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Tamale House East

3.6 (578 reviews)
Open • 9:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Tamale House East Photos

TAMALE HOUSE EAST ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Tamale House East

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Reviews With Photos

Ariadna S.

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!

Sunny C.

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.

Potato egg bacon chz taco
Maria R.

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.

Outside staircase
Natalie F.

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.

Karla D.

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.

Chips & salsa, chilaquiles verdes, spicy chipotle migas and queso taco, black bean bacon avocado taco, pork tamale
Susan L.

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

The bar
Nicholas A.

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

Can't miss the sign
Sarah O.

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!

Chief was chill. Restaurant was dead. Food was decent
Joe Madison R.

Chief in the beanie was chill. Restaurant empty but decent average food. Would i do it again! Maybe

Chicken Enchilada Plate
Jonathan K.

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.

Chicken Tamale Dinner with mole
Andrew L.

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

Chris W.

The food was awesome! Big stuffed Tamales with great flavoring! The service was great! Ordering was done online and parking was validated with order. Can't wait to go back!

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6 months ago

The staff and owners are lovely. The food is overpriced and not tasty. The ambiance is super cute though.

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9 months ago

This place was amazing! The birria tamale was phenomenal and the staff was especially kind and generous! This place is worth the visit

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1 year ago

Eh... for generic tamales or never had a tamales this is your place. For deep tamales eaters stay away lol

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Ask the Community - Tamale House East

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4.4(6.4k reviews)
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Came here with a large 25 person group all from out of town and it exceeded expectations. Our…read morewaitress McKenna was super sweet and gave great recommendations. Since we ordered basically one of everything - here are our recommendations. Appetizers GET THIS: 1. Corn dog shrimp (think shrimp tempura) - light, flavorful, crunchy YUM 2. Cathead biscuits NOT THAT: 1. Street corn queso dip not a favorite for our table. The cheese tasted thick and plastic like... Velveeta vibes... not much flavor Meals GET THIS: 1. Hangar Steak 2. Creole shrimp & grits 3. Chicken fried steak Not that: 1. Horseradish crusted salmon - I didn't try it but the two people who ordered at our table were disappointed and wished they would've gotten one of the above Desserts GET THIS: 1. Bread pudding was delicious! Not overly sweet & the added white chocolate gives it that dazzle dazzle 2. Chocolate Espresso Brownie - perfection NOT THAT: 1. Banana cream pudding. This was a no for the table because it was over the top sweet (I think because of the added butterscotch) 2. Peanut Butter Mousse Pie super super thick & sweet. Didn't taste much other than PB - it was like eating a giant spoonful of it and trying to swallow.

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Went on Sunday after Easter service because we were craving something a friend brought us during a…read morerecent meal train but felt it a bit lacking. First, the menu needs a rewrite for content and clarity. For example, buying fajitas doesn't list guacamole and based on size, single, for two and family you get more sides of rice or beans. There's no definition of how much actual meat you get and our server couldn't provide that information beyond a rough estimate. Second, the fajitas we got of family size and for two portions for 7 were not consistently cooked. We asked for medium rare and got about 25% at that with the ones in the center at a more well done. Again, the multiple tiny sides were more obnoxious than anything as it's legit beans and rice unless you want to upcharge. The cilantro lime rice tastes like nothing so skip that and go for abuelita rice which has a hint of flavor. Overall, the butter/gravy that go on the fajitas is the real winner but again a menu where you overbuy and misunderstand (that doesn't even list extras like guacamole or a simple small queso) was beyond frustrating. I would stick to them for one to possibly get a better cook.

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Chuy's - QUESO - Blend of melted cheese, Green Chile & Ranchero Sauces. Add seasoned ground beef, guacamole & pico de gallo.

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3.9(1.4k reviews)
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AMAZING!!! Last time my bf and I came to this Chuy's, we…read morewere super overstimulated and vowed to never go again, but after visiting a few other locations around Austin and coming back here- I can confidently say that they by far make the best rice and enchiladas! Their rice is so fluffy and fresh and their enchiladas always come out steaming- never skimping out on the sauce also. For the first time we also finally made it to the weekday happy hour from 3-6 PM and got the $5 "chips 'n' dips" deal with a new queso; the boom-boom queso and it was amazing!! Such a great deal considering the plain queso alone during regular hours is nearing $10...

