. In addition, there are two olives inside, one stuffed, with pimento, capers, and chicken completing the ingredients. The chicken is pretty typical pulled chicken and kind of dry. (2/5) For the Jalapeno & Cheese - The masa in this one is quite a bit more firm compared to the other two, I guess because the cheese helps firm up the batter. Jalapeno is mixed into the masa but overall the tamale is basically not spicy at all. (3/5) I'll be honest - I didn't really like the tamales too much. I didn't particularly like the texture, I thought the flavors were a bit muted, and I thought the fillings, especially the meat was too dry. Salvadoran tamales are typically wrapped in banana leaf, but these were wrapped in parchment paper and foil. That already makes a huge difference in aroma and flavor just by itself. I was so conflicted about this that I decided to go to the local Salvadoran hangout spot in SW Detroit the following day to try and see if it's just because I don't like this style of tamale in general, or because I don't like the tamale from Pilar's. After trying those tamales, I can safely say that the tamales at Pilar's are bland in comparison and the fillings just aren't as good. The only thing that was the same is the texture. In addition, the tamales here cost 50% more than the other place. (2/5) Loroco and Cheese Pupusa ($6) - I had never eaten loroco before and I was excited to try this out. It kind of reminds me of artichoke in texture with a very slight vegetal flavor that's hard to describe. It's chopped up quite fine and there isn't too much mixed into the cheese. The cheese is nice, but again, there's not a lot of filling in general. The exterior has a nice fresh masa flavor, but it's quite thick and there are multiple areas where there's no filling. The size is a little smaller than other pupusas I've had and the roundness is a little too perfect, making me wonder if the pupusa is machine made or maybe cut with a cookie cutter. I also got pupusas (including loroco) at the SW Detroit market/restaurant and found those to be much better and much cheaper ($3.50 vs. $6 here) (2/5) Each order comes with a large side of curtido and salsa. Curtido - Pink pickled cabbage and sliced carrots add a nice tang and acidity. Salvadorean Salsa - A very nice savory tomato based sauce. This is more like a gravy or sauce vs. a salsa, very typical of Salvadoran salsa as I read later. There is no spice, which is expected for the cuisine. Horchata, Large ($5.50) - Large is a 16 oz here. This horchata has a rich rice flavor, mixed and sprinkled generously with cinnamon. I thought the sweetness and mix of flavors was good. (4/5) Overall I didn't think the food at Pilar's was worth the cost. I feel like the great reviews are more for how friendly Sylvia and the staff are, and the tasteful and quirky restaurant decor, rather than for the food. I don't see myself going again, but I'm clearly in the minority given the great reviews and multiple awards this place has. read more

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I have such great things to say about Pilar's Tamales. I had my dog with me and they were very accomidating to let me sit outside, and they even brought her a bowl of water. The tamales were so delicious and I tried the hot chocolate that was outstanding. I went here with my brother who was only in town for one day and it was the perfect place to go with him. Everyone that worked there was so kind and the food was great! read more

Pilar's Tamales - Latin American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Pilar's Tamales is a place that you can't help but leave with a happier heart. Blink and you could miss it in a small shopping center, it's something of a local hidden gem that makes it so fun to discover. I visited recently with a friend for a weekend lunch after we had passed by and a perusal of Yelp reviews revealed a delicious-looking soup. We walked across the threshold and felt transported to a different world. Two family-style tables are set up, so you can grab a seat next to people who could just be your new best friends. We started the meal with the specialty drinks -- I got the hibiscus tea, which was fruity without being too sweet -- and the Pupusa special as my entree. The Pupusa was soft but not as flavorful as I was expecting. I did however enjoy the fried plantains on the side. As we ate we could see regular customers come through, and Sylvia greeted them like old friends. One young kid even tried out his Spanish skills with her and she was sweetly encouraging to him. You'll pay more here than you will at other places serving up Latin American food, but in return you'll get fresh food prepared with plenty of amor and such an uplifting experience. I'll look forward to visiting again soon and hope you'll find your way here in the meantime! read more

