La Tamalera

The food was very underwhelming, I expected alot more. The shrimp tacos tasted good but it was dry, the tamales were good but barely had any meat and was dry as well. The guacamole was flavorful but the price was too much for the quantity, $8.5 for that small bowl was not worth it. Overall, it was a different experience, the service was nice and quick but I wouldn't be coming back.

The food is delicious, the staff is nice and helpful but the atmosphere feels a bit off

So far I had the tortilla soup, watermelon salad, veg tacos (with hibiscus flower), fried fish and grilled fish tacos, torta de elote (cornmeal caramel cake with ice cream), dead bread, veg tamale 🫔 and esquite (corn and cream), guac with homemade chips, horchata, hibiscus juice, tamarind juice, veg open face sandwich and churros and more that I’m probably forgetting . The highlights were the soup and tacos and esquite but everything was yummy and worth trying. They have Ki Gourmet products like the dipping sauces and chocolate bars , all so good, I aspire to always have a different flavour in my fridge :)

The fried shrimp tacos are to die for. La panure est légère et "on point" tout en laissant la place aux crevettes. Perfect crunchyness. With those fresh and tasty shreded pickled veggies on top...Just wow! And their homemade hot sauce...Also to die for. So flavorful! (Must be fermented habanero or something).The place is beautiful and the service is great. I don't often write review but this had to be written, I somehow became addicted to their tacos after the first try! Need my weekly dose now. Everytime I try an other place, I'm mad at myself: It's never close to be as good as Tamalera tacos. Just go.

Really bright and chic place! Tacos were amazing! I really liked the carnitas with the chicharron toppings... Very crunchy! The villamelon tacos were an amazing surprise! There was a lot of flavor on the cactus! The tamales felt fresh and delicious! I would come back to try more! The corn tacos felt homemade. I spent a bit more for one person since I wanted to try different things... But i have to take food home because I was so stuffed haha the horchata to me is always a must! They also sell a variety of sauces in their store.

I was a regular at this place, unfortunately the place has decreased the quality of the food. The last two times I’ve ordered tamales and tamarindo water, there is no sauce or extremely few sauce and no flavour in the water (add a lot of water per quantity of tamarindo pulp); the same applies to the tortilla soup broth. I really liked this place, I hope it goes back to what it used to be. Also, fried food

Super good Tacos. I had the Suadero( comes with 3tacos ) and a Tamales of chicken. The tacos where super juicy and had the perfect ratio of meat. The tamales was a little bit dry It could’ve had a little bit more Salsa on it. Overall the service was good and the decor is really nice ! Will come back !! ☺️

A quiet place but what a lively place, the guy on the counter was fun to talk to and he explained the menu and was very quick. No complaints on the guac and the beef dish was simple amazing! The vegetarian wife and our friend were very happy with what they ordered and had only praises. I would rate this as a must try if you are in the area!

My favourite Mexican place in the area. The food and vibe makes me feel like moms kitchen. We usually come for brunch and always get the Huevos con chorizo with sandia (watermelon) juice. It's delicious, plentiful and really reasonably priced, especially compared to other places in the neighbourhood. For lunch and dinner, they have many varieties of tacos, none will disappoint! Our favourite is the baja fried shrimp taco - so flavorful! In the fall, they also have a traditional Mexican soup called Pozole. It was a large portion that really warmed the soul on a cold day! Strongly recommend! Best Mexican place in the area!

Pleasant lunch in town. We were three for lunch. We hyped up this place to our friend and we weren't disappointed. The tacos were excellent as were the nachos. Loved the guac . The meat of the Barbacao was a little tough very tasty. The fish tacos looked really good as did their sandwiches. Next time...

I had forgotten that I had even eaten here because it had been so long! But man am I happy I got to come back! La tamalera is just doing things right! When you walk in the restaurant is quite small but they don't let that stop them from setting up a small shop where you can pick up a few items like Mexican candies, hot sauces action figures and more. Once you move past that you get to order so many amazing options from the menu! I started with a tortilla soup, esquites and was already in heaven. For mains we had gotten shrimp tacos (which came in the option of having the battered or grilled) and of course a tamales plate with two different options. Each dish was amazingly tasty and brought so many different flavours. Having recently gotten back from Mexico this was definitely replicating original flavours! You gotta stop in and give yourself the gift of they're menu!

I ordered chilaquiles and pozole on a -10c morning in Montreal. A very tasty breakfast. Montreal doesn't mess around with this cold weather.

