Holiday season is here which in San Antonio means … tamales!
Folks in other urban centers might not understand the Alamo City’s delicious holiday tradition but — pobrecitos! — they’re missing out.
Pro tip: Since everyone else seems to get the same idea at the same time, we recommend getting yours early and freezing them to (hopefully) avoid the crazy lines.
Here’s our roundup of the best tamales in San Antonio, just in time to make the holidays merry and bright.
Aurora’s Tamales
2118 Cincinnati Ave., (210) 897-0879, facebook.com.
These tamales are “hecho a mano en casa,” so you know they must be good. Fresh and never frozen, corn husk-wrapped goodies are made by Aurora Olguin and her granddaughter Aurora Luna. Stop at their food truck next time you spot it. You can thank us later.
Credit: Facebook / Pepe’s Barbacoa #1
Pepe’s Barbacoa
3818 S. Presa St., (210) 533-6233, facebook.com.
Locals rave about this spot for tamales, but be warned! It’s cash only.
Credit: Brandon Rodriguez
Los Cocos Fruteria Y Taqueria
1502 Bandera Road, (210) 431-7786.
In addition to serving up refreshing fruit cups, Los Cocos serves scrumptious Mexican fare from the taqueria portion of its business. The tamales are enormous, super flavorful and wrapped in banana leaves. While you may not order a dozen to go, you’ll be happy stopping in for a fix here.
Credit: Facebook / La Victoria Tortilla & Tamales Factory
Victoria Tortilla & Tamales Factory
737 Division Ave, (210) 922-5274, lavictoriafactory.com.
Good things are worth waiting for — take Victoria Tortilla & Tamales Factory as proof. This laid-back spot knows what it’s doing in the kitchen, from the tortillas and beans — just wait until you try ‘em — to, of course, the tamales. Grab a few dozen and get the party started.
Sweet Chela’s
2118 Cincinnati Ave, (210) 897-0879, facebook.com.
In addition to famous cakes, this bakery does delicious tamales! Even though they only offer the pork variety, locals swear by them.
Photo via Instagram / sweetchelas
Credit: Photo via Instagram / chilitosexpress
Chilito’s Express
826 Johns Road, Boerne, (210) 410-9664, chilitosexpress.com.
Though technically in Boerne, Chilito’s Express can hold its own against SA-based tamal makers. This part-food truck, part-catering venture packs lots of flavor into its tamales. They’re available in fillings ranging from spicy pork to bacon, bean and jalapeño.
Photo via Instagram / chilitosexpress
Credit: Facebook / Papi’s Barbacoa
Papi’s Barbacoa
La Bandera Molino
2619 N Zarzamora St, (210) 434-0631.
Fresh flour tortillas are definitely worth the wait at this shop which is stuffed to the brim with Mexican ingredients, cookware and more. But don’t get so excited by the other stuff that you forget you came for the absolutely delicious tamales.
B & B Tamales and Food To Go
866 W. Mayfield Blvd., (210) 921-0847.
When a place looks as unassuming as tiny B & B Tamales, you know the food has to be exceptional. This to-go spot lets you enjoy authentic home-cooked meals or pick up tamales to go, and the prices can’t be beat.
Credit: Facebook / Tamale Boy Tacos & Tamales
Tamale Boy Tacos & Tamales
5300 S. Flores St., (210) 663-2033, satamaleboy.com.
Open Thursdays through Sundays, it’s easy to have arrange a holiday get-together with an order of corn husk-packaged goodness from Tamale Boy. This South Side storefront may be small, but they will definitely come through with more than 15 varieties of tamales — from classics such as pork and beef as well as less-common combinations like carne guisada and cheese.
Credit: Facebook / La Monita Tortilleria
La Monita Tortilleria Factory
3202 Guadalupe St., (210) 432-0332, facebook.com.
Tortillas may be the primary draw for La Monita, but this neighborhood favorite puts a lot of love and care into its tamales. They’re absolutely heavenly.
