32 tamale spots, listed.Suggest a restaurant
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1 BomberaWood-fired Oakland kitchen, tamales in mole rojo🏆 DimondEast Bay Book on Resy
Dominica Rice-Cisneros's Dimond District restaurant makes its own nixtamalized masa. The tamales, pork or chicken in mole rojo and seasonal, are a menu constant; Infatuation calls them impossibly fluffy.
3459 Champion St, Oakland, CA 94602Google Maps ↗Chef Dominica Rice-CisnerosRecognitions2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand2026 SF Chronicle Top 100 #24Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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2 El Molino CentralStone-ground masa, red mole chicken tamale🏆 Boyes Hot SpringsNorth Bay / Wine Country Booking not confirmed
Sonoma counter from the Primavera team, nixtamalizing heirloom corn in house. The red mole chicken tamale in banana leaf is the order; Michelin and the Chronicle both name it.
11 Central Ave, Sonoma, CAGoogle Maps ↗Recognitions2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand2026 SF Chronicle Top 100 #93Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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3 ComalBerkeley tamales with chile-citrus braised brisket🏆 Downtown BerkeleyEast Bay Book on OpenTable
Upscale regional Mexican in downtown Berkeley. The Chronicle's Top 100 named its tamales with chile-citrus braised brisket, and Infatuation also likes them.
2020 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704Google Maps ↗Chef Matt GandinRecognitions2026 Michelin Bib GourmandLast reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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4 Yo Tambien CantinaInner Sunset cantina, vegetarian tamales by the batch🏆 Inner SunsetSan Francisco Booking not confirmed
Wine-bar cantina selling seasonal vegetarian tamales in batches through its online order page; Eater says fans mash the purchase button. Availability varies, so check ordering first.
205 Hugo St, San Francisco, CA 94122Google Maps ↗Recognitions2026 SF Chronicle Top 100 #98Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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5 CaliforniosThree-star tasting menu with a tamal course🏆 SoMaSan Francisco Booking not confirmed
San Francisco's three-star modern Mexican tasting menu. The Chronicle names its creative tamales for special occasions; the tamal course changes, so confirm it is on the menu when booking.
355 11th StGoogle Maps ↗Chef Val M. CantuRecognitions2026 Michelin 3 Stars2026 SF Chronicle Top 100 #26Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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6 Mustards GrillNapa pioneer's sweet corn tamales🏆 Napa ValleyNorth Bay / Wine Country Order online
Cindy Pawlcyn's Napa Valley original. The Chronicle says the pioneer of Napa Valley cooking makes stellar tamales too; the menu lists sweet corn tamales with mushrooms and tomatillo salsa.
7399 St Helena HwyGoogle Maps ↗Chef Cindy PawlcynRecognitions2026 Michelin Recommended2026 SF Chronicle Top 100 #77Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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7 NopalitoRegional Mexican from scratch, banana-leaf tamal🏆 Lower HaightSan Francisco Book on OpenTable
From-scratch regional Mexican kitchen. Eater points to its holiday-season squash tamal with mole coloradito; the menu also lists a Tamal Veracruzano with braised chicken.
306 Broderick St, San Francisco, CA 94117Google Maps ↗Chef Gonzalo GuzmanRecognitions2026 Michelin Recommended2026 OAD Casual N. America RecommendedLast reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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8 PopocaSalvadoran tamales with California attitude🏆 Old OaklandEast Bay Booking not confirmed
Anthony Salguero's wood-fired Salvadoran restaurant in Old Oakland, with in-house nixtamalization. The Chronicle singles out the banana-leaf tamales, which change with the season.
906 Washington StGoogle Maps ↗Chef Anthony SalgueroRecognitions2026 Michelin Recommended2026 SF Chronicle Top 100 #6Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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9 Maria IsabelSea urchin tamalito, Guerrero-inspired Presidio spot🏆 Presidio HeightsSan Francisco Book on OpenTable
Contemporary Guerrero-inspired Mexican in Presidio Heights. The sweet corn tamalito topped with uni and corn crema is the dish 7x7 and Infatuation single out.
