this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
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I Didn’t Have Eggs
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People making changes to recipes and then complaining it didn’t turn out.
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You have to get a good connect. You'll find them where you least expect. I used to buy tamales from the place that refilled my propane tanks.
Somewhere in your city there exists a retired Mexican man driving an SUV with an Igloo cooler in the back full of 300 tamales his wife made this morning. There's at least one in every big city. These are the tamales you want. You'll find them at some random street corner near the Home Depot or near a mechanic's shop and they are some of the best food you'll ever eat.
You literally just described my hookup. He goes to the bars here in Houston. He also has homemade sauces his wife made in small containers that go with each half dozen sold or to buy a jar by itself. He comes out less often in the last year (gee, I fucking wonder why) but I got in good with him and have his number so he'll meet me anytime between noon and midnight most days.
Anyone who wants a real tamale experience, listen to this person's advice. And if you still don't like them, well you gave them a fair shot. And that's ok too.
We must protect our trunk tamale men and women at all costs. Them, and the elote street corn sellers.
100% this. Store-bought or restaurant tamales almost never taste as good as home made.
The best tamales I've ever had are always from random people who approach me in a Home Depot parking lot.
this works for everything