Tamale Boy

My mother and her entire side of my family are from El Salvador so I grew up eating the absolute best homemade Central American tamales. Up until I ate at the tamale boy food truck I hadn’t found anything even close to what I was used to; these tamales, although not quite to what I had growing up, are the real deal. The truck had three northern (corn wrapped) Mexican types and three oaxacan (southern, banana leaf wrapped) types — I tried one of each and thoroughly enjoyed both but I am more partial to the banana leaf tamales which are what I grew up on and are more moist. The tamales they serve are big; I have a big appetite and two (for a total of $ 8) did me in. I didn’t give it a full 5 stars because it seems as if the quality can vary just slightly, but I think it’s probably due to the food being in a food truck and not fresh from the kitchen.
I need to get to their restaurant and check this place out, I’ll happily give it a 5 star if the food was as good as the first time I ate at the truck. I highly recommend these tamales.

This place is just SUPER
6 – 7 different regional tamales
Lots of Tacos and some great veggie options! We had chicken verde, negro mole and Pibil tamales. All were excellent. Sides are super and the best things were the fried cauliflower and table side guacamole!!! We’ll add them in our regular rotation. The tamales are HUGE so if you want leftovers order a couple extra.

Of course Tamales are so good, especially when they are so fresh! And it’s also a real treat to sit down in a sweet spot, drink a beverage and eat some delicious items, tamales are just one of many. Reason for a 3 star: For the quality of food, the place is way overpriced. Stay away from the sopes; while they are good they aren’t worth more than $ 4 or $ 5– $ 8 for one sope definitely won’t fill you up at all. Little things like that are scattered around the menu, so be sure to ask about portion size before you think the pricey items will fill you up. And the tamales basically come plain; while they are overpriced, they don’t come dressed with anything but the corn and the meat inside.

I’m originally from Southern California, and I’ve never attempted to try a tamale in the PNW until I was repeatedly told that Tamale Boy will fill the void of an authentic tamale that was left in my heart. OH BOY, TAMALE BOY!!! You lived up to the hype.
Also, their frijoles are heaven. Their carnitas tacos are to die for.
MY ONLY qualm is that they gave me the wrong tamale but it was still perfect so I’m not mad about.

I’d rate this place a 3.75
I haven’t eaten at their location, but I have had catering from them. They did a very good job with the catering. The food was well received by our guests and they had a good amount of variety to choose from. There wasn’t anything that stood out strongly for me, but it’s a good solid choice. There was one dish that seemed more popular. I can’t recall it’s name, but it was a vegetarian item with a tomato sauce base, corn and other mixed vegetables in it.
Overall, all of the meats were well cooked and seasoned. I would order catering from them again.

Great place for a quick lunch. I tried the burrito and it was outstanding. I look forward to returning to try something else.
Restaurant was clean, staff was friendly and food was excellent.

I was so impressed with our last minute decision to eat here. I’m pregnant and constantly craving good Mexican food, so I can say that this has the mom-​to-​be stamp of approval!
I had a carnitas burrito. It was a thing of beauty! The meat was very flavorful. The black beans and rice were just what I wanted, and the side of beans? Forget about it! Best beans around.
This place is OM NOM NOMS.

Good food a little expensive for what you get.
Nice and clean bathrooms.
Definitely giving another try. Probably not a go to spot for me though.

We were the only 2 people in there. The lady taking our order kept turning to a cook and asking directions to use the iPad. It took over 25 minutes to get our food… and I have no idea why. This is not the same great experience I’ve had before. I hope they turn their act around.

The best, everything was good. We had the Chile Verde in corn hush, mole negro in banana leaf, tamale frito, beans, rice, corn chowder and horchata $ 35. The beans are the best i have ever had. The chowder was a wonderful complexity of flavors.
The staff was super nice. Eat here now before it ends up as another portland 1 hour wait restaurant.
We will be back! !!!

