Where to Find the Best Tamales in San Jose California! (2024)

Known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” San Jose is also building a reputation as the Bay Area’s top destination for delicious, authentic tamales. As the city’s Latino population has grown over the past few decades, numerous tamalerías and Mexican restaurants have popped up to satisfy locals’ cravings for these tender masa delicacies stuffed with flavorful fillings. Join us as we discuss where to find the best tamales in San Jose!

1. The Tamale Factory

The Tamale Factory is a beloved local institution in San Jose, California, and is one of the best places to get tamales in the City. Located on S White Street in the historic Guadalupe neighborhood, The Tamale Factory has been making fresh, handmade tamales and other Mexican specialties from scratch since 1983. This family-owned tamalería is famous for its tamales, which are packed with flavorful fillings like shredded pork, chicken, cheese, or chicken chili verde. 

The Tamale Factory is a no-frills spot as tamale makers roll masa and fillings into corn husks, keeping alive generations-old traditions. Beyond tamales, their menu also includes tacos, burritos, tortas, nachos and more – but most agree that you can’t leave without trying their famous tamales.

Parking can be difficult here because the parking lot is small and a dozen orders of tamales can set you back about $30.  The Tamale Factory has an online ordering system making it easy to get your holiday tamales!

Address: 233 S White Rd C San Jose, CA 95127

2. Tamales el Tamalero

Owner Sergio was selling homemade tamales in the parking lot at Walmart over on Story Road for years and decided to open a tamale spot at a new location at 2920 Alum Rock Ave. You can find their tent in front of Sabor Restaurant in East Side San Jose.  

The Tamales el Tamalero crew makes hundreds of spicy pork, mild pork, salsa verde chicken, jalapeño cheese, and sweet corn tamale options daily and they often have specials like dessert tamales.

Each tamale is $3 which is a great price for the area. The spicy pork tamale is so big and loaded with so much filling. The masa was perfectly soft, tender, and seasoned perfectly. This great company takes cash, zelle, and credit cards for payments.  

Address: 2920 Alum Rock San Jose, CA 95122

3. Diana’s Tamales

Diana’s Tamales is a food truck located in East San Jose.  Diana’s also has a tamale factory but we prefer the tamales served at this location.  Dianas Tamales has a limited menu of chicken, pork, and cheese tamales.  They also offer tortas, atole de arroz, and is a cash-only establishment.  

Diana’s tamales will run you about $4 per tamale.  There is limited parking by the food truck.  

Address: 1696 McKee Rd San Jose, CA 95116

4. Super Tamales

This food truck is located in South San Jose and has very reasonable prices. The delicious tamales were piping hot and made fresh. The masa had good flavor and was smooth as well, not gritty like others I’ve tasted. The beef, pork, and chicken tamales were delicious and flavorful.  

Super Tamales also offers unique flavors like beef in red sauce, chicken in green sauce, chili cheese, and sweet strawberry tamales. 

If you want it to go, the tamales will be placed in a plastic bag with/ the husks intact. If you choose to eat it fresh, you have the option to add sour cream.

Super Tamales is located on the corner of Snell and Capitol Expressway. The owner is there from 6:30 AM-10:30 AM Mondays through Sundays. They have 2 locations – one here and the other at 602 S. Winchester Blvd.

Super Tamales accepts cash or Venmo.

Address:  3951 Snell Ave San Jose, CA 95136

5. Panaderia Gudino

This Mexican bakery sells Mexican sweet bread and good tamales.  The staff is friendly here and they are bilingual and will explain what is in any of the items they sell.   If you can get there early enough, they sell their signature tamales.   Their tamales smelled amazing, and the ones I tried were super moist and flavorful.

Panaderia Gudino offers a limited variety of tamales and they include chicken, pork and cheese tamales.  They also sell champurado, Mexican hot chocolate, tortas, and more.

Parking is plentiful and this is a cash-only establishment.

Address: 1377 Kooser Rd San Jose, CA 95118

6. Tamales Lupita

Tamales Lupita is a sidewalk cart vendor that has excellent Sonoran tamales!  These are great tamales, the masa is fluffy and moist, and they have a lot of filling. The pork tamales are my favorite.

Tamales Lupita’s items are more expensive the many of the tamales restaurants on this list.  They are a good size and will run about $5 each and a dozen tamales will set you back about $50 but in our opinion, they are very worth the price!  Tamales Lupita offers hot tamales in unique flavors like sweet pineapple, cheese and pepper and beans with pork rinds.

Address: 77-99 Senter Rd San Jose, CA 95111