These are the top 10 tamale restaurants in the Portland metro area in 2023: Yelp
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Amid the holiday season, Yelp ranked the top 10 tamale restaurants in the Portland metro area in 2023 — featuring restaurants with regional flair and one eatery claiming to have “the best darn tamales in Oregon.”
1. Tamale Boy
Portland’s Tamale Boy claims the number one spot with a 4.5-star rating on Yelp.
The restaurant aims to provide a “fun and approachable” dining experience with seasonal options and flavors highlighting different regions in Mexico.
These new Oregon laws take effect in January 2024
Tamale Boy’s menu includes tamales notenos and oaxaquenos – including chile verde pork tamales, mole negro tamales, and dessert options with sweet corn, strawberries, or apples and cinnamon.
Customers can order holiday tamales for Christmas Eve by 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23.
Tamale Boy began as a catering company in 2008 under the name Mayahuel Catering before evolving into a food truck, and later a brick-and-mortar with locations in Portland and Happy Valley.
2. Sabor Salvadorño
Taking the second-highest rated spot on Yelp’s list, Sabor Salvadorño serves Salvadoran-style tamales including fresh corn tamales, chicken tamales, and a vegetarian option with chipilin leaves and beans.
Court docs detail first-hand account of Scappoose deadly stabbing
The Beaverton eatery boasts a 4.3-star rating on Yelp.
3. Luis’s Taqueria
Luis’s Taqueria claims the third spot on the Yelp list for its Michoacan-style menu — featuring a variety of tamales including carne asada, barbacoa, chicharron, and carnitas.
CNBC report uses police data to dispute Target’s claims on Portland store closures
The Woodburn restaurant earned a 4.2-star Yelp rating.
4. Tamale Factory
Gresham’s Tamale Factory was among the highest-ranked tamale spots, featuring jalapeno and cheese, chicken, beef chili, and sweet corn vegetarian tamales.
Deputies: Woman accused of identity theft escapes from OHSU bathroom
Tamale Factory also has food carts at Gresham’s Lucky 7 Market on 223rd and Stark St., La Tapatia Market on SE Powell and Cleveland, and at the Fairview Rockwood Market.
5. Salsas Locas — Tortilleria Y Tienda DeLeon’s
The Portland tamale destination earned 4.2 stars on Yelp with offerings including beef and chicken tamales served with salsa verde, pork tamales in salsa roja, and vegan tamales.
6. Pupuseria Migueleña
Portland’s Pupeseria Migueleña earned a 4.6-star rating on Yelp. The Salvadoran food cart offers chicken, and pork tamales bathed in their “secret sauce,” along with cornmeal tamales filled with corn kernels.
7. The Tamale House
With a 4-star Yelp rating, The Tamale House claims to serve “the best darn tamales in Oregon.” The family-owned joint serves six kinds of tamales, including cheese and jalapeno, BBQ pork, corn, and sweet tamales.
The Tamale House started out at a local farmer’s market before growing into its brick-and-mortar on SW Pacific Highway.
Oregon extends domestic partnerships to all couples regardless of sex in 2024
The eatery also accepts holiday tamale orders.
8. Tamal Express
Beaverton’s Tamal Express food cart on SW TV Highway features Hidalgo-style eats including rojo con puerco, chicken, cheese and jalapeno tamales.
9. Los Tamales Locos
Los Tamales Locos, in Portland’s Eastport Food Carts, boasts a 4.3-star rating on Yelp. Serving up Oaxacan-style dishes, customers can find braised pork tamales with mole sauce, shredded chicken tamales, and rajas tamales.
10. Yolanda’s Tamales
Outside of the Portland metro area, Yolanda’s Tamales in Salem scored a 4.8-star rating on Yelp. With 15 tamale varieties, using a family recipe from Tepic in western Mexico, the restaurant says its goal is to bring homestyle food to its customers with “less masa, more fillings.”
Oregon was one of eight states to lose residents in 2023, Census Bureau estimates
The State St. restaurant features a variety of salsa from mild pico de gallo, and cucumber salsa, to spicy mustard salsa.
Yolanda’s Tamales also offers dessert tamales topped with the customer’s choice of strawberry, coconut, or chocolate syrup.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
