The Tamale Joint

First time trying this place out! When the wifey wants breakfast tacos, you gotta deliver! This place is close to her office, so we snagged some egg & chorizo and egg & bacon breakfast tacos. When I walked in, I was warmly greeted by Jorge! He shared that they were family owned and operated and they make EVERYTHING from scratch! The vibes are super chill. The bathroom was very clean & private. The tacos were legit. I would argue to say they were on the same level, if not better than Torchy’s Tacos. The flour tortillas just melt in your mouth, yet also hold their structure. The bacon & egg was our favorite of the two tacos we got today. They use that thick cut bacon. 10 outta 10! Highly recommend!

Very good Mexican restaurant!! Beautiful and spacious on the inside with great customer service. Jorge our server was very friendly, made us laugh, and shared facts about the foods that are popular in Mexico City. He also emphasized how this food is authentic and not Tex Mex. My grandma who is from Mexico agreed that the food tasted authentic and very tasty. I got to try the Jorge plate (comes with Tamales), the Chilaquile plate, Green Enchiladas and the Pambazo sandwich. The tamale masa had good flavor and was not powdery or grainy at all. It was nice and soft and the filling was also very tasty (i tried the Pork). It was not spicy at all but if you're wanting a spicy tamale, they also sell spicy pork tamales. Just keep in mind that these are not "American" sized tamales and so are on the smaller size! Unfortunately the ones we bought to take home didn't taste that good. Reheating them is just not the same. The Green Enchiladas were filled well with soft shredded chicken and a tasty green lime-y enchilada sauce. Finally, the Pambazo was my personal favorite! Jorge shared about how the Pambazo is one of the most popular dishes in Mexico City and I can see why!! I would definitely recommend it. In terms of side dishes: the beans were good, the rice was ok, and the breakfast potatoes were very good. In terms of drinks: the Jamaica aguas Fresca was good and refreshing, Horchata was also very good, the Cafe de Olla was not my favorite and lacked some flavor, and the Champurrado was very good. Overall a great Mexican restaurant in the Houston area that has a lot to offer besides the tamales!

This place has been open for about 3 years. The place is family owned and operated. Super friendly staff, excellent food, very clean, oce sitting area and clean restrooms. They have a large menu sides their #1 seller tamales. You have e to come here and try these. They are the best in town.

🌶️ A Taste of Mexican Tradition: The Pambazo at The Tamale Joint 🇲🇽 Just had the most incredible pambazo at The Tamale Joint, and it was a total flavor experience! This classic Mexican torta is made extra special – the bread is dipped in guajillo chili sauce before toasting, giving it that bold red color and a hint of spice. 🔥 Filled with savory potatoes and chorizo, it’s like a bite straight from the streets of Mexico City! The history behind the pambazo is just as rich. Originally from Veracruz, where it was filled with refried beans and cheese, this humble sandwich rose to fame in Mexico City with its unique twist. The name “pambazo” comes from “pan basso,” meaning “bread of the lower class.” Once a meal for the working people, it’s now an iconic Mexican street food that’s loved by everyone. And trust me – it pairs perfectly with an ice-cold Mexican Coke. The sweetness and fizz balance out the spices in the best way. Next time you’re at The Tamale Joint, give this classic combo a try! 🙌 #TheTamaleJoint #Pambazo #MexicoCityEats #MexicanCoke #PasadenaTXEats #MexicanStreetFood #FoodHistory #AuthenticFlavors #TortaLovers #FoodieAdventures

My mom and I decided to try this place out for the first time. I wasn’t really hungry, but my mother was so we decided to share a plate. We opted for the 3 Tamales, rice, and beans plate. The tamales were a bit on the smaller size but enough to fill us both up. The menu is very reasonably priced. You do have to order by 1/2 or a dozen. They do not sell single tamales but the plate was a great deal at $8.99. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this place! They opened up a whole new side and extended the restaurant for more patrons. They have a beautiful new mirror on the wall. I’m not sure if he was a manager, but his name was Jorge. My mom and I really enjoyed his company and he can tell he really really really loves his job! He was excited to help customers clean up tables and talk about the specialty of the tamales! Really nice guy. I will definitely be returning.

