I My wife wants us to take Tamales to a family outing. Who makes the best Tamales in Bryan/College Station?

http://mariastamalefactory.com/

/EOT

Maria's is great. I would also recommend Jesse's, though I know the great 49 cent controversy has soured many on them.

Maria's

will try once i get there in July

Definitely Maria's. Been using them for 8 years...wonderful, friendly folks and will deliver if a large order! They prepare them just in time for your pick up time so very fresh!

Garpez makes good tamales.

+1 for Jesse's! Best tamales in town!

But Alamo tamales in the store are awesome.

Just stop by & do a taste test on all of them.
I was buying mine from La Botana 2210 East WJB
(979) 774-8940. But the last time they weren't as good, then i tried La Familia 300 N Tex Ave, they were good. If you have time taste all, call ahead you may need to order them ahead of time.
Didn't like the Maria's Tamale but they do make them all year long, just pour some warm Rotel on them that helps.

If your driving by San Antonio stop at Delicious Tamales 1330 Culebra Rd. (210) 255-2023. Or if you still have time they will ship them.
http://www.delicioustamales.calls.net/

[This message has been edited by bubba_joe (edited 6/26/2014 7:19p).]

Went by and picked Maria's. One footnote. They don't take credit cards. Had to go back and get cash. Tamales were good, but somewhat out of the way and not taking credit cards was a bummer

Picky picky

Saenz?

Saenz closed circa 2004 IIRC. At least the one at SH21/WJ Bryan in the old Dairy Queen. I'd love to know if they're still making tamales somewhere else.

Saenz was great. Miss them.

Two questions:

I assume Maria's is take-out only? I wasn't positive from the linked page.

How about the salsa? What level of heat and chunkiness? (We're not crazy about big chunks of ingredients in our salsa and prefer the more blended type.)

Maria's is take out only. IIRC, the salsa is not chunky.

[This message has been edited by halibut sinclair (edited 6/29/2014 5:34p).]

The son of the Saenz Tamale owners is on the Bryan City Council. Maybe he could open the place back up again.

Not surprised. That family is deeply entrenched in local politics.

Wow. Back in the 80's we used to try to eat at Saenz's from time to time. We could never tell what their business hours were. We thought we would be smart and call ahead. Alfonso would answer the phone and tell us he would be there. Then we showed up, the place was locked up tight as a drum.

The food was great, but whether or not they were open for business was always a crap shoot.

And now he is on the Bryan city council. There but for the grace of God, go I.

I ate there a lot in the 90s. It was always open when they said it would be. I was told at the time by folks who introduced me to the place that the family was heavily involved in local politics. Probably ate there several dozen times and loved it. And that's the extent of my knowledge of all things Saenz Tamales.