Johnson's Tamale Grotto

11/30/04 - posted by Ken Englund

The Parkside district was home to one of the "Johnson's Tamale Grotto" restaurants. Located on Vicente street, this take-out only kitchen sold the best enchiladas and tamales
ever! The windows were always steamed-up and I don't think more than twop people ever staffed the place at one time.
They would wrap your food in newspapers to keep it hot until you got it home. Then you would have to use scissors or a knife to cut the string away and then unfold the newspapers. It was a spiritual moment as the string gave up its treasure. Anyway...the food was great! I think there was also a Johnson's on Valencia street.