Tamales LEO

Got the RED pepper pork & the GREEN pepper pork tamales. Bland, unseasoned masa & TONS of it. Bland, unspicy meat & LITTLE of it. They didn’t taste bad, I just don’t think they’re worth $ 17 (!!!) per dozen. Having grown up on HOMEMADE tamales in an immigrant household, I’m sad to say that these tamales were disappointing.

After reading all the rave review on these tamales, decided to order the minimum to be delivered. Since most tamales we have had recently, had entirely too much masa and very little filling, I asked the salesperson about this. He assured me that the filling was much more than the masa and I would not be disappointed. Wrong! The tamales were delivered as they had agreed and were hot. To our great disappointment, the tamales did not taste anything like traditional Tex-​Mex tamales we were accustomed to having. The masa was much thicker than we had wanted and the filling was unlike anything we had previously experienced in a tamale. Really tasted more like a jellied like substance. I might add, my wife and I have lived in Austin all of our lives and have enjoyed really good tamales for a long time. Unfortunately, these tamales are not what we expected.

Tamales Leo catered two events for our non-​profit organization. Fajitas in May, and tamales for 150 in July! The Fajitas were delicious, tender, and flavorful delivered promptly when expected pipping hot. The Tamales were also tasty, particularly the traditional pork in red chili sauce.
Both times the prices was completely reasonable and Raul was a pleasure to work with. They were willing to accommodate our menu to fall within our budget during our convention.
I’d recommend this place to anyone.

I don’t know if the quality/​recipe has changed since some of these previous reviews were posted, or if I’m just forever tainted by our own tamale recipe, or if we just got the rare lemon or what, but I was not impressed at all by these…
We ordered 3 of the 4 available types (no dessert ones), and the first thing that struck me was that the masa was pretty much block white, completely unseasoned… This is ok, I guess, if the filling can save its ass, but the filling in both the chicken and the pork ones was almost a pureed mush, no texture to it whatsoever, it was like biting into meat-​flavored jelly wrapped in bland cornmeal… My wife liked them more than I did, but only when they were fresh… When reheated the next day, she couldn’t get through them, and the rest went in the trash…
In addition, while there is a website available to place orders online, you can only place orders for delivery online, which I find extremely weird… If you can submit an order and have it received by their system, and presumably pay for it online also, to be delivered at a certain time, how hard is it to add an option for pickup at a certain time? Maybe next time, we should place an order for delivery to their address with our name…

Have to say I’m disappointed, given all the 5 star reviews.
Their delivery fee is $ 10, so it you really have to commit to a lot of tamales to make it worthwhile. I ordered a dozen of the chicken and a dozen pork, and salsa. Turns out the salsa is a literal jar, but it was fine. Nothing special, though so I’d recommend you get your own jar of your favorite.
The tamales are good but not great. The filling is quite good but the masa leaves something to be desired, and the masa is every bit as important as the filling, as any tamale aficionado knows. It’s on the thick and doughy side of the equation, and kind of bland. The three stars are for the filling only.
Tamales are always a gamble, I knew that going in. Bottom line, I would stick to the little old lady you know who works at the cafeteria, or Home Depot, or whatever. My quest for a restaurant tamale that competes with a back-​room-​deal-​cash-​under-​the-​counter tamale continues.
Edit:
They’re actually very good the next day. So good that I give them an extra star. Especially the chicken.

I tried some of these lovelies at a catered event where the goods were delivered directly by the owner. What kind of amazing service is that?
There were four kinds: the pork, green chicken & chile, the poblano and cheese and the dessert (strawberry). All of the savory were great, and I think that the dessert definitely served their purpose though they weren’t to my personal taste. In particular, the pork were amazing and reminded me directly of sitting on my father’s lap and sneaking pieces of his tamales in the winter. The green chicken and chile also held their own, with a nice kick of spice and a gorgeous flavor even days later. Poblano and cheese were good — whole poblano strips with some sort of string cheese in the middle; mild but definitely easy to love.
Easy to eat, easy to reheat, easy to eat fifteen tamales in a week (which I would highly recommend supplementing with a lot of water and veggies).

Love the place great food and friendly people

I was craving tamales and simply googled «tamales austin, tx.» I came across Tamales Leo and to my surprise, it was even better because they deliver! My friend and I got the spicy chicken and pork tamales. And let me tell you, they were delicious!

hot tamale, these tamales are good. pork, jalapeño and cheese, and chicken oh my!

The best ever Spicy Chicken Tamales — as good as Oaxacan Tamaleo!
They were catered, I ate, I loved, I food orgasmed! I left feeling guilty…
I here they serve them at Pablito’s Bakery!