went to la mascota today and drove from temecula, ca 11/09/10 and although I love the tamales I was a little dissapointed to see the health dept. gave them a grade "C" and looking around I can see why! when I looked in the side window on the way out it did not look so clean and there was a push cart with about 20 cans of green chilis open and the chili looked dried out like it had been sitting there for awhile not kidding at all it was grose and the moral of the employees was down, good luck to them.
Comments (0) BEST TAMALES - 2009
La Mascota
At La Mascota, the Salcedo family has been churning out Mexican bolillos, a softer, chubbier version of a French baguette, for their Boyle Heights neighbors for more than 50 years. But it's the $1.35 to-go tamales that draw the long- distance eaters armed with empty coolers and ice packs. In the kitchen window across from the bakery, 30-year tamale-making veteran Nachita Morales and her granddaughter, Erika Salazar, spoon the chile-spiked fillings onto masa-lined corn husks. The choices are limited — red chile with shredded pork, green chile with chicken or cheese, and sweet pineapple — but that's a good thing for those with limited freezer space. Plus there's a parking lot in back so you don't have to spend more on the meter than on dinner. 2715 Whittier Blvd., L.A. (323) 263-5513, http://lamascotabakery.com/">lamascotabakery.com.
—Jenn Garbee





























