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Hot Tamales At Tamales Lo Mejor de Guerrero

By John DiGilio in Food on Jan 11, 2012 9:20PM

2012_1_DiGilio_TamalesGuerrero.jpeg Ah, the tamale! It's a culinary work of art that has been thousands of years in the evolution. From it's inception among the Aztec, Mayan, and Incan civilizations to the tables of modern homes and restaurants, the tamale continues to lend credence to the old adage of big things coming in small packages. What's not to love about these little bundles of flavor? A spongy, almost cakey roll of dough stuffed with a variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and even fruits, they are as versatile as they are delicious. If you have the taste for one of these delectable treats, look no further than Rogers Park's Tamales Lo Mejor de Guerrero. Yes, the name is a mouthful. Happily, so are their tamales!

It does not matter to us whether they are boiled or steamed. What we look for in our tamales is that they be substantial and bursting with ingredients and flavor. The tiny tamales that are on so many menus these days are mere teasers to us. Having heard that that Tamales Lo Mejor de Guerrero makes some of the best and biggest in the city, we absolutely had to investigate. After a thorough and, we dare say, filling, investigation, we are happy to say that the proof really is in the pudding, er, masa!

We stopped by Tamales Lo Mejor de Guerrero on a busy weekend afternoon. It's a small place, unassuming and family run. The menu is simple. Barring a small selection of enchiladas and the pozole (which is only available on weekends), it is all about the tamales. The more you order, the cheaper they get. A single tamal will run you $1.50. Six go for seven dollars and a dozen run $14. You can order them with meats, cheeses beans, and even pineapple or strawberries. But before you let your eyes get ahead of stomach, you should know that the tamales here are big and thick.

Two of them and a bowl of pozole were more than enough for two of us. We sampled a bean and cheese and a corn (tamal de elote). Each was hefty and delicious. The bean and cheese tamale was a savory experience with whole bites of bean. It was perfect was a dollop of sour cream. The corn tamale was slightly sweet and so very satisfying. We paired these with a hot bowl of white pozole. It was an unexpected and greatly enjoyed find.

There was no way we were leaving Tamales Lo Mejor de Guerrero without a few tamales to take home. They are, after all, one of the most perfect on-the-go meals. Most important, the tamales here were big enough to be a meal in and of themselves. There is no skimping in this restaurant. If you are not familiar with tamale tastes, the staff is happy to help you choose a few to your liking. You can even place bulk orders in advance for special occasions. With prices like theirs, you can feed the whole family without breaking the bank. As for us, we are ready for another round por favor!

Tamales Lo Mejor de Guerrero is located at 7024 N. Clark.