Pretty much the most delicious tamale I’ve ever had. Cochinita pork tamale is so moist and amazing!!!
Love this place!

Tamale Boy makes me all kinds of happy.
I loved them when they were solely a cart operation and I loved them even more now that they’ve opened up a brick and mortar. Have you seen that monster patio?! It’s one of the best places to while away an afternoon with a few pints of margaritas and some awesome food, and roomy enough that I’ve never had to wait for a table.
My go-​to order always includes atleast one Norteño (corn-​husk) tamale but their Oaxaqueños (banana leaf) tamales are fantastic as well in any variety. Throw in a couple of tacos or some of their fresh guac and I’m a happy girl.
The staff is always super friendly and helpful, and the neighborhood parking is always pretty ample which makes this a winning combination in my book.
These have single-​handedly ruined all other tamales for me.

Amazed. Chef Hernandez is the beez kneez! Comfy back patio area… hopefully they get it covered before the rain.

I heard about Tamaly Boy from a couple of friends and decided to give it a try. Their food and business atmosphere is good but the service lacks.
So far it was a good experience and definitely will come back to try other menu items.

My immediate thoughts upon shoving my tamale in my face was «damn, that masa is fluffy as f**k!»
I was just north of Vancouver, WA for a softball tournament this past weekend and needed to get away from campfire food, and upon scouring Unilocal,decided on venturing into Portland and getting my tamale on. I got their heftier tamale option: a tamale of your choosing is lightly fried, and served over black beans, a fried over easy egg, and topped with a sprinkling of salsa verde and pickled onions; this was just enough food to provide a light (ish) dinner without breaking the bank. Plus, my food came out within 10 minutes, which was impressive for the busy Saturday night dinner rush.
Now, if only they shipped…

Ok, So, My Tamale experience is pretty extensive. (Insert Collar Pop)
This is totally a fellow Elite Unilocal recommendation right here ! whoop whoop
I really loved this place ! I was really surprised by the quality and execution
These are the Tamales that raised my cholesterol.
*Cochinita Pibil ~A
*Chile Verde~B+
*Mole Negro~C+
*Rajas~C
Also had a side of re fried beans w/bacon~B
Guacamole dip that they mix at your table~A
Horchata~B
I won’t get into the details to much, but the Chile Verde Tamale was very AUTHENTIC. {Get This} The Cochinita Pibil was the QUEEN TAMALE, so much flavor and NOT dry. {Get This}. Guacamole was fresh and awesome ! {Get This} (feeds like 4 – 5 people easy)
Not only will I return, but even more importantly BRING FRIENDS.

So I made may way up to Dekum for a UYE event and I was so happy I came. It was a beautiful day for the first time in quite some time and actually a great patio day to boot, and does Tamale Boy have a great spacious patio. There’s been Unilocal events here before, but alas I could not attend, but on this day, with the crowd I was going to be around, I made my way up there.
I believe Tamale Boy was a cart before they went B&M. All I know is that they’ve done something absolutely right. The food was really, really good. The ceviche had big olé shrimps and bay scallops and other tasty fish with huge chunks of avocado, onions, jalapenos and tomatoes. The tortilla chips had a great blend of spices and lime and complimented the ceviche perfectly. The quesadillas looked incredible. I had the pibil and frijoles Puerco. The pibil was a honking large tamale wrapped in banana leaf with a citrus based pork with garlic and spices. Very mild but oh so tasty. The sauce that went with it had a little kick but nothing too overpowering. The beans were just good and creamy and just correct. Negra Modelos were $ 3 and everyone who had other drinks were quite happy with their choices.
I liked the patio a lot with all the room and the pass through to the beer joint next door. Good service and you really didn’t have to wait long for anything.
Enjoy.

