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As the snow continues to fall, hot tamales are coming to comfort Capitol Hill. A&A Cafe and Tamaleria — an Everett, WA, restaurant, which has gotten some praise in the past for its namesake dish — is finalizing a second location at 212 Broadway E. The tamale specialists will also have selections of cider on the menu from Everett purveyor Soundbite. It planned to start service this week after finalizing construction on the cozy space, but wintry weather may delay plans a bit. (That address is the one listed for the second location of fast-casual poke place Aloha Cup Bap; calls to the restaurant weren’t returned by the time this piece was published.)
A&A is a small, family-run place in Everett, which local station King 5 profiled for its savory and sweet tamale selections — including beef, chicken, pork, pineapple, strawberry, and raspberry — which apparently sell-out daily (there are also some vegan options). The menu reflects ingredients and techniques passed down from the co-owner’s great-grandmother, who grew up in Mexico City, and everything is made from scratch.
When it opens, A&A will join a bustling block on East Broadway that recently welcomed the Japanese kitchen and bar, Rondo. Acclaimed Tacos Chukis is across the street, along with Jai Thai and Nacho Borracho. But any addition to the local tamale scene should certainly be welcome — and the cider seems to be a bonus. Even with the liquor license, Ann Espinoza — owner of the Capitol Hill location — says the new place will be “family-friendly” and a place where people of all ages can hang.
