Tamalería La Doña

ORDER BEFORE YOU GO! We drove from Hermosa Beach to try these tamales on Thanksgiving and the line at 10am was long. We got pork, chicken, cheese and beef. All were delicious but I wasn’t a huge fan of the cheese. The masa was hard and the cheese wasn’t fully melted. It was still in cube form. I would definitely get these again but they were not 10/10.

La Doña Tamales never disappoints. Their tamales are always fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked every time I go. You can really taste the quality and care in the food. And the champurrado is sooo good -thick, rich, and super chocolatey, just how it should be. It’s the perfect combo, especially on a chilly day. Definitely one of my go-to spots when I’m craving real comfort food.

Came here for 2 dozen tamales after new years and the tamales were on point. Big delicious 😋 tamales. My work loved them.

I am not to put bad misgivings because as a business owner I understand that sometimes we do not have absolute control of the bad attitudes of our employees but it is very unfortunate that they have as a cashier a person with such a bad attitude to customers , customer service is paramount anywhere said person does not know and does not care how Asia is directed the people who consume and that thanks to them is that a business is maintained or leaves , very unpleasant to return and see They keep in the same position with the same attitude or worse, months without returning, since that was the reason why I decided not to return and again I had to be present listening to how this lady with such a bad character is addressing a client who apparently was only asking or making sure what she would consume, nobody there said anything, they just turned around, I do not know if she is in charge and out of fear just observing. I hope that whoever directs the negotiation does something about it with the customer service and its I have only seen these cashiers with that bad attitude.

Tamales Are Beyond Delicious If You Want A REAL Tamale , Seasoned Well, & Moist Masa. MOUTH WATERING JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. I Definitely Recommend!!

Free parking across the street. This Tamalería has by far the best tamales in all of los Ángeles. many places sell great tasting tamales but these are the only ones I don't get tired of eating. They taste Fresh, are homemade style and so delicious. Please take my word and experience their wonderful taste. The Tamalería has free private parking across the street. In addition, someone is there keeping watch of your vehicle. The ladies preparing the food are really polite and respectful.

The parking is non-existent , so you’re going to have to find somewhere to back. There’s always a line , however it moves very quickly. I’m originally from Compton but now I reside in North OC , so this place is a mission from my house . It’s hard to get a good tamale in OC. I stood in line for about 15 mins. I ordered 30 chicken tamales,20 Beef and 10 cheese for my family to share for my 36th birthday. I spent under 100 bucks by the way. The staff were very friendly and attentive. I’m black so sometimes there’s a language barrier. The kitchen was in plan view and everyone was working hard , the kitchen was clean and well maintained . I enjoyed the quaint atmosphere that had a nice shrine to Pancho Villa . The tamales were ready in under 5 minutes. Piping hot , 3 bags full . One of the first things I appreciated is the presentation of the tamales. They were wrapped in paper that displayed the names on them. I’ve never seen that prior to this. The tamales were freshly made . And for them to be mass produced daily, I still could taste the quality. The meat to masa ratio was on point. I got plenty meat in my tamales. The beef tamales were my favorite, but the chicken was not far behind I’d double back for these weekly for sure . It’s not so far that it’s not worth it . This place is a GEM! , support this business for sure . I’m a proud that these places are still around . I would have gave 5 stars if it wasn’t for the terrible parking. The tamales are A1 , and you can get them every day . Not just during Christmas time .

Corn tamales are delicious. Now the pork tamales are not the greatest. Poor in meat and then half the tamal is just masa.

Always good. The prices have gone up $1 since last year. It's okay, though. It's usually busy at any time you visit. Mostly during the winter. It's small inside and you need to park far unless you get lucky and park in front. Taste of the tamales de elite is amazing. The champurrado is good too!

Only go for the elote ones closest thing I can find to my chepos from my moms stomping grounds Apatzingan MIch just pour the jocoque and green sauce on top of them nice and warm FORGET ABOUT IT!!

Pura masa y nada de carne y para empeorar las cosas me salieron crudos los de puerco. Hable para avisarles que me habian salido crudos y la manager enojada ni quiso hablar conmigo solo escuche que le dijo a la trabajadora que si queria que me regresaran el dinero. Muy mal servicio. No los recomiendo.

This place never disappoints..always great service an the food always good ..the place is small ..hole in the wall ..parking is small but it's worth the drive ..

Como siempre los mejores tamales de elote El champurrado no está tan bueno pero es lo que ahí!!!!!