500 Presidio Ave, San Francisco, CA 94115Google Maps ↗Chef Laura OzyilmazRecognitions2026 Michelin RecommendedLast reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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10 El Buen ComerMexico City guisados, rajas con queso tamales🏆 Bernal HeightsSan Francisco Order online
Isabel Caudillo's Bernal Heights restaurant began with tamales at farmers markets. Eater lists the rajas con queso and pork in salsa verde tamales as fan favorites.
3435 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110Google Maps ↗Chef Isabel CaudilloRecognitions2026 Michelin RecommendedLast reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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11 Prubechu'Chamorro pika tamales gisu in the Mission🏆 MissionSan Francisco Booking not confirmed
Chamorro restaurant in the Mission. The Chronicle calls it the Bay Area's only Chamorro-style tamal; the pika tamales gisu come with a fried egg.
2224 Mission St #AGoogle Maps ↗Chef Shawn NaputiRecognitions2026 SF Chronicle Top 100 #53Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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12 Cafe BolitaHeirloom-masa cafe, carrot tamal in West Berkeley💰 West BerkeleyEast Bay Book on Tock
The restaurant that grew out of the Bolita Masa pop-up, working with heirloom corn masa. Eater, Infatuation and KQED all single out its tamales, especially the carrot masa tamal with salsa de frijol.
2701 Eighth St #118, Berkeley, CA 94710Google Maps ↗Chef Emmanuel GalvanLast reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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13 Tamaleria AztecaOakland takeout window, tall pork tamales Santa FeEast Bay Booking not confirmed
Takeout window on Market St with lard-rich masa and some of the tallest tamales in the Bay Area. Pork is the one to get; KQED, Eater and the Chronicle all name it.
5751 Market St, Oakland, CA 94608Google Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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14 PrimaveraFerry Plaza stand, masa from El Molino EmbarcaderoSan Francisco Booking not confirmed
Farmers market tamale stand run by the El Molino Central team. Classic fillings plus roasted pumpkin with white cheddar; Eater calls them outrageously popular. Ferry Plaza market days only.
1 Ferry Plz (Ferry Plaza Farmers Market), San Francisco, CA 94111Google Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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15 Alicia's Tamales Los MayasHayward tamale maker, big tamales, vegan option HaywardEast Bay Booking not confirmed
Hayward tamale maker and caterer, also sold at Berkeley Bowl and Monterey Market. Eater likes the large tamales with familiar fillings and a twist; there is a vegan nopales and garbanzo tamale. Order ahead.
23682 Clawiter Rd, Hayward, CA 94545Google Maps ↗Chef Alicia VillanuevaLast reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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16 Antojitos GuatemaltecosGuatemalan rice tamales and paches, El Cerrito El CerritoEast Bay Booking not confirmed
Guatemalan restaurant on San Pablo Ave known for rice tamales that KQED calls custard-like and jiggly, plus corn-masa tamales. It started as a Richmond cart.
11252 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530Google Maps ↗Chef Yury Aguilar & Carlos PoolLast reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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17 Café de OllaOaxacan chicken mole tamal, Mission MissionSan Francisco Booking not confirmed
Homey Oaxacan restaurant in the Mission. The Chronicle names its Oaxacan tamales; the chicken mole tamal wrapped in banana leaf is the one to order.
3388 19th StGoogle Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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18 Casa Latina BakeryWest Berkeley bakery, long steamed tamales West BerkeleyEast Bay Booking not confirmed
Latin bakery and restaurant on San Pablo Ave. Eater likes the sturdy, long tamales in pork, chicken or cheese, steamed or fried Abuela-style with mole; order a dozen ahead at the holidays.
1805 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702Google Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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19 Chicano NuevoTamale negro add-on at Bernal tasting menu Bernal HeightsSan Francisco Book on OpenTable
Ensenada and Baja-style tasting menu in Bernal Heights. Eater's 2026 review singles out the much-loved tamale negro, squid ink masa with sherry-braised lengua, as a $22 add-on.
3355 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110Google Maps ↗Chef Abraham NunezLast reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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20 Diana's TamalesSan Jose tamaleria with several outposts East San JoseSouth Bay Booking not confirmed
East San Jose tamaleria with multiple outposts and a truck on McKee Rd. The Chronicle includes it among the Bay Area's best tamales; chicken verde and rajas are listed.
