The Tamale House
13185 SW Pacific Hwy, Tigard, OR, 97223
The Tamale House Menu
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Address :
13185 SW Pacific Hwy
Tigard, OR, 97223 - Phone (503) 603-1811
- Website https://www.tamalehouse.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 7:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Kristina R.
Their tamales may be even better than mine. Delicious, always fresh, always packed with the best fillers. I love their traditional pork, but the bbq pork is great too! Wonderful family owned and operated business. They're always friendly and helpful. We've also used them to cater for a party before and everything was delicious.
(5)Kyle H.
Laura and I love this place! The family is so fun and they really make the environment great. I'm always on the lookout for great places to experience and this has become one of our Favorite. We have been back many times and each time has been a 5 star experience. Their food is delicious and they give big portions and their tamales are awesome! Great Family, great food, great Prices.
(5)L.u M.
Tamales taste good, however customer service didn't impressed me, when we first got there no one welcomed us, or tell us how to order, they didn't have coffe or champurrado which is a must have when you are eating tamales, next time I'll make sure I'll bring my own drink
(3)Melissa M.
I tried the jalapeno and cheese, chicken and pork tamales. I would rate them all as fantastic, delicious, tamale perfection. The fillings were flavorful, the tamales were fresh. I was particularly impressed by the fluffiness of the masa. I've loved tamales for a long time but never enjoyed such greatness. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars is the price is a little much. Definitely my go-to place for tamales from here on out.
(4)Emmali L.
The whole family is amazingly nice and they seriously have the best jalapeño and cheese tamales. I'm also a huge fan of their salsa but, be careful, it packs a pretty large punch. I wish I had more experience with their menu but I usually just get a bunch of tamales to go. 10/10, will be doing again
(5)Ruth C.
Wowee, am I glad that my Mexican friend took me here! I had been on the hunt for a decent, authentic tamale for almost a year. He told me that these were as close to authentic tamales that he could find, besides his own mother's cooking. The place is a tad odd on the outside. This doesn't change when you walk inside - random paintings and colors, unmatched chairs: all things you would expect with an authentic Mexican food place, right? Right. The menu had a lot to offer: tacos, enchiladas, burritos, chili rellenos (green peppers stuffed with queso fresco and fried), and - of course - TAMALES. I wasn't about to leave this place without trying everything I could. Plus, it was all so cheap! I had 2 tamales (at $2 each), an enchilada, and one chili relleno. The pork tamales, wrapped in the corn husk like tradition, had a tad more masa (corn, essentially) than anticipated, but they were still so magnificent and fresh - especially with some of the hot sauce on top. Are you drooling now? I am. The cheese enchilada was kind of small, but it was everything you could ever wish for. It was fiiiilled with gooey cheese and drenched in tomato-y, mildly spicy enchilada sauce. I wouldn't trust my judgement on the chili. I had it about a half hour after it had come out of the kitchen, so it was kind of cold. But the green pepper was stringy and stuffed with plenty of queso fresco. I don't recommend eating it cold. It'll be weird. If you're hungry for some authentic Mexican food and friendly service, come on down to The Tamale House!
(5)karen s.
We went here for the first time tonight. Thanks yelpers! This place was great! The tamales were awesome - nice, thin, tender masa that held its shape but wasn't gummy. The yummy pork filling was plentiful and seasoned to perfection. In the name of full reviewing, we also tried a few other items on the menu. (Not because we are big eaters or anything). The flautas are made fresh right there - not pre-rolled - and then fried. The chicken is fresh, tasty and tender. They were out of ground beef so we had a chicken enchilada, which was also quite delicious, loads of chicken and cheese, topped with a yummy red sauce. The chile relleno was a-ma-zing! Nice big chile, delicious red sauce, deep fried to a golden brown and stuffed full of yummy, stringy, oozy cheese. A real treat! Unfortunately they were out of dessert, so no flan or tres leche cake - maybe next time! And believe me, there WILL be a next time!
(4)D M.
If you like tamales you should definitely stop here. The chicken tamales, in my opinion, are one of the best I have had (very moist!), and I am quite the snob when it comes to tamales! I'm giving it 4 stars because the eating area is a bit cramped and the menu is limited (because not everything is available even if on the menu). If you are ordering anything other than tamales the prices seem slightly high given the quantity of food. I often just get a dozen tamales to go (since they freeze well). Oh, and their salsa is outstanding! I usually buy a container of that too. If you are looking for good tamales (and salsa), give this place a try!
(4)Michael B.
This small restaurant has very good, authentic Mexican food. There are 2 reasons I wouldn't give them a better rating. First is that for slightly above prices the portions are small. Second reason is that if you don't get there early enough or call ahead they may only have tamales and refried beans left to serve. They only prepare a limited amount of some selections for each day and when they're gone they're gone.
(3)Jay M.
They are good tamales. When I am close by them I pick up a half dozen pack of the pork tamales us for my mom. She considers these a real treat and see has gotten to the point in her life where she has forgotten a lot of her recipes or have the energy to cook tamales all night and day. When she gets these we are able to have a cup of coffee and heat a couple up and just talk. Definitely Mexican comfort food and The Tamale House does a good job. I will need to order other dishes from them to give them a better review if they are as good as the tamales. The counter service is friendly and quick.