I wish I could give an honest review of the tamales. However, I did not even get to taste one. Not even a bite. I didn't want to give 1 star because I'm pretty sure the tamales may be good and I don't want to hurt a business that may have just had a bad day. But we called right before we drove over and asked if we could place an order. The person who answered said no and that we had to come in and pick and choose what we wanted. We asked what time they closed and it was a whole hour before they closed. We asked if they had a lot left and she responded with yes, many( in Spanish of course and she did not speak English). We drove for 5 minutes and we were nearby. Low and behold, we walk in and there are NO tamales with a whole hour of business time to spare. She just shrugged and said the lady who had just took off bought the last two. Well now, how do you tell someone on the phone that there are many to choose from if there were two remaining. I can bet that no one came within those 4 minutes to buy everything. The girl had just pulled up as we parked. I'm not sure if I will come back to even try a tamale here. This was disheartening

Service was fast and friendly, the tamales were delicious as was their menudo. Would recommend!

Le doy una estrella porque no me queda otro remedio los tamales es pura masa el servicio muy malo les pides salsa y con trabajo te dan una salsita el servicio pésimo el de Compton pésimo y trate el de South Gate hoy 02-19/24 y malísimo el servicio de la manager según y los tamales mal hecho

Pork tamales Corn tamales (sweet) Chicken tamales Champurrado Though I wasn't a fan of the strawberry tamales they do have them available. Maybe they are seasonal not sure. Service is good. You can pay with credit card or cash. They can update their decor. It seems outdated. Seems like a clean place and the tamales are always good. They also don't have a menu or prices, you just go up to the register and order. A suggestion would be having a menu and prices.

The tamales are fresh each day. The corn and pork are my favorites. They also champurrado. Beware that lines do get long during holidays so get there before hand. The ambiance is like a typical market kinda look. They should honestly update it somewhat, but everything that's behind the counter looks extra clean and well taken care off they wear gloves, masks and hair nets. But we are there food the Tameles not looks. No parking so take a partner that can drive to drive around or expect to park far.

Where is the meat? These tamales are all Maza please someone tell Doña Maria hel employees are not doing a good job..

Awesome good Tamales the Corn and Beef are the best. I would definitely go get more. It's a small place and not very much parking be aware of thats.

I've been here multiple times and sometimes Tamales are great and other times, I wonder where the meat is as many of these reviewers have stated. I also wonder how it is some of the people that work here are unable to mix the mass correctly. So it's a hit and miss kind of a place for me. It's sad because there was a time when there was consistency. I've also noticed that whoever owns this business has claimed it with Yelp, but yet I have not been able to see a response from them on reviewers that have complained. I wonder, as that's something that I am considering since I will be driving a distance to pick up Tamales for a large party. I think I'm going to go to a different place this time as I'm bringing them to people that will order in the dozens for parties. I don't want to be let down when I'm doing this for my friends. So... By the way, my back up is the Tamales from Sprouts. Now they're not large, and no, they're not stuffed with lots of meat, but they are small enough to enjoy the meat that is actually in them. But that's for home. But... For a large party? I'm going to have to rethink my game plan and actually make the drive to Lilliana's. Might have to go a little further for Liliana's, but, I don't want to waste my time, for my friend's party. My suggestion for this place, instead of having large amounts of masa in the Tamales, with little meat, make smaller ones with a fair amount of meat. That might make for a better outcome for everyone. Maybe try visiting the site once a day to see what's going on to make sure the employees understand how to put together your product. That would also be extremely helpful. I would've at least given this place a 3 if they at least had consistency. For the price, I don't expect absolute perfection, but I do hope for consistency.

Definitely recommend this spot in LA some of the best tamales I've had Bought some for Easter Sunday They sell Cheese Pork Corn Chicken My favorite one is the cheese

Tamales are pretty good but pricey for the quantity. Super small tamales. I paid almost 50 for a dozen. I had ordered 6 pork and 6 chicken and 12 of elote. They forgot to give me the 6 chicken ones. Mind you I was visiting from Arizona. I didn't notice they didn't give me my 6 tamales de pollo until I was home. They then told me that once I'm out the door there's nothing they can do. Pretty crappy customer service especially to a customer that made way on her trip to stop and get some of these tamales. En español Los tamales de aquí son bastante buenos pero caros para la cantidad. Tamales súper pequeños. Pagué casi 50 por una docena. Había pedido 6 de puerco y 6 de pollo y 12 de elote. Se olvidaron de darme los 6 de pollo. Eso sí, estaba de visita desde Arizona. No me di cuenta de que no me dieron mis 6 tamales de pollo hasta que llegué a casa. Les hablé y luego me dijeron que una vez de que salgo por la puerta no hay nada que puedan hacer. Un servicio de atención al cliente bastante malo, especialmente para un cliente que se abrió paso en su viaje para detenerse y comprar algunos de estos tamales

Good tamales but not the best I have had. Quick place to run in and get a dozen with variety. Very friendly and super quick!