1696 McKee RdGoogle Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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21 El Portal RestaurantSan Leandro wet tamales in red sauce San LeandroEast Bay Booking not confirmed
San Leandro Mexican restaurant serving wet tamales, pork or chicken in red sauce under melted cheese. Eater praises the masa-to-filling ratio.
2028 Lewelling Blvd, San Leandro, CAGoogle Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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22 Elena's Mexican RestaurantWest Portal family-style pork tamales West PortalSan Francisco Book on OpenTable
The Original Joe's team's West Portal Mexican-American restaurant. Eater says the pork tamales come slashed with crema, cotija and avocado salsa; one comes with the combo plate.
255 West Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127Google Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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23 Express PupuseriaGeary Blvd Salvadoran banana-leaf tamales Inner RichmondSan Francisco Booking not confirmed
Geary Blvd pupuseria whose banana leaf-wrapped tamales ($3.50) the Chronicle says can't be missed, with very moist masa. Takeout or eat in.
4715 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118Google Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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24 L'Roco GrillSan Jose Salvadoran tamal de gallina CurtnerSouth Bay Order online
Curtner Ave Salvadoran restaurant the Chronicle calls a primer on Salvadoran tamales: a steamed hen tamal in banana leaf and a crispy sweet corn tamal on the antojitos platter.
699 Curtner Ave #140, San Jose, CA 95125Google Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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25 La Palma MexicatessenMission tortilleria, tamales from fresh masa MissionSan Francisco Booking not confirmed
24th Street tortilleria and mexicatessen grinding its own masa. Pork, beef, chicken and cheese tamales plus sweet strawberry and pineapple; Eater's 2026 review calls them second to none.
2884 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110Google Maps ↗Chef Teresa RodriguezLast reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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26 Las GuerrerasGuerrero-style tamales in Swan's Market Old OaklandEast Bay Order online
Family-run Guerrero-style stand in Old Oakland's Swan's Market, formerly La Guerrera's Kitchen. Beef and guajillo chile tamales plus chicken and vegan; Eater says to order them all month in December.
907 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607Google Maps ↗Chef Ofelia Barajas & Reyna MaldonadoLast reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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27 Masa Tamales & TaqueriaPoint Richmond, eleven kinds of tamales Point RichmondEast Bay Order online
Homemade tamales, tacos and tortillas in Point Richmond. Eater counts 11 kinds, large and tender, including a strawberry dessert tamale.
199 Park Pl, Richmond, CA 94801Google Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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28 Norma's Meat & DeliSalvadoran tamales inside Val-Mar Market RichmondEast Bay Booking not confirmed
Salvadoran counter inside Richmond's Val-Mar Market. Eater calls the quiver-y Salvadoran-style tamales some of the Bay's best.
3630 Barrett Ave, Richmond, CA 94805Google Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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29 Supermercado Mi Tierra #2Fruitvale market, small-batch chicken tamales FruitvaleEast Bay Booking not confirmed
Supermarket hot-food counter in Fruitvale making small batches most days that sell out early. Eater says the chicken tamale is everything anyone could want.
2758 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland, CA 94601Google Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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30 Tamales LupitaSan Jose streetside stand, fierce-flavored tamales Seven TreesSouth Bay Booking not confirmed
Sidewalk stand in an east San Jose strip mall on Senter Rd. The Chronicle says its tamales have fierce flavors, like black frijoles with melty chicharron; morning service.
77-79 Senter RdGoogle Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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31 Taqueria Los MayasClement St Yucatecan tamales plate Inner RichmondSan Francisco Order online
Richmond District Yucatecan sibling of Cantina Los Mayas. Eater calls the tamales well made; the $19.75 plate has two tamales with rice, beans, cotija and crema.
331 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118Google Maps ↗Chef Juventino CarrilloLast reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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32 Taqueria Senaida'sHayward drive-through, hefty pork tamales HaywardEast Bay Booking not confirmed
Drive-through taqueria on Tennyson Rd with a line of cars for its hefty pork and chicken tamales, which Eater praises for flavorful masa.
150 Tennyson Rd, Hayward, CA 94544Google Maps ↗Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026
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