Teresa's Tamales

Mexican restaurant · Mora County

Teresa's Tamales

Mexican restaurant · Mora County
3296 NM-518, Cleveland, NM 87715

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Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null
Teresa's Tamales by null

Highlights

Nestled in a cozy cinder-block building, this local gem serves up unforgettable New Mexican classics like hand-made tamales and green chili burgers, with smiles all around.  

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3296 NM-518, Cleveland, NM 87715 Get directions

teresastamalesnm.wixsite.com

$10–20 · Menu

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3296 NM-518, Cleveland, NM 87715 Get directions

+1 575 387 2754
teresastamalesnm.wixsite.com
teresastamales

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 28, 2025

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Sean de la Torre

Google
Amazing food good spice kick without being too spicy. Great service and food was an excellent price to portion size. Only downside was it was a little small most of Mora is but will recommend and will be back. This is the tamale plate.

Carl Willis

Google
In town for work, was looking for good, local, food and found it!! Their chillie rellenos are amazing, and today 11/1/24, I switched it up and had the Philly cheese steak sandwich and onion rings, and was NOT disappointed 😋 Service is always with a smile and conversation. Prices are definitely comparable. EDIT: Recently finished up my work assignment in Mora, and as I was leaving town, I stopped here for 2doz tamales to take home to the wife. Gonna miss this restaurant, and wish only the best for them in the future, hopefully I'll end up in this area again, and they are still around.

Mike Maes

Google
Legendary tamales! Teresa's is the destination that the locals frequent. It's a hole in the wall that offers a short menu of pure New Mexico goodness! Her tamales are made by hand, fresh daily, so be advised, they usually sell out by 12 noon.

KFC

Google
Every time I try to get those wonderful tamales your either closed or sold out. I have tried to call nobody answers the phone. I came by Friday and was there at 3:30 where your website states you close at 4:30 and there was a closed sign. FYI consistency is the best way you can have success in any business. I stopped at the new RAZZ and got some tamales from there and a hamburger. Hamburger was very good, my husband loved the tamales.

Ryan Taylor

Google
Best tamales of my life! I’m so glad I stopped here instead of somewhere else.

Melissa Lesse

Google
My kids have been coming here for years for the tamales! We'd love to come in on occasion for a burger and fries as well The wait time is a good 20 to 30 minutes as everything is cooked fresh but well worth the wait!

Peter Balleau

Google
Old-time roadhouse north of Mora. Famous for handmade Tamales of finest quality in corn shucks. I have the green-chile cheeseburger, a classic. The burritos are from your grandmother and from Teresa, excellent.

JT Payne

Google
(Disclaimer: I have received no promotion or incentive for this review.) These charming little roadside diner is a must stop for tasty tamales and other Mexican dishes. Under nee ownership, we found that the dishes were not nearly as spicy as in the past. We missed the kick, but understood how other customers might want more mild flavors. The green Chili salsa is legit(contains pork). Everything is really satisfying and delicious!
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Katie B.

Yelp
Really good food. I'm glad they've added more outside dining tables. I had the burrito with pulled pork, beans - which are refried, not charro, cheese and pico. The cashier convinced me the green sauce would be too hot, but the pico was very mild. It jut needed some salt and was good. Would have loved to try it with the green sauce, so next time will listen to my gut instinct. My mate had the green chili cheese burger, and loved it.
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James D.

Yelp
I haven't been here yet (but I plan to next time I pass through NM.), but neither has Wade W. of Garland, TX, so I am evening the score to balance the 1 star he gave when he has never actually been there.
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Liz B.

Yelp
Ordered 2 dozen chicken and green chile tamales and they are delicious. We also had lunch there and my daughter loved their chile rellanos and I had a small burrito. With their burritos you get a choice of 4 fillings. The place was very busy. It has inside tables and a few protected tables. It's a small place and many were ordering the burgers. The food is very reasonable and prepared with love. It was worth the drive and I am looking forward to seeing what they will be offering for Thanksgiving for take out.
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John C.

Yelp
If you want the REAL DEAL...... You go to Theresa's Chicharon burrito with green chile

Christine M.

Yelp
Enjoying a long weekend getaway in New Mexico with my husband and we stopped at this restaurant and enjoyed a rather delicious Tamale, Chili Relleno and Smothered Burrito for lunch! We both Highly recommend this place for its yummy food along with great customer service! Amanda is a talented cook & baker and it absolutely showed with the continual traffic we witnessed during our lunch! It is a must on your bucket list when in the area!

