Mama's Hot Tamales Cafe

You've never seen such a wide selection of tamales. Equally impressive options for sauces and moles. Tasty, tasty, tasty. Located in a store front, but very warm and pleasant atmosphere. Located ajacent to a Latino book store and gift shop. Very cultural flavor without going overboard.

If you're in the mood for tamales, go to the place that makes tamales their main focus. This small, charming restaurant offers a unique variety of flavors for their tamales. Great for catering, take-out or dine-in. Not only do eaters get their grub on, but you help support their non-profit job-training program.

This is not only a fine restaurant serving up tamales and horchata but it is also a bookstore, co-op and training center for tamale street vendors and a Center for Social Justice (not the name but I forget it exactly). The tables and chairs are finely carved and the whole place is brightly decorated with suns and flowers and turquoise paint. The tamales are the bomb and are recipes from all over Central & South America and the Caribbean. I like the ones from Nicaragua con pollo. I love the feel of the place because you know it is dynamic and that in training the street vendors to sell tamales in ways that meet the cities codes then more people will benefit from this enterprise.

PROS: All of it!
CONS: If you are intimidated by Macarthur Park it is right across the street.