Yummmmy! Was on this side of town for work and picked up some Jalapeño and Cheese tamales and a breakfast taco. The tamales were hot and fresh, very unique in taste compared to other “non meat” tamales I’ve tried. They didn’t skimp on the breakfast taco, that was pretty good too. The green salsa was tasty but didn’t have much of a kick to it. If I’m ever back on this side of town I’ll stop and pick me up a dozen 👍🏻

I tried this for the 1st time . I was actually on the way to another restaurant. But I'm glad we stopped. Great service , great recommendations. I took off 1 star bc the potatoes had to be sent back they tasted like they had been sitting under a warmer or just sitting in the fryer wrack for awhile. And the churros were not good as well. They are not made fresh just like the potatoes aren't.

Awesome place! The spicy pork tamales with red sauce was a winner. The crew helped us throughout ordering and checked on us several times. Clean, fast and great Tamales that’s priced great!

The best tamales in Houston. Also their enchiladas and other dishes are on point ! For the price and quality this place checks all the boxes I highly recommend. Jorge filled us in on the rest of the menu so definelty will be trying their tortilla soup and huevos rancheros on my next visit !

This is my go-to tamale spot for when I want to buy a couple dozen tamales to share at a family event. Their tamales are just excellent and the salsas are the perfect complement. I love mixing the avocado and green salsas together. On top of the great food, the owner has served me many times and always has the most positive and joyful attitude. He makes you smile the second you walk in the door! Long live Tamale Joint!

Always got my tamales from HEB or a random in the hair salon or my dada had a lady in Louisiana that were pretty good but yesterday I saw this place on the news and had to stop. These were so tasty and flavorful. I tried pork, chicken and beef, they were all chefs kiss. I'll be back to try the breakfast tamales and Menu.

I had been craving tamales all week, so I was eager to try this place. However, I was left disappointed by my meal despite all the rave reviews. I ordered Jorge's Breakfast with pork tamales, beans, and potatoes. The food overall was quite bland but particularly the tamales, eggs, and potatoes. I actually liked the tamales as leftovers the next day better than when I got them fresh. Perhaps because it was heated up more? Regardless, I would still expect the day of to be the best. I did really enjoy the beans though! I thought they had a slightly cheesy flavor to them. Their queso was enjoyable too.

Great open restaurant, quiet. Staff friendly, even came around and gave us an update on our food. We really liked our tamales and breakfast tacos. We will definitely be back.

Really fantastic tamales. The enchiladas here are amazing too. Chips and queso are good and they offer a breakfast menu as well. They are very fast and great to talk with about food choices. The place is very clean and they have a good sized dining room. I would definitely recommend them!

Title: Tasty Tamales with a Few Hiccups at The Tamale Joint in Houston My recent visit to The Tamale Joint in Houston was a mixed bag of delightful flavors and slight disappointments. From the moment I walked in, the clean establishment and friendly staff set a welcoming tone. Opting for a mix of chicken and pork tamales, I eagerly awaited my order. Initially, I was a bit put off by an odor in the air, but I hoped it was unrelated to the food being prepared. Alongside my tamales, I ordered a half dozen of each variety, accompanied by queso with meat and homemade chips to-go. The tamales were nothing short of delicious, even when enjoyed cold the next morning. Each bite was packed with flavor and authenticity, leaving me craving more. The queso with meat was equally satisfying, offering a creamy texture and a perfect complement to the tamales. However, I found the taco meat a tad greasy, though it didn't detract significantly from the overall experience. The homemade chips were a standout, boasting a crunchy texture and a flavor that surpassed store-bought varieties. My only disappointment was the lack of additional sauces for the tamales. Despite requesting extra sauces and being assured of their provision, I only received two, which proved insufficient for a dozen tamales. Despite this minor hiccup, I plan to return to The Tamale Joint in the future. The delicious food speaks for itself, and while I have nothing to compare the prices to, they seemed fair given the quality and quantity of the offerings. Overall, a worthwhile dining experience for any tamale enthusiast.

The service was great and friendly. I might go again if I was in the area. But ultimately, the tamales were just average and did not live up to the hype, so I was disappointed.

Rating: 3.5 stars I came by Friday afternoon around 3 PM. There was two other customers in the restaurant when we stopped by. Space itself is very limited to dine in so best to plan on getting the food to go. Service itself was super quick. We were able to order at the register and get our food piping hot around 5 minutes after we ordered. We got the plato especial with three different tamales. The tamales were so delicious and perfectly cooked. The rice on the side though was fairly average and the refried beans were just not very good. They had a strange aftertaste. We also got a side of the elote en vaso. The elote seemed to be warmed canned corn laddled the corn into a cup and topped with mayo, cotija cheese and tajin. The corn was so watery. Flavor itself was fairly lacking and they were way too heavy handed with the mayo so the whole thing just ended up tasting like mayo which was disappointing. I also got a side of horchata. The flavor of the horchata was way too sweet and just ok. All in all, if you come just for the tamales it is truly a treat; however, their sides are not as good.

