Where to find the best tamales in New Mexico

An Albuquerque classic: Mary & Tito's thrives with traditional New Mexico cuisine, simple setting

Carne adovada chimichanga at award-winning Mary & Titos.

Rachel Driskell
Rachel Driskell Special to the Journal
Published Modified

Here's a list to keep around for your next road trip across New Mexico.

We're rounded up some of the best tamales across New Mexico, according to Google views.

1.Teresa’s Tamales (Cleveland)

In 1999, Teresa started making tamales full time at a commercial kitchen and selling them to several restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores and individuals. After years of making and selling tamales, Teresa decided to open her own restaurant highlighting her tamales and other traditional New Mexican food. She has a passion for cooking and for people and it shows in her delicious food.

Address: 3296 NM-518 (575) 387-2754

Hours: Closed Sunday, open Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

2. Hot Tamales New Mexican Kitchen (Rio Rancho)

If you get excited every time you hear the word "chile," then you've definitely come to the right place. Hot Tamales New Mexican Kitchen is a restaurant that celebrates everything the Land of Enchantment has to offer with a menu that's simple yet remarkable in its tradition. There’s more than tamales on the menu, but if red chile pork tamales are your favorite thing, you’ve come to the right spot.

Address: 1520 Rio Rancho Blvd. Southeast (505) 962-0123

Hours: Open Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday - Friday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

3.Posa's Tamale Factory & Restaurant (Santa Fe)

Posa’s Tamales are 100% handmade in their factory using an old family recipe, and the quality definitely shows. This family-run spot is known for their namesake tamales (available for shipping), plus green chile stew and beef flautas.

Address: 1514 Rodeo Road (505) 820-7672

Hours: Open Sunday 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Monday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

4. Leonel’s Tamales (Taos)

You’re in for a treat at Leonel’s, this gem is located not far from Taos High School and is well-loved for their delicious, authentic tamales. Customers love the quality for the value. Go ahead and order an extra dozen while you’re there.

Hours: Closed Sunday, open Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

5. El Metate Tortilleria (Roswell)

This is a popular spot for fresh tortillas, tamales, chicharrons and Mexican products served from a small business storefront. Pro tip: Get there early for large tamale orders, they sell out very quickly.

Address: 105 East McGaffey Street (575) 627-3667

Hours: Open Sunday 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Saturday 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

6. Mary & Tito's Cafe (Albuquerque)

This iconic restaurant has been a staple in Albuquerque since 1963. While known for its delicious New Mexican cuisine overall, customers also enjoy their tamale plate. Tamales can also be ordered as a side item, so eat them to your heart’s content.

Pro tip: Logistically, there is very little parking around the area so you might want to try side streets or at adjacent lots.

Address: 2711 4th St. Northwest (505) 344-6266

Hours: Closed Sunday, open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., and Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tamales and places to get them in Albuquerque

Shoppers line up at El Modelo to purchase their traditional holiday favorites, photographed on Friday December 24, 2010.
Carne adovada chimichanga at award-winning Mary & Titos.
gbs111109g/SPECIAL SECTIONS/Greg Sorber -- Caramales are handmade with pinones wrapped in corn husks to reemble tamales made by Senor Murphy, a Santa Fe candy maker.
Pork tamales with calabacitas and rice at Posa's on Zafarano in Santa Fe, Wednesday January 18, 2017.
tamales
Green tamale pie dinner served with chips and salsa and sopapillas. Thursday, November, 19, 2009.
20230908-venue-v10eats3
Café Castro’s El Plato Grande with pork tamale, chile relleno and cheese enchilada.
WESTSIDE SNOW
Steven Gallegos, one of the owners of "Hot Tamales" restaurant in Rio Rancho uses a show shovel to clear the snow off the awnings of the restaurant Tuesday morning after a storm dropped about 3 inches of snow in the area closing schools and roads for a while Tuesday,December,16,2008.
The Grand Tomas combination plate at La Salita has one enchilada, red chile pork tamale and a ground beef burrito, as well as a chile relleno and a taco.
20230804-venue-eats4
Mac’s Special Mexican Plate offers a tamale, enchilada and taco with beans and rice.
The Burrito Ladyis a hole in the wall you might miss if you're not looking carefully. Owner Consuelo Flores started a business selling tamales at Christmas. Eventually, Flores was asked if she could make burritos as well. Two months later she was selling enough burritos to quit working as a waitress at Garduño's and open the restaurant without taking out a business loan.
Gloria Lopez makes tamales in the kitchen at El Modelo in 2009. (Dean Hanson/Journal)
No meat, all Masa: ABQ vegetarian cuisine vendor now offering catering
mrs110822b/November 8, 2022/Albuquerque Sally Bazan (cq) shows the difference in size between a traditional tamale and the ones offered at her pop-up restaurant, Masa at the Street Food Institute Commissary Kitchen in Albuquerque NM on November 8, 2022. Mike Sandoval for the Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque NM
That's a wrap: It's that time -- 10 places in the ABQ area to buy tamales
Photo Elaine D. Briseno/Journal La Mexicana Tortilla Co. near Downtown serves hot dishes and also sells packaged. New Mexico staples like beans and tortillasebriseno@abqjournal.comFri Nov 27 19:41:14 -0700 2020 1606531271 FILENAME: 1877220.jpg
Photo Elaine D. Briseno/Journal A tamale plate from El Modelo Mexican Foods.ebriseno@abqjournal.comFri Nov 27 19:41:08 -0700 2020 1606531260 FILENAME: 1877215.jpg
That's a wrap: It's that time -- 10 places in the ABQ area to buy tamales
Photo Elaine D. Briseno/Journal Cervantes Restaurant will be selling tamales for the holidays.ebriseno@abqjournal.comFri Nov 27 19:41:04 -0700 2020 1606531260 FILENAME: 1877213.jpg
That's a wrap: It's that time -- 10 places in the ABQ area to buy tamales
Photo Courtesy Kathy Alvarez Kathy's Carry Out in the South Valley
That's a wrap: It's that time -- 10 places in the ABQ area to buy tamales
That's a wrap: It's that time -- 10 places in the ABQ area to buy tamales
That's a wrap: It's that time -- 10 places in the ABQ area to buy tamales
rer071818a/Biz/July 18, 2018/ Albuquerque Journal An advance look at the El Vado Motel, which will open on Friday July 20th. Albuquerque, New Mexico Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal
That's a wrap: It's that time -- 10 places in the ABQ area to buy tamales
Photo Courtesy B's This West Side food truck called B's is known for it's delicious tamales.ebriseno@abqjournal.comFri Nov 27 19:41:02 -0700 2020 1606531260 FILENAME: 1877212.jpg
That's a wrap: It's that time -- 10 places in the ABQ area to buy tamales
Photo Courtesy of Vegos This small food wagon specializes in vegan food. They will be making tamales for the holidays.ebriseno@abqjournal.comFri Nov 27 19:41:11 -0700 2020 1606531271 FILENAME: 1877217.jpg
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