(4)Mona B.
The gentleman who helped me was awesome - friendly and helpful. The lady who was packing the tamales didn't even crack a smile although I caught her staring (or was it glaring, not sure) at me a couple of times. The tamales (bbq pork, pork and chicken) were well... just average... I found them to be very bland. It didn't help that the corn husk wasn't wrapped tight the way I'm used to from Cali and Texas which keep the masa and filling moist. The filling portion was decent but do note, their price is no longer $2/tamale. It's $3 now. Yeah, another disappointment since this was my first time there and even the recent review had them as $2 per tamale.
(2)Kristin B.
The best tamales! Can't get enough... even better that the family is sooooo nice! Can't go wrong when you stop here!
(5)Marc F.
Step beyond Madness Portland wonders what's the best? Freddie's tired he needs a rest Walmart's just playing around Safeway's lines too deep Tigard's got a place to eat We can't be downtown Tamale House, in the middle of our street Tamale House, was our masa and our meat
(5)Marti L.
Once again I planned my evening around this place just to get screwed by them shutting early. Fool me once... I'm never patronizing them again.
(1)Mike D.
This place has some great Tamale's - as good as they get in the SW PDX area!
(5)Patrick C.
5 Stars***** Always so delicious. Favorite is the BBQ pork, then the chicken and last but not least, pork tamales. Oh, and i can't forget the burritos....carne asada is big enough for two. Perfect for family dinners and catered outings. We always recommend The Tamale House. Oh, and I just read today that they are opening another store in the Canyon Road Fred Meyers area by the end of August. Even closer, which is even better for us. Thank you !
(5)Jim G.
Great place. The BBQ pork tamales are the best. My kids absolutely love the rice and beans. Ran by a family that are always friendly.
(5)Janet M.
Friday 6pm. Its hailing and I have just been in a 3 hour IEP meeting for one of my kids. (Work kid). Tigard. No plan for dinner. Starving because I had a bad lunch I didn't finish. Hmm. Tamales? Ok. I know better than to expect a Tucson-like Tamale in Tigard but I thought it's worth a try.The best tamales I ever ate were handmade by the Pasqua-Yaqui mother of a college boyfriend of mine. I think she ground her own masa with a rock and grew her own chiles and made her own cotija from her own cow's milk. Yeah, like I will ever have one like THAT again. Sigh. Too bad he didn't work out. But this little place isn't bad. I went for a family deal: 18 tamales (6 each chicken, bbq pork, and cheese jalapeno), with rice and beans for $45.The guy waited until some other customers left to offer me salsa explaining if they'd heard him he would have had to give them some. While I should feel happy and grateful that made me grumpy.I think all the customers should be offered free salsa. The tamales were pretty good. Wrapped in corn husks like they are supposed to be. BBQ pork was our fave. Rice and beans were yummy. Salsa had a little heat. We wished for chips. I think we'd go back. It was ok. Definitely a hole in the wall place, not glamorous and few tables, but friendly enough and a little bit like home. A little.
(3)Ted A.
The best Mexican food I have had in Portland. I had the carnitas burrito, one pork tamale, and one cheese enchilada. The hot sauce was perfect. Also took one dozen pork tamales home. We will be back!
(4)Kevin P.
Small hole in the wall place but my family love their tamales! They use to have a tent in various farmers market before they were able to open a family run store front! Prices are low too..
(4)Renee A.
Quick and delicious tamales and meals at this family operation! Everyone is always so friendly and they're fast every time which makes it a perfect lunch spot. They also make dessert tamales but they need a few days notice, planning on trying them for thanksgiving!
(5)Andrew J.
Tried the chicken tamale, it was mostly flower or whatever the tamale is made of and a little bit of chicken. Wasn't terrible, home made ones I've had through family are a lot tastier. Also been sold out of a few items I wanted to try. 3 stars for now. No wow factor, will give another try in a couple months to see if anything has changed.
(3)Martin F.
I have wanted to try the place for a while. The food is ok, the service is fast. The place is quite small but not crowded when we were there. My wife and I both liked the bbq pork tamales. The chicken one was 2/3 massa and one third fairly bland chicken. I ordered the chips and salsa, hoping for something special for $2.75, sadly I was disappointed once again. The chips were not made there, at least not today, and in my view, what was served as "salsa" would be better described as a mild hot sauce- no chunks of tomatoes, onion or cilantro to be seen. I am glad I tried it and I would have another bbq pork tamale some time. I probably wouldn't go out of my way and I won't order the chips and salsa again. (Of course, when you read the other reviews, it seems that there is a wide disparity of opinion on what "good salsa" is. )
(2)Jaben C.