Not a terrible tamale place. It gets the job done, but not the best you'll have. I got the Plato especial with the pork tamales. Jorge said they stopped letting people mix flavors. The beans were super watery. The tamales were a bit soggy. Service was really good and Jorge was great! They have their own parking lot.

Absolutely delicious tamales here, very friendly staff, Jorge has it all together. Parking can be a chore, but it's worth it.

So this place is a very cute small place to get your tamale craving satisfied. JORGE was behind the counter and he was so fun to talk to super friendly and since I wasn't sure if I wanted tamales or tacos or what he said I should get the tamale combo with 3 tamales, rice and beans i decided to order that and a Jamaica agua fresca (hibiscus) I had jalapeño and cheese, chicken and pork. Definitely the best one for me was the pork one. The rice and beans were really good too I was pleasantly surprised because usually those sides aren't good in many restaurants I've been but here they nailed it The tamales are good size not too big and not too small, they sell them by the dozen as well. I want to come back to try the corn in a cup and the churros, staff super friendly and the food pretty good too, too bad it's far from me but whenever in the area I'll stop by.

I think these tamales are actually quite good. Soft masa and flavorful meat. Bit more expensive than id like but over all good for a quick tamale fix.

First time trying this place & we will definitely be back! Food & service is 10/10! We ordered the chilaquiles with red sauce & two breakfast tacos! This is hands down the best chilaquiles I've ever had. Definitely recommend trying them. Also huge thank you to the manager Jorge for such a wonderful experience

I've been here before just for tamales but on my recent trip I discovered that they also have breakfast tacos and breakfast plates available. They offer egg with potato, bacon, chorizo or mexican style eggs. They also offer a breakfast plate that consists of two tamales of your choice, eggs, refried beans and potatoes. Plus chilaquiles. I enjoyed their breakfast plate. AI love their red salsa it's fresh and spicy. The restaurant is clean, they are also planning on expanding with the place next door but it's scheduled to be done by August. They also have a selection of agua frescas, beer, and frozen margaritas.

Tamales were just ok, nothing to write home about. What will keep me from ever coming back is the stinginess in regards to their salsa. I got 2 little cups with 6 tamales, and they wanted to charge me for any extra. Too many much better places to spend my money than to cater to a nickel and dime establishment.

Y'all!!! I've been eyeing the Tamale Joint for a while, and I'm sad it's taken me this long to try it. The tamales are a 10/10 and the customer service is great. I can two days in a row during the Thanksgiving Holiday! Jorge spoke with my husband and I like we were old friends. I highly recommend this restaurant. Nice, clean, great energy, and food is superb.

Service is super friendly top tier Food is interesting small street food Lovely the store is super clean and organized Fantastic

First time visiting and the atmosphere was nice. The service was nice they are very friendly. We ordered the pork tamales in regular and spicy and they are full of flavor I feel like they are a bit pricey but delicious.

Service was good. Ambiance was cute. Food was disappointing. I am from San Diego and coming from a place with amazing tamales and Mexican food I was excited to try this place out. The idea is cute and the presentation was great. The tamales need more flavor and the filing needs a better portion for the price we are paying I was expecting a 5 star tamale. My 2 stars are strictly about the flavor and filing portion.

Had some time to kill and needed some grub and saw this place and thought why not. These are some of the best breakfast tacos I've had in a minute. Everything was seasoned so well and the tortillas melted in your mouth This is a cool chill spot to go grab food and margs. I'll def be back. S/o to Jorge for taking excellent care o

Tamales spicy Pork and chicken were better than expected. The green chili was tasty the place is small but clean I will return for sure

We love Tamale Joint, which we pick up with regularity after school. We usually stick to chicken tamales, which have a nice kick, and get a side of queso. If you've got room, the churros are fried fresh and come with dipping sauce. It's nice to have a non-taco joint around!

First trip to this establishment and instantly liked the place. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. The restaurant was nice and clean. The tamales were really good and service was prompt and fast. Highly recommended and will definitely return

Saw this place on my IG and thought Ooo this looks good... let's try it. I should have came here for their tamales because their breakfast tacos were just mediocre. Personally, I could have saved my $15 and made better ones at home. Don't waste your time getting their tacos. So disappointed I didn't even take a picture of my tacos like I usually do. One thing I did like there was their ambience. It was very clean and colorful with great murals and pictures.

