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Santa Masa Tamaleria
Mexican
Santa Masa is a counter-service tamale shop on Chicago's Northwest Side, run by a husband-and-wife team who clearly believe masa is a personality. The tamales lead, but the short taco list holds its own, and there's a guajolota, which is a tamale stuffed into a torta, because someone in Mexico City decided carbs deserved a second carb. It's cheap, casual, and a James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes.
The awards strongest first
- The Banchets Nominee · Best Counter Service
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Chicago
- Eater Chicago’s Best Mexican Restaurants
- The Infatuation Chicago’s Best New Restaurants
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Great Lakes · Danny Espinoza and Jhoana Ruiz
One number, weighted & current 83
How we scoreThe dishes from the writeups
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Taco de adobada
“Try the taco de adobada — pork made with a smoky adobo sauce — or tacos stuffed with chorizo verde and potatoes, or with poblano peppers and melted cheese.”
Eater -
Guajolota
“Be sure to indulge in Mexico City’s carb-on-carb favorites like the tamale torta known as guajolota or a version stuffed with chilaquiles.”
Eater -
Capirotada
“There are numerous sweet breakfast items, including capirotada, a seared French toast that fans of banana pudding will adore, as well as savory morning dishes like chilaquiles and an egg-filled burrito with chipotle cream.”
Eater -
Pozole
“On the weekends, there’s pozole, too.”
Eater
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