Lunchtime in City Market can be overwhelming, especially for someone who is indecisive, as there are several options available to fulfill any midday craving you may have. During a recent visit with my friend Kate, I decided to give The Tamale Place a try, because I’d heard so many good things. I wanted to try the chicken in green sauce, but it was already sold out. My second option, chipotle chicken, was sold out as well. I settled on a vegetarian tamale that was filled with black beans, a side of rice and a chicken taco. The combo came with a side of chips and salsa and a bottled drink. Despite the crowd, the staff was pleasant, and I got my food quickly. In all, the meal ran me close to $14. That is a little out of my price range for lunch, but the amount of food I got was enough for leftovers later in the day.
The tamale was well seasoned, and the portion size was great. The one down side was the amount of masa (corn dough) used. It was entirely too much, in my opinion. It’s hard to describe it, but imagine eating a Twinkie. The yellow cake part, in this instance, was the masa, and the cream filling was the black beans. Get the picture?
Other than the masa issue, the rest of my meal was pretty great. Their salsa is freshly made and very flavorful. I opted for the hot version, and it did not disappoint. The rice was a nice complement to everything, and the taco was fantastic. Then again … I haven’t met a taco I didn’t like.
This wasn’t the be-all and end-all for me, but it was cool. The best tamales I’ve ever had were served up on a paper plate in my stepmom Tracee’s backyard. Tracee’s mom, Ms. Lanetta, perfected her recipe while living in Arizona. For family gatherings, she works painstakingly to create her homemade masa and filling, details she reminds you of often, as the term “store bought” is not a part of her vocabulary. Her tamales are so good that no matter how many she makes, they run out; the smart (or greedy, depending on who you ask) people snatch up their fair share early in the evening and store them in secret hiding spots.
I’ve had plenty of restaurant-style tamales since then, and although The Tamale Place isn’t as good as Ms. Lanetta, they still rank pretty solid in my book.
Tamale Place Locations:
Rockville Road
5226 Rockville Road
Indianapolis, IN 46224
(317) 248-9771
City Market
222 E. Market St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 423-2203
Greenwood
1155 E. Stop 11 Road
Indianapolis, IN 46227
(317) 300-8748
