Black Bean Holy Chipotle Tamale Plate at Delta Blues Hot Tamales in Birmingham AL

One of several good vegan options at Delta Blues Hot Tamales in Birmingham AL is the Black Bean Holy Chipotle Tamale Plate. This is two black bean tamales smothered with chipotle-lime sauce, topped with charred corn and tomatoes. I chose the potato salad as my side item.

This meal was fantastic! The tamales were soft on the outside with a pleasantly seasoned black bean paste on the inside. The creamy chipotle-lime sauce doubled the deliciousness of this heavenly basket of plant-based food. To make it even better, the charred corn gave it a nice roasted corn flavor and a little bit of smokey crunch. This was a spicy pair of tamales, but don't let me scare you away. They weren't as hot as the Tabasco sauce on the table. It was a medium heat level. The potato salad was cool and chunky with a hint of mustard and Vegenaise. It was an excellent choice to calm the heat of the tamales.

This meal was so good I would have licked the plate, but it was on corn husks and limp paper. The flavors stayed with me for a while after the meal was over. There's noting about this meal I would change.

Keep in mind this place offers food for special dietary needs, but this is not a vegan or vegetarian restaurant. Order carefully with the help of the friendly staff. They have many choices for herbivores and even more choices for omnivores. This is a great place to share a meal.

Delta Blues Hot Tamales specializes in tamales for people with special dietary needs. They have gluten-free non-GMO foods with several vegan and vegetarian options. This place is in what appears to be the rear basement of a 1920s apartment building. It's hidden in the alley behind a wall of bamboo. Upon arrival, the place looks like a normal cafe with exterior seating. At the main door, things start to look a bit funky and weird.

The well-used front door leads to what looks like a neighborhood dive bar. The dining area stretches along a walkway to quieter areas with pillow-lined benches. Empty picture frames, books, and bottles create a comfortable atmosphere with a creative vibe. The exposed pipes, electrical conduit, A.C. unit, and thick support columns remind visitors that they are in fact in an old basement. At first, this well-used place looks unclean, but I noticed the important parts were actually cleaner than average. It's just funky and artsy like the rest of the neighborhood. During this visit, the music of choice was a collection of Motown favorites and was played at a comfortable sound level. Plenty of parking was available next door. Delta Blues offers a cozy atmosphere and great food. The service was friendly and fast. The food was excellent.

Click here to see the Delta Blues Hot Tamales menu