I'm from LA and I miss my tamale and pozole vendors on the side of the street and have not found good vendors yet that sell great mexican food. If you have any hole in the walls or numbers for people that sell tamales and or pozole plz lmk
Tamaleria Azteca in north Oakland is good, it's just a walk up window. I think they have burritos and other stuff too but Ive never gotten anything but the tamales.
Maybe check out the areas where tons of food stalls set up on weekends: Laney College Flea Market on Sundays. 50th Ave and Coliseum Way on Saturdays (maybe Sunday also).
Cenaduria Elvira had pozole last time I ate there. It’s a couple tables at the owner’s house.
I don’t have much to compare it to but I like the pozole at Xolo.
There’s a tamale vendor at 35thave and International Ave most days, near fruitvale village. I didn’t think they were great but they weren’t bad. OG birria truck is right by there (weekends only)
I dig the Pozole at Guadalajara on Fruitvale. Bonus, you can go across the street to aloha club afterwards for cheap drinks and some of the best birria and fish tacos in their backyard at La Grana Fish.
Tamales at 73rd and Holly are great, sell out fast so get there in the morning. I also like the cart at High and Foothill in front of Cardenas market. They aren’t the best you’ve ever had but the price is outstanding.
Not Oakland but Los Moles in El Cerrito has a buffet on weekends that includes all you can eat pozole (which is delicious and piping hot) with all of the traditional accompaniments/toppings. Bonus is the 🔥 café de olla
There was a lady who used to show up by the Emeryville Home Depot once or twice a week who I thought made some amazing corn husk tamales. If you prefer or wanna try the banana leaf wrapped style there's a bunch of street vendors on Fruitvale and Foothill in the mornings. Let me know if you find amazing pozole, I'm looking too.
Great Pozole at La Venganza (technically in Berkeley but v close). They sometimes have tamales on special too. All a bit pricey but portions/quality make it worth it.
Unfortunately they are taking a break and reopening but Cenaduria Elvira has great pozole. I also like chicken pozole from La guerreras . Their tamales are great as well!
I was out looking yesterday the 23rd and not a lot of vendors out in the Fruitvale period, this year. I ended up at the Salvadorean truck on Foothill and 34th for ok tamales.
No idea regarding pozole, but a recent thread steered me correctly towards the tamales the hot dog vendor sells by the ferry building at JLS. I'm not an expert, but last year I tried another recommendation for the guy outside the Cardenas and was disappointed. I would easily pick up another dozen from the hot dog vendor.
My probably unpopular opinion is that Tamaleria Azteca is just okay (I'vehad their tamale plates, never picked up by the dozen). That being said, there was a massive line for their tamales when I passed by yesterday.
Lastly, I think Proyecto Diaz sells really good tamales, but they do not sell by the dozen or larger quantities at better pricing, so if you wanted to buy a bunch it would still cost you like 6 dollars each.
Tamaleria Azteca on Market St has killer tamales. Las Guerreras at Swans Market has really good pozole and so does Montecristo Taqueria on University although that’s in Berkeley.
I am going to keep it very real with you as someone who is also from LA and who has tried the recommendations listed above (seriously). Nothing up here is as good as the tamales and pozole in LA. Idk why, it has to be a population density thing. For years now I have been searching. I just buy when i go to LA and keep frozen stashes. Also have had friends mail me tamales overnight packed in dry ice.
Tamaleria Azteca in north Oakland is good, it's just a walk up window. I think they have burritos and other stuff too but Ive never gotten anything but the tamales.
So good!
a true hole in the wall joint. and so delicious
Maybe check out the areas where tons of food stalls set up on weekends: Laney College Flea Market on Sundays. 50th Ave and Coliseum Way on Saturdays (maybe Sunday also).
Cenaduria Elvira had pozole last time I ate there. It’s a couple tables at the owner’s house.
I don’t have much to compare it to but I like the pozole at Xolo.
There’s a tamale vendor at 35thave and International Ave most days, near fruitvale village. I didn’t think they were great but they weren’t bad. OG birria truck is right by there (weekends only)
I just read that Cenduria Elvira opened in Jack London!