Tried this place for the first time. Got one of each tamale flavor and some pulled pork tacos to share. The initial experience was good. The people who i assumed to be the owners (husband and wife pair) were there taking care of customers. They were super fun and chatted with us once we finished. They actually said that they really like reviews (good or bad) as long as they are honest because they don't do much advertising. The lady cooking the tamales also said that the BBQ pork tamales were the most popular of all three favors. Ok... Onwards. The cheese and jalapeño was nice and tasty. Not too spicy but I knew there was a pepper inside there somewhere. I ate this one myself since the others can't eat cheese. The red pork was good. I am more of a green chili person, but this was good pork. Tis was the wife's favorite by far. The chicken was good too. It was green chili based so naturally I liked it a lot more. The wife liked the red chili flavor more than the green. Expected. The BBQ pork was neat, but odd. Just sooo non traditional that I had a hard time wrapping my head around it. I mean if you like BBQ and tamale flavor together it's great, but it's not my thing. Funny bit here - the chef said that she made them originally for her kid who loves BBQ and they caught on as the biggest thing they sell so she keeps making them. Kinda cool story I thought. The tacos were quite good (back to the red chili pork here). I think I prefer red chili pork in taco and not in tamale. While we were there we saw a guy come in with a cooler and order a dozen BBQ pork tamales. Apparently he cleaned out the rest of the supply since others came in, but couldn't order any. I don't really see anything wrong with a place running out of something. When Apizza Scholls runs out of dough no one whines (or at least they shouldn't) so whine when 20 minutes before closing they are out of one menu item. Plan and come in earlier I think....
(5)Carolyn G.
I haven't got around to trying their signature dish yet because I can't get beyond the chili relleno the best I have ever had! Fresh roasted pepper stuffed with cheese & covered with delicious sauce.
(5)Cheryl D.
We were enthused to visit after reading the wonderful reviews on Yelp. First off I don't understand the review complaining about the tables, there is 1 large communal table in the middle and a few doubles scattered about, the place is about the food not the seating and that is pretty obvious the minute you walk in. Be ready to deal or get it to go. The food is quite good, we bought a variety of items ala cart to try. The salsa is fresh and a bit spicy, the re fried beans are amazing, soo silky I have never had anything like it. The cheese enchilada was good but we could not quite figure out the sauce perhaps some chilis powder and a roux mixed together, not all that flavorful. The tacos were good as were the tamales. I am not a huge fan of the tamale but my husband thought they were quite good. I loved loved loved the rice. It is quite obvious that every single thing is home made and I love the fact that the owners and grandma were there. They were very friendly and helpful. They were out of Chili Relenno and the Tres Leche cake or we would have tried those as well. The only thing i was not a fan of is that everything is served in foam to go type boxes. I am not sure if it is sold that way when you eat there or not, if so then i wonder how they get the food hot, as you cannot put that under the salamander or oven? We will be back to try a few other items in the future and hopefully have an update for you
(3)Theresa B.
Best tamales! I've never had anything else from here but the tamales are amazing. They are good the day of and re-heat for excellent leftovers. We love to come and stock up for a few days with tamales from time to time. No other place even compares.
(5)Gina A.
Wow - first time we went we had the tamales - of course! They were 1 hit and 2 misses - the jalapeno cheese ones were excellent and the pork and the chicken were total misses - 2 BIG strikes when that is the name of your restaurant. Tried to come back because the homemade salsa was delicious and guess what - they were closed so we went to Taco Del Sol (almost next door) and loved it. BAD business idea to be next to another similar restaurant but have way crappier hours. So we try yet again (we live close) and this time succeed in ordering some enchiladas and some more of the great jalapeno tamales & take home some salsa. We wait a while and then they come out and tell us (like 10 mins later) that they were out of the salsa and the tamales! Sheesh. Really?!? How hard would you like me to try to come to your restaurant? Seems like the priority here is the farmer's market booths that they operate and not the restaurant. Why have a restaurant then?? Tell me your hours are better and that you don't run out of all the really good stuff before I get there and I would come back. UPDATE: NEXT MORNING AFTER I WROTE THIS REVIEW: I really thought about my experience as compared to my only other low star rating on yelp to date (Cafe Allegro) and decided I had to bump this up to at least a 2. Wish there was a 2.5, but alas there is not. Maybe they will improve their hours and supply of Jalapeno Cheese tamales & homemade salsa. Again, I changed to 2 stars because some of the food was actually good.
(2)Jeremy J.
I want to give this place a higher score, especially since the people working there are so friendly and engaging. However, it just wasn't enough to warrant even a 3 star review. The interior of the restaurant is cute but a little run down. The seats in the booth were torn up and it was a little cramped. I went in knowing what I wanted to order and, like many people writing reviews have said, they didn't have what I wanted. No Chile Relleno...You would think that as a business you would keep your popular items in stock and order enough to fill demand when you are constantly running out. Smells like poor bussines acumen to me. When I placed my order the lady had to search the menu to decide how much to charge me...which to me again does not show that you know your business. So I order nachos instead because I panic. Well, what came out does not look like the picture on the wall. No jalepenos, which for me was very disappointing. They use a generic nacho cheese sauce which I was surprised by for a seemingly authentic mexican restaurant. No guacamole, no fresh anything, very soggy...I would have gotten better from Applebees. Disappointing I also tried one of each flavor of tamale. All were good, especially the pork and the cheese/jalepeno. I did not care for the bbq pork as much as the others. The tamales tasted good but there was not enough filling for me so I felt like I was just eating corn. The best part of the meal was definitely the salsa. Homemade and spicy, unique and tasty. If I ever eat here again I will only order 1 pork and 1 cheese/jalepeno tamale with extra salsa to go...and only because I need a quick bite of Mexican food for cheap.