"The best horchata I've had to date!" Get. The. Horchata. Spiced perfectly. Made fresh. My bf got some and I kept sipping on his shamelessly. I know this is a tamales place but the horchata stood out. I will get it every time I'm here. Pilar's tamales is a cute restaurant with great decor, great music, and is both funky and cozy. It's intimate, so be prepared to sit close quarters with other folks. This place is not good for groups. I imagine it's better for singles, couples, and take out. It's a great local place with a great feel. Lots of plants and natural sunlight and bright colors around the place. Local decor around the room with opportunities for purchase with a donation to a non profit. Besides the horchata, I had the hibiscus tea. It was unique and i would have it again. It tastes similar to cranberry juice. Super refreshing on a hot day. They had a great menu for tamales. Get the special and get it with plantains, beans, and cole slaw. The tamales itself was good. I had the chicken. It was a smidge heavy on the masa. I had a few bites of just masa without the filling. The tamales are on the larger side, so you will definitely be full!! Ingredients here are sourced from local farmers...see their list on the menu! read more

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Kind and compassionate people, quick service and wonderful food! Pilar's Tamales use of high quality and locally sourced ingredients set this family owned establishment apart from other Central American spots in Ann Arbor. I suggest grabbing and watermelon agua fresca and una papusa con frijoles y queso -- a comfort food of mine that, having moved from Texas two years ago, I have desperately longed for. You won't regret it! Though I am not accustomed to El Salvadorian food, their tamales hit the spot and were far from dry. I can't wait to try other items on their menu. Thank you :) Hopefully y'all will do another pop-up at Argus soon! read more

What a charming little spot with almost 25 years of history and stories to tell, I was promptly greeted by the owner when I walked in and she could tell I wasn't a regular as she grabs me a menu lol: I told her it was my first time and that I'd take her recommendation so she suggested I try the tamales and gave me 3 and each being a different kind. They were great and she even tossed in a sample of other things she does. 10/10 customer service I'd definitely return! read more

Such a cute little shop and the food was affordable and delicious. The shop owner was incredibly kind and made the place feel even more cozy. The most important reason I'm rating this as 5 stars is the amount of gluten/dairy-free options! Having severe gluten and dairy allergies makes eating out really difficult but I was surprised to see that the dietary restrictions were not only clearly listed on the menu but were accurate as well. Even better, I can eat desserts here. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who has dietary restrictions, the owner was very understanding and makes great food! read more

Stepping through the doorway is like stepping through a portal from Ann Arbor to El Salvador. The music is lively. The decor is charming with tapestries and ceramics. And the air is rich with the smell of food cooking in the kitchen. The food is all about a love affair with corn: the freshness of the pupusa - a soft corn tortilla with meat or cheese in the middle (chicken in my case) - positively sang with the freshly ground corn (masa) that was used to make it earlier in the day. My pulled pork tamale was likewise encased in a thick corn wrapper that perfectly highlighted the meat within. The sauce is a very mild pepper with a subtle kiss of cumin. It wasn't spicy at all, but there is a spicier sauce available (and hot sauce on the table). The hibiscus tea is light and slightly sweet. The plantains are subtly sweet. But, these were no comparison to the sweetness of the lady behind the counter. She never stopped moving, engaging with everyone. There were some regulars that stopped in to chat and eat; she'd greet them with a warm "how are you today, sweetie?" She also explained the tradition of how the food is prepared for the food I ordered. This place is a long way from home for me - it does feel like Central America - but it's so good that I know I'll be back. read more

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100% recommend this place. I'm sad it took me sooooo long to find enter this place. It is so friendly, happy, cheery! I mean this place is amazing. The food is yummy, expect to pay between $10-$20 per person, but it is yummy and authentic. I added some yummy photos! read more

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Do not keep the stated hours. Showed up yesterday before six but they were closed. Called today for an explanation and was told they do not keep consistent hours. read more

Pilar's was exceptional. When you first enter, you are welcomed into what seems like a true Salvadoran establishment. A quick peek through to the kitchen showed a glorious amount of fresh meats and vegetables. We met Sylvia, the owner, who was kind enough to recommend her favorites on the menu. Be sure to go early if you want to have the full selection as they will often sell out before closing. We ordered a variety of papusas and tamales. Our favorite drink was a mix of the tamarind and hibiscus juice. Everything was delicious and the service was outstanding. Loved the casual feel of the paper plates, which made it feel like true authentic home cooking. A true hidden gem in Ann Arbor! read more

