The most magical time of the year is almost here. And by that we mean, of course, the return of the Tamale Stand at Picos. Starting November 15, the authentic Mexican restaurant will be offering a wide variety of tamales by the dozen and half-dozen for takeout from its tamale menu. Options for Norteños-style tamales (which come in corn husks and are priced at $12 for a half-dozen and $24 for a full dozen) include pork in red chile, chicken in green chile, beef in red chile, black bean and cheese, peppers and cheese, piña colada (pineapple and coconut), and sweet raisin. Oaxaqueños options (which come wrapped in banana leaves and are priced at $22.50 for a half-dozen and $45 for a full dozen) include pork in red chile, chicken in green chile, chicken in black mole, portobello mushroom and huitlacoche, and chicken and chipilín in roasted tomatillo salsa. A bevy of sauces and sides are also available, including a trio of moles, chile con queso, guacamole, and a variety of salsas. And don’t forget that the restaurant also offers its tamales Oaxaqueños as an appetizer year-round.

The multigenerational Balderas family has been in the tamale business since 1967. This spot makes some of the best tamales you can find in the Houston area. Fillings include pork, hot pork, beef, hot beef, chicken, and bean and cheese, and come in at around $8 for a half-dozen and $15 for a dozen.

Hugo Ortega’s acclaimed seafood restaurant Caracol, which presents a culinary tour along the coasts of Mexico, is home to some pretty stellar tamales, too. They are priced at $24 per dozen and fillings include pork, chicken, fish, or mushroom.

Chef Victoria Elizondo’s East End staple offers some of the best Mexican food in the city. It’s also home to some pretty phenomenal tamales, which are $13.50 for a dozen. They come with fillings like pork in red adobo, chicken in roasted tomatillo sauce, roasted poblano peppers and panela cheese, and black bean and epazote. For a large order, email the catering manager at [email protected]. You can also find Cochinita’s tamales at the Rice Village and Heights Mercantile farmers markets, which happen biweekly on alternating Sundays.

James Beard Award–winning chef Hugo Ortega’s namesake restaurant features an authentic Mexican menu that has won over legions of Houstonians and visitors alike. You can take some of the restaurant’s magic home by ordering its delicious tamales, priced at $24 per dozen. Choose from pork cochinita with chile pulla, chicken mole poblano, fish with salsa veracruzana, or mushroom with pipian verde.

The always-busy tamale purveyor sells tamales year-round at its Bellaire storefront or one of the many farmers market stands owner Ana Soria operates. Tamales at Momma’s can be ordered by the dozen ($15.99–$16.99) or half-dozen ($8.99). Fillings include pork, chicken, spinach and cheese, jalapeño and cheese, black bean and cheese, black bean and spinach, and brisket and cheese.

Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen is taking orders for pork and chicken tamales ($22 for a dozen) and enchiladas ($40 for a dozen) this holiday season. As a bonus, if you order five dozen tamales, you’ll get a complimentary dozen.

Tamales Don Pepe makes tamales authentic enough to receive approval from your abuelita. Priced at $2.50 each, they come stuffed with chicken and green sauce, pork with green sauce, jalapeño and cheese, or black beans and cheese. There’s also a vegetarian option with mushrooms. For $5, you can get tamales Oaxaqueños stuffed with chicken and mole and wrapped in a banana leaf.

Can’t make it through the holidays without your tamales fix? Fortunately, Texas Tamale Company offers “survival kits” of various sizes for purchase online, or at several grocery stores throughout the Houston area. You’ve definitely seen their unmistakable cloth bags in the freezer section at H-E-B. Fillings include pork, beef, chicken, bean, hatch chile, and spinach.

Since 1960, this Northside staple has been dishing out some of the best tamales in Texas. The outpost has an endless variety of handmade tamales—pork, beef, chicken, bean, cheese and jalapeño (with or without beans), and sweet corn—available for $17–18 per dozen.

The tamales here range from around $16–18 for a dozen and $8–9 for a half-dozen, with fillings that include pork, beans, chicken (with or without cheese), sweet corn, beef, spicy pork, and jalapeño cheese.

Urbe, Hugo Ortega’s Mexican street food–inspired restaurant, has become a favorite since opening in 2021 by highlighting street foods from across Mexico’s many regions. The restaurant’s holiday tamales are available for $28 per dozen. Choose from brisket, pork with adobo, chicken with green sauce, and mushroom.