Tortilleria Pinto

We tried the masa for tamales, exclent masa we recommend it.

Tortillas are wonderful. It was about 1.00 for a dozen, fresh off the belt!

I don’t stop by here enough. Tamales are only on Sabados (Saturdays). If you’re not looking for it you may pass right by it. It’s on Sonoma between Georgia and Virginia.
All 3 kinds of tamales are as authentic as you’ll find anywhere north of the border. They make for a great snack or with some over easy eggs, salsa and some avocado make for a killer breakfast.
Won’t put much of a dent in your wallet at $ 1.25 per tamale. A must if you’re at the Saturday Farmers market or passing by. Highly recommended.

Tortilleria Pinto is the neighborhood tortilla shop in Downtown Vallejo.
The Saturday tamales are fantastic. Tamales are a winter comfort food. I stop by after my round at the Farmers’ Market (or before if I’m famished). Each tamale is under $ 2 and of a generous size. In the order of preference are the Pork tamale, Chile con Queso (Cheese) tamale, and Chicken tamale.
The mom and pop proprietors stew and grind the corn into masa (corn flour) at the premises. Unlike the masa found at supermarkets, the masa here is not over-​processed – you can still make out the bits of ground corn. I only buy tamales from Pinto’s because the taste and texture of their tamales is authentically Mexican and as close to homemade as it gets in a retail shop; I also order masa by the pound to make my own tamales with seasonal fillings at home.
Pinto also offers fantastic tortillas and tortilla chips (made in-​house at the tortilla shop). They have the best California avocados when in-​season. These are Pinto’s highlights and what I return for on a regular basis.
Other offerings include staples like tomatoes, chilies, spices, fruit, etc. However, tamales, masa, tortillas, and tortilla chips are the stars at Pinto’s.
A suggestion for left over tamales: Crisp up the tamale by removing the husk and placing the tamale on a hot griddle or pan. Turn once and crisp up the other side. Believe me you will grin like a Cheshire cat after devouring a crispy tamale.

Three types of tamales are available at about 9am on Saturday and Sunday mornings — cheese and pepper, pork in red sauce and chicken.
They make a nice breakfast for $ 1 each, especially when shopping at the Saturday farmers market which is around the corner.
A large bag of tortillas, maybe 50, is only $ 1.75. They are very good.