La Casita de los Guisos

[Heather]

While wandering around the festival to celebrate Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16), I tasted the best tamal I have ever had in my life. The woman directed me to her full-time business, which is a tiny little place called "Casita de los Guisos," on Avenida 20 East side of the street, between 4th and 6th streets. Take a look of the place on a picture by Dutchie on message 58 of this thread.

The owners, Delia and Ramon, are from Veracruz and in addition to the more traditional chicken and red chile tamal, they make a garlic and chipotle version that they say is Veracruz-style. I just brought one to James and he agrees--they are out of this world. They also make fresh tortillas daily, and are extremely friendly people.
Sra. Delia does have tamales every day now, along with a daily changing menu of delicious eats.

Their hours, which, like many restaurant hours in Mexico, are a "suggestion."

Monday thru Friday: 7 am to 4 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 7 am to about 1 pm

Edited by Jesus to add all possible info on the first post of the thread, as some newbies are a bit "disoriented" by all our chit chat about the local life goes and abouts.

[Michele]

Thanks, Heather. Keep up the good work!

[mindz]

I love the brazos de reina from Antojitos Adrian, delicate banana leaf tamales filled with masa, egg, and chaya...but I look forward to trying something new.
Antojitos Adrian is on the SW corner of 20 av and calle 4.

What I REALLY would love to find are tamales with chicken mole as we had in the city of Puebla. Yum! The sweet coconut ones are pretty fine too. Heck, any authentic Poblano food would be a treat. Any of you Playa diners find places serving chiles en Nogada ( Hemingway's doesn't count - not very authentic), mixiotes, cemitas...

[Heather]

Just had a yummy tamal and picada from Delia and Ramon. Their picada is a freshly made tortilla, spread with beans and topped with avocado, onion, and a muy picante habanero salsa. Delia let me know that the REAL name of the restaurant is "Antojitos y Picadas Lety," although the sign says La Madrina. She also let me taste her mother's (Lety) homemade mole, which they also prepare daily. Delicious!

[KathyMc]

Geez Heather, I'm having a hard enough time as it containing myself. Today I've printed off all the Restaurant Recommendations. Printed off All the deals I get from My PLAYA DEAL CARD. I love the idea that we can buy a bottle of Tequila and store under the playa deal card plan. I've printed off the akumal snorkeling quide. (OH no!! What am I going to do all next week?) Thanks for all your help.

[MM]

i went looking for this restaurant with a friend and we had no luck finding it. we even asked a few locals on the street and nobody knew of it. can you please give very precise directions to it. thanks

[Heather]

Originally Posted by MM

i went looking for this restaurant with a friend and we had no luck finding it. we even asked a few locals on the street and nobody knew of it. can you please give very precise directions to it. thanks

This little place has only posterboard signs, so you might find that locals don't know it by name. It is located on Avenida 20, on the corner of Calle 6. It is on the Northeast corner of the intersection. The kitchen is a simple "hut" type, and the chairs and tables are red plastic. The menu changes daily, just ask them to tell you what's special. I had delicious, homemade vegetable soup with beef 2 days ago, with rice, tortillas, fresh salsa, and a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice, for 35 pesos. Buen provecho!

[traci]

LOVE tamales This will definately be a place we look for while we're there! My son's and hubby all love em' too!
Thanks Heather!

[Jessie James]

I'm definitly heading there asap when I get down...

[Heather]

Just wanted to add that although my friends at this restaurant still haven't decided what the official name of this place is, their food is still fantastic and a great value. They have now added guisos to their menu rotation, which is sort of a stew (the dictionary says it's a "cooked dish," not much help). I had stewed pork in red chile sauce the other day and it was muy delicioso. With rice, beans, tortillas, and a coke, I paid the ridiculously low bill of 35 pesos.

I eat there as many times in a week as possible without them making fun of me, which is to say about 3 times a week.

[cmsitaly]

Sounds wonderful-tamales tamales tamales!

Thanks!

[Mikey]

Does anyone know where to get sweet tamales in Playa?

[loangalsal]

I love tamales so we tried to go there last week about 5pm one evening. On the corner you mention was a little hut, but it was not "open". There were no people there and didn't look like there had been any activity there in a long time. Didn't look even set up as a "restaurant", not even a table and chair. NE corner of 6th St & 20th Ave.

[vacationstar]

Originally Posted by Heather

Just wanted to add that although my friends at this restaurant still haven't decided what the official name of this place is, their food is still fantastic and a great value. They have now added guisos to their menu rotation, which is sort of a stew (the dictionary says it's a "cooked dish," not much help). I had stewed pork in red chile sauce the other day and it was muy delicioso. With rice, beans, tortillas, and a coke, I paid the ridiculously low bill of 35 pesos.

I eat there as many times in a week as possible without them making fun of me, which is to say about 3 times a week.

I'm glad to hear they are still open. I was going to PM you so make sure befor eI leave. My mouth has been watering since I 1st read this so it's been on the top of my must do list for my trip. 9 more days until I get there!

[Heather]

Originally Posted by loangalsal

I love tamales so we tried to go there last week about 5pm one evening. On the corner you mention was a little hut, but it was not "open". There were no people there and didn't look like there had been any activity there in a long time. Didn't look even set up as a "restaurant", not even a table and chair. NE corner of 6th St & 20th Ave.

They are closed on Tuesdays. I was there this morning for breakfast (Huevos al gusto: scrambled eggs with some sort of chorizo, black beans, tortillas, habanero salsa, and fresh OJ...mmm...) and go there several times a week, so I know there has been activity there. They lock everything up pretty tight when they are closed, so that's why it might look a little deserted. Today they told me they will just have tamales now on weekends, but I am in denial and refuse to believe it.

Also, it's Mexico: sometimes they might just close to close, no explanation given. Sorry you wasted a trip and found them closed. Maybe next time.