Delish. Amazing. Cochinitas tacos are a must. And the horchata is pink! So barbie so yummy

Hands down the best Mexican restaurant I've been to in the city. My boyfriend is from San Antonio and he says that this restaurant is on par with the restaurants at home! Will be returning again soon - and often!

I'm sure this food is better not order as take out but it's hard to judge that so please keep this in mind when reviewing. We ordered from Ubereats and the driver got lost so we were pretty famished. Mole tamales wete the thing I was looking forward to most having had some in Mexico and having fond memories. Flavour was great but tamale was a little dry in texture. The tacos were yum and the salad was okay..a little high prices I thought. The spicy sauce was HOT but flavorful. The horchata tasted goid but I've never had pink horchata so was a little confused by that. Watermelon juice really refreshing. Really great flavours all around..we need to try them innperson to give them a fair taste test.

I was skeptical at first but left convinced that this is the real deal. The decor is unique, "No Era Penal", lol. You can't go wrong with anything you order. The tamales are definitely their forte, my fave was the green chicken tamales but the red pork adobo was also on par. I recommend smothering them in salsa (be for-warned I was skeptical and added a tad bit more than I should have, it is hot). If this still doesn't convince you, grab an elote (whole corn) it is legit and the Tajín does the trick.

A Mexican review here on a Mexican restaurant. Yes, the food here is fantastic. I visited this place after a very awful day, but the food here made me a happy person again. Portions, speed, flavor, presentation, all amazing. I had the Villamelon Tacos and they are done as the one's in Mexico city. For anyone who is looking for hot salsas, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. You can even order the level of spicyness.I felt like home. The tamales are really good and the chilaquiles are brilliant. The tamarind flavored water was delicious. This is a perfect spot for families, couples, and friends. If you are looking for Mexican candies, Salsas, ordinary Meixcan cuisine tools, this spot is for you. I am definetly coming back. #NoEraPenal

Happy we finally got to try this place out I'm not usually in this location but it was great! It's very authentic and extremely well priced. I had the gringa which was a large taco with cheese pineapple and chicken, served with onions and coriander on top. The two wedges of lime that came with it was all it needed it was wonderful !! There own hot sauce comes with each plate pretty much so don't you worry spice lovers. Next up we shared the veal sandwich, we weren't exactly sure if it was going to be chicken or veal as it only said melianese on the board but it was okay. The meat wasn't very crispy but the guacamole and fried beans with lettuce and mayo inside made the flavours pop. We tried the corn on the cob stick with mayo and ketchup seasoning, it wasn't fresh the corn and we didn't really like the mayo combination. To be fair it was my first time having it so I'm not sure what it's supposed to taste like.Last but not least the crispy little tacos with pork guacamole pineapple and onions, it was really good. Our waitress was very nice and came right up to us as soon as we got in. I was really impressed with all the little pictures and signs and decorations it made you feel like you were at home eating. Would definitely go back

My favorite Mexican restaurant in Montreal so far! With all the right colors, friendly smiles and quirky decorative elements. The horchata of the day is invariably fabulous and my favorite may forever remain their Sincronizada Poblana. They also make excellent Tamales. This place truly makes me happy. Do try it!

Cuteness overload! This place is such a nice little Mexican restaurant, fun for a family night outing or casual friend hangout. I'll confess, I was weary that such an adorable Mexican joint, might mean the food wouldn't be up to par (I'm used to the Saint Hubert street Mexican dives that offer super delicious and authentic food). Although I only had the chance to try the tamales, they were fantastic!! In fact all the food I saw seemed to be the real deal. The only catch is you'll definitely pay more than on Saint Hubert, but it seems worth it to me if you're looking for a slightly more upscale Mexican experience.

Perhaps ironically, it was the tamales that we were least impressed by - the other things we ordered were very tasty. The rice-based drink (whose name escapes me) turned out to be the perfect amount of sweet. It's a very petite location, and the decor is delightful; service was a bit slow, but it's clear that they're a bit understaffed/it's a small-scale operation. Price was reasonable! They offer a selection of Mexican ingredients/groceries in the back.

