Manolo's Tamales

Quite frankly you just need to stop here, this is what your taste buds dream of. Almost as wonderful as mom used to make, and watching the ladies in back brings back memories, they obviously have a huge following, who knew they made pots that big, wow. I had the red and green tamales, the red sauce is delicious with just the right amount of spice.  The green sauce is spicier but you sacrifice a little taste with it but still delicious! , sitting is a challenge as the place is a little disorganized but not a bad thing, adds to the ambience. More of a lunch place but oh so worth it.

Later.....

They used to be good.

I used to come here all the time when I wanted tamales. At first they were really good but now their memory is all that is left.

Their tamales are huge but it is mostly masa and no filling. And not even the masa is good. It is so spongy and underseasoned.

Gotta give it to them, the arroz con leche is still good as well as their guayaba atole.

but when it comes to tamales, I drive a little bit more to the next tamaleria.

Manolo what happened to your tamales?????

Please come here if you want to be ashamed of something.

I remember this place when it first opened up.  I really like supporting local businesses and prefer giving them my money rather than going to any chain.  I've always thought the food here was pretty good and was glad to have another taqueria that's even closer to my house.

Until:
I walked in, asked for a torta and was told they ran out of the torta bread.
Came again, asked for tacos de asada and was told they had no more meat.
Visited again and was told they ran out of the burrito tortillas.
Saw the lady cook eating her lunch all sloppily at the counter and then proceeded to walk into the back to start cooking without washing her hands.

I've frequented other businesses MUCH busier than this place and *they* NEVER run out of ingredients.  I will admit that the food is pretty tasty, the salsa is better than a lot of places, BUT they truly have no excuse for much of the sloppiness and inadequacy plaguing this taqueria.

UPDATE: came back for redemption visit (or because I'm a masochist).  It was so nice and refreshing to see that things don't change.  The cook in the back had (and I'm not exaggerating) a volleyball size chunk of round frozen meat that she was trying to defrost and cook at the same time as she was picking it apart with a spatula.  No hair net, no apron, no gloves, and a pair of lovely flip flops.