Live Music and Tamales at Roosevelt Tamale Parlor

Fridays thru Sundays
2817 24th St. (btwn Bryant & York Sts.)
6 PM - 9 PM

Roosevelt Tamale Parlor has been turning out the tamales and standard Mexican combination plates since 1922 (somewhat after Teddy Roosevelt left office, but this is a tamale tale, not a history lesson). Gone are the days when the place was a crumbling relic to better years, crooked T.R. photos on the wall and a proprietress who preferred to read your check with a magnifying glass rather than get a new pair of specs. The food might have actually been better then, since the joint has now been spiffed up and is under new management -- but then again, maybe expectations have gotten higher. Or something like that.

Bottom line -- if you're a Mexican combination plate fan (and we know there aren't many good ones to chow down on in San Franny), are looking for home-style mole or salsa or simply a sucka for anything as old-fashioned and authentic as a "tamale parlor" Roosevelt's is high on our list and the tamales are indeed scratched together from an old family recipe. There's also live music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays while you dine. Plus, did we mention one of the bossest neon signs in the city? Yes we did. So come for the tamales, hang around for the music and stay past dark to see the sign in its all its glorious neon.

Photo by KazzaDrask Media.