What a beautiful little restaurant nestled near the Mile End district of Montreal-- my friends and I had an amazing experience here. We came an hour before closing, so it was very relaxed and quiet. It was just the four of us who decided to sit down and eat, but near closing a ton of people showed up to get take-out. None of us are fluent in French (traveling) but our waiter was happy to accommodate us in English and Spanish and was especially friendly. I ordered horchata, the tacos al pastor and a pork tamale. The horchata came in a big mason jar which was plenty enough to share with all of my friends and super smooth with just the right amount of mixture. My friend's hibiscus drink also came the same way. The tacos were so good I finished the whole damn thing (this is an accomplishment for someone who gets made fun of for getting full too easily), and the slightly caramelized (or roasted?) pineapple combo with the tender pieces of pork are still something I'm thinking about a week later. All of the salsa I tried was very flavorful with a decent bit of heat, and the tamale was also really well made! I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this place, it truly felt like we took a little detour from Canada to experience a family's homemade Mexican meal. The decorations were all very cute and colorful, with photos of Mexican history and culture spread throughout. There was also a little grocery by the register selling various Mexican ingredients for food, candy (Mazapan!) and even a jar full of luchador action figures if you wanted.

Hunger managed! Baja Tacos rockin my taste bud tissues happy place. Salsa, perfecto! Ambiance delightful. Food is clean, fresh! No cerveza but that dont get in the way. The lemonade was quenching. Will be back. Have been back. Will be back again. Tune du soir: https://youtu.be/h3z8DnS_0eg Angelly and I each have a different treatment to pork tacos. Both excellent! Definitely an in-the-hood regular "happy place" provider.

Came here on a hot sunny day. Taco selection quite diverse and they all look homemade judging by the decor and the fact you can see into the kitchen. I had the Villamelon tacos, 3 in an order and was chorizos, beef, cactus, and chicharrons (fried pork skin). However, it was too dry, lacking juiciness and the only sauce was insanely spicy. Hortchata was great though and served in a mug! Decent taco place overall.

Go here!! So freaking good. We had four different tacos, chips/guac, agua fresca, and churros. And it was all so fantastic. Food came out fast, service was fantastic, quality was high, and price was right.

Start to finish fantastic. Friendly. Fresh food interesting flavor combinations. Not many tables and very casual so you may have to wait but trust me, wait!

People are always complaining about overpriced Mexican food. This place is not cheap, but the bang is totally worth your buck here. Portions are generous--I innocently ordered a watermelon juice which came in a glass jar so large, it could have lasted me (and a small family) all day. Then I kind of went overboard and ordered two different taco dishes which were both excellent and came out in record time, piping hot and fresh from the kitchen. Flavourful and plentiful in its ingredients. The waitress was a sweetheart too. It's kitschy inside, with all the Frida Kahlo and Dia de Los Muertos paraphernalia that Mexico's neighbours to the north have grown to obsess over in popular culture, but somehow--it all works. Good music, good vibes, good food, good service, all for a good price. Highly recommended!

Excellent Tacos and Tamales! I especially recommend the baja shrimp tacos, they make me go back to this place almost weekly. Service is fast and staff is amicable, great recommendations by them on what to order. The price is fair and the atmosphere/decor is memorable and lovely. I highly recommend it, cheers!

delicious tacos that remind me so much of Mexico! i got the shrimp tacos and my bf got the el pastor ones. service fast and super friendly, very clean and very inviting from the outside. highly recommend!

Went with my friends last week, loved de decor of the place. The horchata was very good, refreshing, and the food was good too, delicious seasoning and very good service.

This place is fantastic. The food is simple, imaginative, and outstanding favors. I have something different every time I come here and walk away feeling like this is a nice little secret in my neighborhood. Small, quaint, family-run restaurant.

My little brother and I were looking for a Mexican restaurant and decided to try this place. I had the Baja tacos which were great and the service was quick. I would definitely come again.

Cute little shop (loved the decoration!) serving authentic Mexican food. I actually cannot testify that it is authentic, since I don't know Mexican cuisine that well, but they serve other things that tacos and burritos, so I guess there's that. We had tameleras (CAN$8) and tacos (CAN$10), and both were very good. We also tried their homemade lemonade (CAN$4 for a pitcher), perfect to go with it. The extra corn with cheese that we indulged in (CAN$5) was however not super good. Overall, I liked the food, I liked the place and the service was very friendly, but it was a bit empty, there was no music in the background, and we felt like the kitchen could close whenever (we arrived early though, because we saw that the restaurant wasn't open late). Maybe it is more of a lunch spot?

I just have to say that it's a great colorful place, good music, best bajas tacos and awesome service! I'll come back to taste the whole menu!! Thank you La Tamalera!!

