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Categories: Mexican, Local Flavor, Food
Neighborhood: MissionWed-Thu. 6:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Fri., Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
OHHH SOOO GOOOOOD!!!
The cheese & green chile is the way to go - the black bean one was too much starch for me.
I wish she would come to my house to surprise me with tamales. Yum.
FINALLY!! I found the tamale lady. I got a cheese tamale with green chilies. It was sooooooo gooood.
Now. How do I track her down again?
I think I found a direct correlation for the Tamale Lady's pricing:
SF-Oakland Bay Bridge Toll Chronology
1936: $0.50 (bi-directional)
1969: $1.00 (westbound only henceforth)
1998: $2.00
2004: $3.00
2009: $4.00
2010: $6.00
Solamente por los gringos borrachos.
Four dollars?
I don't care if that includes a conceptual delivery…
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First off, this bitch looks like a crackhead who just happened to stumble upon these tamales. Second of all, they aren't that good. The masa is hella dry and there's just TOO MUCH MASA, i would've been better off eating the Tamale Lady sign at Zeitgeist. And she was a bitch to me! She sold her soul to the devil... having the audacity to charge a fellow brethren four dollars for a tasteless tamale! My dad used to buy nacatamales from a tamale FAMILY in the Mission and those were crackin, but not Virginia's. Four dollars? Pffff.... go to a Casa Lucas and get a better tamale from a tamale family. Fuckin hipsters gassed her up.
During an awkward first date at Zeitgeist, the night got a little less awkward with the appearance of a mythical creature who I had heard so much about. The famous tamale lady came into my life and nothing else mattered in the world except that a heavenly pocket of pork and corn from a garbage-bag lined cooler was about to be mine.
And mysterious date man almost declined.
"I'M PAYING FOR IT!" I drunkedly scream.
She is so worth tolerating the obnoxious hipsters (one of whom almost got a major Michelle S. throwdown for not having respect) at Zeitgeist.
When and if I ever get married, I am totally getting Tamale Lady to cater it. And my wedding will be so much better than whatever candy-ass storybook wedding you have.
Legend, icon, hero.
This was in fact a mythical appearance, at Zeitgeist nonetheless.
My buddy came back from what looked like inside the bar area with a tamale. "How much?" I asked. "Four dollars," he replied.
Fine. It looked big and everything, so I wasn't about to complain.
Not too long after, I saw someone going by with a cart - who I figured was not staff, mumbling something loudly that sounded like "licorrrrrrrrice!" I only put 2 and 2 together much later on that she was the one selling the tamales.
I purchased a pork tamale, with a little bit of salsa/hot sauce, and was not let down. The presentation is also awesome.
5 stars all around. She should have catered my Bar Mitzvah. Wait, I didn't have one. Good thing, cause I REALLY like pork.
Saviour!
She even has vegan tamales!
What a woman
What can one really say about Virginia (aka, the Tamale Lady) that hasn't already been said?
All I know is this: a trip to the Zeitgeist isn't complete unless you soak up some of the booze you're consuming with one of her homemade tamales. She is "street food" at its finest in San Francisco. She is a beloved San Francisco tradition.
If you have ever read anything by rock n' roll Chef Anthony Bourdain, you'll know that he is a huge advocate of "fast food" being non-corporate, homemade food you can find at a street vendor... his thought is that this is ALWAYS some of the best local, regional cooking you can find when you travel. I wholly agree.
The only rival to Tamale Lady is the difficult to find on a regular basis Bacon Dog... and, really, it's no comparison, they are so different - yet, the same in that they are wonderful little piece of the SF Mission that you have to be here to really understand.
Viva La Tamale Lady!!!
When your hanging out having a few beers at Zeitgeist and a lady walks by yelling "tamales"... "tamales" its one of the best things to hear. I was
there a few weeks ago and saw the tamale lady and took her up on her offer.
The price is not bad but honestly the tamales was OK. I went for the sweet potato and it was def a sweet potato but it seems like it was missing something. I would take her up on her offer again so I can try the cheese or something else. All in all its sweet they let her come in and serve up the tamales.
a rite of passage when drinking at zeitgeist i guess
fucking expensive if you ask me, but for a lifetime event, small in the scheme of things
After four years of eluding me I have FINALLY met the Tamale Lady!!!!
