Decided to have some take out from this place and it did not disappoint. Service was fast. Food was excellent. Service was done with so much warmth. Small quaint place and Will definitely go back. read more

Reasonably priced salad at this well-hidden spot inside a parking garage facility in downtown SF. Very friendly service - solicitous and charming. Salad itself did not have a ton of flavor. read more

Excellent Friendly Customer Service Customizable sandwiches Tamales Salads Fruit Makes for a great small pick me up spot in downtown. read more

My favorite is the egg salad sandwich! But they have alot of other really good options too. Really nice staff and their other snack selections are good read more

Who would think to come to the Sutter Stockton Garage for a homemade tamale? I was on my way back from a medical appointment at 450 Sutter when I decided to stop here based on the little sandwich board on the sidewalk. I quickly looked at the Yelp app and found that people do indeed come to what looks like a little sandwich and candy shop right across from the elevators (photo: http://bit.ly/12cdY0c). And why? Because the owner, a quiet, charming woman named Holly Li, married a Mexican-Chinese man and learned to make tamales from her sister-in-law while living for years in Mexico City. Her tamales caught the appetite of a 7x7 food writer (photo: http://bit.ly/14EnpYh), and now she's developing a cult following through the Yelp gravevine. A sign perched precariously in the corner atop a stack of phone books heralds her Chicken Tamales with a quote from 7x7: "A perfect ratio of masa to shredded chicken and olives" for $2.75 each (photo: http://bit.ly/13exIa8). OK then, two please as I expected them to be small for that price. They are and come steamed in their corn husks (photo: http://bit.ly/14hBz2W). Peeling them off gingerly given the heat, they are perfectly molded with the masa thick and almost gelatinous and with a generous filling of spicy chicken, chopped jalapenos and olives (photo: http://bit.ly/12y6a7X). She came back with a squeeze bottle of siracha gave an even greater kick to every bite. They are definitely delicious and made me want some enchiladas and refried beans on the side. Two more please. FOOD - 4 stars...homemade tamales with panache and flavor and you don't have to take the 14 AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...looks and feels like an office building business SERVICE - 4.5 stars...Holly is great and steadfast TOTAL - 4 stars...you don't have to park here to get a satisfying tamale read more

See all

Sutter Café is a small coffee/sandwich shop in the basement of the Sutter-Stockton parking garage. This place is hidden inside and unless you go looking for it there is no way that you will run into this place or spot it from the road. It's accessible from the Sutter street entrance next to E&O Kitchen and Bar. After passing by it many times I finally decided to give it a try. I saw a big sign for chicken tamales ($3.50) so I decided to get one to-go. As expected it was cash only. The short review would be that the chicken tamale was crap. It was a tiny bite sized over steamed masa that enclosed literally a minuscule amount of chicken. It did not even come with any sauce to help slide this down. I don't know what I'm missing but this was one overpriced crappy tamale that I have no intention of ever getting again. Some of the reviews here have praised these tamales to the high heavens. I'm not one of them. I'd rather go to Tropisueno or any of the Taqueria's in the hood (Tenderloin) and get decent tamale instead. read more

Sutter Cafe - Tamale ($3.50) - Tiny bite sized tamale with hard masa that does not even come with sauce. Terrible. - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

The lady made a warm breakfast croissant for me, fresh eggs. Shes really sweet and the cafe is easy, located inside sutter-stockton garage building near the elevator. read more

Sutter Cafe - Sausage& Egg croissant - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Nice person, Jenny, at the Cafe. Daily soup options, basic sandwiches and small bakery items. What you need or want on a quick simple lunch. Generous portions for soup, I had the Clam Chowder and it was great. Lots of clams! Worth a visit. Tamales are small and fresh. Very good. read more

Absolutely love the lady (owner) who makes the soup of the day, different everyday!!! She is not only a fantastic cook, but will always greet u with a smile & that motherly spirit. She always heaps on a generous amount of content of soup! I love that it's a different soup everyday, so far I've tried: Minestrone & Beef/Vegetable soup! Looking forward to trying more!!! Can't wait to try the tamales, too! another reason to run an errand in downtown, now ;) read more

