Tamale House East
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Almost hidden in plain sight - great location on E. 6th St. Cute old building. Friendly service. And most importantly delicious food and drink. I got a mezcal margarita and a tamale with chilli and cheese. So good. The salsa, tamale, rice, and beans dont look fancy, but flavor is a 5/5. They even have free parking for guests which is amazing for 6th St. Family owned and in operation since 1958. Check out this treasure.
Solid across the board! Tamale was by far my favorite, very well done with lots of filling. And yes it is Texas sized. Street tacos were packed! Was not expecting them to have as much veggies as I got. Not picture, but also note worthy was the deluxe vegetable tacos with black beans on flour tortilla. Veggies were wonderfully cooked, however only got 2 pieces of potato. Wished there were a few more because those bites were wonderful! Coffee was just okay. Wouldn't go out of my way for it again, but would for the food. There is street parking and they also validate for the parking lot right next to the restaurant.
I've been here before and really enjoyed my time, but this time it was more of a [3.5 star] experience. I'm giving a 4 because I didn't get to review this place before and my past experience was really good hence why I was excited to go this time. The interior and exterior is 10/10 because it makes you feel like you're eating at someone's countryside home while being almost in downtown Austin. Their margaritas were really good! I had a classic mezcal and it was pretty strong and smoky. The online ordering was weird because they turned off chicken tamale option and when we ordered pork instead, we were told they're actually out of pork but had chicken and birria (which wasn't on the menu?). So we went with one of each. But then the server didn't ask which one with which sauce since we had different ones. So we got a birria with salsa verde and chicken with mole, while intention was otherwise. It is in a way on both parties because we should probably also clarified that... but also we had to ask for rice and beans while ordered plates which supposed to include those. To end this on a positive note, the parking is free for 3 hrs if you're a customer!
This place is really just a 3.6 but the food is solid. The online menu is all over the place and glitchy where it would not let you place an order. On top of that the guy being the kitchen will still mess up your order and forget your sides that come with the plate. There seems to be communication errors between everything. The bad aside, The sauce on the tamales were pretty good. A part of my tamale had a more corn flour than meat. Just cutting through it looked like a carb overload. Plus there were complementary chips and salsa for the table. I would recommend for next time to not get the tamale plate and just get a 3rd tamale to split. The rice and beans and not that worth the add. And a $8 is not too bad if they can get your order right. There is lots of seating including outdoor. Parking is 3 hrs in front of the restaurant. So it's a good spot to stop by and walk around.
Came here for lunch and we loved it!! I love that it's family owned and the portions are huge!!! The parking is free as well and there was plenty of spaces. I love how many plants they have too :)
Ordered some breakfast tacos and they were lacking flavor, the potatoes were giant where I just picked them out to eat alone and the chipotle migas weren't anything special to me but hey to each their own I just wouldn't pay $5.50 per taco again. The place inside is cute and homey and the lady who served my to go order was really sweet.
Some of our favorites here are the migas, and queso, and the Mexican iced coffee. This particular visit fell short. Ordering is done through the QR code at the table, which usually works fine, but today we waited over an hour for our meal without any updates or drink refills. When the food finally arrived, it was cold and we left with hungry bellies.
Other reviews here seem to be one or the other (love or hate). The negative reviews I've taken with a grain of salt. Quite frankly, some are just silly. I'll say this: The tamales are huge and truly Texas-size. I shared one with my boyfriend and we still had leftovers. Everything was really good. In fact, the tamales remind me of the ones my dear friend's mom would make at Christmas time. It's a fun little spot and the service was friendly. I don't understand why people are hating on the ordering process. It was smooth and streamlined.
