Los Hernandez

Coordinates: 46°33′02″N 120°28′32″W / 46.5505°N 120.4756°W / 46.5505; -120.4756
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Los Hernandez
Exterior of a white building on a mjulti-lane road
Map
Restaurant information
Established1990
Owner(s)June and Felipe Hernandez
Food typeMexican tamales
RatingJames Beard America's Classics
Street address3706 Main Street
CityUnion Gap
CountyYakima
StateWashington
CountryUnited States
Coordinates46°33′02″N 120°28′32″W / 46.5505°N 120.4756°W / 46.5505; -120.4756
Websiteloshernandeztamales.com

Los Hernandez is a restaurant in Union Gap, Washington. In 2018 it was named one of America's Classics by the James Beard Foundation.

History[edit]

Felipe Hernandez's family immigrated from Piedras Negras in Coahuila, Mexico, on the Texas border, to work in agriculture in Eastern Washington's Yakima Valley in 1957.[1][2][3] Hernandez worked for Montgomery Ward for nearly two decades; in 1990 Hernandez and his wife June opened the restaurant.[1][4]

Menu[edit]

The restaurant serves only tamales.[1] The recipe is based on that of Hernandez's sister, Leocaldia Sanchez.[1][2] The restaurant mills its own corn to produce the masa for the tamales.[2][3] Production is seasonal, with an asparagus tamale the focus during the area's major spring harvest.[1][5][6]

Recognition[edit]

In 2018 the restaurant was named one of America's Classics by the James Beard Foundation.[7][8] The Seattle Times in 2015 called the restaurant's tamales "destination tamales", noting the guest book for the restaurant nearly three hours from Seattle listed visitors from Argentina, China, and England.[2] Afar called it "traditional Mexican cuisine at its finest level of execution".[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Introducing the 2018 America's Classics Winners". James Beard Foundation. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  2. ^ a b c d "Destination tamale: Set the GPS for Los Hernandez in Union Gap". The Seattle Times. 2015-06-12. Archived from the original on 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  3. ^ a b Callaghan, Adam H. (2018-01-18). "Union Gap's Los Hernandez Tamales Wins an America's Classics Award". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  4. ^ Knickerbocker, Kelly (2019-04-17). "Four of Washington's Best Mexican Food Spots Reside in the Yakima Valley". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  5. ^ "Los Hernández Tamales – Restaurant Review". Condé Nast Traveler. Archived from the original on 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  6. ^ Clement, Bethany Jean (2018-01-18). "Washington State's Los Hernandez Tamales wins a James Beard award". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  7. ^ Hoang, Mai (18 January 2018). "The secret's out with Los Hernandez Tamales; Union Gap restaurant selected for James Beard honor". Yakima Herald-Republic. Archived from the original on 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  8. ^ Guanco, Frank (2018-01-18). "This Yakima favorite just won BIG at 'The Oscars of Food'". Seattle Refined. Archived from the original on 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  9. ^ "Los Hernandez Tamales". AFAR Media. Archived from the original on 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-03.