(2)John L.
Small mom & pops hole in the wall. The wife and husband are very friendly. Only about 15 chairs or so. Looked clean but some of the vinyl chairs seemed a bit sticky in places.... It lives up to it's name. The tamales were fantastic! Some of the best I've had. 5 stars! Only tried the chicken though. Wanted the cheese and jalapenos but they ran out. We liked them so much we went back several hours later after running errands to pick up 10 more for dinner for friends and family. At $2 each it's pretty cheap, but they are a bit on the smaller side. You probably need 2 to fill you up. The salsa was also very good. 4 stars. After being disappointed time after time looking for good Mexican this was a refreshing experience. The beans tend to be a bit more watery than usual but still decent. 3 stars. The rice was actually pretty good. A nice little surprise. 4 stars. Now the bad.... The carne asada was not so good. 2 stars. Better than some of the other places around greater Portland metro but still "bleh" compared to so-cal carna asada I'm used to. I don't know what it is but I cannot find good carne asada in Portland. It's the staple I used to use to do side by side comparisons of various Mexican restaurants but it's so generally bad in Portland area that I must find something new....
(4)Chad P.
The tamales are good. No bells or whistles, just good honest corn masa with meat inside. Definitely worth a try, and will satisfy traditionalists. The tacos are another story. Great handmade tortilla, but they add cheese, guacamole, beans, etc. I prefer my tacos with just onions and cilantro. Good, but not for me.
(3)Michael B.
ZOMG SO GOOD! I really could stop right there but I won't. I had three tamales and a chile relleno. Everything was so good i had to eat it all. Truth be told iwas full after the second tamale but I could not help myself. You know in New Jack City when Pookie (Chris Rock) is crawling on the ground searching for that last bit of rock to get high? That is how I felt when I finished my relleno. Holding the stem nibbling off tiny morsels of batter and chili wishing there was just a little more. That is how good this place is. They only have one salsa, It is good with a slow burn. I can't wait to go back and try the carnitas and all the other treasures hiding inside their restaurant.
(5)Erica P.
The tamales are amazing! Also enjoyed the enchiladas. Definitely a new family favorite.
(4)Debbie B.
Chorizo & egg burrito...Awesome!! Service...phenomenal!! One of the best burritos I have ever had with a perfect level of heat to flavor. Excellent!!!
(5)Melissa E.
I lived in Mexico and have had a hard time finding tamales that are really good around here. These are OK. I bought a few to go and ate them at home. I rate tamales by how much flavor they have without having to add a bunch of salsa and cream. Alone these are very bland. At $3 each they are twice as much as most places sell tamales for which is why I can't give this place more than 2 stars. There is a place downtown Portland that sells tamales for this price, but they are twice as big...and full of flavor.
(2)Deb F.
Wow, what a find! This small unassuming little storefront serves up the most delicious tamales around. We tried the pork, chicken, and cheese & jalapeno tamales; they were out of the bbq pork but it sounds like those are a winner too. The tamales are made fresh every day, and had a nice meat to masa ratio. I liked that there was some green tomatillo sauce inside the chicken tamale; that kept it from being too dry. The pork was my favorite one - what excellent flavors! At $2 each, these are a great bargain too. The chips and salsa were good - chips weren't homemade, but the salsa was. It was HOT too, way hot but way way good. We chatted with the owners while we ate and learned that grandma makes the chile rellenos (and probably the tamales too), and that they make the salsa fresh everyday, but that it comes out different every time. Tony says it's too hot, but Magdalena said it needs to have that many chiles for the flavor to come out right. However it turns out, it's delicious but can vary in spiciness. The restaurant is very small - only seats for about 10, but it's bright and cheerful and the owners are delightful and made our experience awesome. Tamales are one of those things that take time to make right, so I'll let the experts at the Tamale House do it for me, with love.
(5)Roy S.
While driving from Portland thru Tigard I saw this place; went in and asked for a BBQ tamale. They were out of them - kinda bad for a place to be out of one of their flagship items. I had the regular pork one instead. It was the right balance of masa and meat, not too much or too little of either. It was quite flavorful, except that they use a bit too much salt. They didn't give me or offer any kind of salsa or sauce with the tamale. Looking at the menu, the tacos seem pretty durn expensive. The other items, not so much. A little salsa would have helped the tamale. The place seems not bad overall, just doesn't excite me like a lot of more authentic Mexican places do.....
(3)Miz C.
my tamale was bland bland bland. covered it in sauce and it was all better.
(2)Alfredo M.
Outstanding mom n' pop joint in Tigard. Friendly, easy-going service...simple menu that doesn't make the mistake of overextending itself...and, of course, tamales that get the full seal of approval from this El Paso, Texas native. The chile relleno plate was above average, but I usually don't get beyond the pork tamales when making my order...they're that tasty! Might have to try to menudo here one weekend...still looking for a dependable place to get the world's best hangover cure in SW PDX/Tigard area.
(4)Justin D.
