Tamales
Steamed tamales by the dozen, picked up hot or delivered. It's the easiest way to feed a crowd that feels like home.
- Typical Houston price
- $11 to $45 per dozen
- Book ahead
- 1 to 2 weeks
We'll find Houston vendors and get you quotes.
What to expect
Tamales come by the dozen from a tamalería, a restaurant or a home cook, steamed and wrapped in corn husks. Pork in red chile and chicken in green salsa are the usual pair, with rajas con queso for guests who skip meat and sweet tamales for dessert. Nobody stays to serve them, so they're one of the cheapest ways to feed a big party.
- What you get
- Tamales packed in foil trays or a cooler, usually sorted by filling. Ask for salsa on the side, and for the trays to be labeled so guests can tell pork from chicken.
- Setup
- A table for the trays, tongs and a way to keep them hot. A big steamer pot or a slow cooker on warm works best; a cooler lined with towels keeps them warm for a couple of hours.
- Power and water
- None for the tamales. A slow cooker or a roaster needs one outlet.
- How long
- Pick them up within an hour of serving. Kept covered and warm, they hold through a three or four hour party.
- How many
- Two or three per adult with rice and beans, fewer for kids. For 100 guests that's about 17 to 25 dozen.
- Dropped off, no one stays
Styles to choose from
Pork or chicken
Red or green salsa.
Rajas con queso
Vegetarian.
Oaxacan banana leaf
Larger, premium.
Sweet tamales
Pink tamales or pineapple.
How to book it
What we'll ask you
Your request asks a few quick things, so vendors can price it right:
- Which tamales styles interest you?Pork or chicken, Rajas con queso, Oaxacan banana leaf, Sweet tamales
- How many guests will this serve?
- How many dozen?
- Any flavor or menu favorites?
Tell them the filling split you want (for example, half pork, a third chicken, the rest rajas) and the pickup time.
Houston notes
- Christmas Eve is the busiest tamale day of the year in Houston. Order by early December, because many tamalerías stop taking orders a week or more ahead.
- Even in a normal week, plenty of places want 24 hours' notice, and more for a party-size order.
- Keep the trays covered with foil or a damp towel so the masa doesn't dry out.
Doing it yourself? Host a tamalada with family the weekend before.
Great for
Pairs well with
Hosts often book these alongside it.
Want this at your party?
Add it to your free planner. We'll ask Houston vendors to quote, and you compare them side by side.
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