Tamale Shak

Wow… Awesome little place. I had the shrimp tacos and loved it. Very talkative and polite staff, clean atmosphere and great food with a lot of flavor. Nice little patio in the front of the place. I will be back for more of this fresh and savory food.

Really yummy tamales! We’ve eaten spicy tamales across Oregon, California, Arizona, and New Mexico and my husband said these were his favorite! Red salsa served with the tamales was one I wish I could take home, good tacos. Enough said.

Been wanting and curious to visit this quaint little hole in the wall. Mexican food is our favorite meal out, probably twice a week. of the other 5 lunches out. After reading the reviews felt it was more than a safe bet. Trying my darnedest to come to a decision as to what to order, after staring at the chalk — written menu board, as I was expecting more combos to choose from, not just a la cart, I ordered the tamale plate — 3 tamales, pico, black beans, sour cream, after being told «She (the cook or owner, perhaps) doesn’t care to break them up «as I was going to order one tamale and maybe a burrito. Girlfriend ordered 2 spicy fish tacos a la cart. I had a bottled root beer, she brought her tea from outside as I was told beforehand over the phone that they do not offer tea. Disappointment didn’t take too long as right after taking our payment, the kind worker who answered our menu questions walked to the upright freezer in plain sight and took out a bag of frozen fish. I’m aware that while not EVERYTHING on ANY menu can be fresh and waiting on you to snatch it up, I felt like for the price we paid (close to 19 bucks) perhaps a bit more discretion was called for. My order came to the table in a very small covered aluminum tin. Girlfriend’s spicy tacos were surprisingly served wrapped not in flour tortillas as is customary, but in small corn tortillas and had to be drained a good bit to risk falling apart. Though my plate was tasty, it was entirely too small for the price paid, the name sake tamales were not fresh, nor homemade as one would expect from a «TAMALE «Shak, and needless to say, for the price we paid, we get FAR much more for just 4 more bucks, including queso, grilled peppers, 2 full combos and 2 beverages at our usual place. I can see where this might be a quick or convenient go to place in the medical center /​office area it is located around, and better suited for college age /​single folks grabbing a beer and a taco, but not for families or folks who are used to a much wider menu offering elsewhere.

I’ve been twice in one week and I must say, if you’re reading this and wondering if it’s worth it, it’s much more than that. It’s worth going out of your way for. Do yourself and someone you care about the favor and get thier entire menu in your system.
I love me some good Mexican food and they’ve got the Juice over here, y’all. It’s all about simplicity; when you’re able to make something taste extrodinary with just a few, basic ingredients, you know you’re onto something. The menu is simple, nothing overwhelming and has mostly everything you could want out of a small Mexican joint like this.
The place is quaint and decorated with that feel of this Carribean, Mexican, off-​the-​highway joint you might find in a Central/​South American country. Vibrant colors, a few select beers on draft and some seating both in and outside for those nicer days. There’s live music here also on days when the weather permits, I suggest coming down and spark up a conversation with Wendy (one of the owners), she’s pretty awesome and can make a mean quesadilla!
My first visit I went with the shrimp tacos which I took to-​go. Didn’t even make it out of the parking lot with them. I wanted to go back in and order two more but I had to battle the fat guy within and show some restraint. But less than a week later I was back for round two and the shrimp and chicken quesadilla was my next choice. Perfect, grilled shrimp and chicken cheesiness!
Wendy asked if I had their tamales (which I have not), that is up next which might beeee… oh I dunno… tomorrow?!
Newest addiction in Gulfport, great job!

Small establishment but totally worth a visit. Parking lot is in the back — follow the driveway to the immediate left of the entrance. There are 2 tables inside plus seating at a small bar and tables outside in the front. Awesome spicy fish tacos. My friend got the spicy shrimp tacos and raved about them. I really enjoyed the local craft beers on tap (there are 4). I really can’t wait to go back again!