Great food! Family owned that are very warm and welcoming. Coming here is always a treat
(5)Beth M.
Thank you Paco, and Yelp for leading me to this oasis in Tigard..... Hubs is from Texas, and he loves him his tamales. I've toyed with the idea of making them here from scratch....but now I don't have to. The Tamale House has incredible tamales, and I can't wait to throw my man a party and have it catered by The Tamale House (don't tell him, though) mind you, this is a hole in the wall in a strip mall, so it's not for those first dates where you want to impress.....but..... Best. Tamales. Ever. And a nice family environment. I love that Magdelena and Tony let their young daughter play all over the restaurant (erasing the special board in lieu of pretty flowers) and that they sent the grandma out to 7-Eleven for ice when Hubs requested some for his soda. This is a family operation. And you can taste the love in every bite. I suggest the BBQ pork tamale, as it was a fabulous twist on an old favorite. The chicken was also nice. I have to go back and try the rest of the menu items, but for $2 a tamale....I'm hoping to plan a party around The Tamale House!!! Thanks Magdelena and Tony!! Well Done!! Take a Bow!!!
(5)Frank K.
My daughter picked me up from the airport and soon it was raining... AHhhh, Home sweet Portland!! We have it so made here! Yeah, sure it rains but that makes the grass so green, the Forests so verdant, and the Rivers flowing so beautifully.. Thats why I love it so much.. We went to the Tamale House for lunch and I don't know if she enjoyed it as much as me, but DAYUM the Chicken Tamales are finestkind. I don't know what all the gripe-in's about, 'cuz their stellar salsa is just that... STELLAR!!! Sure, the owner is a little quirky but HEY, it's a family run Biz so then teens are involved and , well, there you have it. Mystery solved!! Don't be afraid to go here folks, the food is very good and the Peeps is alright regardless of what some folks may say. They're sincere and happy, and most of all, honest!! I, for one, am sticking with the chicken tamale drowned in salsa..... ~Try their food cart @ the Tigard/Bull Mnt. Farmer's Market on Sunday too. You'll see me there on my scooter gettin' veggies, onion stuffed olives, and a tamale... My Life IS GGOOOOooooddddddd!!!!
(3)Iris S.
Some would say having lived in East Los Angeles has no upside -- but it did. I enjoyed some of the best Mexican cuisine imaginable. I never thought I'd find anything like it again...but, here it is! The Tamale House offers outstanding, awesome-tasting food at a truly fair price. This is a small restaurant which has a charm all its own. The owners are friendly and wanting the customers to have the best eating experience possible. My husband and I ordered take-out, it was it was scrumptious. We ate in, it was delicious. The Tamale House is located in a small shopping center, and might be easy to miss. Drive slowly -- it's worth finding!
(5)Catherine G.
I'm a massive Por Que No fan but don't always want to trek over to the eastside for authentic mexican food. Now I don't have to! Other reviewers have covered the basics so I won't go there- except their tamales are among the best I've ever had. The kind of good that makes you eat more than you should but you can't stop. Their tacos are also great- the day we were there the wife made the tortillas fresh while we waited. Great food at amazing prices with friendly service. Not much else you can ask fo. This is our new go to place.
(5)Scott N.
Tamales have a loyal following so naming a restaurant after a tamale is a brilliant idea. Of course tamales do not enjoy the popularity of the venerable taco but a name like "The Tamale House" will definitely bring in the many fans of the tamale. First of all, The Tamale House in Tigard is one of the smallest, most uncomfortable restaurants I have ever visited. Three tables are jammed in a tiny dining area with three bar stools up against a small wall shelf. Unless you really enjoy being crammed in and uncomfortable, I would never recommend that you dine in at The Tamale House. Take out would definitely be the way to go. On my visit there was an expressionless, hostile young man working the cash register. One look in this guy's face and you could tell he didn't want to be here! My cashier didn't have enough money in his till to break my $20 bill. The guy behind me wanted to preorder some tamales for Christmas but the cashier couldn't do it because "I don't know how." At 12 PM the kitchen had run out of their special barbecued beef tamales but had neglected to tell the guy at the cash register. See some organizational problems here? The entrees are served in Styrofoam bowls and plates. On my visit only one eating utensil was available: a plastic fork! Ordered a bottled drink and had to have one of the tortilla chefs open it for me. Do I need to carry a church key with me? The Spanish rice here is tasteless and totally void of vegetables. The enchiladas are small and taste like they came from a TV dinner. The fresh made tortilla of the taco was delicious but as a whole the ground beef taco was nothing special. The Tamale House does indeed make good tamales but so do so many other restaurants. Within viewing distance of the Tamale House are two very excellent Mexican eateries: Taco Del Sol and Sanchez Taqueria. These two restaurants can absolutely dance circles around The Tamale House. The Tamale House needs to get it's act together or I'm afraid that Taco Del Sol and Sanchez Taqueria will dance it right off the street.
(2)Sam H.
