Roosevelt Tamale Parlor - San Andreas

My wife and I love this place! Great food and nice people and it's right near home.

Wow, I had not been back here in over a decade, and my memory of a middling tamale must have faded since my original review stated as much. In the interim, I saw this place spotlighted recently on Check, Please! Bay Area and listened to the raves provided by the three guests. So as I was strolling on 24th in the Mission recently, I saw they had outdoor seating set up and weren 't very busy. Dare I try them in the hope that I caught them on an off day previously? Well, as FDR said, There 's nothing to fear but fear itself, so I took his advice even though he 's the wrong Roosevelt. I 'm pretty sure that 's Teddy in the logo (photo: Bully for him! I decided to give them another try and am very glad I did. The restaurant had gone through an ownership change, and you could tell they decided to go back to basics with their traditional Mexican dishes and offer fresh California flavors with their ingredients. I decided on the $16 Tamale and Enchilada with Rice and Beans. For the tamale, I chose the Chiva where the corn masa was filled with caramelized butternut squash, yam, purple potato, and goat cheese. It was topped with a tomatillo sauce, pepitas, and queso fresco. That was a delicious, substantive veggie option. The traditional enchilada was made with Grilled Chicken which was immersed in their house red sauce and topped with melted Jack cheese. The creamy refried beans and Mexican rice complemented the dish with ease (photo: Along with the warm housemade tortilla chips with green salsa (photo: it has made me switch my vote to Roosevelt and their New Deal. Oh wait, that 's the wrong Roosevelt again. FOOD 4 stars...much better this time with the chiva tamale a standout AMBIANCE 4 stars...their pandemic dining set up worked fine SERVICE 4 stars...pretty attentive TOTAL 4 stars...happy they went back to basics and came up with healthy, tasty renditions of Mexican favorites RELATED Exploring the Mission? Here 's a collection of places I 've visited and reviewed:

I ate here a while back I had a tamale dish and lets just say that the overpriced frozen Costco tamales that I got where far from traditional and lacked in flavor. My partner had a diff ent dish but oddly enough they just place a blan brown sauce on top of everything in hopes of providing some resemblance flavor. Over all will not go here again if i was to go here I would just order the chips and salada since that seems to be the only savory dish I had that night.

Excellent Mexican plates and tamales. Chiva tamale, Chile relleno, and shrimp enchilada are all excellent. Chile relleno uses actual poblano pepper (not Anaheim). Shrimp had a nice char from the grill. Pepitas on the tamale was a nice touch. A , we will definitely come again!

I first ate here in 1980. Food was always delicious but crazily enough, I haven't been here in 35 years as ownership went through several changes. I had lunch here today and was so glad to be back at this deep Mission jewel. Chips and salsa were crisp, fresh and tasty. Mild and spicy options and both hit it. The cheese enchilada was actually extraordinary the gravy!!! Wow!!! Refried beans were silky smooth and so much better than it needed to be. Rice just melted nicely in the mouth. The staff person was so welcoming when I told him how long it had been and stated the recipes are all the originals. Can't wait to be back.