Tamaleria Rincon Sinaloense

This small, quaint restaurant is nestled in a small strip mall off Tustin Ave in Orange, CA. From the outside, it's easy to miss driving North on Tustin. The parking lot is small also.

When you enter the comfortable-lit restaurant, you are greeted by soothing Spanish music. I came, in for the first time, close to Thanksgiving. The decorations were appropriate for the time of year. Very nice setting to enjoy a delicious meal.

The young lady gave me an inviting smile and greeting as soon l entered the establishment.

The first time I came through I got the signature item, Tamles. I got 3 green-sauce chicken tamales. They were small, but full of meat and very flavorful. They were well-packaged and came with homemade hot green salsa. You can choose red salsa too. I got the green. She included napkins and salsa without me having to ask. This is a plus nowadays because most restaurants won't give you anything more than the order if you don't ask.

The chicken was so tender and the tamales were well complimented by the salsa provided to me. The tamales may look small but once you start eating this art you come to realize it's worth the $3 for one. The cost was around $3 each as of 11/21/23. I did eat all 3 and was full.

The following day I felt like I had to try out their $2 Taco Tuesday deals. These were Street tacos with your choice of Pork, chicken, or Steak. I went with 2 steak and 2 chicken.

The Asada was so flavorful and delicious. Add the salsa and it is amazing.

The pollo was not shredded. It was more cubed. It was delicious but dry-tasting. I put extra sauce on it. I was hoping the same pollo in the tamales would be in the taco. It was good but I prefer the Asada.

I would definitely recommend this restaurant for the hospitality, cleanliness, and taste. Try for yourself.

I ordered an extra side of green salsa to go because I really enjoyed it.

Ordered tamales after checking out the reviews… I was not disappointed! I ordered 6 of each and they are so freaking good. Perfect ratio of masa and meat (or cheese). I am going to order a couple dozen more because they are so dang good!

The food was good! Menudo was very tasty, clean, and no grease! Tamales were the best. the portion was really good. 👌

As of late, and after a very long, tedious, and expensive search for the very least decent tamales, we have been buying from Jovita Tamales, in Escondido? Vista?, right off the 76 going East. Most other places, including fancy, or should I say expensive places, they serve tamales that keep missing the mark of excellence on the making. They either drown them in a very unappetizing sauce, or the masa needs improvement, or simply put, don’t have what it takes. Jovita, mother and daughter team, does the job.
On that note, ever the searchers, and being in the Orange area, we zeroed in Tamaleria Rincón Sinaloense, which according to many reviews, knew how to prepare decent tamales. At $21+ the dozen, we purchased 2 dozen, 6 of each: Rajas or Spicy Cheese with Chili, Pork, Chicken and Beef.
Arrived early before appointment, around 10 AM (opens at 8?), and the place with only one couple eating, appeared dormant. Young, should I say pretty lady?, popped out from what I would assume was the kitchen area, where apparently is where the magic takes place, nice but business like took my order. We waited till we returned back to our casa to try them. Chicken, Pork, and Cheese, scored the highest marks. Beef, although saturated with shredded beef, the least enticing, first and last, not as good. The place is a storefront specializing in the production of their version of tamales. Yes, if in the area, and God willing, I wouldn’t hesitate to get 8 each of our favorites, since we are definitely not enthusiastic for the sweet variety in any way, shape, or form. Nice surprise, actually nice and tasty, well worth the visit. 4.5 Stars.

This Tamaleria has very tasty Tamales. I've tried their Pork and Cheese Spicy. Both are very tasteful. Impressive flavor which now I bought 15 pieces to take with us to Tor, Canada. I've heard they have some regular customers traveling from far distance, I guess I'm their new farthest customer. I do recommend for you to try this place and I will definitely come back again on my next visit to OC.

The tamales are great everything looked tasty but I only had tamales, cheese. Pork and chicken. All were very good

Wow...2nd best tamales and gorditas I've had. 1st place will always be my mom's...

Best tasty tamales I have had in Orange area. Masa is tasty and moist and their tamales are always fresh, never over cooked or soggy. Love the Chile and cheese tamales. ❤

Great place for homemade tamales. People complain of the price but these are handmade so expect to pay more than Costco. The pork and chicken are my favorites.

These are some the best tamales I've ever had. I'm from out of town visiting family and I was craving tamales. This place hit the spot! Delicious, inexpensive, and a great variety. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful! Will definitely be back.

I stopped by 2 days ago to try them out.
I had the beef, pork, & pineapple
Omg they were great
So i went back and got 1 dozen
4 pork 4 beef 4 chicken (and a pineapple and strawberry for the road)
The only thing is the price 33.00 for a dozen
But in this time i guess it is not to bad

Trying the tamales. Very decent tasting, the pork, chicken and beef were what we ordered. The location is very nice and clean! This place solidifying the idea of trying local mom and pop businesses. You may find a diamond in the rough!

Sooo impressed! Tamales is all they do and do it well. I never buy tamales for the holidays, now I'm just looking for more people to buy for - they are that good. You can also sit and have 1 (or 3) right there. Please, treat yourself! Highly recommend. Super nice people that work there too.

Update 10/22/22
This spot is still phenomenal...today we tried spicey chili, pineapple and strawberry 🍓 sooo fresh and good😋!
A work associate from Texas was craving really good tamales, as he was not able to find a good version there. I hoped to have the green chile/cheese and sweet corn but they were out. He devoured the beef, chicken, and pineapple...shared some with me. Good stuff!

Best Tamales in town so far! I'm new and I love all of their tamales made to perfection. Friendly and fairly priced very clean atmosphere very nice. Employees

I have tried tamales from all over,looking for the tastiest tamale.I was raised in East Los Angeles,in a mexican home where my mom would cook ,what else?mexican cuisine. And she made the best tamales ever,showing us what makes a good tamale.
She would add chile to the masa(corn meal) and blend the chile according to her recipe...WOW was the end result. Well,tamales from this place are the closest I have found! So very tasty,finger liking good. I will always make the drive to Tamaleria Rincon Sinaloense from now on.TEN STARS,

Never enjoyed tamales that much till I had these. They are fantastic!! So many other ones just seemed like masa surounding slightly meat flavered (or colored) masa. These have very flavorful shreaded meat fillings. And don't overlook the desert and non-meat ones. Just wonderful.

The tamales were balanced in their masa to filling ratio. I usually find them to be mostly masa. The masa tasted better too and I'm not quite sure how to explain why. Hints of corn flavor were subtle but not absent (which is typical). Many tamales I've had elsewhere are overly glutinous, but these had a slight crumble to them. I preferred the salsa verde because it wasn't quite as spicy and complemented the savory tamal better. My two dining partners also thoroughly enjoyed them. I'll be back.

I walked in here by accident looking for a soda ( 90° outside) and i ended up not only buying lunch but also got to meet and greet with Juan who is part of the family who owns establishment. I couldnt believe the ONLY thing that's served at this eatery was TAMALES LOL I told him i either rolled them with an ex girlfriends family or saw the der fks pushing a food cart selling them....i honestly didn't think tamales ALONE could hold a restaurant and I was hella wrong. Juans a great dude and the food was excellent 👌 Keep it up and thanks for the conversation and the laughs 😀

-J

Best tamales in O.C.!