What I ate: - Pork tamale: You know the drill. You don't come to a place called the tamale house and NOT order a tamale. These were outrageous. Huge tamale, big enough to satiate any cowboy. Pork was succulent and flavorful, the tamale itself was savory and tender. Don't be dumb, order a tamale to share with the table so you can try. - Spicy chipotle migas and queso taco: I had been craving brekkie tacos, and this taco hit the mark. The migas was the perfect amalgamation of crunchy and soggy, shrouded in a cheesy queso blanket. I don't remember it being that spicy - Black bean, bacon, avocado and cheese taco: This taco was just okay. Not to say it was bad - the bacon was thick cut and crispy, the black beans were cooked perfectly, the avocado the peak of ripeness. Everything was great. All that being said, I don't know if I'd order this taco again. - Chips and salsa: Great to order for the table. Salsa had a great kick to it - Bloody mary: Rich, salty, umami bomb of a drink. Perfect way to wash down those brekkie tacos Pros: - Super cute patio area/garden area. Full of shade from overhead trees. There was a cool breeze going, and ironically it was cooler on the patio than inside with the weak AC - Staff were all friendly and attentive - Sit where you want, scan the QR code on the table, and order online type of place. The site allowed you to order for the table, or order separately if you didn't want to deal with the mess of trying to figure out how to split the bill. How convenient - That tamale was pretty good. A big hefty tamale, not like the little baby tamales I get back at home. - Full bar. Get your margarita on - Parking lot on the front. No need to scramble for street parking Cons: - While there is seating inside, it was super dark and muggy feeling inside - Because you didn't have a server, it was sometimes difficult to flag down someone if you needed something. Be prepared to ask for what you need while they drop off your orders Would I come again? Sure
You guys HAVE to come here oh my god. My wife and I were looking for brunch spots and this place came, what an amazing place. From the moment we walked in, everyone was so nice! Carmen was so nice and attentive to us, but so was everyone else I just didn't get a chance to get their names. This place looks incredible too! They have two separate outside seating, a small patio seating, and then the main inside which all look and feel wonderful. They have all these little plants all over the place that make it feel nice and homey as well. When you sit down, they also have QR codes on the table so you can order whatever you want, whenever you feel like, and it comes so quickly! But the food is the biggest reason to come here. I ordered the Pork Tamle with mole and WOW. The tamle was cooked perfect, it reminds me of the ones I would eat growing up, warm and tasty. Plus the mole was fantastic! The flavors blended together so well My wife had ordered the Moms Migas & Queso, this had to be the best thing on the menu. The cheese was melted perfectly, the eggs were so soft and fluffy, they even had small pieces of tortilla in it that I thought would make it taste funny but quite the opposite, it tasted perfect! It came with potatoes as well that were cooked perfect, nice and warm that complimented the eggs well. This place is a MUST for food or drink. You guys are missing out by not coming here, perfect Mexican food, perfect service. It's amazing
Tex-Mex dine in style. Seat yourself, order online, and the food comes. Food is fine, but nothing special. We ordered Fish Tacos + Chicken Enchiladas Plate. While the Fish Tacos are good, the enchiladas are very ordinary. Rice is normal Spanish rice, and the refried beans are normal beans. The shop has an eclectic voodoo ambiance, which makes for a good photo op? They have tables in the other room for normal seating. Make sure that you validate your parking spot/ticket, or it'll cost you $35.
Chief in the beanie was chill. Restaurant empty but decent average food. Would i do it again! Maybe
10 days ago
3 months ago
As a Mexican myself, I don't hand out compliments lightly when it comes to Mexican food. I grew up knowing what homemade cooking should taste like, and this restaurant absolutely delivers. From the moment you walk in, you can tell it's a true family-owned restaurant. The mother and daughter genuinely care about every customer, and that warmth shows in both their hospitality and the food they serve. What impressed me the most is that nearly everything is made from scratch. The salsas have that fresh, homemade flavor you rarely find anymore, and the meats are cooked fresh and sautéed to order instead of tasting like they've been sitting around. Every bite tastes like someone actually took the time to prepare it with care. You can tell they take pride in preserving authentic Mexican cooking rather than cutting corners with prepackaged ingredients. It's the kind of place that reminds me of eating at a family member's home instead of a commercial restaurant. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food made with fresh ingredients, homemade recipes, and served by people who genuinely care about their customers, I highly recommend giving this family-owned restaurant a try. Supporting local businesses like this helps keep real homemade Mexican cooking alive, and they absolutely deserve the recognition. read more
We had to improvise for a meal plan one night while on our trip to Austin. The place we wanted to go to was simply filled up and the wait was quite lengthy. So we spotted Tamale House East nearby and at first we were a little bit concerned with the overall Yelp averaged score but we decided to proceed anyway and have a meal here. And I am very glad we did! We got some chips and salsa and it was very good! In addition to that I got the Texas Sized Tamale Plate. The tamale was good! There were a few different sauces to pick from and I went with the Tex-Mex Chili for my sauce on top of the tamale. In addition to that I got rice and beans to go along with the plate and those were enjoyable as well. Of course I had to get a margarita and that was nice and refreshing on the warmer day we were experiencing in Austin. No complaints really. The atmosphere is nice and the decor is attractive. I saw some reviews about the service being a bit slow and it sort of was so probably if you anticipate getting into a time crunch best manage your time where you can just kick back and enjoy the food and drink rather adding that stressor on. read more
