Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Tamales Ancira

Tamales

Tamales Ancira, a store that has been operating in Chula Vista since 1989, opened up a location on Garnet Avenue here in Pacific Beach about a year or so ago. While they aren't going to make us forget about the tamales we had in Oaxaca, they do a very good job and we are really lucky to have such a great place just a few blocks away from our house.

Tamales

They are primarily a take-out business, but they do have a few small tables if you want to eat there. You can order your tamales a la carte, or as a combo plate with rice and beans.

Here is the 3-tamal combo plate:

Tamales

If you order tamales a la carte, they wrap them up nicely for you.

Tamales

They also give you salsas, cheese and crema. Today they were out of their red salsa, but we got their green salsas. One is a traditional tomatillo-based salsa verde, and the other is a mixture of green and red chiles. Both are relatively mild, but very tasty.

Tamales

First up, the chicken tamal. They do it in a flavorful red sauce. I love the way the redness stains the masa.

Tamales

ChicharrĂ³n isn't my favorite thing in the world, but they do a good version - cooked until fully soft and not chewy like it sometimes can be.

Tamales

The picadillo is generally very good, but this time around the meat was a bit dry. Like all the others however, the masa was flavorful, soft and well seasoned.

Tamales

Here is the pork tamal - moist shreds of meat in a green sauce.

Tamales

And finally, the beef tamal. Like the chicken, it is in a red sauce. This one has been our favorite of all we've tried so far - earthy, savory and very satisfying.

Tamales

If you are near PB and are craving tamales, definitely check them out.

Tamales Ancira
1404 Garnet Ave.
(858) 270-1810
Open Mon-Sat, 9:00-9:00PM and Sun 10:00-5:00PM

4 comments:

  1. Hey Mike - We passed by the other day and was wondering how this place was. Thanks for all the info!

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  2. Hi Kirk - I definitely recommend giving them a try. I hope they make a go of it there - that location has been cursed for the past 10 years or so (one failed place after another).

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  3. I have had the tamales from this location on several occasions and have enjoyed them. I really like the pineapple.

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  4. I've only had the savory tamales so far - I'll make sure to try the pineapple next time.

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