Pilar's Tamales - Black bean and cheese papusa - Latin American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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My roommates and I ordered the tamale specials. I had the chicken and cheese tamale and loved it! The food was top quality and I'll definitely come back. My roommates liked the curtido and said it tasted almost pickled, which they found to be very interesting. We each got horchata and I will admit it wasn't as sweet as I was used to but as I've been trying to cut back on my sweets I thought it was perfect. I appreciate the safety measures they've put in place because of COVID. If you're paying with card, please have it in your hand when you call. Part of the safety measures to minimize contact with people means that they'll get card information through the phone. However, there is also a box outside to pay with cash if that's what you'd prefer. read more

Pilar's Tamales - Tamale special - Latin American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

We tried both the pupusas (chicken and black bean) and tamales (chicken & cheese and spicy pork), and everything was delicious. Once I called in the order, it only took 20 minutes before they had it ready and everything was still piping hot. The yuca fries were easily the highlight - if you don't order them you're missing out! We also loved the flan for desert. My roommate is gluten free and there were so many GF options on the menu. The place itself looks super cute and happy, so we can't wait to dine in and experience the atmosphere once it's open again. One of the best places on the west side of AA that I've tried so far! read more

Old School Ann Arbor still lives and breathes through Pilar's. Amazing food, great atmosphere (only seats about 12 people, ordering take out is easy) and Pilar might be the kindest person left on this planet. Eat her food, she has been cooking it for over 20 years and you can still taste love in every bite. read more

Stopped here for lunch and got a chicken pupusa and a spicy pork tamale and a Mexican chocolate to drink. I could barely finish all of the food. The Mexican chocolate was delicious and dairy-free. The spicy pork tamale also was very tasty. The chicken pupusa was less flavorful and next time I would only order the tamale. The food arrived quickly and the people who work here are very nice. read more

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Consistently fresh delicious food. Everything is handmade. The staff is always warm and friendly. This place is a Tucktaway, once you find it you'll be sure to come back. I love the seasonal juices like fresh watermelon in the summer. My number one dish is the black bean organic cheese Tamale. read more

Pilar's Tamales - Small seating area, eclectic with cheery vibes - Latin American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Pilar's and Pilar is such an Ann Arbor gem. First, the food is always so well-prepared, authentic, and delicious. I especially love the pupusas and whatever fun hibiscus drink she has concocted that day. Second, and one of the main reasons I go back - Pilar herself is so incredibly kind, friendly, and beaming with passion about her food. She is often the one taking the orders and can give you great detail about what is on the menu for the day. It is so nice to connect with the owner of a great restaurant. The pricing is a little higher than some other quick service restaurants, but it is worth it! Highly recommend. read more

This tiny restaurant is an absolute gem! Warm, friendly family runs this place with love and amazing tamales!! The pupusas were amazing as well! We had pork, spicy pork, and Christmas chicken tamales, and jalapeño and cheese pupusas, a black bean and cheese pupusa, sweet plantains, and as we were thinking of ordering tamalitos for a party, Pilar brought us out a chorizo tamale! We also tried the hibiscus tea and tamarind - fresh made and delicious!! We sampled the horchata (because they let you sample the drinks) and it was perfect!! read more

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Of course, it isn't until I'm about to move away from this area that my friend shows me Pilar's. I wish I had known about them earlier!!! I ordered a season tamale, spinach & feta, and a loroco & cheese pupusa, and both were amazing. The salsa and coleslaw salad were perfect. The chilled watermelon juice was oh so refreshing! This place is definitely great and I will try to frequent it regularly before I leave town. Highly recommended! read more

Pilar's tamales are amazing. Her pupusas are a delight. She had me hooked though with her hibiscus tea. Try some and you will likely be hooked too. At some point I need to try horchata but I am too hooked on the tea. My poor blood sugar! Call ahead if you are dead set about what you want, I have tried most everything though and find it all to be pretty delicious. My fave items are the pork tamales, bean and cheese tamales, the pork or chicken pupusas. My husband however likes the beef or the jalapeno and cheese tamales best. Sides are nice. The curtido hits the spot with its vinegar kick. The casamiento. a blend of black beans with rice is filling and satifying. The fried plantains with sweet cream though are happy sigh inducing. The guac here is zippy and the salsa fresh. Lost in the shuffle is her black bean soup, do yourself a favor and get some. Featuring basmati rice, sour cream and some avocado top this nicely. I am a black bean soup fan as is my mom and we rank this as one of the best. Empanadas are just great here, I personally like the con crema ones with custard quite a bit. Definitely happy take out. read more

