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Oakland Magazine »  Dining »  Restaurant Guide

Restaurant Guide

La Borinqueña Mexicatessen & Specialty Shop

Categories:
  • Mexican

Essential Information

582 Seventh St.
Oakland, CA

510-444-9954

If your restaurant’s Web site is www.tamalegirl.com, it can only mean one thing: You’re damn proud of your tamales. And La Borinqueña, a family-run Oakland fixture since 1944, certainly has a right to be boastful of the mighty, meaty, gravy-laden, cheese-laced pork monsters (and other variations) that come out of its kitchen. Old-school Mexican fare—tacos, burritos, enchiladas and tamales, tamales, tamales—rules here, and skimpy portions are unheard of, so be forewarned. Aguas frescas, horchata and Jamaica are authentic (“Made from scratch—not a mix,” the menu proclaims), as was the Mexican Coca-Cola. Buy tamales (pork, chicken, veggie, green chili and cheese or a “sweet” variety) by the dozen, or pick up chili-pepper tchotchkes, masa, corn husks, spices, tortilla chips, piñatas and more in the adjoining specialty shop that’s reminiscent of the tienda mexicana that started it all. Breakfast and lunch Mon.–Sat.

Additional Information

Area: Downtown

Price: $

Features:
Beer And Or Wine
Credit Cards Accepted
Wheelchair Accessible

Website: http://tamalegirl.com/