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Lacto
Take-out
Mexican
Catering
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Tamal shop. Offers rotating selection of vegetarian and vegan tamales. Reopened Apr 2017. Open Mon-Sat 11:00am-6:00pm, Sun 11:00am-5:00pm.
16 Reviews
First Review by wgruesome
elvisw
Points +40
Great vegan options - Edit
Great vegan tamales and incredible vegan moles. Don’t come too late as the vegan tamales often sell out around 1-2pm. Menu changes very frequently so there’s always new tamales to try.
Read moreGuest
diannec
Points +780
I love tamales - Edit
Full disclosure I was very hungry when I ate here but the vegan poblano/cheese tamale was delicious! The vegan cheez wasn’t trying too hard to be cheese, was more of a sauce-like texture, but it blended really well with the rest of the tamale. I recommend the spicy mole. Love that the beans are vegan as well, and that everything is gluten free and safe for celiacs! Will be back.
Read morePros: Knowledgeable staff, Reasonable prices, Good portions
Guest
jennyjay
Points +112
Amazing tamales, great vegan options - Edit
This place is fantastic! There were two vegan options available today—spinach/mushroom and quinoa/lentil. I got the beans and rice on the side. Prices are great and everything was delicious. Definitely try both the mole and hot salsa.
Read morePros: Vegan options , Great taste, Low prices
Guest
evelyn_m
Points +84
The best tamales and mole - Edit
Yvolindas has the best vegan tamales. It's great to have options, too: kale, quinoa and lentils, and one other. I've had the kale and the quinoa and lentils. Their mole won the mole fest in 2022! I've enjoyed the kale tamal with green mole and the quinoa tamal with almond mole.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-07-30
Pros: Multiple vegan options, Vegan tamales, Friendly
Cons: Limited seating
Guest
wiselatina
Points +93
Best vegan tamales 🫔 - Edit
The vegan tamales are so deliociosos! It’s a drive for me and i like the variety when I’ve gone. If I could give them 5 stars I would based on the selection but since they’re not fully vegetarian or vegan it’s restricted. The mole and their green drink was so good too!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-03-08
Pros: Vegan tamales and mole options , Fresh vegan fruit aguas, Prices
Cons: Longer Distance from where I live , Parking situation
Guest
chick58
Points +153
The best vegan tamales in Chicago are in a vegetarian-friendly restaurant. - Edit
Wowee! COVID gave Yvolina's time to revamp the restaurant indoors even more. The name combines those of the owner, Marcelina, and her daughter Yvonne. Marcelina started out with nonvegetarian tamales, but one of her daughters could no longer eat animal products for medical reasons. Now she offers 21 vegetarian tamales, 13 of which are vegan, but she usually only provides 2 per day. She used to have a brochure for all 21 so that any could be ordered the day before. However, none was available the day our meetup, Plant Based Southsiders, visited. Even so, our members raved about the tasty food. We ordered the quinoa/lentil tamales and caulifower ceviche; some asked for the mole too. Other restaurants, even vegan ones, can't top Yvolina's vegan tamales.
Read morePros: Selection of vegetarian/vegan tamales, cauliflower ceviche, restaurant atmosphere
Cons: brochure for vegetarian tamales wasn't available
Guest
AbbyKuo
Points +552
Delicious, cozy and friendly - Edit
Very easy ordering. Vegan tamal is clearly on the menu. Yummy!
Read morePros: Yum, Easy, Friendly staff
Guest
StephanieMeyer
Points +1501
🔥 - Edit
I'd never had tamales before going here tbh because I'd never encountered vegan tamales but these are SO GOOD
Read moreGuest
gizelle617
Points +1580
Heavenly tamales - Edit
I crave these a lot of the time! It’s not easy to find tamales made without manteca so I’m grateful for Yvolina’s. The quinoa/lenteja tamales are my favorite, along with any of the moles are amazing. (you can get all 3 on your tamal ;P)
Read morePros: Vegan mole, tamales, ceviche, and more, Seating for dine in, Quick service
Cons: A little pricey, but big portions
Guest
JoshUrl
Points +34
Amazing tamales! - Edit
Truly wonderful tamales! The quinoa tamales I had were delicious and both the red and almond moles were fantastic! I definitely recommend Yvolina's Tamales!
Read morePros: Great vegan tamales, Excellent vegan moles
Guest
DanMiller
Points +163
Delicious vegan options - Edit
The tamales are so good, several vegan and vegetarian flavors. The moles are vegan and not to be missed!
Read morePros: Delicious , Reasonable prices, Nice storefront location
Guest
XOXO
Points +1808
Vegan tamales are the best!!! - Edit
Also try the mole sauces, all vegan and GF. The green one is my favorite.
Read moreGuest
tevety
Points +313
Tastiest vegan tamales - Edit
I love these tamales but you need tog st there early for a good selection. Usually at the end of the day you only have one or two vegan options, if even. You can call before going to be sure. I LOVE the quinoa one. I know that doesn’t sound authentic but if it could be it would be because the flavor is amazing. It’s the tamale that once you taste you’ll always crave.
Read morePros: Quinoa tamale, Kale tamale, Mole sauces
Cons: Changing menus, Get there early, They run out
Guest
bunhead
Points +29
Can’t believe I’ve never been before! - Edit
As a frequent visitor to this area, I can’t believe I’ve never been to Yvolina’s until now! I split both the vegan kale tamale and vegan spinach and mushroom tamale dinner plates that came with your choice of mole and a side of rice and beans. I couldn’t decide which flavor mole to get so I got both red and green and both were to die for! Food came out so quick and the staff was super friendly and took the time to explain the menu. Will be my new number one stop to go for food in the area!
Read morePros: Good amount of vegan options , Friendly staff, Can purchase their packaged mole and salsa
Cons: none
Guest
AndreaGarcia99
Points +18
Amazing tamales - Edit
I had the spinach mushroom tamale and was blown away, their mole sauce is also vegan and goes great with the tamales. The kale mango agua fresca is a must try
Read morePros: Good vegan options , Great food, Friendly staff
Guest
wgruesome
Points +26
Best tamales in Chicago - Edit
Yvolina's Tamales is the best in Chicago. Their mole, which is vegan, was named the best mole at the Festival Mole de Mayo 2017 in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. I've had the red mole - they also have a green style - several time and love it.
Read moreThey offer vegan, vegetarian, and meat options. The tamales are Oaxacan style, which are wrapped in a banana leaf and are about twice the size as the type you find in corn husks. This is a good to know when ordering. The vegan options change, but vary between kale, quinoa, spinach and mushroom, eggplant, and poblano.
They also have delicious, fresh juices available.
Pros: Large portions, Award-winning mole, Excellent service
Cons: Hours
Guest
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