For many, the holiday season is intimately tied to the joy of food – baking cherished family recipes, crafting dozens of Christmas cookies, and orchestrating a meal that carries the weight of tradition, much like Thanksgiving. Here in Houston, one of the quintessential holiday delights is the tamale.
If you’re fortunate enough to have family members skilled in tamale-making, kudos to you. However, for most of us, these festive treats are procured from our beloved local shops and eateries.
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Here’s a list of some great places to turn to for tamales this season. Several of the tamaleras listed below come highly recommended by KPRC 2 viewers.
Alamo Tamales
A beloved tamale destination in Houston is prepared to provide a festive spread for holiday gatherings. Crafted by hand, their assortment features flavorful options like pork, beef, chicken, bean, cheese and jalapeño, and sweet corn. Additionally machine-made tamales are offered in both spicy and mild pork, beef, chicken, and spinach and cheese. To place an order, call 713-692-6363.
809 Berry Rd., Houston, TX 77022
Arnaldo Richards’ Picos
This holiday season, the Mexican restaurant is offering half dozen and full dozen options. The Norteños Style 3 oz corn husk tamales are $12 for a half dozen and $24 for a full dozen. Varieties include pork in red chile, chicken in green chile, beef in red chile, black bean and cheese, roasted poblano peppers, jalapeño, corn kernels, onion, and tomato in red chile with cheese. Also offered are Oaxaqueños Style 6 oz banana leaf-wrapped tamales, available at $22.50 for a half dozen and $45 for a full dozen. Choices in this category include pork in red chile, chicken in green chile, chicken in black mole, and portobello mushroom and huitlacoche and chipilin. Orders can be placed through Jan. 6, either in-store, over the phone, or online.
3601 Kirby Dr., Houston, TX 77098
Balderas Tamale Factory
This eatery specializes in Mexican cuisine with a “San Antonio-style” twist, presenting a diverse selection of handmade tamales. Options include pork, hot pork, beef, hot beef, chicken, and bean and cheese tamales.
12139 Jones Rd. Houston, TX 77070
Caracol
Celebrated chef Hugo Ortega presents festive tamales for the holidays, featuring options such as pork with chile puya, chicken with mole poblano, and mushroom with pipian verde ($28 per dozen). Orders can be placed online or by calling 713-524-7744 for pickup at the restaurant. Orders can be placed online or by calling 713-622-9996.
2200 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77056
Cyclone Anaya’s
Christmas Eve Tamales are available at all six Houston area Cyclone Anaya’s locations. These tamales feature pork and come with a choice of tomatillo or chili gravy. To ensure availability, orders must be placed by phone at the nearest location by Dec. 22, 2023. Pickup for orders is scheduled for Dec. 24 and all orders must be retrieved before 7 p.m. on that day.
Multiple locations
El Bolillo Bakery
This beloved Mexican bakery has gained a reputation for its abundant selection of baked goods, pastries, and celebrated whole tres leches cakes. In addition to these delights, it serves as a dependable go-to spot for tamales. Find tamales in flavors like pork, pork habanero, chicken and hatch chili, rajas con queso, and elote available for pick-up in-store year-round. For those outside the area, the bakery ships it tamales nationwide through Goldbelly.
2517 Airline Drive, Houston, TX 77009
Goode Co.
During the holiday season, Goode Company is offering handmade chile braised pork tamales for $27.06 per dozen. Orders can be placed online for pickup at numerous locations.
Multiple locations
Granny’s Tamales
This cherished tamale outpost in Humble offers a variety of tamales in options such as jalapeño, chicken and cheese, bean and cheese, sweet corn, beef and jalapeño, beef and pork, and chicken ($14 per dozen). Orders can be placed online or by calling 281-446-0363.
1305 1st Street East, Humble, TX 77338
Hugo’s
Celebrated chef Hugo Ortega presents festive tamales for the holidays, featuring options such as pork with chile puya, chicken with mole poblano, and mushroom with pipian verde ($28 per dozen). Orders can be placed online or by calling 713-524-7744 for pickup at the restaurant.
1600 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77006
JQ’s Tex Mex BBQ
This Tex-Mex and barbecue concept offers smoked red pork tamales ($24 dozen) for pickup on Dec. 24.
7622 Lumber Jack Drive, Houston, TX 7740
Los Tios
Marking its 53rd anniversary, Los Tios offers its homemade tamales in chicken or pork, priced at $12.95 per dozen. To secure your order, reach out to your nearest Los Tios location by phone or visit in person.
Multiple locations
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen
The enchilada queen of Houston and her eateries are busy hand-wrapping holiday tamales, with chicken and pork options at $22 per dozen. Take advantage of a special offer: buy 5 dozen and receive a complimentary dozen. To place an order, contact one of their locations at 6401 Woodway (713-334-7295) or 1140 Eldridge Parkway (832-230-3842). All orders must be placed at least three days in advance.
Multiple locations
Tamales Don Pepe
At this down-home Mexican cafe, tamales are $2.50 each and filled with either chicken and green sauce, pork with green sauce, jalapeño and cheese, mushroom, or black beans and cheese. For $5, you can purchase 8 oz of Oaxacan tamales filled with chicken and mole, all neatly wrapped in a banana leaf.
3816 Link Valley Dr., Houston, TX 77025
The Tamale Joint
This Shepherd Forest neighborhood restaurant offers a selection of hand-wrapped tamales, with options such as pork, chicken, bean, sweet corn, beef, and jalapeño cheese, available at $15.49 to $17.49 per dozen. To place an order, you can visit the website provided or call 713-360-6088.
3352 E T C Jester Blvd, Houston, TX 77018
Houston foodies, what would you add to this list? Where do you turn to for tamales? Drop your recommendations in the comment section. ⬇️