The place is small (located inside a building, next to the elevators for the Sutter Stockton garage), but it's stocked with a HUGE variety of food items: coffees, canned drinks, sandwiches, salads, pastries, bagged snacks, and candy by the pound. The store owner, Holly Li, is super friendly and sweet, offering to reheat food items and carefully packaging to go orders. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=iBgplgA0wUDC470U1U_Opg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=JJkQBNtnhZ2hCn8DNXgetQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=lhXaK6CU14FmlOT5qcBSbg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=L_ud6nZ8vAFZ1o6MmgFnLw Sorry the fuzzy pictures are from my cellphone camera. 7x7 magazine awarded it best tamales in 2007. The shop has a little card next to the chicken tamales to remind customers about it. In my opinion, that award was overrated. Perhaps the magazine was trying to increase business at this shop, which is usually empty. I think that the magazine's staff should try La Palma Mexicatessen on 24th St, or other places in Oakland, to learn what really good tamales are like. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=Uo8qMdQlW-eg7nyeOEaTEg I ordered 2 tamales ($2.25 each). These are half the size of normal tamales, the chicken filling is tasty but the dough around it is a little too dense and dry. Maybe the batch I got was no good, I don't know. Definitely not the best tamales in the bay area. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=y04wmH7AHy3gD8AOp_GdMg On another visit I got an egg salad sandwich and a can of mango drink - mango flavor of drink was excellent, but I found a piece of egg shell inside the sandwich. *sad face* http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=MgSsozAts-Wz0qkB84TGlg The place is lovely, it has a few tables to sit, service is very nice, and you do get a great variety of food options. So even with the flaws I found, I'd rate it 3 stars. read more

See all

Sutter Cafe is in the lobby area of the Sutter/Stockton Garage, next to the elevators. It was dark and closed, but I saw the Asian lady and she opened the door for me. I asked what days and hours the shop was open & I said I was from Fremont and I guess she felt sorry for me and asked if I wanted a chicken tamale. Of course I did. So she heated me up one. It's smaller than a regular size tamale and cost $2.25. I thought it was ok. The dough is kinda thick, but I liked that it had olive, chicken, and peppers. I also asked for an Agua Fresca $2. They have cantaloupe, lime, watermelon. I picked watermelon. It was nice, not too sweet. My total was $4.25. I paid in Cash and ate my tamale outside by the closed ticket counter. 3 small tables & 6 chairs available inside. Hrs: M-F 9-5:30p; Sat 11-5:30p read more

One day while going to the post office, I saw a little sign saying "Best Tamales" - hah? I love tamales and have been looking for a good place near home that has good ones. I was instantly curious. Immediately, I couldn't decide whether to check it out or go to the post office first. Ok, post office first and then come back. To try it, I got 4 tamales for me and my bf. We ate them all in 10 minutes flat! Microwave it with a damp paper towel wrapped around it for 15-18 seconds and it's ready to go! Yum! I can't wait to get more! read more

Tried the "famous" chicken tamales. They're good. Nothing to cheer about, but not bad at all. Will I go back again? yeah. As of Mar 2015, they are $3 each (about 4 inches long) read more

I had heard the tamales here were awesome and despite working around the corner for three years, I had yet to try them. Unfortunately, they didn't quite live up to expectation for me. The good: -Decently priced at $3.00/each -Good ratio of masa to chicken for most of the tamale (see note below) -Super fast grab and go, or enjoy at the tiny store -Delicious hot sauce on the side The bad: -The masa was VERY thick at the ends of the tamale with no chicken -No flavor options, only chicken -Chicken was fatty and I had several pieces of cartilage in my tamales -Hot sauce costs an extra $0.50 for a tiny little cup Overall, nothing I'd go out of my way for in the future, but glad I tried it. read more

I've been here a handful of times when I get that craving for tamales on lunch. So this review is for the tamales only. Suffer Cafe is located in the lobby of the parking garage which threw me the first time I visited on my tamale hunt. It's all the way towards the back where the elevators, keep walking past the shoe shop and the florist. The cafe is right across from the elevators. Once inside, the menus are posted behind the counter. They offer coffee, espresso and other beverages, as well as sandwiches. I only have eyes for the tamales, which are $3 a piece. They are served hot and wrapped in a corn husk with no sauce. The tamales are filled with shredded chicken, black olives, and jalapeños. The are decent and satisfy my craving for a tamale and a cheap lunch. Nothing incredible, but somehow just what I want. read more

Great cafe within the building for the numerous (probably hundreds) of businesses. Prices are reasonable and they have a huge variety of snacks, made to order sandwiches, etc. you can get everything from fresh coffee to pesto turkey sandwiches, to ice cream and snack bars. The staff is friendly and very fast, so it's the perfect place to pick something up on the go. They also have fresh salads and fruit, when trying to be healthy! I just ordered a sandwich online (via yelp) yesterday and it was ready for pickup in 5 minutes! Definitely an efficient working cafe. read more

It's a hole in the wall cafe in a parking garage building. The breakfast sandwiches take long to prepare, but they are great!

