Tamale Fusion

The most amazing tamales EVER…

If you are vegan, go here. Otherwise… The idea behind this food cart is creative and intriguing so I gave it a try. I got a chipotle pastelle and my boyfriend got a spiced beef tamale with recommended sauce. Mine was vegan and definitely tasted like it (you know that inexplicable flavor when you can tell immediately that something is vegan) it was also very dry and visually unappealing. Solid brown loaf, all the ingredients the same color brown so it was impossible to tell what exactly was in it. My boyfriend’s verdict on his was «not by any means the best tamale I’ve ever had, but ok». Overall, I think their trying to make a «different» tamale might have gotten in the way of their making a great tamale.

It is mostly the hours that have prevented me to visit this quaint food cart — 11 – 3 on weekdays — however: It was worth making time in my day for this gem.
The menu is creative and has one meat, one cheese and one vegan option for tamales. There are other things to get along with this and my wife and I tried two very different tamales and were not disappointed. Lots of flavor, friendly service (thanks Nina!) and nice location in a community garden. Overall nice experience!
Bottom line: If you are looking for «fast food», this will deliver on the fast part as well as reward you with a filling healthy meal. Top notch. We’ll be back soon!

WOW! I am blown away!
At first when I saw this place a few months ago I thought it was cute but I would only go there when I craved a tamales. How often to I crave tamales? Not very often. I went there today and now I want a tamale every day. I wish I worked full time downtown or even better, could afford to have this couple cook for me in my home everyday. This food is FANTASTIC! I just finished one and I am so sad, because it’s gone and I don’t have another.
Even if you are not craving a tamale if you pass this little stand, stop by and spend a more than reasonable $ 5 – 6. This will become your new favorite food craving, and a healthy one at that!
This place is also food allergy friendly, eat your heart out!

MMMM, i love this place! Such a lovely garden to get away from it all and eat delicious tamales in the sun. I can’t wait until the weather warms up to go back. They also have very eclectic and refreshing drinks to enjoy in the shade of their umbrella-​ed picnic tables.

Similarly awesome experience here, love the herb kraut and organic tamales. Chatting with future friends in the beautiful garden!

This place is great. Totally delicious food, really nice people and the location inside Fertile Grounds is beautiful on a nice day. I went yesterday and got a cup of rooibos tea, a pumpkin tamale and the coconut rice. Total was $ 9.25. Not cheap, but under $ 10 for lunch is good for me. The thing about their food, though, is that it is REAL FOOD. It is really good organic food that will fill you up. When I spend under $ 5 on a bunch of cheap carbs for lunch I’m often hungry before my shift at work is over. Not so at Tamale Fusion. Give it a try!!! Oh and make sure you get a side of their homemade creamy spicy sauce to pour over everything! That stuff is ridiculously good.

I love myself a good food truck. I have yet to have a bad tamale. I always go with the cheesy/​meaty choices, but I’m sure the vegan options are just as good (well, not just as good… but close (. My only complaint is that I’ve driven home from work on several occasions wishing I could make a quick tamale stop. Alas, only open until 3 on weekdays. Hopefully once everyone realizes how good these tamales are hours will expand. I’m enjoying a green chili/​cheese tamale as I write this.

Tamale Fusion serves up delicious food while paying attention to quality in every detail from the sourcing of their ingredients to the environmental and social impact of their business.
I have enjoyed their delicious tamales, coconut rice, and other incredible side dishes such as quinoa salad. All of these have been enjoyed in the downtown sanctuary that is Fertile Grounds.
Are you a state employee? I cannot imagine a better setting to enjoy lunch and get away from the office for a little while.
Are you in Olympia in general?
This place is worthy of our support with its responsible approach to business and delicious culinary creations.

Second time here. Healthy, local, and yummy. Plus they are in an setting where coffee and desserts (8 arms) are served. Full meal experience.
The tamales were not overwhelming. They use blue corn and some soaking process (lime?) to get the corn into a place that makes it a nice meal that you don’t feel like you need 5 hours to digest.

Secret Garden
fridays are my favorite day of the week, but today, not so much. After a somewhat stressful morning and the lack of coffee to hinder my ability to cope, i was famished and verging on hangry.
so for lunch, i decided to treat myself to some specialty coffee and pick up cupcakes for my darling and on the way back to the office, i decided to take a new route. Not only did i avoid the traffic lights on union, i discovered Tamale fusion on 9^th and adams.
Its in a really cute garden/​open space area with seating and tables. the place looks like it’s kept up and doesn’t have the drug-​den feel like the one on 4^th and plum.
and the food:
first off, it’s all gluten free, locally sourced ingredients, goodness.
secondly, it’s fantastic.
i got the chicken, sun dried tomato, spinach with marscapone tamale which is made with a shell of blue corn tortilla and wrapped in a banana leaf.
for the side i got the sticky sweet coconut brown rice and the garlic, pepper aoili sauce.
this is, hands down, the best gluten free meal i’ve ever had. and with gf lunch options being scarce, i can’t believe there isn’t a line. the person that was working there was really sweet and very patient with explaining all the ingredients and telling the story of where it’s from.
so if you’re sensitive to gluten (or like to eat gf things) then i can’t recommend this place enough and the best part, you feel like you’re actually away in a secret garden.