Credit: Facebook / Ruben’s Homemade Tamales
Ruben’s Homemade Tamales
1807 Rigsby Ave, (210) 337-0025, facebook.com.
The lines at longtime favorite Ruben’s can get long this time of year, but that’s because the tamales are tasty. Choose from specialties such as bean, chicken and pork with jalapeño.
La Hacienda Products
6421 Blanco Road, (210) 377-0808, lahaciendaproducts.com.
This new-ish tamal purveyor offers the masa-packed treats in a variety of flavors, including chicken, pork and bean. Plus it even offers flavorful veggie and vegan options.
Photo via Facebook / La Hacienda Products
Credit: Facebook / Tellez Tamales & Barbacoa
Tellez Tamales & Barbacoa
Multiple locations, tellez-tamales-barbacoa-factory.business.site.
With two locations in San Antonio, it’s not too difficult to score tamales from Tellez, a longtime local favorite. The long lines? Well, that’s another story. But take it as this — San Antonians know these flavorful tamales are worth waiting for.
Facebook / Tellez Tamales & Barbacoa
Credit: Facebook / Mimi’s Barbacoa
Mimi’s Barbacoa and Tamales Y Mas
10918 Wurzbach Road #134, (210) 558-6008, facebook.com/MimisBarbacoa.
This poppin’ counter-serve joint serves tamales five days out of the week. Pork tamales are available year-round, and flavors such as jalapeño and chicken make appearances during the holiday season. Oh, and they also have buñuelos!
Credit: Photo via Google Maps
Trevino’s Barbacoa
Credit: Photo via Facebook / Tamahli
Tamahli
814 West Rhapsody Drive, (210) 877-9949, tamahli.com.
You’ll need to plan ahead when snagging these corn husk- or banana leaf-wrapped delights, because this spot makes ’em so fresh, they can’t accommodate walk-in orders.
Photo via Facebook / Tamahli
Credit: Facebook / Del Rio Tortilla
Del Rio Tortilla
1402 Gillette Blvd., (210) 922-4810, delriotortillas.com.
This humble South Side spot is prized for its Mexican treats, which include not only tamales but barbacoa and tortillas. Available cooked or raw, you can score these tamales in the traditional flavors — pork, chicken and bean, to name a few.
Credit: Instagram / delicioustamalestx
Delicious Tamales
Multiple locations, delicioustamales.com.
Delicious has grown into an Alamo City institution, operating seven storefronts and shipping nationwide. Sometimes chains cut corners, but not this one. Fans continue to line up for the tasty tamales in a variety of flavors. Available by the dozen, you can stock up on fillings like jalapeño bean, pork, chicken, seasonal pumpkin and even a Southwest vegetarian option. They even make tamale poppers!
Credit: Instagram / Delia’s Tamales
Delia’s
13527 Hausman Pass, (210) 864-1111, deliastamales.com.
This Rio Grande Valley fixture finally opened a storefront in SA, and you should have seen the lines around the building when they opened. In truth, it’s probably wise to expect a wait around this time of year as well. Pro tip: Delia’s ships. Pay a little extra for shipping and revel in the fact that you didn’t have to sit in line to get your fix.
Credit: Sanford Nowlin
Adelita Tamales & Tortilla Factory
1130 Fresno Drive, (210) 733-5352, adelitatamales.com.
A local favorite for tamales, meats and masa, it’s hard to get more puro San Antonio than Adelita. Swing by and you’ll be able to score housemade treats that taste just like your abuela made them.
Credit: Facebook / Alfonso’s Tamales
Alfonso’s Tamales
2000 SE Loop 410, Suite 103, (210) 648-6060, alfonsostamales.com.
This East Side factory lets customers choose between frozen machine-rolled tamales and the hot, hand-rolled variety. If you can spare a little extra coin, we recommend going with handmade, but you can’t go wrong either way. Alfonso’s sets itself apart on the crowded San Antonio tamale scene with a jalapeño and cheese tamal that’s to die for.
Credit: Facebook / La Luz Tortilla Factory
La Luz Tortilla Factory
4120 Blanco Road, (210) 734-8523, facebook.com/laluztortillas.
This local tortilla factory knows what it’s doing, and the tamales are filling, flavorful and perfect to share around the holiday table.