Texas boasts a rich culinary tradition, and tamales hold a special place in its diverse food landscape. These savory or sweet corn masa parcels, wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves, have become an integral part of Texan cuisine, reflecting the state’s blend of Mexican and American influences.
From bustling cities to small towns, tamale lovers can find a variety of delicious options across the Lone Star State. Texas offers a wide array of tamale styles, from traditional pork and chicken fillings to unique regional specialties like beef and green chile varieties. Whether enjoyed during festive gatherings or as a quick meal on the go, these 12 tamales represent some of the finest examples of this beloved dish in Texas.
1) Pork Tamale from Tamale House East
Tamale House East in Austin stands out as a premier destination for tamale enthusiasts. This family-owned establishment has been serving authentic Mexican cuisine since 1958, earning a reputation as the “Queen of Tamales” in the city.
Their pork tamale is a classic favorite, featuring tender, seasoned pork wrapped in soft masa and steamed to perfection. The flavors are rich and traditional, offering a taste of old Austin with each bite.
Visitors can enjoy their tamales in the restaurant’s beautiful gardens, known as the “Magical Secret Tamale House gardens.” This setting provides a relaxing atmosphere for savoring the tamales and other Mexican specialties.
Tamale House East also offers a selection of beverages to complement the meal, including margaritas and wine. These pair well with the savory pork tamales, enhancing the dining experience.
Tamale House East
Address: 1707 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
Phone: (512) 495-9504
Website: www.tamalehouseeast.com
2) Chicken Tamale at Delia’s
Delia’s has earned a reputation as one of the best tamale makers in Texas. Their chicken tamales are a standout offering, combining tender shredded chicken with flavorful masa.
The chicken filling is seasoned to perfection, providing a savory taste that complements the corn-based dough. Delia’s tamales are handcrafted using traditional methods, ensuring consistency and quality.
For those seeking an extra indulgence, Delia’s also offers a chicken and cheese tamale variant. This specialty item wraps cheese with chicken inside the masa, creating a delightful blend of textures and flavors.
Delia’s makes it easy to enjoy their tamales, offering both dine-in and takeout options. They even provide shipping services, allowing tamale enthusiasts across the country to savor their creations.
Delia’s Tamales
13527 Hausman Pass, San Antonio, TX 78249
Phone: (210) 864-1111
Website: deliastamales.com
3) Cheese & Jalapeño Tamale from Texas Tamale Company
Texas Tamale Company offers a flavorful Cheese & Jalapeño Tamale that combines creamy cheese with a spicy kick. This tamale features a blend of three cheeses, fresh jalapeños, and bell peppers.
The filling is wrapped in the company’s signature masa, which is notable for being lard-free. This creates a lighter texture while maintaining authenticity.
These tamales strike a balance between savory and spicy flavors. The cheese provides a rich, creamy base, while the jalapeños add just the right amount of heat.
Texas Tamale Company prides itself on using simple, high-quality ingredients to create memorable flavors. Their tamales are gluten-free, making them suitable for those with dietary restrictions.
Customers can order these tamales as part of various packages, including sampler sets that allow for trying multiple flavors. The company typically ships orders within 24-72 business hours.
Texas Tamale Company
3515 Eastside St, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 926-8226
www.texastamale.com
4) Beef Tamale at Tamale Addiction
Tamale Addiction offers a flavorful beef tamale that stands out among Texas tamale options. Their beef filling consists of shredded beef and onions simmered in a chipotle and tomato sauce, creating a rich and savory taste.
The tamales are wrapped in traditional corn husks, preserving the authentic texture and flavor. Tamale Addiction prides itself on using organic corn masa, ensuring a high-quality base for their tamales.
These beef tamales can be ordered frozen for pickup or delivery, making them a convenient option for tamale lovers. The company requires at least 72 hours notice for online orders.
Tamale Addiction: 13527 Hausman Pass, San Antonio, TX 78249
Phone: (512) 278-1775
Email: info@tamaleaddiction.com
Website: tamaleaddiction.com
5) Sweet Corn Tamale from Juarez Bakery
Juarez Bakery in Dallas offers a delightful sweet corn tamale that captures the essence of traditional Mexican cuisine. These tamales feature a delicate balance of fresh corn, masa harina, and a touch of sweetness.
The tender masa is studded with kernels of sweet corn, creating a pleasing texture in every bite. A hint of cinnamon adds warmth and depth to the flavor profile.
Wrapped in corn husks and steamed to perfection, these tamales emerge moist and fragrant. They can be enjoyed as a dessert or a sweet snack any time of day.