Almost hidden in plain sight - great location on E. 6th St. Cute old building. Friendly service. And most importantly delicious food and drink. I got a mezcal margarita and a tamale with chilli and cheese. So good. The salsa, tamale, rice, and beans dont look fancy, but flavor is a 5/5. They even have free parking for guests which is amazing for 6th St. Family owned and in operation since 1958. Check out this treasure. read more
6 days ago
Solid across the board! Tamale was by far my favorite, very well done with lots of filling. And yes it is Texas sized. Street tacos were packed! Was not expecting them to have as much veggies as I got. Not picture, but also note worthy was the deluxe vegetable tacos with black beans on flour tortilla. Veggies were wonderfully cooked, however only got 2 pieces of potato. Wished there were a few more because those bites were wonderful! Coffee was just okay. Wouldn't go out of my way for it again, but would for the food. There is street parking and they also validate for the parking lot right next to the restaurant. read more
1 year ago
I've been here before and really enjoyed my time, but this time it was more of a [3.5 star] experience. I'm giving a 4 because I didn't get to review this place before and my past experience was really good hence why I was excited to go this time. The interior and exterior is 10/10 because it makes you feel like you're eating at someone's countryside home while being almost in downtown Austin. Their margaritas were really good! I had a classic mezcal and it was pretty strong and smoky. The online ordering was weird because they turned off chicken tamale option and when we ordered pork instead, we were told they're actually out of pork but had chicken and birria (which wasn't on the menu?). So we went with one of each. But then the server didn't ask which one with which sauce since we had different ones. So we got a birria with salsa verde and chicken with mole, while intention was otherwise. It is in a way on both parties because we should probably also clarified that... but also we had to ask for rice and beans while ordered plates which supposed to include those. To end this on a positive note, the parking is free for 3 hrs if you're a customer! read more
This place is really just a 3.6 but the food is solid. The online menu is all over the place and glitchy where it would not let you place an order. On top of that the guy being the kitchen will still mess up your order and forget your sides that come with the plate. There seems to be communication errors between everything. The bad aside, The sauce on the tamales were pretty good. A part of my tamale had a more corn flour than meat. Just cutting through it looked like a carb overload. Plus there were complementary chips and salsa for the table. I would recommend for next time to not get the tamale plate and just get a 3rd tamale to split. The rice and beans and not that worth the add. And a $8 is not too bad if they can get your order right. There is lots of seating including outdoor. Parking is 3 hrs in front of the restaurant. So it's a good spot to stop by and walk around. read more
Ordered some breakfast tacos and they were lacking flavor, the potatoes were giant where I just picked them out to eat alone and the chipotle migas weren't anything special to me but hey to each their own I just wouldn't pay $5.50 per taco again. The place inside is cute and homey and the lady who served my to go order was really sweet. read more
1 year ago
Some of our favorites here are the migas, and queso, and the Mexican iced coffee. This particular visit fell short. Ordering is done through the QR code at the table, which usually works fine, but today we waited over an hour for our meal without any updates or drink refills. When the food finally arrived, it was cold and we left with hungry bellies. read more
8 months ago
Other reviews here seem to be one or the other (love or hate). The negative reviews I've taken with a grain of salt. Quite frankly, some are just silly. I'll say this: The tamales are huge and truly Texas-size. I shared one with my boyfriend and we still had leftovers. Everything was really good. In fact, the tamales remind me of the ones my dear friend's mom would make at Christmas time. It's a fun little spot and the service was friendly. I don't understand why people are hating on the ordering process. It was smooth and streamlined. read more
What I ate: - Pork tamale: You know the drill. You don't come to a place called the tamale house and NOT order a tamale. These were outrageous. Huge tamale, big enough to satiate any cowboy. Pork was succulent and flavorful, the tamale itself was savory and tender. Don't be dumb, order a tamale to share with the table so you can try. - Spicy chipotle migas and queso taco: I had been craving brekkie tacos, and this taco hit the mark. The migas was the perfect amalgamation of crunchy and soggy, shrouded in a cheesy queso blanket. I don't remember it being that spicy - Black bean, bacon, avocado and cheese taco: This taco was just okay. Not to say it was bad - the bacon was thick cut and crispy, the black beans were cooked perfectly, the avocado the peak of ripeness. Everything was great. All that being said, I don't know if I'd order this taco again. - Chips and salsa: Great to order for the table. Salsa had a great kick to it - Bloody mary: Rich, salty, umami bomb of a drink. Perfect way to wash down those brekkie tacos Pros: - Super cute patio area/garden