Melody S.

Yelp
Fresh and tasty. A great place to stop and grab Tamales for our cabin on our way to the ski resort.
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Jill S.

Yelp
From the moment we stepped into the little shanty on the side the road going thru Holman, we knew that my once unpopular, "let's stop for some tamales" remark was all of a sudden a GREAT IDEA!! We asked the very friendly, previous Girl Scout, at the counter for a little guidance with our order. She said all they had left were the red chili pork tamales. After she said how wonderful they were, we ordered a dozen. My MIL and I then asked about the green Chile sauce. She said it was delicious and explained that it was great for smothering. We were a little confused...somewhat reluctantly ordered a quart...when she asked if we wanted a sample. Because we just weren't sure what we would use it for and our storage was somewhat limited as we were in an RV, she kindly suggested if we would like a sample. We eagerly said yes. Well. The rest was history!! If we could hear music in our ears as we ate the little sample, it would have deafened those around us! We both could not say ,"oohhhh myyyy gosh!" Enough to get our message across!! We would simply take the milk and eggs out of the fridge to make room for it if needed. It was thick and chunky with roasted green chiles and pork and tomatoes. It was amazing. Back in the truck we each feasted on a tamale. Intrigued with how beautifully they were individually wrapped and stuffed to the husk with spicy pork and creamy masa. On the way back to Fort Worth the next morning, my MIL and I (the epicureans) would mention randomly how we were going to feast on the tamales when we got home. I had my whole meal planned...down to the shredded cheese and sour cream. My husband sort of didn't participate in our tamale fantasy and was just as satisfied having them comando style. Finally!! We got home!! I told everyone we were going solo on the tamale prep and was happy to receive an "ok" from my husband and MIL. Well. Mine was the best!! Two skinned tamales. Heated in the microwave. Covered (or smothered) with the warmed green Chile sauce ...covered with shredded cheese and popped back in the microwave to warm all the way through. Then we added a pile of fresh tomatoes and chopped Vidalia onions and a big dollop of sour cream. I just can't express how wonderful everything was! Our only regret is we didn't get two dozen and an extra quart!
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Teri H.

Yelp
The tamales are the best ever! We stop in once a week for a dozen to go and they never disappoint. The chicken burrito had the very best tasting grilled chicken and a smothered burrito is a definite must have. Customer service is great too!
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Justin A.

Yelp
Was on a motorcycle ride to Cleveland and on the way out of town and saw this little gem and decided to stop. Tamales are a staple food of New Mexico and from a mom and pop shop you know they are going to be great! I ordered a tamale al la carte and a small bean/chicharron/green chili/cheese burrito (you get to choose 4 toppings additional ones are extra). The tamale was delicious and the meat and chili were perfect. The small burrito was a perfect size and everything was cooked to perfection. Th chicharrons were crispy and flavorful and not greasy like other places I have tried. The owner was wonderful to us and the service was super quick. Next time I pass through the area I will def be stopping by again. Next one I'm looking forward to trying the green chili cheeseburger or the pulled pork sandwich.
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Louis J.

Yelp
You can't go wrong with this place! We read about this at a NM tourism site and heard it was worth the stop. The previous times we drove by it it was closed. But it is closed on Sundays. Be forewarned, if you blink your eyes you may miss it. Nevertheless, this place did not disappoint! We hit it about mid afternoon and my wife and I both had the Tamale Plate Xmas. Everything was fresh and delicious. The red chile was from pods and the green was chunky. Both made fresh that day. No cumin in the chile either (-I feel it has no business in NM chile). Teresa (?) kept giving us samples of everything. Everyone was extremely friendly and actually made us feel at home. This is a must if you are in the Mora valley!

Rachael M.

Yelp
Amazing food all around. So glad we stopped and will make it a regular stop on the way to the mountains in the future. Fabulous tamales, Chile Relleno and we love both the red and green sauces. The service was top notch as well and everyone in the family is thrilled that we got more tamales and Chile sauce to take home!
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Jill H.

Yelp
I am from out of town and Teresa's was recommended to me. I had the pork tamales with red chili and beans. It was so incredible!! I got a quart of the red chili so that I could put it on everything that I cook while at my AirBnB. My husband had the chili relleno with green and red chili sauce (Christmas). He also loved it and said that the green sauce was a good deal hotter than the red. I am a wimp, so I didn't try it. He liked it, though. We had left overs and they heat up well, too. Just go here!! Eat the food!!
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Wade W.