In Montreal there are really very few Mexican restaurants worth eating at. La Tamalera is the good one worth returning for service/food/price. Also, we can find best tamales in Montreal. It's not really pricy, My Tortas Ahogadas ($9.50) is served with pork, black beans, garnished with pickled onions, radishes and avocados

Tasty Mexican food is always on the menu. La Tamalera did not disappoint. We had a chicken tamale, Tacos de cochinita, and Tacos al pastor. The tamale was ok. A little heavy on the dough and light on the chicken. I don't have a lot of tamale experience though. Maybe it's meant to be that way? The spicy sauce served with the tamale was green with red pepper flecks throughout. Spicy and good! The cochinita was swimming in an amazing braised broth as topped with pickled onions. We were fighting over this one. The al pastor tacos were a little dry but had a great flavor and were topped with cilantro and fresh cut pineapple. No canned pineapple here! At the end of the meal I inquired about desert and, lucky me, a decadent Tres leche cake was on the menu. It was beautifully plated, fresh, and not too sweet. I am one happy customer!

I have tried a lot of guacamolé. This is the best. Also the sauce of their braised porc tacos...

Awesome tamales, home made by a very friendly mexican family. A must try if you want to taste the real deal

Was nearby for an appointment and dropped in for lunch. Food is excellent and very authentic. Seems a little expensive at first but quickly realized it was worth every sent. We will be back.

I really enjoyed the corn vegetarian tacos with habanero sauce and fresh cheese...also liked the fresh homemade Sandia

The food was great, the server was knowledgeable and friendly. The decor is fun and there are small trinkets for sale as well. No alcohol but plenty of other nonalcoholic drinks to try. They also had gluten free and vegetarian items available and clearly marked on the menu.

La Diabla on St-Laurent sold homemade tamales before they shut down (RIP). Although their moles and salsas survived the loss of their retail location and are still available around town, I knew of no replacement for their tamale fridge. La Tamalera is a worthy successor. Today they had three flavours (pork, chicken, cheese & jalapeño) and all were excellent. 2.50 each for takeout, 7 for a plate of two with a little bowl of beans and a tiny beer mug of seriously great cooked tomatillo salsa. $4 seemed like a lot for their horchata, until a full litre of it arrived in a mason jar. The pink tint matched the bright decor, and the taste suggested added rosewater or hibiscus. More than enough for two to share. We watched a parade of attractive food go by, destined for a large family seated at one of the five tables in this large, stylish but mostly empty space. The menu is scattered around a few (incomplete) chalkboards, and we needed some help to make sense of it (and discover the $7 tamales plate). There were great-looking brunch options as well. Will be back. Overall, the food is on par with Tachido but the physical environment may need work for this place to pull in customers. Don't leave without checking out the bathroom.

Best Mexican food in Montreal, fast service and delicious meals. Everything on the menu is delicious and authentic! The drinks are amazing too. Don't miss out on their churros

Mexican food lovers rejoice! La Tamalera is an awesome place to grab an authentic bite without breaking the bank. Fish Tacos were cooked to perfection and all the ingredients were fresh and full of flavor. Barbacoa came in a very generous portion and was absolutely delicious. Will happily go back to try the Tamales!

Great little place. Friendly staff. Casual set up. I've been a few times and everything I've eaten is fresh and tasty. Love having places like this in my neighbourhood.

Very fresh tacos and the atmosphere is quite chill - I definitely recommend this place for anyone who is looking for a quick but great authentic Mexican cuisine.

The food was great but they do not provide a itemized bill and overcharged us $30. It was a little suspicious, so don't know if it was mistake.

I've had tacos al pastor and chilaquiles and they were both very good. The restaurant is nicely decorated and it shows it's a Mexican family business, very warm and attentive.

