Tamales are a holiday staple in the borderland, often taking center stage at the dinner table during holiday festivities.
Fresh masa embraces a warm filling of shredded beef, chicken or pork, rajas con queso, or sweet raisins ― the tamal is not only a traditional dish, but a labor of love that takes several hours (and sometimes multiple family members) to prepare and make.
So, if you want to skip the long process of making tamales at home and prefer to order a dozen or two from a local spot, El Paso has plenty of restaurant options to choose from.
While it’s hard to nail down who makes the best tamales in our region, we’ve turned to Yelp for help, which has released its list of best tamales in El Paso for November 2025. And just a note — we took the number of reviews and ratings into consideration.
Here are the top spots to get the best tamales, according to the review site.
Pepe’s Tamales
Pepe’s Tamales earned an overall stellar 4.4-star rating and more than 100 reviews, with El Pasoans sharing that they’ve been visiting the restaurant for decades.
“The chicken ones are great as always, the hatch chile and cheese is next level though. Insanely good! I am so glad to see this staple of El Paso is staying true to simple, perfect tamales,” one review said.
Jose “Pepe” Ignacio Reyes opened Pepe’s Tamales in 1978 and it quickly became a staple in the El Paso community. Reyes passed away in December 2017, but his legacy lives on at the restaurant, which continues to operate in East El Paso.
Address: 9530 Viscount Blvd.
Phone: 915-591-7949
Gussie’s Tamales and Bakery
Gussie’s Tamales & Bakery has hundreds of Yelp reviews and a nearly 4-star rating, with many praising its large selection of tamales and good service — the Mexican sweet bread is also delicious.
“The hatch green chili cheese tamales were amazing. They were probably the best ones I have had since moving to El Paso. If you have not tried their tamales make sure you do,” one review said.
Gussie’s Tamales & Bakery has also been in business for decades — the restaurant opened in 1973.
Address: 2200 N. Piedras St.
Phone: 915-566-8209
Tamales Lupita
Tamales Lupita, located along Doniphan Drive in Canutillo, has dozens of outstanding reviews and an overall rating of nearly 4 stars on Yelp.
“I’ve tasted many tamales but none like this one,” one review said. “Don’t even get me started on the cheese and green chile (tamales), they were also amazing, just the perfect hint of spicy.”
Address:6860 Doniphan Drive
Phone:915-877-2208
La Tapatia, Inc.
La Tapatia, a Mexican restaurant in the Lower Valley, has an overall 4.1-star rating on Yelp, with dozens of reviews raving not only about the tamales but also the fresh corn tortillas, tostadas and tacos.
The restaurant has been serving El Pasoans for 70 years, according to its social media pages.
“The tamales are excellent, as well as the menudo. The service is friendly and prompt. The ambiance is also good,” one review said.
Address: 8941 Old Country Drive
Phone: 915-859-9616
La Moderna Bakery
In addition to the sweet bread, the family-owned bakery in Northeast El Paso is said to have some of the best tamales around, earning it an overall 4.3-star rating on Yelp.
“Best tamales and sweet bread in town. A must visit location while visiting El Paso. My mother visited and traveled back with the goods: red tamales, sweet tamales, cookies — delicious you won’t regret visiting,” one review said.
Address: 4922 Hondo Pass Drive
Phone:915-751-6619
Chepe’s Tamales
Chepe’s Tamales serves up flavorful masa and an assortment of fillings, according to Yelp reviews — in addition to good service. You can also grab a tamal with your breakfast.
“Tamales with breakfast, it’d been awhile since I’ve had any. These are awesome, and you can choose which tamales — I got one red with pork and one green with chicken — both have eggs on top, and a side of hash browns and refritos,” one review said.
Address: 5505 Montana Ave.
Phone: 915-887-0081
La Colonial Tortilla Factory
La Colonial Tortilla Factory on Copia Street has more than a dozen reviews and an overall rating of 4.5-stars on Yelp. While the fresh tortillas and burritos are delicious, reviews also note the tamales are just as tasty.
“By far, the best rajas con queso tamales I’ve had in a long time. Employees are hard workers who are eager to please,” one review said.
Address: 212 N. Copia St.
Phone: 915-533-9691
El Prado Bakery
More than 100 reviews have earned El Prado Bakery on the eastside a 4-star rating on Yelp. The tamales are flavorful, as well as the sweet bread.
“Amazing. Prices are so low, I wonder how they stay in business. The food is delicious,” one review said.
Address: 3501 Rich Beem Blvd.
Phone: 915-261-7800
Carlos Bakery
The bakery in Sunland Park, New Mexico, has a shining 4.6-star rating on Yelp, with some calling it a hidden gem for its affordable prices and authentic Mexican food and large tamales.
“Amazing. Cheaper than most. Full of meat and just the right amount of spice. These are not thin but rather more the size of a zucchini. A non-descript place but a great product,” one review said.
Address: 2101 McNutt Road
Phone: 575-589-9220
Hilda’s Tamales
Hilda’s Tamales in Northeast El Paso has dozens of reviews, not only for its fresh tamales and heavenly gorditas, but also for the restaurant’s attentive owner.
“Whenever an employer takes the time to come out to the dining room and ask how everything is, you know its a good experience. Hilda is there watching, cooking, asking questions. This was one of the best experiences I have had in a long time. Absolutely delicious. You must try this place,” one review said.
Address: 4242 Hondo Pass Drive # 103
Phone: 915-751-7224
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Here are the best tamales near El Paso in 2025, according to Yelp reviews
Reporting by Natassia Paloma, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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