As the night before Christmas creeps nearer and nearer, and last minute gifts find their place under the tree, there is no better time to add tamales well worth unwrapping to your holiday spread. Houston restaurants and bakeries have been hard at work preparing tamales by the dozen and half-dozen that can be conveniently picked up in time for the holiday… and to enjoy well after! From savory meat-filled and vegetarian varieties to subtly sweet dessert tamales, the delicate, doughy dish brings comfort to Christmas Day like few foods do. Here is where to get a batch (or five) before Christmas morning.
Monkey’s Tail
Stock up on tamales for Christmas, and well afterward at Monkey’s Tail. The Lindale Park haunt is serving up red chili pork and green chili chicken tamales by the half dozen ($9) and dozen ($16) through January 11. A limited amount of tamales is available to purchase at the bar, but guests can pre-order by Sunday, December 22 for pick up at Monkey’s Tail on Monday, or by Wednesday, December 25 for pick up on Thursday. 5802 Fulton St., Houston, monkeystailhou.com
Irma’s Original
Irma’s is a Houston institution where the talents of chef Irma Galvan are on full display for eager diners. While what’s on the daily menu is anybody’s guess, the tradition of offering holiday tamales each year is one Houstonians have come to expect and cherish. This year, Irma’s is taking phone orders for brisket and pork tamales, available by the dozen only ($30 and up), for pick up through Tuesday, December 24. 22 N Chenevert St., Houston, irmasoriginal.com
Alicia’s Mexican Grill
Scratch-made tamales are available for dine-in, take-out, and pre-order at Alicia’s locations in Houston, Spring, Katy, and Cypress. Score varieties like pork with chili gravy, chicken with green tomatillo sauce, and vegetarian by the half dozen ($12) and dozen ($21), with each wrapped in seasoned corn dough and folded into a corn husk. 24-hour notice of pick up is required for orders exceeding three dozen. Multiple locations, aliciasmexicangrille.com
Pico’s
A selection of banana leaf-wrapped tamales are showcased on Pico’s restaurant menu year-round, but leading up to Christmas, the Upper Kirby stalwart makes it easy to bring a batch home to add to your holiday spread. Through Monday, January 6, both Nortenos- ($12/$24) and Oaxouenos-style ($23/$45) tamales are available by the half-dozen and dozen in varieties like pork in red chile and chicken in green chile. Customers are treated to a complimentary dozen when they purchase five, and as a bonus, Pico’s offers dessert tamales in flavors like pina colada and sweet raisin, which add a vibrant pink contrast to the mix. Orders can be placed online or by phone. 3601 Kirby Dr., Houston, picos.net
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen
She may be coined the “Enchilada Queen” by locals, but Sylvia Casarez is just as well known for her top notch tamales, which have become a tasty Houston holiday tradition over the years. Chicken and pork tamales are available by the dozen ($22) with three-days notice through Tuesday, December 31. As a bonus, order five dozen tamales and score a complimentary dozen. Orders may be placed at either Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen location by phone. 6401 Woodway Dr., Houston, sylviasenchiladas.com
H-Town Restaurant Group
Chef Hugo Ortega’s restaurants, Hugo’s, Caracol, and Urbe have tamales by the dozen ($28) on offer for the holiday season. Varieties include pork with chile puya, chicken mole poblano, and mushroom with pipian at Hugo’s; pork with mole coloradito, chicken with salsa costena, and mushroom with pipian roja at Caracol; and brisket, pork in adobo, chicken in green sauce, and mushroom at Urbe. Orders can be placed online through Friday, December 20 for pick-up on Tuesday, December 24 at each respective location. htownrestaurantgroup.com
Cochinita & Co.
Cochinita & Co. is accepting online orders for fresh tamales by the dozen ($30) for pick up by 1 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24. Varieties include pork in red salsa, chicken in green salsa, rajas con queso, and black bean, with each dozen presented with a pint of salsa. 5420 Lawndale St. #500, Houston, cochinitaandco.com
Molina’s
In honor of the festive season, Molina’s classic chili-laced braised pork tamales are on special through the end of the year. Pick up and takeout orders are discounted to $15.95 per dozen, and can be made online or by phone with 24 hours advance notice for pick up at any Molina’s location. Multiple locations, molinascantina.com
El Bolillo
While loading up a pizza pan with conchas and panaderos at this iconic Mexican bakery, add an order of tamales to the mix. El Bolillo’s classic Northern Mexican-style tamales are available in-store by the half-dozen ($8) for pick up through Tuesday, December 24, in varieties like pork, pork habanero, chicken and hatch chili, and rajas con queso. Stock up for the family, and then hang around the bakery and treat yourself to El Bolillo’s three tamale and drink combo.Multiple locations, elbolillo.com
