Santa Masa Tamaleria
Tamale shop · Belmont Heights ·
Casual tamale shop with traditional Mexican treats & tacos
Casual tamale shop with traditional Mexican treats & tacos
"Santa Masa is best known for their tamales, but this casual spot in Dunning is also home to an excellent breakfast sandwich. Their chilaquiles torta is massive, a carbs-on-carbs behemoth that could fuel your whole day. Crispy, saucy tortilla chips get sandwiched between two fluffy pieces of bread, along with a fried egg and black bean spread. Crema and cotija cheese add some tang, while radish and lettuce give each bite some crispness. This fork-and-knife situation is something you should grab a seat for." - john ringor, veda kilaru
"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
"Few places make us want to show up right when they open at 7am, but Santa Masa’s fluffy tamales get us out of bed after just one alarm. This Dunning spot’s namesake dish is excellent, whether it’s filled with chicken and covered in guajillo sauce or infused with strawberries. Aside from their masa creations, don’t be surprised if seeing a chilaquiles torta or capirotada while sitting at their diner-style kitchen counter convinces you to get one of those, too." - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru
"Yes, tamales are the name of the game at Santa Masa Tamaleria, recently added to the city’s Northwest Side near Dunning by Daniel Espinoza and Jhonna Ruiz. But the neatly edited menu of tacos are the perfect addition to any tamale run. Try the taco adobada — pork made with a fiery adobo sauce — or tacos stuffed with chorizo verde and potatoes or with poblano peppers and melted cheese. Then be sure to indulge in a tamal of the month, which has included one filled with Italian beef. A true Chicago Mexican creation." - Brenda Storch
"Santa Masa’s tamales make even lifelong Midwesterners excited about corn again. When the pollo con salsa roja tamal made us grin exactly like the cartoon tamale on the wall. A couple of savory tamales, a tamal de fresa for dessert, and a cafe de olla for a pick-me-up. Eating at a kitchen counter, not spending more than your streaming subscriptions, gluten-free dishes." - nick allen, veda kilaru, john ringor, veda kilaru, nick allen, nick allen, nick allen, nick allen, john ringor, veda kilaru, john ringor, john ringor, veda kilaru, veda kilaru, john ringor, john ringor