area. Full of shade from overhead trees. There was a cool breeze going, and ironically it was cooler on the patio than inside with the weak AC - Staff were all friendly and attentive - Sit where you want, scan the QR code on the table, and order online type of place. The site allowed you to order for the table, or order separately if you didn't want to deal with the mess of trying to figure out how to split the bill. How convenient - That tamale was pretty good. A big hefty tamale, not like the little baby tamales I get back at home. - Full bar. Get your margarita on - Parking lot on the front. No need to scramble for street parking Cons: - While there is seating inside, it was super dark and muggy feeling inside - Because you didn't have a server, it was sometimes difficult to flag down someone if you needed something. Be prepared to ask for what you need while they drop off your orders Would I come again? Sure read more
3 months ago
3 years ago
You guys HAVE to come here oh my god. My wife and I were looking for brunch spots and this place came, what an amazing place. From the moment we walked in, everyone was so nice! Carmen was so nice and attentive to us, but so was everyone else I just didn't get a chance to get their names. This place looks incredible too! They have two separate outside seating, a small patio seating, and then the main inside which all look and feel wonderful. They have all these little plants all over the place that make it feel nice and homey as well. When you sit down, they also have QR codes on the table so you can order whatever you want, whenever you feel like, and it comes so quickly! But the food is the biggest reason to come here. I ordered the Pork Tamle with mole and WOW. The tamle was cooked perfect, it reminds me of the ones I would eat growing up, warm and tasty. Plus the mole was fantastic! The flavors blended together so well My wife had ordered the Moms Migas & Queso, this had to be the best thing on the menu. The cheese was melted perfectly, the eggs were so soft and fluffy, they even had small pieces of tortilla in it that I thought would make it taste funny but quite the opposite, it tasted perfect! It came with potatoes as well that were cooked perfect, nice and warm that complimented the eggs well. This place is a MUST for food or drink. You guys are missing out by not coming here, perfect Mexican food, perfect service. It's amazing read more
4 months ago
3 years ago
Tex-Mex dine in style. Seat yourself, order online, and the food comes. Food is fine, but nothing special. We ordered Fish Tacos + Chicken Enchiladas Plate. While the Fish Tacos are good, the enchiladas are very ordinary. Rice is normal Spanish rice, and the refried beans are normal beans. The shop has an eclectic voodoo ambiance, which makes for a good photo op? They have tables in the other room for normal seating. Make sure that you validate your parking spot/ticket, or it'll cost you $35. read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
Chief in the beanie was chill. Restaurant empty but decent average food. Would i do it again! Maybe read more
2 years ago
I am so happy that I accidentally found this place today. Located on a lively side of town, it's a bid hidden but you can't miss the big sign that says Tamale House. When you walk in it's such a cute vibe with a large fully stacked bar. I ordered the chicken tomatillo tamale and I couldn't eat the tamale without a michelada. My mind was blown. The tamale was perfect proportional mix of chicken, sauce and masa. You can't fake authentic...this place is the REAL DEAL! read more
I've come here a couple of times and never found it to be overly busy, even during peakish times for lunch/dinner. They've done a good job of maintaining the homey/old timey atmosphere while the neighborhood around them changes. The food is solid and I've found it to be a good spot to bring people from out of town who are less familiar with Meixcan cuisine as a place to start a night out in the area. For a place called tamale house you would figure they'd have a wider variety of tamales available. While the size of a tamale dinner plate is pretty big, the value has gone down considerably in the last few years. Totally understand inflation hitting restaraunts, but the sticker shock is considerably more noticable here than similar places in the area. While I've never come away from here dissapointed with a meal, there hasn't been a dish that comes to mind as something they really nail. It makes for a good place to try out new dishes since they are quite consistent, but once you're more familiar with the cuisine it loses utility pretty quickly. Overall, I think your happiness with visiting here will vary considerably depending on your familiarity with Mexican food. If you're visiting from somewhere starved for it, I think you'll have a great time. If you live in Austin, you can certainly find better quality for lower prices read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
Tamale House has such a good atmosphere. Feels very much like you're in a homey environment. Food was large portioned for the price! I had a pork tamale (the house tamale) and it was very good. Salsas were also delicious. read more
Good things about Tamala House: - the parking lot (otherwise expensive if you're not eating there) - there is a lot of tables and you can get a big group in (it's a good thing, but also... is it?) we came with a group of 9 on a Saturday night at 5:30 and this place is empty - the place is cute, and decoration on point, bright pink and blue, and plants. I mean, I love that All the things I did not like: - you have to order online and pre-pay for them to bring your food, which comes in plastic containers. That's a no for me dawg. Not only I do not like eating in plastic container, but also, what about our planet? Change needed. - because of that same reason, none of us good our food at the same time - not the best way to enjoy a meal together - food is ok. We live in austin Texas, the Tex mex scene here is amazing, not worth settling with average, so I will not be back to this place, it's just meh. Overall, I'm being nice with 3 stars. If you're a big group, you can surely get in and use their big parking. If you want great tex mex though, I wouldn't recommend getting out of your way to come here. Pro-tip: don't drink the free water from the orange "fountain", I saw the nasty bucket they brought it in with read more
