Where can I get really good tamales in St. Louis? —Keith R., St. Louis
The questioner, a tamale lover, stated that he’d had a hard time finding tamales in St. Louis restaurants and that when he did, they were often sold out or unavailable, which makes sense when one realizes that tamale-making is a time-consuming process and the cost of kitchen labor is at an all-time high. (Traditionally, tamale making has also been a communal endeavor that brings Hispanic family members together, which still occurs in several local establishments.)
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The base ingredient is masa, a dough made from ground nixtamalized corn, which is filled with seasoned meats, cheeses, vegetables, and sometimes fruit, then wrapped in corn husks and steamed to warm the contents. (The husk not only retains heat, but it can also serve as a plate.) Tamales are common throughout Mexico and Central America. They vary a bit in shape, texture, and contents from country to country, and they can be served with a variety of hot or cold sauces.
Several local sources for tamales are noted below, along with notes where relevant.
Restaurants
Most of the Mexican restaurants we queried list tamales on their menu. Some of the more unusual offerings are noted below.
- Abelardo’s: This drive-thru-only restaurant (with two locations in metro St. Louis) boasts a huge menu that includes tamales for $2.99 each.
- Carl’s Drive-In: A tamale topped with Edmund’s Chili is the perfect companion to a Carl’s double cheeseburger.
- Chava’s: Quantities limited—when they’re gone, they’re gone.
- El Milagro Azteca: Chef Carlos Hernandez’s mom comes in every morning to make the restaurant’s mole, birria, and tamales.
- La Oaxaqueña: Here, the tamales are filled with chicken and house-made mole. A plantain leaf replaces the more common corn husk wrapping for a fresher, sweeter flavor, which complements the rich corn masa.
- La Tiendita: Available by the half or full dozen. Pre-ordering is recommended.
- Pueblo Solis: The tamales are a favorite here and one of the best deals in town. The $23.99 combo platter includes four-bean, four-pork, and four-cheese and jalapeño tamales.
- Sabroso Cocina Mexicana: Here, cheese and poblano stuffed tamales are topped with a choice of chicken tinga, birria or ground beef. (SLM‘s Cheryl Baehr calls them “an absolute masterpiece.”)
- Southwest Diner: The restaurant’s tamales come from The Tamale Man (see below).
- Sueño Latino: This excellent Honduran-influenced tamale has a masa wrapper that’s creamier than most and almost custard-like.
- Sureste: It’s not uncommon to hear that Alex Henry’s colado-style pork tamale (made with a light, creamy masa) is the best in town.
- Tacos Wey & Grill: Red salsa pork, green salsa chicken, and beef birria tamales are offered periodically as specials, especially during the Christmas holidays.
Markets & Bakeries
Homemade tamales can also be found at the following markets and bakeries, some of which make them only on weekends. It’s best to research and/or call ahead.
- Lilly’s Panaderia
- SqWires Market: On Tamale Saturdays, homemade tamales are offered (three for $11) in three varieties. Available for pre-order online and in the market while supplies last. For more information, click here.
- Tamales by Maria: Makes deliveries and delivers meat tamales to Kenrick’s Meats & Catering.
- The Tamale Man: The most visible tamale vendor in town, The Tamale Man (a.k.a. Doug Marshall) delivers around town, to your door, and has stalls at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, Kirkwood Farmers’ Market, and Lake St. Louis Farmers & Artists Market, all of which are open for the season.
If you know other sources for memorable tamales, email us at [email protected].
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