Who would have known . . .?? Delicious and fresh chicken tamales in this out of the way location. Still close enough to Union Square and well worth the walk. Also enjoy their egg salad sandwiches and assorted pasta offerings. Run, don't walk to this little cafe. read more

If you're looking for a hidden treasure in Union Square--this is it. Sutter Cafe is a small shop located inside the busy Sutter/Stockton garage. Sutter Cafe, not to be mistaken with Sutter Street Cafe a few blocks down, has the BEST tamales (written about in 7x7 mag). Oh, and the Kona coffee is really good there too. The coffee there is way better than your local Starbucks chain. Yes, I'd much rather support the local small business... read more

Quotable. "A perfect ratio of masa to shredded chicken & black olives." So says 7x7 Magazine. At least according to a sign posted inside. Couldn't confirm online. They were good. And only $2.75. "An outstanding Spanish chicken (mixed with tomato sauce) sandwich, sweet and delicious sugar free vanilla America and delectable homemade eclair for only $12." So says me. Plus charming, friendly and welcoming service. Quote me on it. read more

I thought this place might have been an inviting place to stay had it not been inside of a parking garage lobby. I ordered a chicken pasta salad, which was about $4. It was a decent amount of food and just enough for a nervous lunch before an interview. The lady at the counter (presumably the owner) was very friendly to me and others that came into the shop. A sign inside said their chicken tamales are supposed to be second to none, but I didn't get a chance to verify. Oh yeah: If you wander into this place in a full business suit, god help you with the sweat you're going to generate from the heat inside the shop. WOW! read more

This is my Favorite place to grab my breakfast, fresh coffee and made to order breakfast.. read more

Sutter Cafe - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Home style tamales between union square and FiDi! Delicious! Scones, espresso, beverages, and princess cake slices. I wish I would have tried this place earlier (I always work in this area) but it's hidden in Sutter garage entrance. I only new about it because of a clever sandwich board advertising tamales. The place has tables, it's cozy, relaxing, and clean. read more

Great sandwiches, large selection, and really friendly service. Awesome little hidden gem!

Have you ever had a pint of blood sucked from your throbbing arm after not eating for over 15 hours per doctor's instructions? No? Allow me to shed some light: If you are prone to dizziness and headaches already, this endeavor will become an excruciating nightmare around hour 12. By Hour 13 you're listening to Bright Eyes and contemplating cutting yourself. Then you'll really be ready to cartwheel off the golden gate bridge* around Hour 14. By Hour 15 you are in tears, head clenched in your hands, wearing earplugs to try and drown out the heinous sounds of your stomach screaming for food!!! Once every last drop of blood is drained from your emaciated, ketosis-wracked body, you will feel faint, tingly, and all-around miserable. That's ok! Because if you work in the financial district, you will jump in your car, drive 15 minutes to the Stockton Sutter Garage, and pop into Sutter Cafe for bulk candies, tamales (apparently best in the city according to 7x7 magazine), sandwiches, cakes, cookies, etc. Everything a starving, dizzy, refugee-like girl about town could possibly want to get that blood sugar up, satisfy all the food groups, and get her head back on straight (this part is relative). The lady manning the register is the sweetest and will make you want to hug her and sit on her lap and show her your Hello Kitty band-aids and the sticker you got after your life was all but sucked out of you. But don't do it. Just smile back and come again. And again. And again. *Cartwheel off the golden gate bridge is all Rachel G's. I just get to borrow. read more

