Right before Christmas, 12 SCARFers met, brought tamales from their favorite spots, and rated them. These were the results:
(http://www.chowhound.com/topics/352321)
1: Mama's Hot Tamales Cafe
2124 W 7th St
Los Angeles, CA 90057
http://www.iurd.org/mamasHotTamales/
2: Chichen Itza Restaurant
3655 S Grand Ave #6C
Los Angeles, CA 90007
http://www.chichenitzarestaurant.com/
3: La Indiana Tamales
1142 S Indiana St
Los Angeles, CA 90023
http://www.laindianatamales.com/
4: Guatemalteca Bakery
4032 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(213) 382-9451
5: La Fiesta Meat Market
15020 Hawthorne Blvd
Lawndale, CA 90260
(310) 263-0463
6: La Flor de Yucatan Bakery
1800 S Hoover St
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(213) 748-6090
7: Tamara's Tamales
13352 W Washington Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066
http://www.tamarastamales.com/