Tamale Kitchen

This local chain got its start in 1981, and the menu has gotten huge over the years, with offerings ranging from shrimp cocktail to Mexican egg rolls as well as a long list of burritos and tacos. But the real draw is the tamales, corn-wrapped packets filled with a classic blend of pork and green chiles that come out of the steamer so fresh and hot you'll fear third-degree burns. Fans of the place don't mind playing with fire, though: The parking lots and plastic booths of all the Tamale Kitchen outlets are almost always packed. For tamales, Tamale Kitchen could be the masa of the universe.