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It isn't Christmas without tamales and Austin has one of the top-ranked eateries for the warmly wrapped goods.
Here are the best places in Austin to satisfy your tamale craving.
El Sunzal Restaurant, 642 Calles St.
Ranked in the top 25 best tamale restaurants in Texas, El Sunzal was the only Austin restaurant to make the list. If you're stopping by the restaurant, you can get other Mexican and Salvadoran food from huevos rancheros to migas.
Fresa’s South First, 1703 South 1st St.
This month, Fresa’s is offering holiday tamales, which feature tamale meals, by the dozen and special desserts. They are taking pre-orders until Dec. 23 at 5 p.m. Pickups are available Dec. 22-24 at its South 1st Street location. Tamales can be ordered online at fresaschicken.com or by phone at 512-915-0362.
Delicious Tamales, 1931 East Oltorf St.
Get ready for 13 flavors of authentic, handmade tamales ready to unwrap this winter season at San Antonio-based Delicious Tamales. They opened their first Austin location on Dec. 13 and will continue to serve tamales all year long. Customers can order in person, both ready to serve or frozen to reheat later.
Lick It Up, multiple locations
This plant-based Mexican food truck opened in August of 2020 and is offering holiday tamales this season. Customers can choose from red chile, green chile with cheese and black bean with cheese. Tamales are available for pick up until Dec. 22 at either their South or East Austin location between 5-8 p.m. You can order online here.
Tamale Addiction, 114 East Parsons St.
Another great palace to satisfy your itch for tamales, Tamale Addiction offers organic options for tamales which include vegan and vegetarian choices. They also serve meat, banana leaf and dessert tamales. For this winter season, tamales are only available by walk-in only and the shop is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Except this week, they are off for Christmas Eve.)
Tamale House East, 1707 East 6th St.
One of the top tamale places in Austin, Tamale House East has seating both indoors and outdoors and a sizable amount of food to choose from. For this holiday season, they are offering holiday tamale specials which include six-pack pork, chicken, or bean, cheese and jalapeno tamales with sauce, each for $30. Currently, they are only open Friday through Sunday.
Rosie’s Tamale House, 3436 State Highway 71
This family-run joint sits in Bee Cave and offers a simple Mexican and American food experience. Rosie’s Tamale House, which has been owned and operated by the Arriaga family since 1973, offers their famous gluten-free tamales at a half-dozen order for $7.25 or their pint of beans famous tamale for $4.25. Customers can order online here.
J’s Shaved Ice / Tamales, 1716 East Slaughter Lane
Typically a shaved ice shop, J’s is bringing back their tamales for a limited time. They have tons of tamales to choose from, ranging from spicy pork to cheese ruckus to vegetarian. Tamales are made fresh every day and can be ordered either online or by phone at 512-470-5628.
Popular
Tito's Handmade Vodka
Show your love for Tito's and for the community this year with a wide selection of not that ugly, uglyish, ugly, uglier, and ugliest holiday sweaters.
There's lots choose from, and plenty of accessories like scarves and socks, plus gear for your dog, too.
All of the items can be purchased online or at the Love, Tito’s Retail Store in Austin, TX. 100% of all net proceeds from online or in-store purchases go to one of the nonprofits we’ve teamed up with.
Click here to see the entire collection in the Tito's store.
🗓 All weekend
Check out this highly anticipated art exhibition with illuminated art along Waller Creek. Tickets are free and the event includes food vendors, dazzling lights, live music, and hands-on activities
All weekend 6 p.m - 10 p.m | 📍Waterloo Park
This iconic holiday tradition lights up for the first time this holiday season starting this weekend! Reserve your spot for an enchanting light and sound performance, delicious hot cocoa, sweet treats, and some overall fun with your friends or family. The show runs till January 6th.
6 p.m and 9 p.m | 📍Mozart's Coffee Roasters - 3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
🗓 Saturday
This fitness event is free and open to the public. Get your morning started right with a "Fitness in the park" class for kickboxing! The class will be led by certified instructors and is a great way to get a cardio workout in while also honing your self-defense skills.
10 a.m - 11 a.m | 📍 Metz Park
Support local LBGTQ+ and female artists at this outdoor market with over 150 vendors. Get your holiday shopping out of the way at this event, with vendors for food trucks, handmade goods, raffles, hands on workshops and activities, and more.
Did someone say cheese?! If you're like me and always willing to get your hands on a bowl of mac and cheese, then this event is for you. Check out the Mac and Cheese festival happening this weekend to decide which vendor has. the best mac and cheese for yourself, and enjoy the bar with creative cocktails while you're at it. Tickets start at $45.
11 a.m - 3 p.m | 📍Lantana Place - 7415 Southwest Parkway