Last Saturday she suddenly appeared at Zeitgiest....I'd been there many, many times but never when the glorious tamales were being served. Honestly I was beginning to believe that she was a figment of drunk hipsters' imagination. Just a bunch of stoned boozers chasing the Tamale Lady Dragon.
I swear that woman is harder to find than a tall, hot, straight man with a pair of cajones bigger than my own. (Still looking actually...)
Anywho....her tamales fucking rock! Chicken, Cheese, Veggie and I think Bean....I totally forgot which one I inhaled but it was super sabroso!
FYI guys....it's the Tamale Lady's birthday on Monday, June 15!! Zietgiest is having a party for her.
http://blogs.myspace.c...
Very reminiscent of street food I've had in central and south america. Not cheap like in those countries but how can you complain when you're drunk and stoned at zeitgeist.
While it's good to have something to eat when you're drunk, I wouldn't call the Tamale Lady's tamales the best in SF. My main problem is that the masa tastes like grits. While I like grits, I want my masa made of corn meal. I want authentic tamales when I'm craving tamales.
So, she gets two stars to say, "Thanks for being there when I needed something in my stomach to soak up the alcohol." But that's about it.
Tamale Lady, SF loves you and for good reason.
I've seen her at Zeitgeist and Toronado...
Yummy tamale goodness. Always a treat! Especially after a drink or two.
I was a little skeptical, but with some encoragement from my friends I got the beef tamale. It was the second best tamale that I've ever had, and far better than any tamale I've ever eaten at a restaurant. I highly recommend the Tamale Lady for a delicious and super cheap meal!
2 drinks in and the hunger pains had begun. From the crowd emerged a slight woman pulling two coolers. My eyes grew wide, drool began to slow fall from my lips.
The Tamale Lady had arrived and I wasn't even in the Mission! I ordered a pork tamale and got the hot sauce despite the fact that I'm 50/50 on hot sauce because I am a pussy.
It was delicious. It set the tone for an amazing night and I like to say aided in my lack of hangover the next morning.
Four stars because it was $4 and although a dollar doesn't mean a whole lot in San Francisco, I think it was probably only worth $3.
How could anyone give the tamale lady less than 5 stars? Who else is going to hand deliver you hot food while you've been drinking and smoking pot in zeigeists patio?
imagine my elation upon finally meeting face to face with the legendary tamale lady! seriously, the tamale has taken the prize of best drunk food after last night. no, i don't think i will be ordering late night burritos anymore, the tamale is just so much better! her veggie tamales are delicious, moist, warm, and they go down smooth with that spicy red sauce and a cool glass of anchor steam.
2 STARS**---An "ok", but sloppy Tamale praised by all of these out of towners and transplants, the Tamale for a drunk person; Most locals here look at this whole thing as a joke anyways, she's definitely a staple but nothing to brag about... Bless her heart though either way...This tamale is avg., really overpriced too for the quality....your buying into the hype, the drunked yuppy hype....
"The Tamale Lady, she's so cool!! She sells real deal tamales out in the public at 2 am when my judgement is about is good as a 2 year old crossing the street when the light is red"...
Come on people.....
Gimme a break, 2 stars for her effort and risking her livelihood at late hours of the night, but...minus 3 stars for the yuppies here pumping her up and the Tamale being overpriced. Worse than that, it is just average TASTING!
**TAKE notice too, most of the reviewers here admit they have been DRINKING the night of there MAGICAL Encounter with thee TAMALE LADY, etc. So consider the quality of the sources here; I've read better folklore....
Fast food used to taste great at 2am right? Anything when youre drunk from a night out at the ZEITGEIST right?....what a hustle!!! And ALL You Hipster-hypesters have been HUSTLED in a BIG Way!! Suckers in a "Sucker Free City", not a good mix either, mmm, Okay???