468 3rd St., Oakland
50th Avenue / Coliseum Way is astonishing.
Idk where to go for pozole but Tamaleria Azteca near UCSF Children’s Hospital is legit.
I dig the Pozole at Guadalajara on Fruitvale. Bonus, you can go across the street to aloha club afterwards for cheap drinks and some of the best birria and fish tacos in their backyard at La Grana Fish.
Tamales at 73rd and Holly are great, sell out fast so get there in the morning. I also like the cart at High and Foothill in front of Cardenas market. They aren’t the best you’ve ever had but the price is outstanding.
Pozole at Obelisco is excellent. Can’t help you with tamales.
Las Guerreras in Swans Market
$6 a tamale is a bit overkill, are they that worth?
nope, the pozole is good tho
Second the pozole here!
Cenaduria Elvira - pozole is bomb, not sure if they sell tamales, it’s in the backyard of a house in the hood
I’ve heard good things about the tamales at Masa.
Their pozole is good too!
Can’t wait to try both!
Not Oakland but Los Moles in El Cerrito has a buffet on weekends that includes all you can eat pozole (which is delicious and piping hot) with all of the traditional accompaniments/toppings. Bonus is the 🔥 café de olla
There was a lady who used to show up by the Emeryville Home Depot once or twice a week who I thought made some amazing corn husk tamales. If you prefer or wanna try the banana leaf wrapped style there's a bunch of street vendors on Fruitvale and Foothill in the mornings. Let me know if you find amazing pozole, I'm looking too.
She was terrific. I haven’t seen her in months unfortunately
Bummer. I haven't been by that spot as consistently of late so I just was hoping she changed up her schedule.
Great Pozole at La Venganza (technically in Berkeley but v close). They sometimes have tamales on special too. All a bit pricey but portions/quality make it worth it.
Unfortunately they are taking a break and reopening but Cenaduria Elvira has great pozole. I also like chicken pozole from La guerreras . Their tamales are great as well!
Amazing puerco tamales on the corner of seminary and sunnymere in the mornings
The tamales at the west Oakland farmers market on Sundays are next level
search this sub. answers for both within the last couple months
I'm pro-search but people push back on that - not sure why.
Ideally, someone does a search, then post their question.
Like, 'Where are the best tamales? I checked and people like x, y, and z.'
laziness, want personal curations, think they’re special
everything is old and street vendors tend to move
La Mission in Berkeley has Pozole. It's $18 though
I was out looking yesterday the 23rd and not a lot of vendors out in the Fruitvale period, this year. I ended up at the Salvadorean truck on Foothill and 34th for ok tamales.
No idea regarding pozole, but a recent thread steered me correctly towards the tamales the hot dog vendor sells by the ferry building at JLS. I'm not an expert, but last year I tried another recommendation for the guy outside the Cardenas and was disappointed. I would easily pick up another dozen from the hot dog vendor.
My probably unpopular opinion is that Tamaleria Azteca is just okay (I'vehad their tamale plates, never picked up by the dozen). That being said, there was a massive line for their tamales when I passed by yesterday.
Lastly, I think Proyecto Diaz sells really good tamales, but they do not sell by the dozen or larger quantities at better pricing, so if you wanted to buy a bunch it would still cost you like 6 dollars each.
El Huarache near fruitvale Bart has tamales and I think pozole on weekends?
This place makes incredible tamales: Antojitos Guatemaltecos https://share.google/MPa0cw42oWXz2cChc
Tamaleria Azteca on Market St has killer tamales. Las Guerreras at Swans Market has really good pozole and so does Montecristo Taqueria on University although that’s in Berkeley.
Everywhere go outside
I am going to keep it very real with you as someone who is also from LA and who has tried the recommendations listed above (seriously). Nothing up here is as good as the tamales and pozole in LA. Idk why, it has to be a population density thing. For years now I have been searching. I just buy when i go to LA and keep frozen stashes. Also have had friends mail me tamales overnight packed in dry ice.