Love this place! Melt in your mouth tamales! Very friendly staff! I have probably gotten tamales here about 'a dozen' times!

Tamales were delicious! My husband and I got the tamale plate which gives you three tamales, rice and beans. We shared spicy pork and beef tamales. Both are delicious! Service was quick and the employee at the order counter was super upbeat. Looks small from the outside but there's actually a good size indoor dining room with tons of seating. Overall great experience!

Tamales are good. Breakfast tacos are awesome! Very fresh eggs in the taco are cooked to order, not pre- cooked! Friendly service too!

Tried the elote, Plato especial with pork tamales, and churros. The pork tamales are SO good. I had low expectations because I don't love tamales but this place has changed my mind. The service is great and the place is super clean!

Quick and fast service. Place is small but was not busy on a Saturday afternoon. Tamales and the sauce were good but portions are small for the price.

Entered this cute little spot and was greeted with a welcoming smile by Jorge. Ordered a half dozen spicy pork and half dozen jalapeno and cheese tamales to pair with tacos a la Mexicana and tacos con Chorizo con huevo. Tamales tasted like my mom's homemade recipe! Opened steamy package to find a half dozen tamles nestled inside, not greasy and all easily separated from the leaf. Found a perfect balance of flavor of pork and chili wrapped in a flavorful masa that doesn't overpower the filling. The tacos were hefty, and tortillas were soft and warm. Enjoyed a cafe de olla with everything. Let with a full belly and a smile on my face.

I've driven past here a bunch and finally stopped by. I ordered the plate special with chicken and sweet corn tamales. The plate came with rice and beans. I also got an elote cup and an horchata. I like my horchata on the thicker, more creamier side, there's was good but a little thin for me. The chicken tamales were ok. It wasn't as flavorful as I hoped based on the reviews I read. They were good tho. The sweet corn tamale was delish!! I plan on going back to try the bean tamales and the drinks. Service was great. Quick. Friendly.

After 3 years of search for amazing tamales in Houston we have found our spot. We ordered the pork, chicken and jalapeño with cheese. All were very flavorful and moist. The salsas that accompanied the tamales were also great Jorge and Maribel were very hospitable and made us feel at home. We ordered an additional 3 dozen to go! Highly recommend The Tamale Joint and we will make the 40 min trek down to continue supporting them.

best tamales especially the elote, felíz cumpleaños jorge! thank you! pls order here and get, check out the menu go and get them tamales!

I love this place and the tamales are amazing and this is coming from someone that's very picky about tamales. Always great food, service, friendly, and locally owned. I Haven't tried their the new item yet enchiladas but I will soon. I tried the Elote (Mexican corn) last weekend very yummy. I highly recommend this place and I will keep going back. Remember support your local businesses!;)

Delicious tamales! Perfect portion and prices you can't beat! Already went back because it was that good.

Our favorite tamales in Houston. I also purchased a couple dozen tamales last minute on thanksgiving, and even though they had closed the ordering for day, the owner was so gracious to let me get my order in. Wonderful food and even better customer service. 5/5 would recommend.

Really enjoyed the pork tamales. Jalepeno and cheese wasn't anything to speak off. Ate some for lunch and took 3 dozen pork tamales home. I'd go back.

Really Three and 1/2 Stars. Just as good as Alamos. If you live in the Heights GOOF area. It's not bad. I ordered the Beef which was spicy and it wasn't a Piccadillo type meat it was shredded. They were cooked to perfection. I also ordered the Jalapeño Cheese which was excellent over all. I think it's a great place to pick up some tamales. Now my only gripe. They were nickel and diming on the salsa. I know that this is a small thing, however at other prominent places or Mexican food establishments the salsa is complimentary. Needless to say I spent about 15 bucks on a dozen and was not about to pay the extra .75 cents plus tax for the salsa.

Very good Tamales. Had the Spicy pork and 3 was not enough I could have eaten a whole dozen.

This place has the tamales that remind me of childhood. Get yourself the large avocado salsa and the combo tamales (a mix a 3 kinds). Thank me later. They also have great breakfast tacos. I will be back again.

Great bfast! Clean food. Jalapeño and cheese tamales. Nice surprise. Friendly service. Clean setup.

