The Tamale House — Restaurant in Tigard

First, the positive. The tamales are good.

Now, the negative. My wife visited in late November to get ahead of the rush for Christmas tamales. We like to have them for lunch on Christmas Day. She placed the order and paid.

Fast forward to Christmas Eve. I went in to pick them up, no tamales and no record of the order. A little chaotic. Tony, the owner, said “I can have them ready by 5 pm.” Fine...

I call at around 5, order not ready. He had told me that they’d be in on Christmas morning. I then said “if it makes things easier for you I can come in tomorrow morning.” He says “that would help. See you tomorrow.”

I show up on Christmas morning (Wednesday).... they’re closed and “back on Saturday,” according to the sign on their door.

I understand it’s Christmas Day, but if you promise a paying customer that you will have their order, you don’t just skip the order. Thank goodness we have some leftovers from last night.

Not angry, but very disappointed. This is actually the second time they’ve messed up an order.

Update: he just called me after I had left him a voice mail. I’ll give him that. He offered me 12 pork tamales he made earlier, which is not what we ordered. I said “no thanks, but ....,” and he hung up before I could finish my sentence. I was planning to ask if we could get an order to replace this missed one in early January.

Not sure yet if we’ll order from them again. To be fair, I might update this review at some point. Right now the feelings aren’t...

If you're looking for delicious, authentic Mexican food in a casual and welcoming atmosphere, look no further than the Tamale House. From the moment you step inside, you'll be greeted by the mouth-watering aroma of fresh, homemade tamales, savory chile rellenos, and other tantalizing dishes that will make your taste buds dance with delight.

The menu at the Tamale House is a true celebration of traditional Mexican fare, with everything from classic tacos and enchiladas to more unique dishes like their signature tamales stuffed with pork, chicken, or cheese and jalapeños. And don't forget to try their refreshing margaritas or ice-cold cervezas to wash it all down.

But what really sets the Tamale House apart is the quality of their ingredients and the care they put into each dish. From the freshly-made tortillas to the perfectly seasoned meats and vegetables, every bite is bursting with flavor and made with love.

The service at the Tamale House is also top-notch, with friendly and attentive staff who are always happy to recommend dishes or help you navigate the menu. And the cozy, colorful decor and lively atmosphere make it the perfect spot for a casual meal with friends or family.

All in all, I highly recommend the Tamale House for anyone looking for delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine in a warm and welcoming setting. With fantastic food, great service, and a fun atmosphere, it's a must-visit for anyone who loves good food...

for $2 you get a perfect tamale. I really don't need to say much more, but I will.

It's a family business, very obviously-- the husband mans the front of the house while his wife does the wonderful cooking. They are extremely friendly to boot. Makes it that much more of a pleasure supporting this fine eatery.

Also obvious is that they do a day's batch, every day. You will not eat re-frozen and re-heated food here. However, this means that when they're out, they're out. So catch them on a slow day for a fully available menu, or luck out on a busy one. Otherwise, show up early.

The store is very cozy with about 3 booths inside. There was also a small table and 2 chairs outside that we sat at. The neighborhood is a wee bit rough so there's not much to enjoy scenery-wise, but the food was good enough to keep our thoughts focused on the next bite.

I sampled each of the tamales, and all were proper tamale consistency. This is way more difficult to attain than you may think-- most tamales I've had from bigger name restaurants have been dry, tough, etc.

Highly recomment the cheese & jalapeno, and chicken-- but the beef & bbq flavors were quite good too.

Supposedly it's tough to get your hands on a chile relleno because they sell out of their daily stock so fast. I guess they're a revelation. Hope to have...