I drive by this place everyday to drop my kid off at daycare and finally my wife and I got a chance to go eat there. We were happy we did. the place was cozy and the food was tasty. I had a yummy quesadilla and my wife had nachos. They were pretty good. The prices weren't bad either. However the best part wasn't what you would usually expect. The portions were correct. When you go to a mexican restaraunt you expect to get blown to pieces by the massive amount of food and then keep your eye on bathroom watch because of it. However, here it's much different. The portions are that of an actual meal, not that of a feast. Definitely a good place to go. If you're not a cozy location sort of person, get it to go.
(4)Marni D.
As a Texan transplant in the PNW, I'm always hunting for good Mexican food and good tamales always seem the hardest to find. These are hands-down the best in PDX! Fantastic chips too!
(5)Jennifer H.
The food was great, wife was cooking and husband was doing pretty much everything else. Tiny little place more suited for take out, that being said, we ate in and it was great. My Hubby got Pork Tamale's, kids got chicken quesadilla and I had flautas with rice and beans. Best rice and beans I've ever had. In fact, I don't like refried and I couldn't stop eating these ones. Go- its wonderful.
(4)Justin C.
I was looking for a tasty tamale in the area and found The Tamale House had several good reviews so I had to check it out. I had to try all 3 tamales to see which one I liked the best and it was the standard pork tamale. Simple, delicious and at $2 ea. you can't beat it! Outstanding rice, beans and salsa. You cannot miss out on ordering their Chile Relleno which is now my favorite and was absolutely fantastic! Very good food at a fair price. Nice family owned business with friendly service. I have been here a few times now and I will be back many more.
(5)Eva B.
love the salsa
(3)Jessica E.
Great food! From the homemade salsa and amazing chips.. to the best tamales I have ever had. Family owned, great customer service! It is a must try :)
(5)Julie M.
Went here with my friend last week. The good. Had the pork tamale. I thought it was good enough. Moist. Tasty. The bad. Unkempt restaurant. Paint all dinged up. Chips and salsa. I think the chips were from Costco. Salsa was home made. So spicy I could barely eat it. And I like spicy. The lemon water tasted like the lemons had been sitting in there for a few days. IF I ever went here again it would be possibly to get a tamale to go.
(2)A S.
My husband and I live nearby and had been looking for a good Mexican restaurant. Based on the good Yelp reviews we decided to try The Tamale House. We got chicken and pork tamales, a carne asada taco and a chicken enchilada. Everything was so delicious!! Our friends we were with got a chile relleno and said it was the best they'd ever had. The restaurant is small, but very clean. The owners, a husband and wife team, were there serving us and were so nice and hospitable. We will definitely be going back!! Great food, great prices, great people! Highly recommend!!!
(5)Maria C.
The Tamale House is amazing! I had the pork tamale and it was so fresh and delicious. I really like their homemade salsa as well! The owners are both very sweet and personable! Totally recommend!
(5)Thomas I.
If you want great tamales this is the place to go. Really cannot go wrong with the tamales here unless you do not like spicy then the jalapeno and cheese is not for you. Just $2 each, 3 was suffice. The establishment is tiny, but this place is run by a local family and always provides us with great customer service.
(5)Jim S.
Excellent tamales! I tried all of them and they are fantastic
(5)Well-Traveled I.
I told my friend I wanted to try out Tamale House; as a native Texan, she was excited, as she's always on the lookout for good Mexican. She was a bachelorette that night, so we had time to sit and savor a meal. Walked in and were greeted by a friendly woman with a warm smile. If anything, I felt like we were sitting down in her kitchen and not the small eating area of this catering/takeout business. Tip: If it's you and another person, there are a few tables, but for groups, you'll have to get it to go, as they don't have the seating. For $6.50, I got a very tasty carne asada burrito. Good-sized burrito but not too large; everything was fresh. No grizzled meat and no greasiness (as I've experienced elsewhere). I washed it down with a "Mexican" Pepsi, which tasted awesome. There was another patron in the restaurant and when he received his food, she showed us her culinary skills as she paraded it to the patron - this all made for a display of great love and care. Again, felt more like we were in a home and not a restaurant. Try it out...in fact, it's a shame that people are across the street at Taco Bell eating processed crap when they could walk over to The Tamale House and get real, good food served with a smile.
(4)Brian F.
A bit over priced, tacos are 2.95 each, chili rellano rice and beans 9.50. Service was great and food was good. Salsa was great too. Authentic tasting food which I like.
(3)Mindy M.
This place is the best!!! Tamales are by far the best around. Once you eat here another tamale will not do. I am hooked.
(5)Robert H.
This place is pretty damn good. Family owned. You can tell these are fresh and made daily! I had the pork tamale and jalapeño and cheese tamale. The rice and beans were good and standard (nothing more then expected). The Pork tamale was tasty. The jalapeño and cheese tamale was awesome. Full, unseeded slices of jalapeño that were spicy and super flavorful! The masa is flavorful and fresh. A bit on the pricy side for what it is but left satisfied and full! Worth a try and a repeat visit as I'm interested in their other items! I thought the hours were a touch short but for a fresh food, family run place I'd expect that.
(4)Tim S.