Well... cute place on the corner. Stopped in on Saturday. Normally I am a taco person but decided to try beef tamales plate, and had a Corona. Beer super cold. Rice tasty, moist, pleasant. Tamales were ok. I would say if you like basics, would be a good experience. Service was very attentive and positive overall experience. Price was reasonable for portion. Cheers!

Came by this small place and was pleasantly surprised. Ordered the cheese and jalapeños, beef and chicken. All were tasty but the chicken took the trophy, looking forward to trying the pork next. Unlike the typical tamale "mostly masa" these had the perfect balance. Price point was fair and portions were on point. Salsa - not a fan of tomatillo salsa in general, it was good though with a very mild if any heat. The red salsa was killer though. Good heat and super flavorful. Service was outstanding. Greeted immediately with a warm smile and hello. The young man walked me through the menu and the atmosphere and temperature were nice. We will be back.

Spicy pork tamales were excellent, service was fantastic and very friendly, and the atmosphere inside was very welcoming and comfortable can't wait to bring my friends!

The food and service is so good! I live nearby and find myself coming back time and time again. Tamales are always fresh and really good. Not doughy or greasy at all, they are just right. The decor and ambience is so cute too. Makes me want to come back to hang out. (I usually just stop by to pick up) Service is always fast I'm always in and out in 5 min or less. Jorge and all employees are super nice and welcoming. They have tacos and chilaquiles now. I tried their chilaquiles today and they were too good! I could say the best I've had. Definitely coming back. I'm excited to try all other new menu item. Also have curbside now. *** picture is after eating some bc we couldn't resist :)

Went last Friday service was great went back today got pork n beef tamales no sauce when I asked the young man said they cost 49 cents so I spent 20 dollars no sauce

I am picky when it comes to tamales because my mom and aunt make some of the best homemade tamales! I had biked by this restaurant so many times as they were getting it ready and I finally stopped by today. They have about 7 different types of tamales so I am excited to go back and try more. I opted for the pork tamales, took a chance and ordered a dozen (to-go)- glad I did because we devoured almost all of them at home! They were not only comparable to home-style tamales but they were also delicious!! The pork was prepped and cooked and seasoned to perfection!!! These tamales came out steaming and perfectly wrapped with care in foil, and labeled- for those of you that want to try other flavors and know what you're unwrapping! I added a side of refried beans and Mexican rice and both sides were yummy. Check out the photo of the menu I posted, they also sell combo plates, various sides, churros, breakfast, and serve margaritas and beer- YAAAAAS! I'll be back for an adult beverage one of those days, Monday-Friday Happy Hour, 4-6pm. Indoor seating is small, but descent amount of parking in the shared business lot. They do have some small patio tables as well, but we all know how this Houston heat can be! Jorge helped me out and was terrific and kind, he told me they are expanding to include the space next door so they can add more indoor seating. This place is going to be busy when the holidays roll around, mark my words! $15+ for a dozen tamales, fair price for The Heights area, worth the hype for sure!

Well, went to update my review of this fine establishment today, and realized... I never reviewed it the first time!! What a misstep! So let's get into it. They have tamales. Ok, too easy. My impetus for "re-reviewing " that which I found I had never reviewed, was that I recently found out they had all-day breakfast tacos available. I'll start with tamales, since they were my first love. They have six-ish varieties, of which I've had three. Brisket, pork, and veggie cheese and jalapeño. All fantastic. Great , great fillings. Brisket is good, pork is great, cheese and jalapeño are superlative. They come in six packs, hot. Damn hot. I live on gessner and clay and these bad boys are still burn your fingers hot. Red and green salsa , both fine specimens. Sadly, somehow, no pics of these:( They have five breakfast tacos, of which I've had three...all bacon and egg. Hey, that's my bag, man! Came out made to order, quickly. Don't know that I've ever had so much bacon in a breakfast taco. I would say the usual taco had what one would call, "a smattering". Or you get some limp-ass, half cooked, pull it out of a pile blehcon. This was well cooked, pretty thick, and more than plentiful. Eggs were perfectly scrambled, by hand (you can tell from the colors). Oh, and buy three, you get a free cup of coffee! Now the best part. I have been here a half dozen times. Seen about four different workers, and the gent who must be the manager EVERY time... and every single one of them, every single time, have been the friendliest, smilingest, charmingest staff I've ever experienced. And I mean even the youngsters, who in many places can sometimes seem taciturn, have been just lovely. Y'all go support these folks, get some great food, and feel appreciated. Laterdays. (Special mention to me for working in that many hyphenates in one review;)