TAMALE KITCHEN WESTMINSTER — Restaurant in Westminster

I went to the Tamale Kitchen on Sheridan Blvd. for lunch while I was out running errands. I ordered the #1 combination plate for $12.99 (no drink). The young lady at the counter said the total was $15.80. I told her that seemed high because that meant I was paying more than 20% for sales tax. She said they charged 3% to use a credit card. I told her it's still high. An older woman (large with short black hair) came from the kitchen area and barked, "No it isn't." I said I didn't know of anywhere that charged 20% sales tax. This woman then started a verbal assault where she told me that it's higher than 20% in California (it's not), I should move to Russia if I don't want to pay tax (wrong on so many levels), she's not going to break the law for me by not charging tax (I wasn't asking her to), all restaurants charge that much (they don't) and that by asking them to explain over 20% sales tax, I was being condescending to her and her coworker. This went on for quite a while and she even got the customers involved, pushing them to say how horrible I was for asking for clarification. At no point, did she ever explain the exorbitant sales tax rate. I asked her to void my order and left.

When I was away from her verbal assault, I did the math and a little research and came up with these numbers:

A total bill of $15.80 on an item that cost $12.99 is 21.5% additional taxes and fees. If you subtract the 3% credit card fee, I'm still left with 18.5% sales tax. The total assessed sales tax in Westminster (including state, local, etc.), is 8.6%. That still leaves about 10% unaccounted for. Given the level of protest from the employee who came from the back to interject herself into the conversation and the fact that she never did tell me how the tax added up to almost 20%, my first thought was that the employees, or the store manger, are charging the extra 10% and keeping it for themselves. I contacted the main Tamale Kitchen to get clarification and have not heard back from them.

Even if there is a logical explanation for the high rate added to the bill, there is no excuse for the behavior of these two employees, especially the older woman. If someone asks to have the added charges explained, they should explain the added charges. They should not start on a verbal assault of the customer and they absolutely should never involve other customers in...

I have been to all locations of tamale kitchen. I been to Westminster a few times. Here's what brought the review. We went at around 8:45 one night and the doors were locked but drive thru was open. So we ordered. 2 small posole, mexican eggroll, and a taco. We get home to eat and our posole looks disgusting. Looks like dog food and not pork. Tasted sour. My mexican egg roll was dry and my tortillas were hard and flaked. So I call to talk to a manager and the kid who answered the phone said there wasn't one and he didnt wanna hear anything about my complaints and hung up. So the next day I called and they kept telling me there was no manager. Well I took it as a loss. Giving a benefit of the doubt, we tried them a few weeks later. I told the girl up front about my experience and she just said "oh". Then I showed her a picture of my posole and she said "you didnt get that here" and I told her that I did and I know where I bought my food. She said "that must have been one of our other locations." No. I know where I bought my food. She just rolled her eyes and asked what we were gonna order. Thanks to that experience we will never go back. Also, another time we had to tell them, while eating inside, that their salsa was spoiled. Hope you're experience is a good one here, but they are taught to not give the...

If I can give them 0 stars I would. First, of all I was in the drive thru. I just wanted a steak, egg, and cheese breakfast burrito with some pics in it. Dude said a steak special burrito? I said sure but with egg, cheese, and Pico with no potatoes (cause it lists it with potatoes on the menu) and he said okay. I also ordered a bean and cheese burrito. I also wanted some hot sauce for the burrito and dude tried to up sell chips and salsa which I denied. The guy was really rude too. Made me second guess my order. Service was very slow too. When I got to the window I double checked to make sure he had my order right and asked about the pico he then laughed at me and said they forgot. I was a bit in a hurry and starving and said nm just give me my order. Also, I had to ask for salsa which they charged $1.25 for a little tiny cup for. Finally, paid and drove off. Found that my order was completely wrong. No egg or cheese and of course no pico and it was just steak and their sauce. Charged me $17 and no giving me what I ordered and dealt with their horrible service. Never going there again and wouldnt recommend at all. Ill be spreading this to everyone I know. Totally...