Please come and support this business, it's a small little cafe in the Sutter st garage near union square. My reason behind this is that they make a pretty damn good tamale. It's spicy and the masa is made right and the chicken inside is flavorful. You can also get a special hot sauce on the side which kicks it up to insanely spicy levels. If you enjoy spicy tamales that taste really good, don't let the looks deceive you and come try these. My mouth burned so good and I enjoyed every minute of it. Great for lunch or a quick snack. What is sad is that the person making the tamales is Asian and she makes them better than most Hispanic people, they are ridiculously good. Not better than my mom's but pretty damn close. Good price, good flavor and good spice. Very tasty indeed. read more

The tamales are as good as any I have ever had in a store. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best tamales I have ever had, these tamales are a solid 9. (No one can beat fresh tamales in a Mexican kitchen though) read more

A week ago, I happened to park at the Sutter Garage and decided to try the tamales from the Sutter cafe I had read about in SF's 7 x 7 magazine. Needless to say, it was as good as advertised or I wouldn't waste my time writing a review about it. Initially I ordered one and figured I'll grab lunch afterwards but after a few bites decided to have another one. It was a perfect balance of sauce and chicken. Very tasty chicken I might add. A month or so ago I paid $5 to attend the annual Tamales festival in SJ and although the tamales there were good, I do believe these are just as good if not better in taste and texture. Oh, one more thing, the customer service here is exceptional. read more

Great little cafe in the 450 Sutter building. Good ingredients, very good food items and coffee as well as some higher end gourmet snacks & treats. Nice cozy little space. I hope they do well, it's a very convenient addition to the 450 Sutter building. read more

Sutter Cafe - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tamales are to die for!! Hidden GEMS. Also, they have all you candy needs!! BULK. And CAKE. What more do you need?

I've only come here for the tamales, but they are worth the trip. Even better than that may be the hot sauce. Sometimes I think the tamale is just a hot sauce delivery system. Really a surprising place to find such bold flavors. I try never to walk by without having one or two. read more

Out of the way at Sutter garage lobby. Not much of a bakery. Didn't have time to get a coffee drink.

Five stars for kick ass tamales - olives and chicken and just the right blend of masa to stuffing. I grab a large bag of these to bring back to the office crew when I park at sutter/stockton garage as the cafe is just out of the elevator. The place is far from fancy, nor is it cheap, but the tamales are rockin. They also have princess cake - which I have a really strange fondness for - not sure why as I'm not that much of a sweets person - but they always have it, and it always makes me happy! read more

I parked over at the Sutter Street Garage and remembered hearing about this cafe selling tamales. I did online research awhile ago in search of good tamales in the city. This cafe popped up as selling one of the best in the city. My favorite place, so far, is located all the way down in San Jose, so I'm always game to try a place in the city. When I realized I was at the cafe that sells tamales, I had to buy several to try out. I went home, heated it up & ate one. They're ok. The masa was light and not too heavily larded, which I prefer. The filling was very authentic - there was in olive in there! My favorite is still in SJ though... read more

So slow making our orders (they hadn't started after 25 minutes) that we both left. I wouldn't return.

Yelpers led me to this destination, and I'd have to say: These are the best tamales I've ever had. Yes, they are small. Yes, the $2.75 asking price seems large because they're small. But at the end of the day, they are amazingly tasty, and I can't wait to return. The tamales seamlessly meld chicken, olive, jalapenos and masa together into an amazingly balanced combination. I usually find 7x7's recommendations overrated, but the proof is in the pudding: I will be back. (Side Note: Do not confuse this place, as I initially did, with "Sutter Deli", another restaurant-in-garage a block away. Sutter Cafe is between Grant & Stockton, at the Sutter Stockton Garage.) read more

Excellent tamales right outside the 450 Sutter medical center! Very flavorful and packed full of chicken, peppers and olives. Not at all dry. The woman at the shop was very sweet. Will be back again and will order more to go! read more

I get lunch here consistently about 2-3 times a week. Staff is always friendly and sandwiches are all awesome. Solid sandwich joint. The Burger is actually unsuspectingly amazing also. read more

The lady who runs this shop is really nice and hand makes all the food. I love the egg salad sandwich, it's exactly like my mom made it. NOTE: she uses wheat bread for the sandwiches. I'm not a huge fan of the tamale, despite all the raving by 7x7 and previous reviews; it was really bland to me. read more

It's located in a garage but wow the food and service is really good. I had the croissant with bacon, egg and cheese for breakfast and definitely recommend it. read more