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A spread of tamales with green and orange salsa.
Monkey’s Tail offers red chile pork and green chile chicken tamales during the holidays.
Becca Wright

17 Top Places for Tamales in Houston

From food trucks to full-service restaurants, these spots have bountiful tamale options

by Brittany Britto Garley and Megha McSwain
View as Map
Monkey’s Tail offers red chile pork and green chile chicken tamales during the holidays.
| Becca Wright
by Brittany Britto Garley and Megha McSwain

Like waiting overnight for a Flying Saucer pie at Thanksgiving, tamales are a Houston holiday tradition. Sure, they’re not hard to find in the city year-round, but it’s leading up to Christmas when restaurants, food trucks, and bakeries pull out all the stops, offering sweet and savory varieties — some through Christmas Eve.

Scarfing down a half-dozen may not take long, but plenty of effort and hours of labor go into preparing each one hand. Behold 16 destinations that have thoughtfully prepared tamales for Houstonians this holiday season.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Balderas Tamale Factory

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What began as a husband-and-wife team making tamales out of their house has since grown to become a trusted restaurant serving San Antonio-style eats on Jones Road. Get beef, pork, chicken, or bean and cheese tamales by the dozen and half-dozen. Missed the deadline to pre-order? Tamales are available at the restaurant through Christmas Eve.

12139 Jones Rd, Houston, TX 77070
(281) 970-6807
(281) 970-6807

JQ’s Tex Mex BBQ

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This Tex-Mex and barbecue pop-up has been on the move this year, but just in time for holiday season, it’s staying still enough for you to order some tamales. Try the brisket tamales or the spicy red pork tamales — both $24 a dozen.

7622 Lumber Jack Dr, Houston, TX 77040

El Alebrije (Food Truck)

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Parked at Northside brewery Astral Brewing, this food truck brings comforting and exciting street food straight from Oaxaca. Try its best-selling tlayudas, street tacos, flautas, and its deep-fried chicken tamales. A rarity in Houston but a common Oaxacan, the two tamales are steamed in their corn husks, then deep-fried and covered in sour cream, pico de gallo, and queso fresco for a decadent snack. If seeking tamales by the dozen, you’re in luck. The food truck, which also offers catering, sells chicken or rajas tamales — the latter a combination of tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cheese — by the dozen for $15. Call the truck to place your order ahead of time.

4816 N Shepherd Dr Suite A, Houston, TX 77018
(832) 530-3421
(832) 530-3421

Alamo Tamales & Taco

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Available year-round, Alamo is a go-to for both machine-made ($10) and handmade tamales ($16-$17). Though the best-seller is the tender pork-stuffed tamales, you can also get your hands on chicken, beef, jalapeno cheese, and bean tamales, plus sweet tamales during the holidays.

809 Berry Rd, Houston, TX 77022
(713) 692-6363
(713) 692-6363

Also featured in:

Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen

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If you weren’t able to make it to one of chef Sylvia Casares’ tamale-making classes this season, both locations of her restaurant Sylvia’s Enchiladas will offer chicken, pork, and a combination of the tamales for $22 a dozen through December 31. For those ordering in bulk, buy five dozen and get an additional 12 tamales for free. Orders can be made by phone or online.

1140 Eldridge Pkwy, Houston, TX 77077
(832) 230-3842
(832) 230-3842

Also featured in:

Maize

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This Mexican restaurant, which prides itself on its many corn offerings, should be an obvious choice for tamales, which come stuffed with pork in green tomatillo sauce, chicken in red mole, or rajas. Order tamales to-go by the dozen for $24 or in a package of six through December 23 either online, over the phone, or in person.

14795 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079
(346) 409-2733
(346) 409-2733
An opened chicken tamale at Maize, topped with red mole, crema, and micro greens.
Maize offers delicious tamales to go by the half or full-dozen.
Becca Wright

Also featured in:

Cyclone Anaya's Tex-Mex Kitchen

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All six locations of Cyclone Anaya’s will offer pork tamales this holiday season. Choose between tomatillo or chili gravy, with a half dozen for $14 and a full dozen for $26. Pre-order by December 22 for pick up at any location on Christmas Eve before 7 p.m.

800 Town and Country Blvd, Houston, TX 77024
(713) 461-1300
(713) 461-1300
A platter of tamales
All six Cyclone Anaya’s locations will offer tamales through Christmas Eve.
Lisa Gochman

Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina

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Houston restaurant empire Goode Company will sell pork tamales daily by the dozen for $25 at its Kitchen & Cantina and Goode Co. Taqueria, with chili gravy and cheese available for ordering on the side. Be sure to order 24 hours ahead.