Let me start by saying when coming here it's going to be a mission to find parking. Even if you come before they open at 6:00 am. So be aware. After you find parking it's now a wait for the tamales. After coming here for a few years now it's a good tip to preorder if you don't have time and your parked in the red zone. But aside from the parking these tamales are worth the hassle. La Dona is a machine cranking out fresh tamales all day. Tamales have nice and soft masa and great flavor. On the weekends they have sweet tamales and menudo aside from the regular pork,chicken,cheese,beef, and elote tamales. Nowadays the tamales run $2.07 each. Still a little cheaper then most other places. Maybe the best tamale place around this neck of the woods in my opinion.

I placed an order over the phone on Sunday afternoon for 10 dozen (2 dozen of each of their flavors) for 1pm on Monday. I came by at 1:15 on Monday and my order wasn't ready BUT the tamales were, so they took a little while to bag it up for me. The young man that was helping me out said that sometimes people place orders and don't pick them up so they usually don't get them ready until you arrive. I was okay with it because they were busy at all at the moment and there wasn't a line. For about ten minutes I was the only one there and then it started to pick up. It smells delicious inside and it's nice and warm and the staff are all super friendly. Parking this time was simple but I have been there before and I had to circle the block a few times to find a spot. Especially closer to the holidays. If you have a large order, I would recommend calling in advance. The tamales were a huge hit at my family's dia de muertos dinner. Personally, I love the elote tamales. They're sweet and moist. The other ones tend to be on the drier side and salty but still delicious. It's just my personal preference. The east of ordering and picking up was a breeze. The young man even helped me to the car. It was about $200 for the 10 dozen tamales and a medium champurrado. I would recommend coming here! It's easy, all the tamales are marked on the wrappers with the flavor so there's no confusion. Bilingual staff! They take card. Excellent experience.

Sin duda los mejores tamales de Los Ángeles. Buenos y baratos y con mucho sabor! Y lo mejor que están hechos pal día asi Que si se acaban ya no hay hasta el siguiente día. Muy deliciosos.

Great great food! Better get there early, They run out fast! I called to make sure they put two aside. I had a person in hospital (with no problem digestive or meds). They craved a tamale they were very accommodating. Clean and helpful with menu. I'm looking forward to coming back to this store. Love the pork tamales. And the sodas are reasonable.

I have been going here for over 20 years. This review is long over due. Best corn tamales you can find. I have tried many different tamale places but you cannot find any other place better than this! Service has always been excellent. It's difficult to find parking so I recommend coming around the afternoon time.

nasty nasty nasty !!! I drove 2 hrs to some over stuff masa, dry no flavor tamales. I will never go here again!! The guys that sit at the corner selling tamales are way much better !!! I do not recommend this place !! That B on the wall should have said something to me!!

The best let's put it like this I drove miles away just to come get these tamales so good

The tamales are delicious! They are made fresh every day with a large variety. Everything they make hits the spot from the menudo, tamales, champurrado, etc

Love the tamales here they are so good as well as the service is pretty phenomenal. Yes the place does not look fancy smancy, but the tamales are delicious.

When my coworker brought tamales for our lunch last Thanksgiving, I got addicted to this place! They were so good! When she told me how much it was, I had to make a trip down there since we love tamales. Every since then, it's been trips down here and there for holidays meal. They are now at $1.50 each tamale. Beef, chicken, pork, cheese with jalapeno, and sweet corn. Although I am a meat lover, my favorites are the sweet corn and cheese. The masa are always cooked right. Never too hard or soggy. Sometimes the meat can be a little bit dry. Here's the bad part, they don't have a parking lot and there are only like 3 spots on the street. But wait a bit, because people are always in and out of the spots. Otherwise, minimal street parking in the surrounding area. I strongly suggest take a driver with you so can dropped off and picked up.

Tienen los mejores tamales de elote y siempre recién hechos y calientitos Lugar está súper limpio y personal súper amable.... Totalmente recomandadossss toda mi familia y amistades vamos aquí siempre Bendiciones y sigan siempre igual o mejor si ello es posible

If you need tamales NOW this is your spot. They're always open so fulfilling that tamale craving is always a possibility here. Sweet corn tamales are the best! I walked in there recently and there were like 10 señoras making tamales. They've got HUGE pots. It's a legit operation. Love it. Only downside is the limited street parking, but if you're willing to park across the street, it's not a big deal.

