A hot skillet of cheese tamales with grilled steak is one way to start at Tamale Co. in Orlando, Florida. The Hourglass menu also has a plate that pairs chicken and pork tamales, handy when you want to try two fillings in one order.
Fernando and Jennifer Tamayo started serving tamales from a food truck in 2012. The Hourglass dining room has a personality of its own, with lucha libre masks on display and a Frida Kahlo mirror tucked away in the restroom.
The hardest part is settling on a first order. That’s a good excuse to bring someone who’s willing to split a plate.
A Food Truck Dream That Grew Into A Neighborhood Favorite
Chefs Fernando and Jennifer Tamayo started Tamale Co. Mexican Street Food as a food truck in 2012.
Their first permanent location opened in Altamonte Springs in 2017, followed by the Hourglass restaurant on Cinco de Mayo in 2019.
The Tamayos brought their food-truck favorites to Hourglass and expanded the menu with more Mexican street food. Today, tacos, quesadillas, and tostadas share space with the tamales that started it all.
By March 2025, Tamale Co. had opened its College Park restaurant on Edgewater Drive. Reporting that year also described the food trucks serving at farmers markets and noted that the company’s dishes had reached the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT.k.
The Tamale Lineup Is Bigger Than You Expect
Chicken in green salsa. Beef in red sauce.
Pork in green or red salsa. Those classics alone would make most tamale fans happy.
Rajas con queso brings chile and cheese together, while chipotle BBQ chicken adds a smoky option. If you’re curious about chicharrón, look for the Chicharron Elote on the appetizer menu.
Bean and cheese tamales are on the list, too. Vegetarian and vegan tamales give plant-based eaters real options instead of an afterthought.
That makes group orders a lot easier to plan.
Named plates help you narrow it down. The Most Mexican Tamales pairs chicken and pork together.
Dos Amigos Tamales brings two chicken tamales to the table.
Chorizo Tamales feature cheese tamales topped with chorizo. The Chile Relleno Tamale mixes Chihuahua cheese, grilled poblano peppers, and caramelized onions.
Honestly, that last one sounds like a whole dinner tucked into corn husk.
A smart plan for a first visit is ordering a few different plates to share. Everyone at the table gets to taste more than one filling.
You’ll leave with a favorite and probably a list for next time.
Steak And Cheese Turn A Tamale Into A Showstopper
The Hourglass menu on Toast describes the Carne Asada Tamales as two cheese tamales topped with grilled steak and served on a hot skillet. Spicy habanero salsa brings the heat, while pickled red onions and grilled nopales add a tangy bite.
These tamales mix two Mexican favorites into one plate. Carne asada usually shows up in tacos or burritos.
Here, it teams up with soft masa and melty cheese instead.
Tamale Co. Mexican Street Food built its name on creative tamales like this one.
It still respects tradition, but it isn’t afraid to play around. That balance keeps the menu fun without feeling gimmicky.
Steak fans should put this near the top of their list. Pair it with Mexican rice and black refried beans for a fuller plate.
Those sides round things out nicely.
Not into beef? No problem at all.
The chicken, pork, and veggie tamales give you plenty of other directions to go.
Still, the Carne Asada Tamales are a great example of what this kitchen does well. They take a familiar food and make it feel new.
That’s a pretty good reason to pull up a chair.
Save Room For Cinnamon-Sugar Churros
If there’s room for one more plate after the tamales, look for the cinnamon-sugar churros. The Hourglass menu lists them with caramel for dipping.
Set the plate in the middle of the table so everyone can have a bite.
Sweet tamales are a real tradition in Mexican cooking, though plenty of people have never tried one. They make a fun surprise if your experience stops at savory fillings.
Think of them as a cozy, fruity treat wrapped in masa.
Tamale Co. Mexican Street Food gives these sweeter versions a proper spot on the lineup.
That’s part of what makes the menu stand out in Orlando. You can build a whole meal, dessert included, without leaving tamale territory.
Churros are also available if you want a more classic finish. Crispy, sugary, and easy to share, they’re hard to argue with.
Kids especially might lean that way.
Here’s a sneaky tip for curious eaters. Order one savory tamale and one sweet tamale to compare.
It’s a simple way to see how wide this food really goes.
Bring the sweet ones home, too, if you’re on the fence. Your future self will appreciate that little gift.
Breakfast Gets A Tamale Upgrade On Sunday Mornings
Sunday is the only day Tamale Co. opens at 10 AM. That earlier start pairs perfectly with a breakfast menu built for hungry mornings.