The prices are so so but the pork tamales have outstanding flavor. I like to add the taco sauce they have on the table. It has a great flavor profile as well. They make the tamales every day so everything is fresh. Besides the restaurant, they also sell them at some of the farmers markets on the west side. The family that runs this place are very friendly and are very willing to chat. I am "required" by my daughter to bring several tamales home any time I happen to eat lunch there. : )
(4)Jim S.
This place is a nice little find in Tigard. The cheese and jalepeno tamale is by far my favorite. My wife loves the BBQ pork and the chicken tamales are great for the kids. All in all, we enjoy this place, though I would recommend taking food to go versus staying in the restaurant. Wish they were open on Sundays!
(4)Christine H.
Being from California I miss the abundance of great, authentic Mexican cuisine...it's just not the same style up here. That being said, the tamales here can definitely hold their own, these are the best I've tasted in the Portland area! I highly recommend the BBQ pork and it is for this reason I have no reservations in giving the Tamale House a 5!
(5)Selene D.
I am in love with this place! It's family owned and the owner and his wife are SUPER nice (the remembered us at lunch today) and the grandma who makes most of the food is so cute! Because the food is made the right way, not some instant stuff like Taco Bell, they do run out of the more popular items sometimes because they take time and limited amounts are made. Also, because it's all family run, it isn't open 24/7...which some people don't like, but if you pay attention, you'll get there before they close. Get the chili rellenos if you can!! And try a chicken tamale, they were in the top 5 for a national tamale competition last year. :)
(5)Brendon C.
Pretty tasty stuff. I had the bbq pork tamale and the jalapeño cheese tamale. Both were soft and delicious. The beans, although tasty, had perhaps a bit too much chili powder, but I'm not complaining. It's a hard choice with Taco del Sol right next door, but you can't really go wrong with either place.
(3)Dinah C.
Great service good tamales & salsa. I love pouring her salsa down the end of my tamales. I made the mistake of going across the street when she was closed to that long bakery/restaurant the service was great but no comparison to the food.
(5)Simone C.
Great tamales and service. Love going there every time. Not much more to add.
(5)Dave W.
great pork and chicken tamales... sad that I missed their famous BBQ pork tamales that were recommended to me. But it gives me a good reason to go back for more at a later date.
(5)M T.
I have lived in Tigard a year and still trying to find a great little Mexican place - The Tamale House might be it - the food is great, had a chicken tamale & the chicken flautas - not subpar microwave food but really good flavorful Mexican food - Family run business, the kids were running the register and I was slightly overcharged but I'm okay with it - the food was worth it. I will definitely be going back with the family.
(4)Pahlo C.
This is a family run establishment and not your traditional Mexican resturant. Think of it as a business front for a catoring service that serves food. Food is great! have tried Pork, BBQ pork, and the Chicken tamales...all great. Had the Superior Burrito, which could feed two easy. The Chile Relleno is my father's favorite. Call ahead to see what is still available. they run out of things fast. Everything is fresh.
(5)Nancy N.
This is the place to go for tamales. Nothing fancy, just good tamales.
(4)Cory B.
Tamales are awesome and their chili rellenos are the bomb!
(5)Jenn S.
If I could do a half star for a 3.5 I would. Yum! I ordered two carnitas tacos and a cheese enchilada. When my order was ready they told me they threw in an extra enchilada. I didn't think I'd waited too long and I especially don't mind waiting for good food. It was really good! I wasn't sure what to expect on the tacos as normally I just want the meat and some salsa. These had lettuce and cheese which was good, and the cheese enchiladas were awesome!!!!
(3)Matt D.
Seem to use the microwave a lot. I'm sure that this is how many restaurants do things now, but when they do it in front of you, it makes you doubt the freshness. Chile Verde not recommended. Pork tamales okay but not great--masa was sort of dry.
(3)Trishandjer K.
Love this little place. The owners are super friendly and the tamales are really good. The salsa is FABULOUS! Good eats for good price.
(4)Ruth M.
My intention is to try everything on the menu at the Tamale House but I can't get past the tamales! They are so good that I just keep re-ordering them. I've eaten excellent tamales in lots of places and The Tamale House tamales rank among the best in my experience. I think I like the pork the best, but all of the versions are good. The restaurant is cozy. Whenever I go there, I feel like I've just walked into a place where I'll be treated like family. It's great food at excellent prices served by friendly folks.
(5)Nick M.
This place rocks. I always get the friendliest of service, but the tamales are what keep me coming back over and over. My favorite is the chicken! If you are looking for good tamales, this is the place. I have not found a better place in Portland.
(4)T L.
Pork tamales are superb! With or without the salsa! We found this place by driving by and it was worth it! I would love to review other menu items but I have the pork tamales every time I go there. With lots of salsa, or without! The salsa is beautifully hot and it fantastic on the tamales!!
(5)Mc G N.
tasty tamales, nice burrito. 'classic' mexican comfort food, not fusion or california mexican. their sauces are 100% awesome with lots of nice complex flavor. the owner lady was super nice and chatty. place wasnt busy at all at lunch. i got the bulk pack of tamales for my team of hungry engineers, and they loved it. they also do catering for companies. guess what im suggesting next time. i would slightly disagree with some of the 'best ever', as i've had tamales with fresh shucked corn and whatever that corn smut stuff in it, and thats pretty insane off the charts awesome, but these easily blow away anything i could make, and hell, good tamales in portland... nice! and the price was spot on, too.