Ô DIOS MIO!!!!!!!!! So, about a month ago I was thinking to myself: "Man, those tortas at Tachido are amazing, it'd be great to have a tamale somewhere in Montréal as well! Maybe I should learn how to make them myself? I wish that I had a grandmother from Mexico to show me how..." and suddenly, whilst heading back from buying something or other at the Delphi, I noticed a cute little pink sign poking out of the place that used to be that librairie/café/n'importquoi that did incredibly well while Arts was shut for renovatios. I decided to investigate. First impression: the windows were filled with catholicious candles and further in there were some repurposed wine boxes and cute little knick-knacks from el pais viejo adorabling (=adorning+aborable) the walls. My interest was MUY piqued. After strolling up to the bar, I checked to see if there were any TAMALES available and unfortunately they weren't going to be ready for an hour...no probs, I assume that they were devoured by the teeming masses. I returned after a few hours and asked the delightful chef/owner about what the tamale offerings were: spicy chili and cheese, chicken and salsa verde, and by the time I had dug into those I had completely lost my mind and forgotten what the third one was. It was delicious, I can say that for certain. Most insane thing: 6 tamales = 15$, canadian. For perspective on this for those who are uninitiated to tamales, I used to pay $3 in 2006 in California and think that that was cheap. I'll be surprised if they don't bump up a little in price, but in any case they are certainly worth an extra buck or so. In addition to the tamales, I did notice that they offer some other delicious treats (pozole, tortas, etc) for what looks like a fair price. I returned today as I am a glutton and was feeling peckish on the way home from the Y, so I picked up 4 more and as well as a concha and I was again shocked at how good her food is. It was sort of slow we had a little minute to chat and it turns out that she's got a great deal of experience in her madre's restaurant in Mexico and she went to culinary school in Mexico as well! I used to snarf down conchas in Watsonville any time I passed a Panaderia and this one was the absolute freshest and lightest one that I've had to date. I haven't tried it yet, but, horchata too?!?! I am hooked. Viva la tamalera!

This is my first Yelp review because this place is one of the best Mexican restaurants I've been to and it deserved more attention. The atmosphere is open, bright, and colourful, yet intimate. The details in the decor really catch you here. The is food even better. Definitely a street food inspired menu, lots of smaller plates. Lots of corn tortillas which are gluten free. Tacos come in threes so you can have a nibble or do what I do, which is order half the menu. I have seriously become addicted to this place and go there a couple times a week, so please stick around!! The fish tacos are incredible. So are the cochinita tacos, which are braised pork served beautifully in a pot at the table. For vegetarians and meat eaters alike, the tacos de Jamaica are crispy and filled with hibiscus flowers, served with queso, avocado and beans. I also usually get a litre of hibiscus tea, soooo good. The salsa verde is perfectly spicy and flavourful and I douse it over all my tacos. Some other favourites are the al pastor tacos, the go to classic pork taco with pineapple salsa, and either the beef or pork sandwiches, which comes with chipotle salsa and lots of avocado and beans. Another great part is they sell a lot of Mexican treats and pantry items which are not usually available. I even bought myself a lucha mask!! Fast and familial service! Thank you!

Quirky decor, matched with awesome food! It felt modern, with Mexican stereotype flairs. (That was meant as a compliment) The guacamole was creamy, chunky, and full of flavor. Our table shared a couple cheese and chili tamales. They were alright; they were heavy on the masa dough. Having eaten homemade temales from Mexico, the ones from La Tamalera were a far cry from those homemade ones. As a main, I had shredded pork tacos, which came in a tasty pork broth, housed in a pot. The broth was a little on the greasy side, though it wasn't a deal breaker. Overall, the place it tasty and the prices are pretty fair. Definitely worth eating at.

I had the baja shrimp tacos and they were delicious, service was pleasant too. An all around un pretentious and yummy meal.

Excellent real Mexican food!! Trendy place, clean and attractive prices, we will ho back for sure!!

Really good food really fast, clean and cute inside, pleasant staff, reasonable prices.

This is a great place for a small bite or long dinner date - it's both intimate and friendly, spare and bright. The food is very good - please, Tamalera, stick around. We need your tamales and pork tacos and horchata.

Yeah! Tasty Mexican! Modern decor and an old b/w movie being projected on the wall while we were there. Neat. The menu is small, but you should be able to find something you like. There were some fruity looking drinks being served in Mason Jars as well. I was too chicken to ask what they were! We were happy to be able to get out Mexican fix even in Montreal.

Love love love this place!! Excellent and authentic Mexican food, plus the service is great and the resto is just adorable!

My fiancé and I were headed to Mont Royal and were going to stop by Figaro for lunch. However, we changed our minds about lunch and found this amazing gem. We had molletes and tacos de flor de Jamaica. The molletes were great, but the tacos were out of this world deliciosos. We also had tamales de queso y jalapeños which did not fail to please. And the agua fresca de jamaica was the perfect balance of sweet and slightly tart. The decor was festive, and the waitress was extremely nice. Stop in if you are in town or if you are a local.