1801 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008
(713) 244-8448
(713) 244-8448

Also featured in:

El Bolillo Bakery

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This iconic Mexican bakery is known for its plentiful baked goods, pastries, and famed whole tres leches cakes, but it’s also a reliable destination for tamales. Have a fierce masa craving in January? Find tamales sold here year-round.

2517 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009
(713) 861-8885
(713) 861-8885

Also featured in:

Monkey's Tail

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Monkey’s Tail’s tamales have made a comeback for the holidays and are available daily during the winter season. Red chile pork and green chile chicken varieties are $16 for a full dozen and $9 for a half, and come with salsa verde and roja.

5802 Fulton St, Houston, TX 77009
(713) 842-7188
(713) 842-7188
A closeup of tamales in a basket.
Monkey’s Tail tamales are $16 per dozen
Becca Wright

Also featured in:

The Original Ninfa's Uptown

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Though Ninfas is typically credited for its fajitas, this Tex-Mex haven will celebrate the holiday season with handmade tamales through December. Ninfa’s veteran Maria Chavez will handmake carnitas con chile verde tamales, which are available by the dozen for $24, and rajas con queso, made with thin strips of nopales, poblano peppers, onions, and queso, for $20 for dozen. Cover your bases and be sure to order dessert with the mermelada de pina y coco tamales, which are stuffed with pineapples stewed in piloncillo, Kahlua, and warm spices. Though available at both locations for pick-up, guests are encouraged to pick up their tamales from the Uptown location.

1700 Post Oak Blvd #1-190, Houston, TX 77056
(346) 335-2404
(346) 335-2404
An assortment of the Original Ninfa’s tamales served with salsa.
Maria Chaves, the Original Ninfa’s employee of 24 years, makes its tamales by hand.
Sergio Trevino

Also featured in:

Arnaldo Richards' Picos Restaurant

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Picos tamale stand is back for the holidays, making it easy for Houstonians to stock up on the go. The outdoor kiosk, located onsite at the Upper Kirby restaurant, features Norteno-style and Oaxacan-style tamales, wrapped in banana leaf, alongside Picos’ moles, queso, and salsas.

3601 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098
(832) 831-9940
(832) 831-9940

Also featured in:

Hugo's

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James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega continues the tamale tradition at each of his restaurants. Order tamales stuffed with chicken mole poblano, mushroom pipian, pork cochinita, or chile muya from Hugo’s; mushroom tamales, chicken with salsa costeña, or pork with mole coloradito at Caracol; or pork with adobo or pecho de res tamales at Urbe — all for $24 a dozen.

1600 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 524-7744
(713) 524-7744
An opened pork tamale at Hugo’s, topped with salsa verde, crema, and radish, and plated on a corn husk.
Chef Hugo Ortega makes tamales available at all of his restaurants.
Paula Murphy

Also featured in:

Tacos A Go Go Midtown

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Tacos A Go Go is offering jumbo tamales in spicy pork and vegan varieties, available by the half-dozen. Find the Texas-sized tamales at any one of the restaurant’s five locations. Get them while you can — these babies make an appearance only during the holiday season.

3704 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
(713) 807-8226
(713) 807-8226

Molina's Cantina

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These tamales are so good, they were shipped via plane and hand-delivered to the White House when the Bushes were in office. Available for pick-up through New Year's Day, find Molina’s tamales stuffed with chili-laced braised pork or the original chili con carne tamales, which date back to 1941, for $14 a dozen this season. All orders should be made at least 48 hours ahead of planned pick-up.

3801 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77025
(713) 432-1626
(713) 432-1626
A pile of Molina Cantina’s tamales in corn husks with a side of salsa verde and a glass of iced tea.
Molina’s Cantina offers tamales made from a family recipe that dates back to the 1940s.
Julie Soefer

Also featured in:

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Cochinita & Co.

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Cochinita & Co. is offering tamales in vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and vegan varieties. Pork, chicken, roasted vegetables, and cheese with poblano peppers are $13.75 for a half-pound and can be pre-ordered conveniently by text. Submit your request, and receive an invoice texted back immediately to complete the order.

5420 Lawndale St #500, Houston, TX 77023
(713) 203-3999
(713) 203-3999

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Bob's Taco Station

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This Rosenberg restaurant has earned a reputation for its carne asada, barbacoa, and some of the best pork and chicken tamales in Fort Bend County, which are available daily for $22 a dozen or $12 for a half-dozen, be sure to get its gravy or salsas on the side for some added spice.

