Mama's Enterprises-Cafe

Doesn't Recommend

jenheidir

Joined 5 years ago

Fantastic food overshadowed by poor service. This MacArthur Park restaurant served some of the most authentic-tasting tameles I?ve ever had, but they took nearly an hour and a half to get the food to our table after the four of us had ordered (we didn't even order that much), and they forget to bring me my chips & salsa even after I reminded them twice. I loved the colorful furniture and decorations that made the restaurant feel like a fiesta, but the service here was so bad that I would never come back again. For those who don?t mind waiting a long time for food and want to try the place, there?s a $4-ish lot behind the restaurant that I?d say is your best bet for good parking in the area.

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huskyduck

Joined 10 years ago

Tamale Heaven. Mama's features a diverese menu of authentic tamales from many different regions in Mexico and Central America. The best I have sampled so far are the Oaxacan tamales with black mole sauce wrapped in banana leaf with the fiery green chile Honduran tamales a close second. Mama's tamales are somewhat small in size but large in flavor. Mama's menu features non tamale items like sopas, enchiladas and breakfast dishes like chilaquile. You can also get one of the best cups of coffee in the city right here at Mama's as well. If there is a wait for a table in this stylish Macarthur Park cafe, peruse the small selection of books and art in the adjoining coffee shop.

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bandafly

Joined 7 years ago

Hot Tamale! This place is wonderful. I think that anyone who likes to find the secrets of LA must put Mama's on their list. Its right in MacArthur park, adjacent to trendy Silverlake and Downtown, so hipsters should really be going there to stay ahead of the hipster curve. The restaurant was founded to help poor women of color who were making tamales to sell on the street start their own restaurant business; basically legalizing women's work (woo hoo! this is an important issue people). The place is colorful, clean, and when you patronize it, you know you are helping your community! I've had about half the tamales on the menu, and I can say with confidence that these ladies have skillz! Impress your friends and take them to Mama's Hot Tamales.

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slm244

Joined 7 years ago

Good Stuff.. excellent coffee (we use it at home), friendly service, and the fried sweet plantains w/ sour cream - amazing! haven't tried the tamales yet, but the breakfast was really great. you can get creative with parking, or just use a meter. the neighborhood is "urban" but, it's MacArthur Park so you can expect that (the hours of operation are pretty prohibitive of any danger).

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Pan-American tamales and combo plates revive hungry diners at this apprentice-run MacArthur Park eatery.. In Short
This cafe's bright facade distinguishes it from its more somber neighbors, which line the chipped cement flanking MacArthur Park's southern border. Colorful walls and mismatched wooden seating widen the narrow shoebox space. The menu offers Latin American entrees, and at least 10 rotating tamale picks, including chicken, green chili and Bolivian guava cheese. Everyone--servers, chefs, satellite vendors in the park--are apprentices learning the hospitality business.