Yelp
Drove by here twice on Friday and three times on Saturday all times during the day and the place was always closed!!!
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Tom F.

Yelp
Whether it's tamales or burritos, in the restaurant or to go, just a meal or something catered, Teresa's is wonderful. Delicious food, reasonable prices and a friendly staff. Highly recommended.
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Lisa M.

Yelp
The food is great & the service is excellent. Thank you Audrey for hooking us up with that awesome Oreo pudding & those amazing tamales.

Harold B.

Yelp
I was on the Rincon forest fire and we used Teresa's as one of our caterers to feed 150 firefighters. Always on time and the food was great. The family was friendly and very helpful. I live in Az but this is a go back for the food and visit with the family on our next road trip to see the Country.

Karla G.

Yelp
If we want something special...we take a trip out to Teresa's. All is delicious and always get tamales and a few burritos to go. We prefer the pork tamales over the chicken.
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Christine B.

Yelp
Hand tied fresh hot red Chile pork tamales. My husband's family is originally from here. His eyes literally rolled into the back of his head when he first tasted them. Just like Uncle Jimmy's.
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Nelson M.

Yelp
A friend recommended me to stop on my way to Mora. I am so happy I did! I loved the feel of the place, the way they treated me, and of course, the food. I had a burrito de chicharrones, and it was amazing. Please pray that I don't fall asleep on the wheel now!
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Alondra G.

Yelp
This place is a gem! Teresa is great and so are the pork tamales! Such a yummy & cozy spot to have a bite on your travels up to the mountains.
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Charles M.

Yelp
My wife and I have a cabin in rural New Mexico. We went to Teresa's Tamales today and ordered a Grande Carne Adovada Burro. OMG!. I grew up in New Mexicoa and live in Phoenix, Arizona and love Mexican food. That burro, which we split, was fabulous. It's a small place, but clean and the people (ladies) are wonderful. And you cannot beat the price. I can't wait to go back. The lady sitting next to me had a taco which "looked to die for". Not a Michilen 3 star, but definately a Yelp 5 star given the rural community. You won't go wrong.
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Ronda B.

Yelp
I can't speak about the tamales, but the burritos are phenomenal--better than any I've ever had in Albuquerque! Meet eaters shouldn't miss the chicharrón, and the green chile is killer. The owner is lovely person to boot.
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Joe L.

Yelp
Great food, great service, great staff!!! A must stop when visiting the area. The carne adovada is my favorite.
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Hailey J.

Yelp
I just moved to Guadalupita and tried Teresa's for the first time. It was absolutely delicious and perfect in every way.
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Roy C.

Yelp
Ate here few years ago and still to this day remember how good the burrito was. Huge, cheap and delicious.
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Sara B.

Yelp
So good we stopped here twice! You've got to get some tamales on your way through, you won't regret it!
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Kami K.

Yelp
The map shows the restaurant closer to town but it is situated right at the mile 33 marker and worth looking for! We really enjoyed the tamale plate, green chili and BBQ pulled pork sandwich. The owner was super sweet. We always enjoy trying small local places and we are happy we tried this one.

Gary David J.

Yelp
Best homemade tamales you will find! The rest of the authentic Spanish cuisine is delicious.

Andrea M.

Yelp
My daughter and I just placed an order the service is awful. After we placed our order two other ladies were behind us they placed their order and after that the server decides to tell them that she's going to make their food first and that my daughter and I could just wait. After receiving my food it wasn't made right my burger was burned my onion rings were not cooked is very sad I've been going there for many years now never have I gotten food this bad!

F. S.

Yelp
Really good smothered tamale, excellent pork taco. At far north end of Cleveland. Don't miss it!

Rebecca M.

Yelp
Sometimes taking the wrong turn leads you to great if totally unexpected outcomes. We were on our way to Chimayo for lunch, missed a turn and ended up in Cleveland, NM... As we were starving, we stopped at this restaurant on a whim, and we have a new favorite place down here. Teresa herself gave us a sample tamale, and it's the best I've ever tried. We ended up eating our fill of smothered tamales and rellenos, and the caliber of excellent food and friendly conversation made this the happiest accident. We'll be back!