So I usually (never) do this, but I'm calling ANYONE out who has given the Tamale Lady 1 star. I had to look, knew it was going to piss me off, but looked anyway. FUUUUUCK ALL OF YOU! Its the TAMALE LADY! She is a San Francisco icon. Her tamales rock! She is a saint, who toils endlessly, making killer tamales, packing them up in her cooler, then strolling the cold streets of SF, bringing delicious warmth and goodness to the masses like Jesus in the feeding of the 5000! 1 STAR? ARE YOU NUTS? Maybe we aren't "from South American country" (how can I trust someone's taste buds with such poor grammar SANDRA) but we do know a good treat when it's delivered steaming hot, smothered in hot sauce, and placed delicately next to our PBRs at Zeitgeist. Fuck it, I'm out. I'm going to find Virginia right now so I can give her a hug and tell her how much I appreciate and love her.
1 star. Complete assholes.
WOW!!!! your on yelp???!!!
I was kind of worried to buy tamales from a lady sitting outside a grocery store.. Im not sure if this is the same tamale lady, they look like the same person? She had 2 and 4 packs for 3 bux and 6 bux so im not sure if shes lowered her prices or maybe its a different lady. Imitation Tamale Lady or not, the tamales were a quick snack we needed while we did our laundry, We tried 2 quesos and 2 chicken, they were all yummys. She had Queso and Chili, Pork and Chicken! Yummm Salsa was delicious too!
Someone give this woman an iPhone 3G with Loopt on it so I know where she is AT ALL TIMES!
She has ruined tamales for me, because after hers, never again have I found anything nearly as delicious.
Tamale Lady, I love you!!!
$4 for a tamale is expensive. But then again, you're getting what looks like a football. More importantly, it's fantastic- great mesa, great pork, and great savory/spicy sauce.
And the atmosphere?...it's wherever you're drinking baby.
The Tamale Lady kicks out the jams when it comes to delivering fine tamales to your needy stomach at pivotal empty-belly moments that usually involve alcohol or lying in the park or both.
You can not seek out The Tamale Lady but like all great beings bearing revelatory gifts, she will provide tamales to those who are truly ready. I also like the way she says 'tamale' over and over in a quasi-robotic way and pops wheelies with her cooler when no one is looking.
Like others before me, I would like to take this opportunity to heap scorn upon those who would give The Tamale Lady one star. Don't fuck with The Tamale Lady, asshats.
People who hate on The Tamale Lady get vaporized by the crack team of extraterrestrial commandos who monitor her every tamale sale for purposes of researching evolutionary tamale marketing paradigms. Or suddenly Tamale Lady is that guy from Predator with the massive chaingun and you just get shredded outside a dollar store on Mission. Either one.
Ignore the rumor that she stole her tamale recipe from the ancient tamale guru's collection of tamale scrolls. The guru's rage of lies was prompted only by the burning jealousy that his tamales will never be superior to those of The Tamale Lady.
Her unique business model also makes her the current topic of study for several advanced courses in proto-linguistic tamale sales barriers in congested retail districts.
Really, if you need to eat a tamale in San Francisco, it's all going on right here.
UPDATE: Just saw Tina Fey do The Tamale Lady on SNL...
My experience with the famous Tamale Lady is unfortunately rather limited.
Regardless of mercilessly roaming the streets of The Mission hoping to find her through scent alone (scent of the tamales that is) I have never actually seen her pushing a cart down Valencia.
So you can imagine my excitement when my partner told me she would be at his work event and I could eat tamales to my belly's delight!
I'm pretty sure I pushed him out the door about half an hour earlier than was necessary.
I ended up eating more than my share of spicy cheese & chili tamales (a rare breed in SF) and before leaving the event, she even asked if I wanted to take some home!
Heck yes I want to take some home!
And you're damn right I ate another one as soon as I got there!
I will continue to scour the streets of The Mission to find The Tamale Lady, but it's great to know she does private events with generosity and fervor as well. :)
Dear Tamale Lady,
You made my life in the mission such a happy one. Thank you!
"Whoa, that's her!" I said to my drinking mates at the Noe Valley Tavern. I imagine this isn't typically where you'll find the notorious Tamale Lady, but on this lucky day I did.
I had heard so much about her, that even though I was stuffed, I got two tamales. Wow. They were definitely delicious, but for $4! I'm no cheapskate, but if her reputation didn't exceed her, I would have asked if I could have gotten a mariachi band included in the price.