Wow oh wow! I am really happy that I read the great reviews and my friends recommendation. A wonderful sunny day to sit on the expansive outdoor patio seating area — what a great vibe. The servers were very patient with explaining the menu and had a wonderfully extensive daily menu to chose from as well as the standard menu.
The food, I must say, reminds me of my time spent in east LA at the Mexican eateries — genuine and mom and pop Mexican. The favors are harmonized and with the perfect spice to accentuate the flavor so of the perfectly prepare tamales and tacos. I had a savory egg dish buried in a wonderfully spicy and cheesy sauce in a hot pot belly cast iron dish — outstanding and very creative. The thick blue corn tortilla and delicate and flavorful pulled pork was out of this world.
If you are into authentic Mexican cuisine and a place that genuinely cares for the products they prepare, then Tamale Bot is the place to be. This is my new go to Mexican cuisine restaurant.
Food: ⁴⁰⁄₄₀
Service/​staff: ²⁰⁄₂₀
Vibe/​atmosphere: ²⁰⁄₂₀
Value: ¹⁹⁄₂₀
Total: ⁹⁹⁄₁₀₀

I’ll admit, I was dubious about quality Mexican food in Oregon. I may be from Oregon, but after spending 12 years in California, I’ve gotten accustomed to the good stuff. However, I’m quick to admit when I’m wrong, and after trying Tamale Boy with my Latina friend, who is friends with the chef, my mind has been changed. There is not only good Mexican food in Portland, but it’s also AMAZING.
We went the week after they released their winter menu. The bright flavors and seasonal ingredients were a treat for my tastebuds. We tried a variety of dishes from their winter menu. The Tamal de Cazuela tastes more like a comforting stew than a traditional tamale. The quinoa masa topped with slow cooked pork was comforting on a chilly winter evening. Another standout was the Bruselas Frita. The Brussels sprouts were pan fried to crispy goodness and tossed with pistachios, pumpkin seeds, olives and served with tart slices of grapefruit.
They also serve a selection of cocktails, including a tasty margarita and a Paloma. They also make a tableside guacamole, which we didn’t try, despite me being a sucker for anything made tableside.
Despite the name Tamale Boy, the menu is so much more.

This tamale girl finally got herself to Tamale Boy.
How am I, a total Irish pasty white gringa, a tamale girl, you ask?
Evidence of my tamale loving ways:
1)when I was tiny one of the wives of my dad’s Latino coworkers at the weather service in Phoenix sold us tamales at Christmas time for ridiculous pennies. They were manna from heaven. We always argued over who ate more ie who gets the last of the 13. It was typically me. Being the baby has its perks.
2) In graduate school my Pasqua Yaqui crush (tall dark handsome beautiful white toothy smile and full lips, ooh swoon) fed me bites of his moms homemade green corn tamales on our night time lunch hour at my part time phone operator job. I quit and lost touch… but I equate those bites of tender, sweet tamales with lust and all kinds of other good feelings…
Ok get it together Janet. Ahem.
3) my friend Herlinda and her eight sisters in Yuma spend every holiday season making literally thousands of pork tamales that are little Christmas packages of love for all their lucky friends. Yes. Including me. They.Are.Awesome. The stuff of legends.
Then I move to Oregon where good tamales are elusive like the needle in the haystack. There are some in town but they certainly dont meet up with my expectations. And sometimes they come covered in sauce and orange cheese, wtf?!
I picked up takeout here. The place is cute. The people are lovely. The verdict? We tried four tamales (cochinita pibil, tinga de pollo, mole negro, and rajas). My favorite is the rajas, just the right balance of cheese and vegetable matter in soft yummy fluffy masa. I appreciated the meaty ones but I will leave those to you all.
Princess inhaled all the rice and lots of salsa. The corn was delicious as were the beans, but I think I’d be ok with more tamales and no sides and a cold beer. Maybe some guac and chips.
I was pretty happy with the outcome here. They have chilaquiles on the specials menu, I will have to go back and try that. I miss that, too. Thats a whole OTHER story though, for another time.
Check out Tamale Boy. It was worth the journey there.