The Annual Fiesta de Tamales, held at the rear of Hillsboro’s sM&M Marketplace, filled the air with both sweet and savory scents as food vendors displayed their distinctive tamales, ranging from fiery meat-packed ones to sweet pineapple and elote (corn) selections. A team of judges assessed entries based on flavor as dozens of spectators tried samples and voted for their favorites by dropping beans into jars. Jaime Miranda started the event seven years ago to honor local food, and it has since expanded into a significant fundraiser for the Hillsboro Schools Foundation, with this year’s tamal sales bringing in over $8,000 for the organization.
The thriving tamal culture in Hillsboro is a testament to Washington County’s diverse cultural background. You can obtain tasty and fresh tamales somewhere besides Hillsboro.
According to Miranda, there is an increasing demand for tamales. They’re being embraced. In the region, I see a lot more food trucks and eateries serving tamales.
The Tualatin Valley Highway (formerly known as Oregon 8) passes directly through some of the most diversified areas in the Portland metropolitan area from Beaverton to Cornelius. Finding some of our favorite tamales, we rode down this path.
These are just a few examples of the delicious tamales you may enjoy both on and off the same route.
Taqueria La Chabelita
A huge menu printed with everything you would need to sate your thirst for real Mexican food can be found in the back of this tiny market. We chose the masa and sweet corn-filled elote tamal, which was delivered with queso and crema on the side. We advise you to wear these necessary accessories.
La Chabelita Taqueria: 13375 S.W. Henry St., Beaverton; 8 a.m.–9 p.m. everyday; lachabelita.com
An elote tamal was served with crema and queso on the side at La Chabelita Taqueria.Profenna Chiara
Camila’s Mexican Cuisine
Across from the Manila Market parking lot in Aloha is a modest black food truck decked out in bright colorful flowers. The location of yet another noteworthy tamal highway halt. From their mobile kitchen, Camila’s Mexican Food serves a range of classic tamales, such as rajas con queso (peppers with cheese) and pollo con salsa verde (chicken with green salsa). They also served a nice pineapple tamale while we were there. When placing your order, it’s a good idea to inquire about the available flavors as some are subject to change.
Camila’s Mexican Food: 3645 S.W. Elliott Place, Beaverton; open daily from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Instagram: @camilas.mexicanfood.
We sampled the dulce pi a tamales, rajas con queso, and pollo with salsa verse at Camila’s Mexican Food.Profenna Chiara
Pupuseria Delicias
Delicias Pupuseria serves tamales with flavors from El Salvador and gives a distinctive twist on the traditional dishes, such as tamales chipil n, which we couldn’t locate at any other place. Chipil n, a leafy green vegetable indigenous to Mexico and Central America, is infused into the masa that encases the beans inside these classic Salvadoran tamales. The blend produces a unique flavor that is reminiscent of spinach. Elote tamales and chicken are also on the menu.
Delicias Pupuseria is located at 3460 S.W. 185th Ave., Suite A, Aloha, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Delicias Pupuseria on Facebook.
Traditional Salvadoran tamales are served at Delicias Pupuseria. We sampled the elote and chipil n tamales.Profenna Chiara
The Tamal Express
Tamal Express, a local favorite for fresh tamales, is located less than a mile west of Delicias Pupuseria. This family-run food truck, located inside the Aloha Food Cartspod, specializes in a range of tamales, such as pi a de dulce (sweet pineapple), rojo con puerco (pork with red salsa), queso con jalape o (cheese with jalape os), and verde con pollo (chicken with green salsa). Try the delicious pineapple tamal, which is naturally colored with crushed strawberries and wrapped in brilliant pink masa. It is loaded with coconut and raisins and is a very remarkable dessert.
Tamal Express: 20001 S.W. Tualatin Valley Hwy., Aloha; @tamalexpressllcon Instagram; 6:30 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday–Saturday and 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday.
In Aloha, Tamal Express is a well-liked location. We sampled pi a de dulce and tamales verde with pollo.Profenna Chiara
The Market in Yesenia
You may find tamales at this popular meat market and bakery in Hillsboro, which is located past Aloha. They serve freshly prepared tamales in a number of varieties, such as tamales de elote, chicken with green salsa, cheese, and peppers, and pork with red salsa. Consumers can browse the back for pre-portioned bags of tamales that are ready to be taken home or visit the store to place large purchases.
Yesenia’s Market, located at 1075 S.E. Baseline St., Hillsboro, is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Read more: Five Worthy Mexican Dining Options in Downtown Hillsboro (or a journey on the MAX Blue Line)
The M&M Marketplace
We couldn’t overlook the location of the Annual Fiesta de Tamales, of course. Hillsboro’s M&M Marketplace serves as a gathering spot for Latino business owners. Stalls offering everything from leather products to fruit cups and fresh tacos may be found within. Nine tamale makers with a variety of flavors and styles participated in this year’s tournament. The market offers almost any filling, including Salvadoran pork tamales, this year’s tamal winner. These tamales from Pupuseria Gladis were the obvious winner, taking first place in both the people’s choice and judge’s choice polls.
M&M Marketplace: 346 S.W. Walnut St., Hillsboro; 2–8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Saturday; mandmmarketplace.com
The Annual Fiesta de Tamales at M&M Marketplace gave guests a sampling of tamales from nine different producers.Profenna Chiara
Aguilar Pollos
During the winter months, this food truck, which specializes in charbroiled chicken, expands its menu to include tamales. A vegetarian version with cheese and jalapeños is also available, as are chicken tamales with either red or green salsa.
Pollos Aguilar: 3146 E. Baseline St., Cornelius; grilledchickencornelius.com; Wednesday–Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
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Chiara Profenna discusses faith, religion, and cultural ties. You may contact her at [email protected] or @chiara-profenna on BlueSky, or 503-221-4327.
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