The Tamale Stand at Evelyn Mini Market

I have to agree with the commenter who said the masa/​filling ratio is off. There was barely a trace of chicken and cheese in the ones I got. Which is kind of inexcusable considering neither of those ingredients are particularly pricey. Come on! Skimp to save what, 2 cents?
Rico’s on 46^th and 5^th is better.

I had high hopes for this place based on the previous reviews and I was a little disappointed. The tamales were quite flavorful but the ratio of masa to filling was slightly off, the was a little too much masa compared to filling. If the tamales were longer and the masa was spread out more the tamales would taste better.
I came here around 7:30 on a Monday night and I realized that the tamale lady was in the back of the bodega behind the meat counter. She doesn’t speak any English and there doesn’t seem to be a menu. So make sure you know to say either mole or salsa verde in order to get your tamales.

Un. Believable. These were my twice-​a-​week lunch staple when I lived in Sunset Park for a summer. Cheap and delicious. Get 2 – 3 tamales and a beverage, walk to the park and look out over the river. You’ll be fine as wine.

In the afternoon, a small tamale and fresh juice stand sits outside the Evelyn Mini Market. The tamales are just $ 1.25, and seriously delicious. The varieties include verde (green), rojo (red), mole (brown w/​cocoa), and ojo de platano (plantain’s eye), which is wrapped in a banana leaf and probably the tastiest of all. The juices are nice too. In the evening, everything moves inside to the back of the deli, to a grimy four-​tabled room where the cooking happens.

Amazing tamales and fresh juices, in a location you wouldn’t exactly expect.
The stand is open in front of the Evelyn Mini Market from morning til about 4pm most days; afterwards, the operation moves to the kitchen in the back.
There are a couple of other menu items posted on the stand, but the tamales are definitely the highlight here, with three very distinct fillings; mole, chile verde, and rajas.
The mole is deep and rich, with a very homey mix of spices and a roasted, earthy flavor, while the chile verde has quite a kick (and pairs fantastically with the fresh, hand-​squeezed OJ) and plenty of green highnotes.
However, even with these contenders, the tamales con rajas (roasted peppers, poblano is my guess, with the skins removed) have got to be my favorite. Slighty spicy, with a hint of bitterness to offset the sweetness of the cornmeal, these tamales are downright profoundly good. And they sell out quick.
Since I can’t get to Sunset Park every week, my purchase is usually 3 tamales — one of each kind and an OJ — for me, plus a dozen more to take home and stick in the freezer.