I love tamales and they were on my "Must" list while visiting Austin. We were almost at the end of our trip when I realized I had a lot of tacos (Always a good choice) BUT not a single tamale - FAIL. So when we passed Tamale House East on our way to Zilker Brewing I knew I had to make a pit stop for a Takeout Tamale for later. I figured they have been around since the mid 1950s so they must be doing something right. I headed in between the lunch and dinner rush and placed my order for a simple wrapped Chicken Tamale with queso. I was going to order it "naked" but figured the husk would protect the "innerds" until I made it back to my room. The decor was so cool and I am making a point to come back here during my next trip to Austin. The Tamale traveled well back to my hotel for consumption later that evening. The queso was thick and creamy and paired well with the tamale that was the perfect combination of masa and chicken. I have had the unfortunately experience to have a dry tamale but that was not the case here. All of the components fit together to allow for a moist flavor explosion from the first bite. I was also lucky to have some random tortilla chips in my room to sop up the extra queso - for research purposes of course! Great place to visit if you are looking for someplace to eat in East Austin. read more
Super flavorful food! One of the best places in Austin to get tamales (they're huge in size here too!). Great location and ample free parking. Beautiful place inside and the outdoor patio with lots of seating and space. We got only breakfast options, breakfast plates on a cold day. They're quick to get items out to you fresh. Feels like a more regulars only place, I wouldn't say unfriendly but like you need to know what you want to order when you get there. If you have questions about the menu or suggestions don't expect much of an answer. We went because it was featured in a Try Guys video on YouTube of great Austin food. Only food complaint would be the beans, lacked in flavor without the sauces. Everything else was delicious! We will definitely be back for a lunch or dinner options soon! read more
3 years ago
This ambiance was nice. We went to lunch. My husband got the chicken enchiladas which were ok tasting. We ordered queso and a pic of Frida which was the best part. I ordered tacos fajita and chicken. These dishes were ok. I wouldn't go back for the order of the food. I really wanted to like this place. read more
1 year ago
11 months ago
5 years ago
We got there it was about 30 minutes before closing. I got the queso compuesto which has ground beef and guacamole and a beef taco. The menus are accessible via qr code on each table. You order through your phone, pay on the phone and then the order is brought to your table by a staff member. The service was prompt Unfortunately the queso was cold, bland, and super runny at the top. All the meat and avocado was at the bottom. The staff was super friendly and there were stations outside with sanitizer wipes, bug spray, a water cooler and cups to self serve the water. The bug spray came in handy for anyone sitting outside. We had to clean our own table. There were multiple tables with leftovers and dirty dishes so maybe we got there right after multiple parties had just left. Parking is validated which is a great perk. Unfortunately, our vehicle was vandalized in the parking lot. The back window was broken and smashed in. Luckily we were not in the car at the time and were not hurt. read more
3 years ago
Super cute little place; walking distance from Huston Tillitson University. We were in the neighborhood scoping out the HTU campus before our youngest starts her summer integration and stopped for a snack. The service was Fantastic. You can tell this is a proud family run establishment. Our server was On her Game and Super nice!! They have a really cool indoor seating area including a bar for a little night life destination should you choose. They also have Great patio and outside seating areas as well!! Lots of nostalgic deco and family history to check out too! The ordering is QR so you are able to order what you want and then just sit back n wait for your food while visiting with your friends and ogling all the decor. The cool thing about that is since you're paid you don't need to waste any time waiting at the End of your meal (usually when the Itis hits n you just wanna get outta there!) to clear the bill n leave. So for the Tamales. Two opinions here as we tried Two different types. First, these tamales are GINORMOUS!!! The chicken Tomatillo tamales were so flavorful, with savory chicken flavors imparting their Yuminess all thru the masa. And the masa was nice and smooth, not grainy in the slightest!! beautiful texture!! Not sure what happened with the pork tamales tho? They have a LOT of potential, and maybe we just got an off batch? But our pork tamales were lacking in the flavor arena. The pork was slightly drier than I'm used to, and NONE of the flavor was able to permeate in to the masa at all. So as a result the masa in the pork tamales tasted pretty bland Overall these is definitely worth a stop thru!!! I would give it another go for sure!! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
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More info about Tamale House East
1707 E 6th St
Austin, TX 78702
East Austin
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(512) 495-9504
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https://www.tamalehouseeast.com
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