Where to order holiday tamales
Tamale fans know where to get their fix year-round, but the holiday season intensifies cravings with festive, expanded offerings of everyone’s favorite masa bundles.
There are new players in this year’s annual tamale roundup, as well as familiar purveyors.
The 2021 Tamale Festival Houston, postponed from its original Dec. 4 date, has been rescheduled for 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 18 at East River, the mixed-use development at 4011 Clinton. Tickets start at $10 (tamalefestivalhouston.com) for the event that will feature tamales from East End vendors and other local kitchens.
Tacos A Go Go
Handmade pork tamales are available at four locations: 3704 Main, 2912 White Oak, 3401 W. TC Jester and 810 Louisiana in the downtown tunnels; see tacosagogo.com. Pork tamales are $3.99 each or $19.95 half dozen; vegan veggie tamales also available for $2.99 each or $14.95 half dozen.
Maize
The new Memorial Mexican restaurant helmed by chef Fabian Saldana is offering three different tamales made with houseground masa, including rajas with queso fresco; pork with adobo rojo; and chicken with salsa de tomate ($12 half dozen; $24 dozen). Last day to order is Dec. 23 for pickup anytime through Dec. 24 at 14795 Memorial; call 346-409-2733, maizehouston.com.
Alicia’s Mexican Grille and Galiana’s Tex Mex and Agave Bar
Alicia’s (four locations) and Galiana’s offer a variety of tamales, including chicken with green salsa, pork with red salsa, rajas and vegetarian poblano with cheese for $9.95 half dozen or $17.95 dozen. Pre-order with 24-hour notice for pickup at Alicia’s Cypress (281-304-1833), Katy (281-347-1800), Spring (281350-8383) and Sugar Land (281912-6363); and Galiana’s, 24110 U.S. 290 (832-653-6853). For Alicia’s locations see aliciasmexicangrille.com; for Galiana’s see galianastexmex.com.
Henderson & Kane General Store
John and Veronica Avila offer a variety of holiday tamales at their Old Sixth Ward market. Available by the half dozen: Smoked brisket in salsa roja with smoked tallow masa ($15.95), smoked pork in salsa verde ($14.95), smoked turkey mole ($14.95) and vegetarian rajas con queso in blue corn masa ($14.95). The store also carries tamales from Somos Semillas: Choriqueso Fundido (vegetarian chorizo with molten cashew cheese) and Tomillos (vegan roasted butternut squash, corn and poblano with thyme in blue corn masa); both $14.95 for half dozen. Preorders can be placed at hkgeneralstore.com; frozen or ready to serve through Dec. 31. 715 Henderson.
El Topo
Chef Tony Luhrman’s West University Place restaurant offers tamales made from heirloom maize masa (nixtamalized and ground in house), including barbacoa, puerco al pastor, and black bean and cheese for $3.50 to $5 per. Order online at topohtx.com through Dec. 17 for pickup through Dec. 24 at 6119 Edloe; 832-795-7251.
Goode Company
Armadillo Palace, 5015 Kirby, is offering pork tamales by the half dozen ($13) and dozen ($25); fully cooked and ready to eat. All orders for in-restaurant sales only; no online orders. Place order 1-2 day in advance by calling 713-520-9153. Goode Company Kitchen & Cantina is offering pork tamales for $25 dozen. Order by calling the two locations, 8865 Six Pines in The Woodlands, 281-826-5150; and 9005 Interstate 10 W. in Memorial, 713-766-3434. Also available through Goode Co. Grocers ($25 per dozen); goodecompanygrocers.com. Finally, at GoodeChristmas.com, pre-order by Dec. 17; pork tamales, $25 dozen, are available for pickup Dec. 23 and 24 at the company’s pie booths at Armadillo Palace and Goode Company BBQ on Interstate 10 W.
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen
Chef Sylvia Casares’ pork or chicken tamales ($22 dozen) are available at both locations, 6401 Woodway (call 713-334-7295) and 1140 Eldridge (call 832-230-3842). Place orders three days in advance for pickup. Receive a complimentary dozen when you order five dozen (offer valid through Dec. 31); sylviasenchiladas.com. Casares also will hold a tamalada party 2-4 p.m. Dec. 23, with a tamale-making class at 1140 Eldridge. Reservations are required ($65 per person, includes happy hour appetizers and takehome tamales); call 832-230-3842 to reserve.
Urbe
Hugo Ortega’s new Mexican street food restaurant in Uptown
Park is offering two types of tamales (beef, or pecho de res; pork, or puerco con adobo) for $24 dozen for pickup at 1101 Uptown Park Blvd. Order online at urbehouston.com.
Alamo Tamales
The popular Houston tamale purveyor offers handmade tamales (pork, beef, chicken, turkey, bean) for $15.99 dozen and machine-made tamales (mild pork, spicy pork, beef, chicken, spinach) for $9.99 dozen. Available throughout the year at 809 Berry; alamotamale.net.
Picos
The tamale selection is vast. Norteno varieties include beef tinga, chicken tinga, vegan mushroom and poblano, pork belly chicharron in green chile, pork in red chile, chicken in green chile, beef in red chile, chicken in black mole, black bean and cheese, sweet raisin, sweet pineapple and coconut, and sweet corn ($10.50 half dozen, each). Oaxacan-style varieties steamed in banana leaf include chocolate Oaxaqueno, pork in red chile, chicken in green chile, chicken in black mole, shrimp al pastor, and vegetarian mushroom and huitlacoche ($21 half dozen, each). The tamales are available at the parking lot tamale stand at 3601 Kirby 9 a.m.-9 p.m. through Jan. 8; picos.net.
Molina’s Cantina
Houston’s oldest family-run
Tex-Mex restaurant offers its traditional pork tamales for $11.95 dozen ($2 off regular dozen price) at its three locations: 7901 Westheimer, 713-782-0861; 3801 Bellaire, 713-432-1626; and 6300 FM 1463 in Fulshear, 832-7896450; molinascantina.com.
Killen’s Barbecue
Chef Ronnie Killen’s two barbecue restaurants are selling brisket tamales ($25 dozen) at 3613 E. Broadway in Pearland and 8800 Six Pines in The Woodlands Friday and Saturday until Christmas. There’s a limited supply at each location, available on first-come/first-serve basis; no pre-orders.
Hugo’s
Hugo Ortega’s signature restaurant is offering tamales ($24 dozen), including pork cochinita, chicken mole poblano, fish with salsa Veracruzana and mushroom with pipian. Order through hugosrestaurant.net for pickup at 1602 Westheimer; 713-524-7744.
Monkey’s Tail
The Lindale Park neighborhood bar is offering red chili pork and green chile chicken tamales daily during the holidays ($2 each; $6 half dozen; $12 dozen). Available during all hours of operation, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. MondayFriday and 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday at 5802 Fulton, 713842-7188; monkeystailhou.com.