Okay, I have eaten a truly irresponsible number of tamales for this list. In Lewisville, you have to go looking for the good stuff, usually near a gas pump or behind a strip mall that also sells tires.

So this guide runs the full gauntlet, from the 24/7 counter-serve operation with a glowing mango tequila to a spot where you might need to check your receipt for math errors. I nearly fell asleep in my car after one particularly hefty order.

Here is the definitive, slightly sweaty ranking of the best tamales in town.

Casa Mia Latin Cuisine

Highlights
Friendly service, great food
Fresh, flavorful homemade dishes
Attentive staff welcomes everyone
Try the Carne Asada
Save room for churros

Casa Mia gave me a warm hug and then charged me for it, fair enough. The carne asada had that smoky char that makes you close your eyes. Service folks hovered like friendly ghosts. Churros arrived hot, crackling sugar. I ate three. Then I ordered more. The homemade vibe is real here. My tamale came wrapped like a present from a very buttery relative. Flavor held steady, not too greasy, decorated with just enough salsa. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget the Texas heat outside. Good tamales. Better people. Come hungry. Leave happy.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in Louisville.

La NuevaDe Zacatecas

Highlights
Amazing food and service
Great first-time experience
Will return again
Kind staff potential
Worth another visit

La Nueva De Zacatecas walked me through the door and sat me down like an old friend. The tamale was a solid handshake. Corn masa tasted fresh, filling had good pep. The staff checked on me twice before my coffee cooled. That’s care. I watched a family at the next table share a plate of something saucy. Everyone smiled. The place hums with quiet goodness. I’ll go back. In fact, I’m already planning my return. It’s not fancy. It doesn’t need to be. Just honest food and kind people. That’s enough for me.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in Brownsville.

Taqueria Monterrey

Highlights
Tastes like Tía Rosa's kitchen
Worth every minute of waiting
Best elotes in all Lewisville
Made with love, truly authentic
A gas station miracle, honestly

Taqueria Monterrey is a gas station miracle. I’m dead serious. You pump gas, you smell exhaust, you walk in, and bam. Your tía Rosa is cooking in the back. The tamales tasted like Sunday afternoon at her house. Worth the wait, my friends. They made me wait a full twelve minutes. I didn’t care. I ate elotes while I waited, and those were the best in Lewisville. Buttery, salty, a little lime. Honestly, I’d drive across town just for the corn. The tamale itself? Soft, slightly sweet, filled with careful intention. This place has soul.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in Roseville.

Taqueria Taxco

Highlights
Spotless, welcoming, and friendly service
Quesabirria with superb consommé
Tamales soft and perfectly cooked
Mango tequila and horchata rum
Open 24/7, easy standout

Taqueria Taxco runs a 24/7 tamale operation and that’s beautiful. I walked in at 2 p.m. and felt like a king. Spotless floor. Friendly nod from the counter. I ordered the quesabirria and a tamale. The quesabirria came with consommé so good I drank the rest with a spoon. Tamale was soft, perfect little pillow. They also do a mango tequila drink that glows like radioactive sunshine. Horchata rum too, which I respect. It’s a full stop. Fun, easy, open all night. I’ll be back when the sun goes down and my tamale cravings start barking.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in Nashville.

Angelina's Mexican Restaurant

Highlights
Thin, crispy complimentary chips
Flavorful salsa with slight kick
Delicious guacamole sauce
Chile Queso full of flavor
Bright spots amid dry chicken

Angelina’s brought me chips before I even asked. Thin, crispy, gone in three bites. The salsa had a sneaky kick, made me sweat a little. Guacamole sauce was a revelation. I dipped everything in it. The chile queso? Full of flavor, stretchy, a hot mess. But the chicken dry as a desert hike. The tamale, though, saved the plate. Moist, porky, wrapped in a corn husk that held on for dear life. I’ll forgive the dry chicken this one time. Because that sauce is worth the trip alone. Maybe I’ll just order the queso and a tamale next time.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in Watsonville.

Martinez Grill & Taqueria

Highlights
Big, authentic, delicious portions
Marcos greets like family
Breakfast chilaquiles are legendary
Hot sauce is straight gas
Always worth another visit

Martinez Grill & Taqueria is a big deal. Portions so large I needed a nap and a plan. Marcos greeted me like I’d known him for years. Breakfast chilaquiles changed my whole week. The hot sauce, straight gas. I only needed two drops. The tamales were enormous, soft, and full of filling. Not a dry crumb. I ate one on the spot and took the rest home. They reheated perfectly. That never happens. The flavor clung to my brain for hours. I’ll spend my next day off here. Probably still worth it.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in Houston.