(4)Jo J.
This family owned business gives great service and they always have fresh tamales! Everything is so yummy...can't wait to go back!
(5)Jen W.
I see what all the 4 and 5 star reviews are all about. A small home style place where the food is lovingly made. Limited seating might be a drawback for a group of more than 4, but for us 2 was no problem. Everything is fresh made daily from fresh ingredients. If it's late in the day, some items may be sold out. Check the hours before you drive out to the west side, as they close earlier than many eateries. We had a nachos plate with cheese and avacado, pork and chicken tamales, and really nice burritos. My husband got his burrito bean free and it came just as large as mine with beans. No scrimping on the meat filling! The meat was tender and well seasoned, moist, not dry or overcooked. We'll be back soon...gotta try the home made flan that they were out of by the time we arrived at 5:30 PM..Some other people in the place were also first timers and second timers, and all were raving about the good flavors and vowed to return. We will too. I have not had good tamales since I visited the Los Angeles area over 2 decades ago, ..these were a real treat, a blast of yummy memory-lane flavor and texture. Service is with plasticware and baskets..If you like to eat with metal utensils, bring your own. The salsa was very flavorful, amazing complex depth, like you would expect from an Iron Chef, nothing like you get at the grocery store. It was a bit on the "hot" side for husband....just fine for me! You can even buy a jar to take home. A clean and fun place, very friendly family staff, and REALLY tasty food...worthy of being a regular stop on this side of town. I'll be trying the Chille Relleno along with a few more yummy tamales next time!
(5)C R.
I ordered take-out of each of the 4 tamale flavors -- the jalapeno & cheese, as well as the shredded beef were my favorites....SO yummy.... I will be back again soon!
(5)Stefanie D.
Totally authentic in everyway...Local, family owned establishment - great food.
(5)Michelle M.
The food here was amazing!! Our family of four went last night & tried several different things. They were all good!! They had run out of dessert, so we are anxious to try that next time. The other great thing about this restaurant is that it is locally owned by a hard working family. When we were there, the whole family was there, all of them working in some way or other. I would much rather support them when I go out to eat than a chain! You must try it!
(5)K B.
Awesome! Lots of good food for cheap. I arrived as they opened for lunch, and 2 of the items I really wanted weren't available (the chile relleno and the jalapeno cheese tamale). So that stunk. But I had the bbq pork tamale plate and that was delicious, including the salsa from the table which I added. And I had the pork tamale as well, it was decent but the bbq pork was better.
(3)Heidi J.
Yeah to the Chili Relleno! Delicious is all I can say about it! Yes, we will be back, again and again! Thank you Tony, for your friendly presence in this quaint neighborhood restaurant!
(4)G H.
Tamale House has awesome food but I won't take the risk of eating there again. The last time I was there I dined in. Just as I was finishing a young girl came from the back to clear a table, the owner came out from the back also and told her to be sure to clean the lettuce from the floor. What I saw next made me gag. She took the towel she started wiping the table with and cleaned the floor then went right back to wiping the table. I wanted the owner to know about the incident so he could correct it but it's a small place and I didn't want to create a scene so after leaving I called the restaurant. The owner answered the phone so I proceeded to tell him what happened, instead of apologizing and telling me he would correct the situation he became very defensive. He told me that the young girl was only 13 and was still learning. I tried to point out the danger of such an action and he got even more angry (irrate) with me. If the owner will take that kind of attitude regarding health safety I don't want to eat there. Someone is going to get very sick there, it won't be me.
(1)Sheila S.
I had a craving for tamales and remembered that I drove by here before so decided to try it out....AMAZING! They have the best tamales and for a great price at $2 each or 12 for $20. There isn't much seating but just enough to sit down and eat a tamale or 2 and take the rest for the road. Had one for lunch and will be reheating the rest for dinner. If you love tamales you have to try The Tamale House!
(5)Paco O.
Went here for the first time a couple nights ago with my girlfriend. We went thinking it would be only different types of tamales, which was not the case. They have a full taqueria style menu as well as many other options. I, of course, had to try some tamales. I went with a cheese and jalapeño as well as a barbecue pork (awesome spin I've got to say.) We also got a chicken enchilada (which you can get a la carte!), rice and beans. For whatever reason, I use the rice at Mexican restaurants and taquerias as a quality test. Let me say, they have the best rice I have had in the Portland area yet. Also, I am a snob about Mexican food because I grew up in California. This is the first Mexican place here that I felt deserved my time to type out a review on my phone keyboard or any other keyboard for that matter. The true test for me will be a burrito the next time I go. And rest assured, there will be a next time.
(5)A K.
I am a Texan Native and I have to say their tamales are not too bad. A little heavy on the mesa but all n all they are not bad compared to some of the junk I have tried out here in the PDX area.
(4)Ralph L.
The chili rellenos were excellent. We tried the cheese and chili tamale and it was good, but not up to the level as the rellenos. The salsa was very good and so was the New Mexico enchilada.
(4)Lutrinae A.
$2 for a tasty tamale? absolutely, i'll take it!
(5)