These Mexican wraps have been around for centuries. Where to eat tamales in Lexington
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lexington restaurants form an unofficial Tamale Trail listing local vendors.
- Tamales trace to ancient Aztec practice; masa wraps diverse savory and sweet fillings.
- Menu prices vary widely; many spots sell tamales a la carte or in combos.
We love tacos. Americans eat an estimated 4.5 billion of them each year.
But what about tamales?
It’s unclear how many are consumed annually in the U.S. but they are traditionally associated with special occasions such as festivals, Christmas, New Years, or Día de los Muertos.
Tamales or tamals – whose name comes from the Nahuatl word tamalli, meaning “wrapped,” took off in the United States after they were introduced at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.
Tamales can be traced back to between 8,000 and 5,000 BC in the Aztec empire in ancient Mexico. They were the perfect portable meal for travelers, hunters, and warriors as they could be transported and eaten easily in the field.
The Aztecs are said to have also offered tamales to their gods during sacred religious ceremonies and used them in ritual sacrifices.
Tamales are generally made from a thin layer of cornmeal dough called masa, stuffed, and wrapped in a corn husk or sometimes banana or plantain leaves, then steamed.
At the heart of the tamale, the filling, there can be pretty much anything. Beef or pork are two of the most popular fillings. Other fillings can include chicken, cheese, potatoes, dried fruits, vegetables, various chili-based sauces, seafood, black beans, or even sweet options such as pineapple and cream cheese.
Tip: If you have never eaten a tamale, be sure to remove the corn husk. Tamales need to be unwrapped.
If you are craving the taste of authentic tamales or want to try one, here is a list of local restaurants that serve the dish in Lexington.
Lexington restaurants with tamales on the menu
910 Beaumont Centre Pkwy.
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Telephone: 859-368-7779
Online: campestre.com
Tamales on the menu: Available on the make-your-own menu, served with rice and beans. Also available a la carte.
122 W. Maxwell St., 3031 Richmond Rd., or 4101 Tates Creek Centre Dr.
Hours: Sunday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Telephone: 859-303-6488 (Maxwell St.), 859-253-0253 (Richmond Rd.), 859-286-9980 (Tates Creek)
Online: cincodemayoky.com
Tamales on the menu: Two homemade tamales topped with red ranchero sauce, served with rice and beans.
Corto Lima
101 W. Short St.
Hours: Sunday-Monday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., closed on Tuesday.
Telephone: 859-317-8796
Online: cortolima.com
Tamales on the menu: Fresh ground masa, barrel-smoked pork and salsa verde.
2304 Versailles Road
Hours: Wednesday-Monday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Telephone: 859-260-8925
Online: Facebook.com/RestauranteClamatos
Tamales on the menu: Available al a carte.
Cocina El Sabor Jarocho
1416 Village Dr.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Tuesday.
Telephone: 859-255-7091
Tamales on the menu: Banana Leaf Tamales.
185 Pasadena Dr.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Telephone: 859-368-8931
Online: facebook.com/deliciasicecrea
Tamales on the menu: Available a la carte, choice of chicken or cheese with jalapeños.
El Asadero Bar & Grill
144 Rojay Dr.
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Telephone: 859-785-1501
Online: lexington.elasaderobargrill.com
Tamales on the menu: Pork tamales are available as a combo option or a la carte topped with ground beef, beans, cheese and sauce, stuffed with chicken meat.
4371 Old Harrodsburg Rd., 3090 Helmsdale Pl., 561 S. Broadway
Hours: Old Harrodsburg & Helmsdale Pl.: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; South Broadway: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., closed Sunday
Telephone: 859-219-0200 (Old Harrodsburg), 859-368-9553 (Helmsdale Pl.), 859-309-0565 (S. Broadway
Online: elcharrolex.com
Tamales on the menu: Pork tamale available as a combination dinner or as a pick three option. Also available a la carte.
2369 Richmond Rd.
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Telephone: 859-335-4995
Online: eljefemexicangrillky.com
Tamales on the menu: Pork tamales are a combo option, or a la carte.
El Rancho Tapatio
144 Burt Road
Hours: Monday-Sunday 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Telephone: 859-373-9091
Online: elranchotapatio.com
Tamales on the menu: Cooked corn dough filled with marinated green chicken or red pork wrapped in a banana leaf.
115 N. Locust Hill Dr.
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.-9 p.m.
Telephone: 859-523-6276
Online: hola-havana.com
Tamales on the menu: Cuban Tamal Meat are made of seasoned corn dough wrapped in corn leaves and steamed, topped with Cuban roasted pork and mojo.
Mama Tequila
367 W. Short St.
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursday-Sunday 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m.
Telephone: 859-317-8845
Online: mamatequilarestaurant.com
Tamales on the menu: Cooked corn dough filled with either chicken and green sauce or pork and savory red sauce.
Maria’s Mexican Cuisine
1079 E. New Circle Road
Hours: Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Telephone: 859-621-0373
Online: Facebook.com/Marias.Mex.Cuisine
Tamales on the menu: Established in 2014 and formerly known as Farm Market—and a top spot for cheap eats, Maria’s is legendary in Lexington for its tamales. The iconic sign on New Circle Road notes, “The best tamales in town.” There are five options, chicken, pork, beef, cheese, or beans.
903 Manchester St.
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Closed Monday.
Telephone: 859-785-2344
Online: mazuntebodega.com
Tamales on the menu: Chicken tamales in a corn husk with rajas and salsa verde; or pork in a banana leaf with mole; or cheese in a corn husk with poblanos and salsa verde.
Mi Pequena Hacienda
3501 Lansdowne Dr. and 110 Cynthia Dr. in Nicholasville
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Telephone: 859-245-4679
Online: mipequenahacienda.com
Tamales on the menu: Pork tamales served with rice and beans.
3901 Harrodsburg Rd., 1988 Stockton Way and 818 Euclid Ave.
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. for Palomar; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily for Citation; Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday noon to 9 p.m. and closed Monday for Euclid
Telephone: 859-523-2806
Online: papislex.com
Tamales on the menu: Two tamales made by hand, in-house. Choice of chicken, pork, or queso fresco and poblanos. Covered in cheese sauce and served with rice and black beans.
3280 Eagle View Ln.
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Telephone: 859-263-2225
Online: pepemexicanrestaurant.com
Tamales on the menu: Enchilada and Tamale, topped with red sauce, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream, served with rice and beans. Also available a la carte, pork or veggie.
4750 Hartland Parkway
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Telephone: 859-447-8001
Online: pepperslexington.com
Tamales on the menu: Available as a lunch special, one tamal and one taco, served with rice and beans; or a la carte.
2573 Richmond Road and 400 Old Vine Street
Hours: Monday-Sunday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Telephone: 859-303-8557 (Richmond Rd.), 859-286-9835 (Old Vine)
Online: vivamexicolex.com
Tamales on the menu: Three chicken tamales served with rice and guacamole salad.
Rob Bolson is a freelance writer residing in Lexington, Kentucky, who writes about food and culture. Follow him on Instagram at @robbiebolson.