Mexicana

Highlights
Incredible corn tortillas
Pibil tacos are A++
Robust, savory flavors
Fun music video atmosphere
Friendly host and manager

Chante Mexican Grill & Cantina knows how to make a tortilla. Corn, warm, handmade, a little char. The pibil tacos were A-grade. Meat so tender it forgot where it came from. Flavors stacked like bricks. I could taste the achiote, the citrus, the smoke. Music videos played on big screens, some guy shredded a guitar solo. The host and manager both checked on me, asked about the food. Tamales weren’t the star this time. But the taco game here is mighty. I’ll come back for the tortillas alone. And maybe to watch another guitar solo.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in Dallas.

Taqueria Melchor

Highlights
Best sazón in Lewisville
Fresh handmade tortillas daily
Great for World Cup watching
Bomb tortas and barbacoa
Huarache and birria plates

Taqueria Melchor has the best sazón in Lewisville. No question. I’m a tough critic. They hand-make tortillas every single day, and you can tell. I watched the World Cup on three screens while eating a barbacoa torta. Ridiculous. The tamales? Soft, pillowy, with a flavor that sat right on my tongue. The barbacoa birria plate came with a sauce that made me want to fight someone. In a good way. Everyone was yelling at a penalty kick. I was yelling because of joy. This place gets it. I’ll be a regular by summer.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in El Paso.

Gorditas main St

Highlights
Best gorditas in Lewisville
Reminds me of home
Worth the extra cost
Tastes like Mexico City
Check your receipt carefully

Gorditas Main St tastes like Mexico City. I’m not joking. The name might be confusing, but the flavor is spot on. My gordita was thick, slightly crispy on the outside, and filled with something magical. I don’t know what they did. It reminded me of my abuela’s kitchen. Worth the extra couple of bucks. But here’s the thing: check your receipt. I did, and a few items got double-charged. Nice people, but watch the numbers. Still, the tamales were fresh, with a hint of banana leaf. I’ll probably come back. I’ll just do the math myself next time.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in Corpus Christi.

EL PAISA COCINA MEXICANA

Highlights
Consistently incredible flavor every visit
Warm, welcoming service throughout
Delicious rice and refried beans
Best bistec tacos around
Largest taqueria dining room

El Paisa Cocina Mexicana has the biggest dining room in all of Lewisville. You could host a tamale convention. And the food is consistently incredible every single visit. The rice is fluffy, refried beans are creamy. I order the bistec tacos every time. Best in town, no debate. The tamales are solid, unassuming, and full of flavor. The staff greets you like a neighbor. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to linger over coffee. I did. Twice. No regrets. This is my new safe space. Bring your appetite and a friend.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in Nashville.

Tommy Tamale Market & Cafe

Highlights
Chicken tamales taste authentic
Big burritos under $10
Queso rocks, salsa kicks
Rice cooked perfectly
Bean tamales taste same

Tommy Tamale Market & Cafe is a serious operation. I bought a dozen chicken tamales and a burrito. The burrito was huge and under ten bucks. The tamales tasted like they came from a real kitchen, not a factory freezer. Chicken was juicy, masa was steady. The queso rocks, and the salsa kicked my palate. But here’s the twist. I tried the bean tamales too, and they tasted exactly the same as the chicken. Exactly. I ate one. Then another. Still confused. But in a good way? I’m not mad. I’m just impressed. And full. Very full.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in Lubbock.

Ale Taco

Highlights
Fast, friendly service
Generous food portions
Great chips, fish tacos
Barbacoa tacos delicious
Two salsas for flavor

Ale Taco moves fast. I barely sat down before my food appeared. Friendly, quick, no nonsense. The chips were warm, thick, perfect for scooping. I ordered fish tacos and barbacoa. The fish had a nice crunch, the barbacoa melted in my mouth. The tamales were good, but they weren’t the star. That’s okay. They give you two salsas, so you can spice things up. The portions are generous. I left with a doggy bag and a happy stomach. For a spot called Ale Taco, they sure know how to do actual food. I’ll be back for a proper pig-out.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in Oklahoma City.