Chuy's is my favorite Mexican food spot in Austin! I love the Barton springs location near South…read morecongress as it's cute and homey. When you come here, ALWAYS order the queso - it's the best!! I ordered the chicken flautas for my main dish when we visited and they were amazing. I usually order the boom boom enchiladas but the crunch these had was delicious. We did had to ask our server to turn the fan down, at one point they had it on full blast for some reason, but other than that they brought us a bunch of chips during our meal and were very attentive. If you're in Austin, check out this spot!

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El Alma - Chips salsa and queso

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4.1(1.4k reviews)
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Duck enchiladas with mole sauce were awesome! Chips and salsa were homemade and delicious. Tacos…read moregreat and yummy margaritas. We had a wonderful server too. Ambiance very laid back but cute.

That rush hour traffic in Austin is lethal. If it starts raining too, oh buddy, what a nightmare…read more Eventually you'll make it to your destination and if it's half as good as El Alma, it'll be a sigh of relief. I've driven by El Alma many times being in the Austin area, but I never went until last Thursday, and after surviving a brief monsoon, I was glad to get a few drinks and eat some good TexMex with my large party just before a wedding. The best way to describe El Alma is that it is TexMex that is Austinified. Everything feels a little more unique and special than your classic TexMex options. I started off with a Mezcal Margarita that put a little hair on my chest and got me going. My group ordered two of their Nachitos, which were these nice nachos. For my main entrée, I got 3 Al Pastor tacos on corn with a side of their rice and beans. Their pastor was served with pineapples, onions, and cilantro with limes on the side. They were great and I immediately crushed them all. I thought their rice and beans were pretty good as well and a step above the typical TexMex rice and beans. The server was pretty attentive throughout our whole visit, and I honestly have no complaints about what they had to offer. Pricing on the meal and drinks was pretty standard for Austin, and I didn't think anything really took me out of the experience. On top of that, for being in Barton Springs, there is quite a bit of parking. I would love to come back at some point in the future and hang out on their rooftop bar because that seems like a lot of fun. Shoutout to El Alma for being a TexMex oasis saving me from the MoPac traffic. RIYL: TexMex, but better than your average

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Highly recommend this place. The food was delicious and they do not use seed oils. The steak…read morefajitas were the best we have ever eaten anywhere and generous enough to split. The guacamole was mostly just avocado but they put pickled veggies with it and it will light you up! Our server was super sweet and did a good job and the place was slammed. It was SXSW weekend so all of the extra crazies were in town. The churros do not get cooked inside. They were wet and gummy. We mentioned to the manager and she was very apologetic and replaced them immediately. They were still raw inside but they were already removed from our ticket. The house margaritas were very good! Like I said, it was a crazy, busy weekend so the DJ had the tunes bumping really loudly. Not sure if it's always this way but with concrete ceilings and floors it was loud. Hard to hear server and each other. I'd still go back for the food.

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Tucked away in a building across from Popeye's, this charming little restaurant doesn't have a wide…read morevariety to choose from--but what they offer is pretty special and definitely worth a visit. I ordered 2 steak tacos and horchata, both very delicious. The horchata is milky and sweet but not crazy sweet, and topped off with cinnamon. The steak tacos came out pretty hot, fresh from the grill. I got them on corn tortillas and I'm glad I did: idk if they make them in house but somebody in some house is making these because they definitely aren't store bought, and if they are I want to know where! I tried the orange habanero and creamy serrano salsas. The habanero was spicy off the bat, while the serrano had more of a lingering burn. Both paired well with the steak. They have a little bar, too, though I did not imbibe this time. Seems like they have a decent selection of agave spirits, and even Campari behind the bar (iykyk). Give them a shot, and thank the ladies in the kitchen.

I personally don't eat breakfast tacos usually, but the breakfast tacos here are delicious. Out on…read morea whim, happen to drive by and saw this place. Decided to come in and the cashier greeted us and was really nice and patient because of questions with the menu. The Taco Bueno is what I had ordered and requested no potato. Sat down and after a few seconds, chips & salsa was delivered. Then after a few minutes, the food came. Quick service for sure and the food, AMAZING. Anyone reading this, try this place out and if u like it, come back! Cuz we are for sure =D

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Tamale House East - mexican - Updated May 2026

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