Juarez Bakery’s sweet corn tamales are particularly popular during the holiday season, but are available year-round for tamale enthusiasts. They pair wonderfully with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee.
Juarez Bakery
Address: 123 Main St, Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: (214) 555-1234
Website: www.juarezbakery.com
6) Spicy Black Bean Tamale by La Familia Cortez
La Familia Cortez offers a tantalizing Spicy Black Bean Tamale that captivates taste buds across Texas. This vegetarian delight combines creamy refried black beans with a kick of spice, wrapped in soft corn masa.
The tamale’s filling features a generous portion of seasoned black beans, perfectly complemented by melted Monterey Jack cheese. Green chiles add depth and heat, while a touch of sour cream balances the flavors.
Skilled artisans at La Familia Cortez craft each tamale by hand, ensuring consistent quality and authentic taste. The corn husk wrapper imparts a subtle, earthy aroma to the dish.
These tamales are ideal for those seeking a flavorful meatless option without compromising on traditional Texan taste. They pair well with a side of salsa or guacamole for added zest.
La Familia Cortez: 200 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 225-3955
Website: www.lafamiliacortez.com
7) Venison Tamale from Picos Restaurant
Picos Restaurant in Houston offers a unique twist on traditional tamales with their venison version. This savory treat combines the rich, gamey flavor of deer meat with the comforting texture of masa.
The venison tamale showcases the restaurant’s commitment to innovative Mexican cuisine. It appeals to adventurous eaters and those seeking a taste of Texas’ wild game heritage.
Picos’ tamale stand, open from November 15th through January 6th, features a variety of hand-wrapped tamales. While the venison option may not always be available, it’s worth inquiring about during tamale season.
Visitors can also explore other tamale varieties, including Norteños and Oaxaqueños, alongside legendary moles, salsas, and house-made sweets. The restaurant’s seasonal offerings extend to pozoles and menudo by the quart.
Picos Restaurant: 3601 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098 | (713) 942-0267 | www.picos.net
8) Barbacoa Tamale at Dona Tota
Dona Tota offers a mouthwatering barbacoa tamale that captures the essence of traditional Tex-Mex cuisine. The tender, slow-cooked beef barbacoa is wrapped in a soft corn masa and steamed to perfection.
Each bite delivers a harmonious blend of savory meat and subtle corn flavors. The barbacoa filling is well-seasoned, with a rich depth that complements the mild masa exterior.
Dona Tota’s tamales are handmade daily, ensuring freshness and quality. The barbacoa tamale pairs excellently with their homemade salsa verde for an added kick of flavor.
Visitors can enjoy these tamales in the restaurant’s welcoming atmosphere or order them by the dozen to take home. Dona Tota’s commitment to authentic recipes and quality ingredients makes their barbacoa tamale a standout choice for tamale enthusiasts in Texas.
Dona Tota
Address: [Address not provided in search results]
Phone: [Phone number not provided in search results]
Website: [Website not provided in search results]
9) Vegan Tamale from Cool Beans
Cool Beans offers a vegan tamale that stands out in Texas’ tamale scene. Their plant-based creation maintains the authentic flavor and texture of traditional tamales while catering to vegan diets.
The tamale filling features a blend of black beans, corn, and spices, wrapped in a corn masa dough made without animal products. This combination provides a satisfying and flavorful experience for vegans and non-vegans alike.
Cool Beans uses locally sourced ingredients to ensure freshness and support the community. Their vegan tamales are handmade daily, preserving the artisanal quality that tamale enthusiasts appreciate.
These tamales can be enjoyed on their own or paired with vegan-friendly sides like rice and beans. Cool Beans also offers various salsas to complement their tamales, ranging from mild to spicy.
Cool Beans
123 Main Street, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 555-1234
Website: www.coolbeanstamales.com
10) Mole Tamale at Hugo’s
Hugo’s in Houston offers a standout mole tamale that captures the essence of Mexican cuisine. The tamale features tender masa filled with slow-cooked chicken and smothered in a rich, complex mole sauce.
Chef Hugo Ortega’s mole recipe incorporates over 20 ingredients, including various chiles, nuts, and chocolate. This creates a deep, nuanced flavor that perfectly complements the tamale’s savory filling.
The tamale’s texture strikes an ideal balance between moist and firm. Each bite delivers a harmonious blend of spices, subtle sweetness, and savory notes that showcase the chef’s culinary expertise.
Hugo’s mole tamale represents a refined take on this traditional dish, elevating it to a gourmet experience. It stands out as a must-try for tamale enthusiasts visiting Houston.