1901 Avenue H, Rosenberg, TX 77471
(281) 232-8555
(281) 232-8555

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Balderas Tamale Factory

12139 Jones Rd, Houston, TX 77070

What began as a husband-and-wife team making tamales out of their house has since grown to become a trusted restaurant serving San Antonio-style eats on Jones Road. Get beef, pork, chicken, or bean and cheese tamales by the dozen and half-dozen. Missed the deadline to pre-order? Tamales are available at the restaurant through Christmas Eve.

12139 Jones Rd, Houston, TX 77070
(281) 970-6807
(281) 970-6807

JQ’s Tex Mex BBQ

7622 Lumber Jack Dr, Houston, TX 77040

This Tex-Mex and barbecue pop-up has been on the move this year, but just in time for holiday season, it’s staying still enough for you to order some tamales. Try the brisket tamales or the spicy red pork tamales — both $24 a dozen.

7622 Lumber Jack Dr, Houston, TX 77040

El Alebrije (Food Truck)

4816 N Shepherd Dr Suite A, Houston, TX 77018

Parked at Northside brewery Astral Brewing, this food truck brings comforting and exciting street food straight from Oaxaca. Try its best-selling tlayudas, street tacos, flautas, and its deep-fried chicken tamales. A rarity in Houston but a common Oaxacan, the two tamales are steamed in their corn husks, then deep-fried and covered in sour cream, pico de gallo, and queso fresco for a decadent snack. If seeking tamales by the dozen, you’re in luck. The food truck, which also offers catering, sells chicken or rajas tamales — the latter a combination of tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cheese — by the dozen for $15. Call the truck to place your order ahead of time.

4816 N Shepherd Dr Suite A, Houston, TX 77018
(832) 530-3421
(832) 530-3421

Alamo Tamales & Taco

809 Berry Rd, Houston, TX 77022

Available year-round, Alamo is a go-to for both machine-made ($10) and handmade tamales ($16-$17). Though the best-seller is the tender pork-stuffed tamales, you can also get your hands on chicken, beef, jalapeno cheese, and bean tamales, plus sweet tamales during the holidays.

809 Berry Rd, Houston, TX 77022
(713) 692-6363
(713) 692-6363

Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen

1140 Eldridge Pkwy, Houston, TX 77077

If you weren’t able to make it to one of chef Sylvia Casares’ tamale-making classes this season, both locations of her restaurant Sylvia’s Enchiladas will offer chicken, pork, and a combination of the tamales for $22 a dozen through December 31. For those ordering in bulk, buy five dozen and get an additional 12 tamales for free. Orders can be made by phone or online.

1140 Eldridge Pkwy, Houston, TX 77077
(832) 230-3842
(832) 230-3842

Maize

14795 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079

This Mexican restaurant, which prides itself on its many corn offerings, should be an obvious choice for tamales, which come stuffed with pork in green tomatillo sauce, chicken in red mole, or rajas. Order tamales to-go by the dozen for $24 or in a package of six through December 23 either online, over the phone, or in person.

14795 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079
(346) 409-2733
(346) 409-2733
An opened chicken tamale at Maize, topped with red mole, crema, and micro greens.
Maize offers delicious tamales to go by the half or full-dozen.
Becca Wright

Cyclone Anaya's Tex-Mex Kitchen

800 Town and Country Blvd, Houston, TX 77024

All six locations of Cyclone Anaya’s will offer pork tamales this holiday season. Choose between tomatillo or chili gravy, with a half dozen for $14 and a full dozen for $26. Pre-order by December 22 for pick up at any location on Christmas Eve before 7 p.m.

800 Town and Country Blvd, Houston, TX 77024
(713) 461-1300
(713) 461-1300
A platter of tamales
All six Cyclone Anaya’s locations will offer tamales through Christmas Eve.
Lisa Gochman

Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina

1801 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008

Houston restaurant empire Goode Company will sell pork tamales daily by the dozen for $25 at its Kitchen & Cantina and Goode Co. Taqueria, with chili gravy and cheese available for ordering on the side. Be sure to order 24 hours ahead.

1801 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008
(713) 244-8448
(713) 244-8448

El Bolillo Bakery

2517 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009

This iconic Mexican bakery is known for its plentiful baked goods, pastries, and famed whole tres leches cakes, but it’s also a reliable destination for tamales. Have a fierce masa craving in January? Find tamales sold here year-round.

