At Frelard Tamales, the verde chicken tamal rules all - Review - Seattle - The Infatuation
"Frelard Tamales used to be a Mexican takeout-only window in…Green Lake that (obviously) served husk-wrapped bundles. After opening a sit-down restaurant in Fremont with their brewery operation El Sueñito, the instant gratification of eating a piping hot tamal the second you receive it is now possible. And yeah, it helps that the name makes more sense for the location now. Ringing in at a half-pound each, the tamales are massive and stuffed with a variety of fillings like sliced jalapeños and cheese or braised rioja pork, all drizzled with a tangy crema. And while you could order virtually any masa-snuggled meal here and walk away pleased, the salsa verde chicken and sweet potato mole tamales are the best options. You’ll get juicy-creamy shredded chicken packed with tomatillo zing, and a vegan tamal featuring fork-tender sweet potatoes in a nutty mole that’s rich while still letting the yams speak for themselves. They say “hey, I’m f*cking delicious,” by the way. If you’re really feeling nostalgic for those Green Lake days, there’s a takeout window here, too. But it’s fun to be in the crowded dining room, clinking blonde cerveza between bites of masa. You’ll also see an expanded menu of tacos, salads, and queso. Those are all fine, but ultimately get in the way of what’s important: the perfect tamales that made this place famous in the first place. Food Rundown Have A Threesome We're into the fact that you can have a sampling of guacamole, (excellent) queso, and salsa at the same time, along with earth-shatteringly crunchy chips—just be aware that the dip portions are teeny-weeny if you're with a big group. But for date night, couldn't be better. photo credit: Aimee Rizzo Esquite It's a totally good bowl of corn that won't make you mad, but probably won't make you excited, either. Unless corn really does it for you. photo credit: Aimee Rizzo Verde Chicken Tamal This. This is why you're here. The green salsa-soaked braised chicken is the greatest tamal in the house. Skip the chorizo, skip the peppers and cheese, head directly to the poultry. photo credit: Aimee Rizzo Sweet Potato Mole Tamal If you're avoiding meat, may we direct your attention to the tamal stuffed with tender yams and a nutty, rich mole?" - Aimee Rizzo