This cute little place will make you believe dynamite really does come in small packages. The building may be small but the portions and the flavors aren’t. Wendy, the owner, is a sweetheart and will glady answer any questions about the food or the craft beers they have on tap. They also have soft drinks and bottled beer. If you don’t give this little gem a try you’re really missing something.

Oh-​my-​God! I have finally found a good, no, bomb-​ass burrito!!! I got a been and beef burrito with a 6oz side of green chili and I dumped the chili on the burrito (I’m a smothered green chili burrito girl) and wow was it awesome! My boyfriend got the chicken quesadilla with a side of red chili (also very good) and we got a tamale to ‘taste test it’. I ate it all and I will be back probably be a regular now. The joint is owner/​operated (Wendy I believe– super sweet)
Love it love it. I didn’t even get pictures because I was to busy digging in.
Tip– tamales are small. I think most people can eat dozen no problem.
Check this place out!

Love this place! Food is excellent! 4 craft beers on tap in addition to others. Do yourself and your tastebuds a favor and go there!

Small place, hence «Shack». Parking is in the back and it’s a sand/​grass lot. Watch your vehicles if you’re driving a car! Place is clean and seating is minimal inside with outside spots to make up for it. Not a problem as I ordered togo. The people are great. Warm and welcoming.
Ordered up a dozen regular and a dozen half and half (spice/​regular) and one tamale pie (spicy). Must of confused them because I originally ordered up a dozen of each but then changed it up. Ended up with a dozen of spicy and a dozen half and half. I won’t hold that against them as I didn’t check.
The food:
Tamale Pie — Good stuff. Tamales, beans, cheese, pico… what more could you want. Will definitely order again.
Tamales Regular — Not your traditional tamales as they have pieces of corn and black beans in them. Just a touch salty but overall really good. They are wrapped in corn husks, none of that wax paper stuff. I prefer them over Taco Sombrero tamales by a long shot. (My party said this was debatable, but i’m the one reviewing)
Tamales Spicy — They are really spicy (to me). I was not a big fan of them because of this. They were in my tamale pie but it was tolerable with the extras that were on there but by themselves, a bit much. Every bite and piece had lots of visible red pepper flakes and I can feel seeds when i’m chewing. More pepper than I would have liked but if you’re into that stuff… by all means!
They do have two sauces, a green chile and a shack sauce. The shack sauce is pretty good and HOT! I’d prefer to order regular tamales and up the heat myself with this as needed.
Overall, my final rating is a 3.7, which I rounded up to 4. I’ll be back to grab some regular tamales as there aren’t too many places you can go for fresh ones without having to sit down and order.

Such a cool little place. This «shack» has one table for 4 inside placed across from a small artisinal draft beer bar. More picnic style seating outside if you cannot wait to get home to dig into your tamales. A little sign in the front window read «No Trespassing… Unless You’re a Pirate». Pirates are great.
The tamales were great too! I ordered the tamale pie and a half dozen of the spicy/​half dozen of the mild. The «pie» was 4 spicy (my choice of spicy or mild) tamales covered in a saucy chili and topped with cheese and pico de gallo. with a few black beans and corn kernels sprinkled on top. It was served in styrofoam take-​out tray. Super awesome good.
The tamales are typical Mississippi Delta style (though I think they use masa harina instead of the coarser ground meal), 3″ long and quarter size diameter, real corn husks, juicy, with the right amount of pork fat in the sauce. The spicy ones had a few black beans and corn kernels and flecks of hot peppers mixed in.(Not Delta typical. the lady behind the counter said this was her Southwestern style batch… ohh man they were good. oh yeah. the tamales were offered with a wicked roasted tomato black pepper salsa.
The mild were very good too. These did not have the corn and pepper flakes in them… as good as any I have had on the Tamale Trail.
They also have tacos, quesadillas, and chicken. Something I’ll try after a few more tamale indulgences.
They really know how to put flavors together here. Cannot wait to go back!

Pork tamales and tamale pie are so good. Owners said they will soon start to deliver. Also beer on tap. I haven’t tried that yet. XD