2517 Airline Dr, Houston, TX 77009
(713) 861-8885
(713) 861-8885

Monkey's Tail

5802 Fulton St, Houston, TX 77009

Monkey’s Tail’s tamales have made a comeback for the holidays and are available daily during the winter season. Red chile pork and green chile chicken varieties are $16 for a full dozen and $9 for a half, and come with salsa verde and roja.

5802 Fulton St, Houston, TX 77009
(713) 842-7188
(713) 842-7188
A closeup of tamales in a basket.
Monkey’s Tail tamales are $16 per dozen
Becca Wright

The Original Ninfa's Uptown

1700 Post Oak Blvd #1-190, Houston, TX 77056

Though Ninfas is typically credited for its fajitas, this Tex-Mex haven will celebrate the holiday season with handmade tamales through December. Ninfa’s veteran Maria Chavez will handmake carnitas con chile verde tamales, which are available by the dozen for $24, and rajas con queso, made with thin strips of nopales, poblano peppers, onions, and queso, for $20 for dozen. Cover your bases and be sure to order dessert with the mermelada de pina y coco tamales, which are stuffed with pineapples stewed in piloncillo, Kahlua, and warm spices. Though available at both locations for pick-up, guests are encouraged to pick up their tamales from the Uptown location.

1700 Post Oak Blvd #1-190, Houston, TX 77056
(346) 335-2404
(346) 335-2404
An assortment of the Original Ninfa’s tamales served with salsa.
Maria Chaves, the Original Ninfa’s employee of 24 years, makes its tamales by hand.
Sergio Trevino

Arnaldo Richards' Picos Restaurant

3601 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098

Picos tamale stand is back for the holidays, making it easy for Houstonians to stock up on the go. The outdoor kiosk, located onsite at the Upper Kirby restaurant, features Norteno-style and Oaxacan-style tamales, wrapped in banana leaf, alongside Picos’ moles, queso, and salsas.

3601 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098
(832) 831-9940
(832) 831-9940

Hugo's

1600 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006

James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega continues the tamale tradition at each of his restaurants. Order tamales stuffed with chicken mole poblano, mushroom pipian, pork cochinita, or chile muya from Hugo’s; mushroom tamales, chicken with salsa costeña, or pork with mole coloradito at Caracol; or pork with adobo or pecho de res tamales at Urbe — all for $24 a dozen.

1600 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 524-7744
(713) 524-7744
An opened pork tamale at Hugo’s, topped with salsa verde, crema, and radish, and plated on a corn husk.
Chef Hugo Ortega makes tamales available at all of his restaurants.
Paula Murphy

Tacos A Go Go Midtown

3704 Main St, Houston, TX 77002

Tacos A Go Go is offering jumbo tamales in spicy pork and vegan varieties, available by the half-dozen. Find the Texas-sized tamales at any one of the restaurant’s five locations. Get them while you can — these babies make an appearance only during the holiday season.

3704 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
(713) 807-8226
(713) 807-8226

Molina's Cantina

3801 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77025

These tamales are so good, they were shipped via plane and hand-delivered to the White House when the Bushes were in office. Available for pick-up through New Year's Day, find Molina’s tamales stuffed with chili-laced braised pork or the original chili con carne tamales, which date back to 1941, for $14 a dozen this season. All orders should be made at least 48 hours ahead of planned pick-up.

3801 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77025
(713) 432-1626
(713) 432-1626
A pile of Molina Cantina’s tamales in corn husks with a side of salsa verde and a glass of iced tea.
Molina’s Cantina offers tamales made from a family recipe that dates back to the 1940s.
Julie Soefer

Related Maps

Cochinita & Co.

5420 Lawndale St #500, Houston, TX 77023

Cochinita & Co. is offering tamales in vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and vegan varieties. Pork, chicken, roasted vegetables, and cheese with poblano peppers are $13.75 for a half-pound and can be pre-ordered conveniently by text. Submit your request, and receive an invoice texted back immediately to complete the order.

5420 Lawndale St #500, Houston, TX 77023
(713) 203-3999
(713) 203-3999

Bob's Taco Station

1901 Avenue H, Rosenberg, TX 77471

This Rosenberg restaurant has earned a reputation for its carne asada, barbacoa, and some of the best pork and chicken tamales in Fort Bend County, which are available daily for $22 a dozen or $12 for a half-dozen, be sure to get its gravy or salsas on the side for some added spice.

1901 Avenue H, Rosenberg, TX 77471
(281) 232-8555
(281) 232-8555

Related Maps