Well that was a delicious tamales and a pretty darn good pupusas. To date I had only have pupusas and tamales from an El Salvadorian place near Mexican Town in Detroit. I did the Perfect Pair special which lets you pick two tamale/pupusa or one of each. Came with cabbage slaw (curtido), fried plantains, beans and rice (some name I can't recall) and a house drink for which I chose a horchata. I did the spicy pork tamale and the red sauce that came smothered over it was well balanced and hearty. Not really sure what it's made of. The masa was appropriately tender and buttery and inside the spicy pork I ordered was perfectly juicy and tender. For my pupusa I had the Amish chicken which comes with refried beans inside, the external layer of the pupusa was a little chewy, drier that that I've had at other Salvadoran pupusas places but all around very good. It was served with the same red sauce that comes over the tamales but in a dipping Cup so you could apply as desired, or like I did rip up the pupusas and dip it. There was just not much flavor in the pupusa at all. I never tasted or noticed the chicken. I would get a second tamale next time. It was the holiday week so very light lunch traffic, I could imagine the place getting pretty cramped. You order at the counter and then go sit and they bring your food. We did have a group of six and everything came out at the same time and was piping hot. The decor slightly annoyed me (i'm 6' 7") because I kept ramming my head into it. Overall I'd say 4 with the pupusa quality being not nearly as good as the Salvadoran locations elsewhere I've been to, but seems they are all about the Tamales here. read more

Pilar's Tamales - Obligatory Tamale meal photo! Everything on the plate was impressive and memorable. Spicy Pork inside this Tamale. - Latin American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Husband and I really enjoyed this place. I love it for the food and colorful interior, but Husband for simply the food (men, they are interesting characters. ;)) Pilar is a character. When I asked her if they accept American Express, she jokingly said no, but quickly changed her answer. (how am I supposed to know lol, some places still don't accept Amex! :D) so, even though the sticker isn't shown, she DOES in fact, accept Amex, Visa, and MasterCard with a $10 minimum. Now that we got some facts out of the way, let's talk food. Husband and I ordered a tamale plate (beef) and a pupusa plate (chicken and cheese). Both were $10 each, so very affordable. They both come with a side of slaw (which was crispy and tart; my favorite flavor profile), black beans, plantains, and rice pilaf. The flavors were awesome, as they each had a different flavor: sweet (plantains), salt (pupusa/tamale), tart (slaw), and smoky (rice and beans). The portions were good, though I felt my pupusa was a little small, but still okay. The tamale was moist and pillowy soft, and the plantains were great, not greasy at all. :) We washed things down with the hibiscus iced tea and horchata. We both favored the hibiscus tea, but the horchata had a nice cinnamon rice flavor. As if our meal wasn't complete already, Husband decided to order their flan ($4.95). We are flan enthusiasts and Pilar's is different in that the texture is much more dense than the French counterpart. It is almost like eating cheesecake! Yummy flavor, but we were surprised at the texture. We enjoyed our meal here, and will most definitely come back. There aren't that many shops like these around anymore, and bonus that most everything is locally and organically sourced, and made from scratch. Visit Pilar if you're in the mood for some El Salvadorean treats! read more

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If you didn't have Pilar's big windows opening up on Ann Arbor's Liberty street outside, you would think you were miles away in Central America soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the splendid cuisine. The food here is stellar. The Tamales, whichever variety suits you are delicately prepared, ample sized, rich in flavor, not too dry or moist. Whether you are gere for the first time or a repeat customer, the food will not disappoint. My favorites are the Tamale Special and the Papusa Special. Both come with your choice of Tamale or Papusa + a serving of Curtido (Cabbage slaw) + Casiamento (Black beans and rice) + Plaintains (perfectly prepared) + a choice of beverage. All that adds up to a wonderful & satisfying plate. Not too much...not too little. Just right. Don't waste that beverage choice on a soda! Try the Horchata (A sweet and creamy drink made from rice, morro seeds, cinnamon, vanilla, and spice). The coffee is extraordinary. Rich and strong, yet very smooth. The folks at Pilar's are very friendly too. You'll feel like you stopped in at their family kitchen and are very welcoming. read more

