Casa De La Familia

22 Essential Tamales in Los Angeles

"Right in front of the Honduran Consulate, next to La Troca Catracha, a folding table lined with bags of Zambos (banana chips) and a cooler is where Doris Caballero proudly sells banana leaf tamales and montucas (fresh corn tamales). The stand is named after her children, Jeseel and Eileen. These tamales catrachos (also known as nacatamales) are super moist because they are boiled instead of steamed. They come with chicken (catrachos), or as tamales de puerco, flavored by a recado (stew) of tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, and achiote for color. Fresh corn tamal fans are in for a treat, as Caballero’s montucas are filled with chicken in a tangy recado mixed with sweet corn. There are also straightforward tamalitos de elote, or sweet corn tamales. Snack on Zambos preparados — a prepared bag of plantain chips that’s like a Honduran Frito pie — before picking up a dozen tamales. Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m." - Bill Esparza