Either way, the Tamales were delicious, but for $4 I could have also gotten another beer.
SFCritic
I often feel that spotting the Tamale Lady is like finding a rainbow - she's an instant mood inhancer! Generally she shows up early Sunday eves at Zietgiest, when you are a bit chilly and not fully dedicated to eatting a Zietgiest burger. They are delicious and I love that she has vegetarian tamales.
I also heart her because I feel like she is enbracing SF culture, by doing something different and delicous.
Her tamales are okay. I always eat them with the hesitation that she might kill me with her tamales.
Sometimes I reject her, and she gets very mad. Also I get rather suspicious when I'm waved over to the backseat of a car and follow the pointing finger to a crock pot sitting in the back seat.
On occasion the tamales suck, and on occasion they are super freakin' awesome!
Now I want one :(
Finally I had an encounter with the tamale lady. (For some reason when I was last at Zeitgeist, no one was enthusiastic about tamales. So there was no way I was passing her up when I saw her this time.) Very good chicken tamale. And it doesn't need to be the end of a long night for them to hit the spot.
I really like Tamale lady's Tamale as good or almost as good as El Cholo in LA.
Only thing is... I always have more than 4 drinks before eating her tamale, so I may not have a good judgment.. I provably would not eat them if I were sober... (I have ServSafe Food sanitation certification)
Oh dear sweet Tamale Lady,
How I'd hoped you'd show up at Zeitgeist for me. And then... there you were, with your fantastic coolers of delicious tamales. I love your tamales. I love that they stay hot, and I love that you put the perfect spoonful of hot sauce on there for me. I wish I could see you everyday, but that would take something away.. some of your magic.
Stay magical and mysterious, Tamale Lady. Until we meet again...
There is a goddess who walks the Mission and offers weary (by weary, I usually mean drunk) folks a magical food to revitalize their souls (by revitalize, I mean sober 'em up).
She isn't serving manna, but I can only assume that it would be pretty close.
My words cannot fully describe the essence of The Tamale Lady . . . so I've provided links to those who've come close:
http://www.yelp.com/us...
and
http://www.yelp.com/us...
Thanks Team Tuesdays
sigh, why not.
It's good when you are out late and hungry... and drunk. Never had one of these bad boys sober, but I think they would still be tasty.
Makes a night at Zeitgeist slightly more tolerable.
Ok, I'm not drinking enough... or she must microwave these. I microwaved another tamale from a different place and it had the exact same rubbery texture. 2-stars for the tamale, 4 stars for the convenience and spirit of entrepreneurialism of this kind lady.
I like this lady a lot. The tamale was so-so last time I had one at Lucky 13. Maybe because I had… Read more »
Virginia and her creations are a rare treasure here in San Francisco, and I hope it stays that way. No matter where she turns up, one cannot help but smile and feel the hunger pangs which arise whenever the aroma of her fresh tamales hits the air.
Now I am hungry. Can we get GPS tracking for her so that we know precisely where we can find her delicious treats?
Once, a long time ago, I was crying at Zeitgeist after a particularly bad argument with my ex (yes, I know it's not cool to cry at a bar, but the fight really was bad and I was a little drunk). The Tamale Lady saw me crying and came up and gave me a free tamale saying "Tamales make you happy" (or something like that). You know what? Tamales DO make you happy, and I was able to stop crying and cheer up.
The Tamale Lady is as awesome her food, which coats my drunken tummy with deliciousness. I always perk up when I see her, even if I am in the worst mood imaginable.
Despite her wild eyed look- The Tamale Lady is amazing and so are her tamales, especially with the fabulous hot sauce she squirts in there. Not only that, but she delivers! and comes within ten minutes with a sticker for calling her.
All these people that say her tamales are too expensive are just plain cheap. Tamales are labor intensive and quite costly to make. She makes hers big enough that you don't need anything else to eat.
I heart the Tamale Lady
Just experience my first tamale lady tamale...spicy pork tamales from heaven! She sauntered into toranado with cooler in tow and changed my life.
20% off (excludes grocery…
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Category: Local Flavor
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Category: Mexican
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Category: Mexican
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Category: Local Flavor
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