El Tamal

Elite '08

4

105

Albertro F.

Brooklyn, NY

In the past few weeks, I became addicted to tamales.  Sure, I'd get 'em every now and again at Chavella's or other Mex spots, but they always seemed tacked on to a preexisting menu, and thus, secondary.  El Tamal changed all this, as their eponymous thrust is still tempting my tastebuds and heating my seat from 800 miles away.

El Tamal is one guy, a counter, a sign, and - I assume - several abuelitas de Pueblo who stuff and wrap these doozies in the evenings.  The sign states what's available - tacos de goat y pollo, and fantastic, fresh, steaming masa cakes with pork, cheese, chicken, mole, salsa rojo, or peppers.  All are delicious and economical, at a mere buck a pop.  Tacos, although still untried, and thus unYelped, are a reasonable $1-$2, and appear to be what the locals standing at the counter favor.  

Come early, as el Senor closes down by 1 PM and sometimes earlier.  I've gotten a pink tamal dulce and tea for breakfast and walked the others home for lunch.  

Beware: the spicy tamales are quite hot.  The mild ones have a pleasant kick to them, but you WILL feel the salsa rojo later.

I bitch and moan about finding authentic Mexican food, but this is the (fuck, a bad pun approacheth) the real enchilada.  Did I mix metaphors?   Ay, pinche!

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