• Emma's Tamales

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  • White Veg-options
Lacto
Ovo
Take-out
Mexican
Catering
Non-veg

Serves meat, vegan options available. Specializes in tamales and uses canola oil rather than lard. Some vegetarian choices. There is a small dining area to eat and also packages of tamales to take home. Open Mon-Thu 10:00am-3:00pm, Fri 10:00am-6:00pm, Sat 11:00am-3:00pm.


Venue map for Emma's Tamales
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7 Reviews

First Review by johnsonfamilyzoo

MadelineStewart

Points +33

Vegan
04 Jul 2023

Amazing Vegan Mexican!

Had over a dozen vegan options. We got the vegan tamales and enchiladas, both delicious! I also really liked their homemade hibiscus tea. Very fairly priced too.

Pros: Delicious, Affordable, Great staff

VeganSoapDude

Points +7507

Vegan
16 Aug 2020

Nice place, several vegan options

When I visited, they had three vegan tamale options. I had two of them served hot and they were both great. They also sell fresh and cooked salsas, vegan chorizo that I believe is house made, seitan meat, frozen vegan tamales, and a few other vegan options to take home.

Pros: Vegan tamales

Cons: Not 100% vegan

Hazelcubed

Points +430

Vegetarian
30 Jul 2019

Several vegan tamales

Love these tamales. Had several of the vegan versions. All yummy.

AdamCurtis

Points +34

Vegan
03 Oct 2018

Great Vegan tamales

It’s a small shop, great for a quick lunch. They also have packaged tamales for take away. They don’t have a ton of vegan options but the 4 or 5 they do have are all pretty good.

True North

Points +822

Vegan
08 Nov 2017

Vegan Tamales!

Several delicious vegan options for eat in or packaged to take home and refrigeratefreeze. Vegan options are Chipotle tofu veggie, seitan, black bean, pineapple and sweet corn. They also have organic salsa all bottled up to take home. You may need a little patience as there is typically only one employee and the equipment isn't always working (like the steamer) but it's worth it. Such great vegan food. This is a very small independent operation that has a lot of character and a great menu. Two picnic tables are available if you want to eat there.

Pros: several vegan options, food packaged for freezer, lots of parking

Cons: a little hard to find (it's in a little industrial

LaurieAdrienne

Points +89

Vegetarian
02 Oct 2010

Great Tamales!

A hidden, slightly-out-of-the-way gem in Sacramento. I've purchased Emma's tamales many times from Whole Foods, but until recently didn't realize they were made locally, and that I could buy them directly from Emma's.

There are numerous vegetarian and vegan tamale options. My husband and I have tried them all, and they're all delicious.

The rice, beans, and mole are also vegetarian. The thick, just-made tortilla chips and salsa are excellent; be sure to order some.

The "dining room" is a few tables in their warehouse space -- but if what you're looking for is great food at great prices, and some friendly conversation from the nice people behind the counter, you're not going to be concerned about the lack of "ambiance."

Grab several packages of tamales from the refrigerator case to take home and eat later.

Pros: Delicious, Big selection of veg/vegan tamales, Great prices

johnsonfamilyzoo

Points +65

Vegan
11 Sep 2010

Don't let the location fool you...

Not too long ago, I discovered a package of Emma's Tamales in the Whole Foods Market. I took a package home & steamed- they were delicious! I had to look up their website online! Not only are they locally made, but I discovered they had their own restaurant. I HAD to visit! I did visit a few days ago. Emma's Tamales (the place) is in kind of an odd location- in a strip of warehouses in the same plaza as a few auto repair places. There is though a BBQ joint next door. Emma's is not a "sit down restaurant" in the traditional sense. It's not really a restaurant as I had thought...They do their tamale magic somewhere in the back. They have a small storefront with a food cart where you can buy FRESH and steamy hot tamales and other items. They also sell packaged tamales and other items you may take home- including soy chorizo. There is a single table where you may sit and enjoy your food. There are several varieties of tamales to choose from. There are many more vegetarian choices thank meat choices- 4 of which are vegan! I first tried the Chipotle Tofu tamale. It was very good! It had tofu, veggies & sauce on the inside. The second I tried was the Mother Earth. It was a soft veggie meat filling that simply melts in your mouth! I took a package of these home and ate them for dinner and breakfast the next morning- yummy! Did I mention the tamales are lard free? This is a big must!
Susan was very helpful and fun to talk to. It's nice when staff understands vegetarianism/veganism.
The food and service was simply wonderful! However, if you are looking for the usual sit down restaurant experience, go elsewhere. If you are looking for a a quick and yummy bite to eat, you've found the right place! Make sure to pick up some packaged food to go too! The prices and portions for both dine-in and take home packages are great!
PS- Emma's Tamales was voted the best vegan tamales by Sacramento Magazine back in 2006.

Pros: food is great, friendly staff, many vegetarian choices

Cons: Location/outside atmosphere




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