Midtown Lunch

For those of you who are planning to forgo the $5 One Year Anniversary Go Go Curry deal going on today in favor of a lunch that celebrates Mexico’s defeat of the French at Puebla, I decided to put together a list of places to get tamales in Midtown. I know that tamales are not exclusively Mexican (especially alot of the ones you get in Midtown), but it’s Cinco de Mayo, and since this is a blog, I’m contractually obligated to do stupid theme posts on all holidays! (Don’t you know how it works?) Luckily tamales seem to popping up alot these days… plus, who doesn’t love tamales? There shouldn’t be alot of complaints about this one…

The list, and Midtown Tamale Map, after the jump…

1. The Tamale Lady @ the Mexican Embassy (39th btw. Mad+Lex) – This should be your first choice for tamales, not just because it’s Cinco de Mayo, and these can be found outside the Mexican Embassy… but just because they’re the most fun. You’d think that there was a chance she wouldn’t be here today, but she assured me last week, if the Embassy is open, she is there. And ladies and gentleman, today- the Embassy is open. At $1.25 per tamale (chicken, pork or cheese), it’s a deal that can’t be beat.

2. El Sabroso (37th btw. 7+8th) – This Latin/Peruvian counter hidden in a freight elevator hallway received a 9/10 from the Guardian UK. They also serve chicken tamales for $2 a piece.

3. Cafe O (41st btw. Lex+3rd) – I won’t usually step foot into generic Midtown delis, but how could I resist with a sign like the one above? They have different kinds depending on the day, but today it is just chicken. $2.25 each.

4. Margon (46th btw. 6+7th) – This Cuban lunch counter is actually run by Dominicans, so they have their version of “tamales” (seen on the left of the photo above). Called pasteles the “dough” is made with plantains instead of corn, and their version is stuffed with shredded chicken.

5. (Out of Bounds) Leon Bakery (9th Ave. btw. 47+48th) – I had to include this out of bounds bakery which serves $1.25 cheese, chicken, and spicy chicken tamales. Head all the way to the back where they are kept in front of the register in a giant metal steamer. Once again, you can’t really go wrong for $1.25, plus you’re steps away from a whole fridge full of amazing desserts (i’d go for one of the bread puddings for $1.75).

6. (R.I.P.) Le Croissant Cafe – This French “bakery” that also served Mexican food would have been the perfect Cinco de Mayo recommendation (a truce of sorts between the two countries that fought on May 5th), but they shuttered last week. A moment of silence please…

There are some pretty big holes in my tamales map. Got a recommendation that I missed? Feel free to post it in the comments (and I’ll add it)…

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Related: Best Tacos in Midtown (5/4/07)