The Tamale Sunrise is the name to remember. It brings tamales into breakfast in a way that feels both playful and filling.
Eggs and tamales make a surprisingly natural team.
Then there’s the Tamale Sandwich Guajolota. A guajolota is a famous Mexico City street snack that puts a tamale inside bread.
Yes, it’s a tamale sandwich, and yes, that’s real.
Huevos Rancheros round out the breakfast lineup for anyone wanting a classic. It’s a reliable choice when you want something familiar.
Everyone at the table can find a lane.
Tamale Co. Mexican Street Food serves from breakfast through dinner.
That means you’re not stuck choosing between brunch and tamales. You get both, which is the correct answer.
Weekday hours start at 11 AM, so plan around that. Sunday closes at 6 PM, a bit earlier than other days.
A late brunch there could easily become your new weekend ritual.
Street Food Favorites Keep The Whole Table Happy
Not everyone in your group may be a tamale person. Somehow, that’s okay here, because the rest of the menu brings serious backup.
Mexican street corn, called elotes, shows up as an appetizer. Mole fries take a classic side and give it a rich, savory twist.
Both are easy to pass around the table.
Jenny’s Special Dip deserves a shout, too. It layers black refried beans, white queso, and chorizo, served with chips.
The name hints at a personal touch from co-founder Jennifer Tamayo.
Birria quesatacos fill the taco side of things with cheesy goodness. Street tacos, quesadillas, and tostadas are also on the menu.
Fajitas cover the sizzling main-dish crowd.
For sides, Mexican rice and black refried beans keep plates hearty. They’re simple, comforting, and pair with nearly everything.
Nobody complains about extra beans.
So bring the friend who only eats tacos. Bring the cousin who always orders quesadillas.
Tamale Co. Mexican Street Food makes room for everybody, and maybe one of them leaves as a tamale convert.
Cool Down With Horchata And Hibiscus
Florida heat practically demands a cold drink. The drink list here leans into classic Mexican flavors that feel made for sunny afternoons.
Horchata is a creamy, cinnamon-kissed favorite. Agua de jamaica brings a bright, tangy hibiscus flavor with a deep red color.
Both are traditional aguas frescas you’ll find across Mexico.
Then there’s the limeade with chia seeds. Those tiny seeds add a fun texture to every sip.
It’s refreshing in a way that feels a little unexpected.
Jarritos Mexican sodas come in a rainbow of flavors. Mexican Coke is available, too, for anyone who loves that classic glass-bottle style.
Kids usually get excited about the soda colors alone.
Pairing matters more than people think. A spicy plate feels calmer next to horchata.
A rich, cheesy tamale gets a nice lift from hibiscus.
Tamale Co. Mexican Street Food treats drinks as part of the experience, not a throwaway.
Try one you’ve never had before. That small risk could turn into your new standing order.
Lucha Libre Masks And A Frida Mirror Set The Mood
Colorful lucha libre masks bring wrestling-ring energy to the walls. Even the restroom gets attention, thanks to a Frida Kahlo mirror.
The interior blends modern style with traditional Mexican touches. Bright colors and thoughtful details give the space a warm, lively feel.
It’s the kind of room that makes phones come out before forks.
Seating works a few different ways. You can grab a table inside or head out to the patio.
On a pleasant Florida evening, outdoor seating is a strong move.
The restaurant is part of an open-dining setup inside the Hourglass Social House. It shares that space with other businesses, including Foxtail Coffee.
That setup gives the place a busy, community-style buzz.
Families, date nights, and friend groups all seem to fit here. The decor feels festive without being over the top.
It sets a fun mood before your food even lands.
Tamale Co. Mexican Street Food clearly put care into how the space feels.
Take a minute to look around while you wait. Then go check out that mirror.
Plan Your Trip To The Hourglass District
Orlando means more than theme parks, and the Hourglass District proves it. This neighborhood along Curry Ford Road has a local, laid-back personality.
You’ll find Tamale Co. Mexican Street Food at 2411 Curry Ford Road, Suite B, Orlando, FL 32806.
It’s an easy stop if you’re exploring the city’s neighborhoods. It also works well as a break from busier tourist areas.
Hours run 11 AM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday stretch until 10 PM.
Sunday runs from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Short on time? Takeout and delivery are both available.
Frozen tamales are also sold, so you can stock your freezer for later.
Dietary needs get real attention here. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are on the menu.
If you have a food allergy or another dietary restriction, ask the staff about ingredients and preparation before ordering.
Florida has plenty of Mexican restaurants, but few put tamales front and center like this. One visit might not be enough.
Good thing those frozen tamales can ride home with you.