Tamales were good , but small. Price was good. Service was fast. Establishment was clean

I was looking for some tamales and let's just say the 1k of reviews were not spot on. Parking is nonexistent there and the line to wait in was long, so I was hopeful. The tamales itself were more masa than anything. The filling was nonexistent. Definitely not worth the drive, time and money.

This place was recommended to me by a local in the area and you know what they are not wrong when they said this is the spot for tamales. I got pork and chicken and they are both good, the masa is moist and Idk if they put potato inside but the meat is also moist. Most people I see come buy dozens and I get why, their tamales is delicious!

No meat !!!! This is a crab business I drive too far for garbage... don't understand why people said is good ????

I love their tamales de elote. Those are the ones I buy by 1-2 dozens, so soft and full of flavor. Even when you reheat they are still soft and my whole family loves them including my 4 year old. Their service can use a bit more help and should find a way to improve them. The people who are at the register just seem bored and that they don't want to be here and even when they see you that you want to order they walk away. Other than that I highly recommend the tamales de elote, my family and I personally do not like the chicken ones but we like the pork and beef. The 5 stars are for the tamales de elote and for their service I'll give them a 2. They just need to have staff who are happy, nice and greet you with a smile not the Cara toda arrugada y amargada. Hasta quiero ponerles pegamento para arreglarles sus caras.

Tamales are so good!!!! And they are so fast and smooth they service u within minutes of ordering!!! The atmosphere is pretty homey to and nice.

What happened? Been traveling 40 miles 1 way for the big moist corn tamales a few years now. I picked up 6 dozen 2 weeks ago and had the biggest disappointment. Tamales were very small compared to before, and they were dry. Was it a one-time thing?

Good tamales especially the ones made with Sweet corn, service is fast, everything is made fresh daily

La semana pasada fui y compramos mas de $160 dls de tamales , por que mi sobrina me dijo k estaban ricos. Sorpresa que segun resultaron ser de sinaloa , pues cinceramente me decepcionaron .soy de culiacan , y no entiendo que a pasado con los tamales autenticos de sinaloa ? Por favor paisanos , nosotros no hacemos tamales con canela , si son dulses pero no llevan canela k les pasa ? Ahora gracias a dios no agarre muchos de pollo y carne por k otra decepcion, hojala mejoraran su receta .

Some of the best sweet corn tamales around. Worst thing about this place is the parking.

All of their tamales are delicious, even the strawberry and pineapple sweet ones and the sweet corn ones but believe it or not what I like the most about this place is their champurrado. It's so good, not too thick, not too watery, not too sweet, it's perfect. My only minor complaint is that the cheese in the cheese with chile tamales is too thick.

Good, but not good enough. The flavor was okay, but the Chicken pot pie felt like I was eating a spicy chicken pot pie. They put peas and carrots! I have never had a tamal like that. The beef red which are normally known to be the non spicy had a whole jalapeño. Seems like a way to cheap out on meat

I love this place. Corn tamales from here are so delicious! Prices are reasonable. They also sell really good champurrado!

I don't recommend this tamales place there price and small plus there not cooked to perfection

They hung up when I tried to order. I repeated myself three times. The least they could do is say they don't speak English rather than hanging up.

I've been coming here for years at least 15 and I'm kind of disappointed I haven't been here since December and it's changed! The tamales seem smaller and way less meat. Also not the flavor I remember I really hoping this was just a off batch because I would hate to stop coming here I hope you guys can fix this

Good tamales and champurrado nice little hole in the wall very convenient fror when your craving tamales only bad thing I have to say is sometimes lines are long and they only have one cashier

Los mejores tamales de elote siempre frescos y deliciosos si quieren un buen tamal y echo al día visiten a Doña María

This is THE BEST Tamaleria I've tasted in L.a... it's my go to spot EVERY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR! I recommend placing your orders for the holiday like 2 weeks in advance because once they cut off take out orders you can just get whatever they have available at hand. The ambiance is quick get in place ur order and move! lol there's a BIG line!

The place was like a little tamale factory. I got here at 7:30 at night and there were at least six people in line in front of me. I got a pork tamale and a chicken tamale. The chicken was a little on the bland side. The pork tamale had a little kick and was a little spicy. The tamales were small but the price was very reasonable at $1.20 each.

Quick and friendly service. Great tamales for a good price. My go to is the trifecta of meats (pause) chicken, pork, and beef