The 18 Best Mexican Restaurants In Chicago - Chicago - The Infatuation

"You can find tamales pretty much anywhere in the city, whether in restaurants, sidewalk stands, or from some dude's cooler while he hops from bar to bar selling them at midnight. But the ones at this casual spot in Dunning surpass them all. They’re smooth, buttery, and so fluffy they’d make cumulus clouds jealous. As you sit at Santa Masa’s long diner-style kitchen counter, bites of poblanos and tangy salsa verde, chicken in smoky guajillo sauce, or a dessert tamal with strawberries and caramel will launch you into masa-fueled euphoria. Save room for their tacos or enchiladas, too—they’re made with the same excellent masa that'll get even lifelong Midwesterners excited about corn again." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru