La Familia Deli

I came here for lunch the other day because I had a sick craving for tamales, and the store front advertises tamales, papusas, and sopas. This is your typical bodega-​style steam-​counter food joint.
I was greeted and served by seriously the friendliest El Salvadoran grandma ever. She barely spoke any English, but she was so patient in trying to explain what each dish was.
The tamales were soft and flavorful, although they were a little skimpy on the chicken filling. I recommend getting the yellow rice with whatever else you order. It’s amazing.
There’s no menu or prices listed, but when she rang me up at the end of my meal, the total was so cheap, I even felt bad for paying so little?

I can appreciate the lack of a menu. I can appreciate the decide-​that-​day hours. I can appreciate the neighborhood, «you’re allowed to try it out once but not really at home ’til you’re a regular» feel. I can appreciate the seemingly random organization, or lack thereof, of whatever they happen to be selling at whatever price they wanna charge. What I can’t appreciate is the incredibly unappetizing glass display that housed what I think was food.
Maybe it was incredible and only for those in the know, but the presentation and «service» both need some serious work. Two dudes sat at the tables, which laid too close to both walls and left little room for maneuvering around and created a pretty unwelcoming atmosphere. Quite often, in a country of endless «food» options, we’re held captive at places like this, voluntarily or involuntarily, and need to make the best of a bad situation (luckily for me, I dealt with the hunger and just left emptyhanded).
I understand the bodega mindset; I’d even go as far as saying I love the execution and approach of most, but this one just fell flat for me. Pass.