Roosevelt Tamale Parlor

Reviews

• Kevin M.

  star star star star star 4 June 2026

  This place is amazing! We saw them on Check Please Bay Area and we were interested in exploring the menu. We had an opportunity to be in the Mission area for a show and came early on a Saturday night. Luckily we came early because they were jam packed.
  
  The tamales were delicious and my favorite part was the green salsa they serve with the chips. OMG I could eat that with anything. We also enjoyed the fruit studded sangria. We are looking forward to a return visit to explore the menu !

• Henry K.

  star star star star star_border 31 May 2026

  I thought the food was good, very fresh ingredients. Guacamole was tasty, I like the onion chunks and ripeness of avocado. Had one vegetarian tamale, the butternut squash and that was fine. There was goat cheese, maybe a cinnamon garnish and maybe some pine nuts that produced a nice texture.
  
  It was built on a nice green sauce that floated around the plate, and it serves as a decent mixer for the good rice and beans. Room was cute, service was attentive. I'd go back, maybe try something else. The key for me is to not load up on the chips, which were crisp & light. I felt satisfied and not gross/weighted down after the meal. I didn't see any dogs which seemed to rankle some of the previous reviews.

• Frances M.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 30 May 2026

  Por favor. There were dogs all over the place and it's a small place.  In the kitchen pathway, a Big dog with a bed and all!  Disgusting.  If you want to eat with dogs, go ahead, but I have many, many other choices to go and spend my $.  I did not choose to go here, but our group was already seated when I noticed these dogs everywhere.  Plus, there is a sign stating no dogs too unless they are service dogs.  Trust me, this was an oxymoron.
  
  By the way, the food was just ok.  Not what it was generations ago, when I did frequent the place.  My favorite dish was the Green sauce they serve with the chips.  My comadre loved the Chiva Tamale and the albóndigas soup smelled terrífic. Great service, clean bathrooms, but still, keep moving.

• Kirk M.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 21 May 2026

  Really had high hopes for their tamales. Unfortunately, I was not impressed. The masa was dense and didn't have that classic taste at all. Very thick ratio to filling as well. The plantain empanada was the better of anything we ordered. The chips were super thin and seemed like from a cheap bag of tortilla chips. I ended up with horrible acid reflux as well. ( something I never get and I eat spicier foods ) Like I said... all in all? Not impressed. I should note that -  I myself have made around 250 tamales over the years. It's not like like I've never had a good tamale. Service was mixed 50% normal, 50% frantic, hurried and aggressive. The main guy was super nice. Probably would not go back here - when in the city or the Mission. Sorry guys!

• Lizzie G.

  star star star star star 18 May 2026

  Well I'm here to update my Review from 5 months ago. Who ever this family that took over the restaurant they did a fantastic job in keeping up the family tradition of Mexican food.
  I just went there on Christmas Eve got a 1/2 dozen of shredded pork tamales rice hot fresh chips very hot salsa it was so hot it burn the crap out of my (mouth) lol if u like it HOT then u will love this salsa.
  I will be coming here every Christmas eve to get my food it was worth the $10 to buy the homemade fresh Guacamole Chucky avocado cilantro very tasty.
  Now on about the pork tamales they had lot of meat no fat in them the masa was very good the tamale sauce that came with it I think they Use for the enchiladas was a little bit spicy but very good the rice was OK I prefer my homemade rice, but it's convenient and I will buy again I tried their black beans didn't have enough flavor for me but next time I'll try their refried beans.
  So if u live in San Francisco u need to try this food at one of the oldest restaurants in San Francisco.
  (Thanks for reading my latest review on Roosevelt tamale parlor) ~Lizzie~ :)