Pilar's Tamales - Latin American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I met my friend at Pilar's Tamales, and had no idea what to expect. I'd never heard of it, but the website seemed promising. When I pulled up, I was surprised at how tiny it was: just a little storefront in a small stripmall. My friend hadn't be there, either. We each ordered a perfect pair. I had the Chicken & Cheese tamale, the loroco & cheese pupusa, and a spicy mocha. It was really delicious. It came with beans and plaintains, and the spicy mocha was seriously good: warm, chocolatey, with a real kick. The staff was very sweet and helpful (at first we weren't entirely clear on how to order, what to do, etc.). We ended up staying for a long time catching up, and it was a great experience. I highly recommend it. read more

Pilar's Tamales - Perfect Pair - Latin American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Wow, they are so nice here and the coffee is pretty tasty. I think the menu says it's from Ugly Mug? I ordered mine with cream and sugar, and this is some really tasty cream. The only thing keeping me from giving this place five stars right now is that my bf and I both had trouble connecting to the wireless. The signal is pretty weak over in the coffee shop area, but I managed to connect while standing next to the Che Guevara book. The bf isn't having the same luck. Can I just add that the food smells AMAZING. I wish I hadn't eaten lunch before coming here. read more

Pilar's combo meals are delicious. I love their hot chocolate, mochas, and horchata and the meal + drink combos are an affordable treat. Tamales, pupusas, Curtido salad, and plantains are all delicious. The folks working here are also extremely nice. They have a very easy system for call ahead curbside pickup. read more

Just stopped by today for the first time and I'm glad I did. Best tamale I have had in a long time, perhaps even the best. The staff was very polite and helpful. I will definitely be coming back for more. Bring cash if you plan on spending less than 10 dollars though. After you spend 10 dollars or more, they do take credit cards. read more

Pilar's Tamales - Latin American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

They have the best pork tamale ever, with green olives in them. The tamales are all large and flavorful. Their beans are unusual and delicious. I adore their plantains. I love the counter people too. Very pleasant and fun. The food here is 5 Stars good. The only reason I'm giving it four is because it seems too expensive, and they could work on the dining room a bit. It is small, sometimes dark, and not air conditioned. Also, they stop making eggs fairly early, and I think if you are serving that much starch you should have as many protein options available as possible all hours. read more

Pilar's Tamales - Iced coffee and horchata latte with such good tamales. This chicken tamale has green olives in it! - Latin American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

We are relatively new to A2 and are still finding our go-to places and this will definitely be one! We love several of the tamales, but our favorites are the spicy pulled pork and the chicken and cheese. They come with curtido and salsa on the side, both are delicious. Final note! The Jalapeño and cheese tamal is flavorful, but not spicy, as advertised. Yum! read more

Wow! As soon as I came in in to the restaurant! I got such a great Feeling! Seeing all the art the cultural filled walls I felt such strong nostalgia! Food was great and can't say enough good things about the people working here! So welcoming and helpful! read more

Pilar's Tamales - Latin American Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

This place is absolutely amazing! I stopped when I saw the word Tamale. I was not disappointed. I thought of them for the next two weeks. I wish I was closer so I could have it more often. I highly recommend getting extras for leftovers. The pulled pork tamales are my favorite and the sauce in the perfect accessory. read more

The absolute best. The woman who owns it is one of the nicest people. She makes this cold place known as Michigan a little brighter.

Such a cute spot for some great food! I went here for lunch recently and really enjoyed it. Upon walking in, I noticed some handmade jewelry and other fun items for sale. Very cool! They also have a collection of items in the bathroom for free, with encouragement to leave something as well. Also, they have a jar asking for donations for local charities. I just loved the community involvement aspect of Pilar's! The space is very casual and cute. Definitely a lovely little spot! When my friend arrived, we ordered some tamale specials. I had the tempe tamale, which was delicious! Also, the fried plantains were so good! I hadn't had fried plantains since moving away from the D.C. area and was so happy to have them again! My friend had the spicy mocha, which I tasted as well. It was so good! I probably should have ordered one myself! Overall, I really enjoyed Pilar's! Everyone was very kind, the environment was cute and fun, and the food was delicious! read more

Who doesn't love Pilar's tamales?? I basically grew up eating her tamales and hers is my standard for all tamales. Simply haven't found anything better. Perfect fillings to masa ratio, sauce is flavorful, pickled slaws is perfect accompaniment. Every single staff I met including Pilar are just so sweet. This might be a biased review but no one could argue her quality food belongs to Ann Arbor's hall of fame. read more