Tamale Window Opens on Cota Street

Richard Lambert, company owner, and Stephanie Armstrong, with the Chamber of Commerce, courtesy photo.

Richard Lambert, company owner, and Stephanie Armstrong, with the Chamber of Commerce, courtesy photo.

Santa Barbara Tamales-To-Go are becoming even more available this week. That’s right, now you won’t have to wait until the year-end holidays for bagful of fresh tamales on the spot because Santa Barbara Tamales-To-Go is opening a tamale window downtown at 20 E. Cota St. on the east side of Nectar Eatery & Lounge (previously the Blue Agave).

The grand opening, hosted by the Chamber of the Santa Barbara Region, will be Friday, November 20, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

After holding two successful pop-ups at the Santa Barbara Public Market this summer, Santa Barbara Tamales-To-Go owner, Richard Lambert, says he was inspired with the idea of a window.

Courtesy Santa Barbara Tamales-To-Go.

Courtesy Santa Barbara Tamales-To-Go.

 “More than half of the folks who came to our pop-ups wanted tamales to take home. With our new window, they can come get fresh tamales straight from the steamer and packaged to go.”

The company offers six traditional tamales; chicken, pork, beef, chile and cheese, spicy black bean, and farmers’ market (vegetable). According to Lambert, their tamales are gluten and lard-free, and are made fresh daily in Santa Barbara. The tamale window will be open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Please call ahead (805/965-2321) for orders of three dozen or more.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on November 18, 2015.