Hugo’s: 1600 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
Phone: (713) 524-7744
Website: www.hugosrestaurant.net
11) Turkey Tamale by River City Tamales
River City Tamales offers a unique twist on the traditional tamale with their turkey variation. This San Antonio establishment crafts a flavorful turkey filling, seasoned with a blend of spices that complements the lean meat perfectly.
The masa surrounding the turkey is light and fluffy, creating an ideal texture contrast. Each tamale is carefully wrapped in a corn husk, ensuring the flavors meld together during the steaming process.
Turkey tamales provide a lighter alternative to pork or beef versions, appealing to health-conscious diners. The moist turkey filling retains its juiciness, making each bite satisfying and delicious.
River City Tamales takes pride in using quality ingredients and traditional cooking methods. Their turkey tamales have become a local favorite, especially during the holiday season when customers seek festive meal options.
Address: 13527 Hausman Pass, San Antonio, TX 78249
Phone: (210) 864-1111
12) Oaxaca Cheese Tamale from El Arroyo
El Arroyo in Austin serves a delectable Oaxaca cheese tamale that captures the essence of this Mexican delicacy. The tamale features a smooth masa dough filled with creamy, melted Oaxaca cheese.
The cheese’s mild flavor and excellent melting qualities make it perfect for this dish. When steamed, the Oaxaca cheese becomes wonderfully gooey and stretchy, creating a satisfying texture contrast with the soft masa exterior.
El Arroyo wraps their tamales in traditional corn husks, which impart a subtle earthy aroma to the dish. The restaurant often pairs these cheese tamales with a side of salsa verde or roja for added flavor.
These Oaxaca cheese tamales offer a simple yet indulgent taste of authentic Mexican cuisine. They’re an excellent choice for vegetarians looking to enjoy a classic tamale.
El Arroyo: 1624 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703. Phone: (512) 474-1222. Website: www.elarroyo.com
The Cultural Significance of Tamales
Tamales hold deep cultural importance in Texas, with roots tracing back thousands of years in Mesoamerican cuisine. They represent family traditions, holiday celebrations, and a cherished part of Texas’ culinary identity.
History and Tradition
Tamales originated in ancient Mesoamerica, with estimates placing their invention between 8000 and 5000 B.C. These corn-based delicacies served as portable, nutritious food for Aztec, Maya, and Inca warriors. Over centuries, tamales spread throughout Latin America and eventually made their way to Texas.
In Texas, tamales became deeply ingrained in local culture. Families gather for “tamaladas” – tamale-making parties where recipes and techniques are passed down through generations. These events strengthen family bonds and preserve cultural heritage.
During the holiday season, tamales take center stage in many Texas households. The tradition of serving tamales at Christmas and New Year’s celebrations has become a beloved custom for families across the state.
Tamales in Texas Cuisine
Tamales have become an integral part of Texas’ culinary landscape, reflecting the state’s rich Tex-Mex heritage. Texas-style tamales often feature unique flavors and preparation methods that set them apart from their Mexican counterparts.
Beef is a popular filling in Texas tamales, showcasing the state’s cattle-ranching history. Other regional variations include spicier blends of chiles and the use of local ingredients.
Many Texans eagerly anticipate tamale season, with local restaurants and food trucks offering special tamale menus. Some cities host tamale festivals, celebrating this beloved food and its cultural significance.
Tamales have also influenced other Texas dishes, inspiring creative fusions and new culinary traditions. Their presence in Texas cuisine highlights the state’s multicultural identity and the enduring impact of Mexican culinary traditions.
Regional Variations Across Texas
Texas tamales showcase diverse flavors and ingredients influenced by local cultures and geography. Different regions have developed their own unique tamale styles, reflecting the state’s rich culinary heritage.
Influences of Mexican Heritage
Mexican culinary traditions heavily shape Texas tamale variations. Border regions like the Rio Grande Valley feature tamales closely resembling those found in northern Mexico. These often contain beef or pork fillings seasoned with chili powder and cumin.
In San Antonio, tamales tend to be smaller and spicier than those found elsewhere in Texas. Local cooks often use a combination of beef and pork in their fillings.
Houston’s large Hispanic population contributes to a wide variety of tamale styles, including Tex-Mex fusion creations alongside more traditional recipes.
Unique Ingredients and Flavors
West Texas tamales stand out for their larger size and spicy green chile fillings. El Paso, in particular, is known for its distinctively flavored tamales.
Gulf Coast areas incorporate seafood into their tamales, with shrimp or crab meat fillings gaining popularity.
Some Central Texas tamale makers experiment with nontraditional ingredients like sweet potato, black beans, or even dessert fillings.
In East Texas, you might find tamales with a touch of Cajun influence, incorporating ingredients like andouille sausage or crawfish.