Decline of Tamales on Menus: Labor-Intensive Process Affects Popularity

Tamales used to be a common dish on Mexican restaurant menus in the U.S., found alongside tacos and burritos. But fewer restaurants offer tamales now. Menu presence has declined by 7.8% over the past five years, according to Technomic’s Ignite Menu data from 2021 to 2026.

The time and labor required are major reasons. Robert Mahon, director of operations for Mahon Hospitality Group, manages Amor Loco and Toro Loco in New York City. While he personally enjoys tamales, the effort to prepare them doesn’t always make sense financially. “Even though ingredients might not be so costly, the labor involved is significant,” he explains.

At Taquería Picoso in Alexandria, Virginia, chef Elio Gomez maintains tamales on the menu. Preparing tamales at his restaurant is a complex, multiday process. They source corn from Mexico, cook it using nixtamalization, grind it into masa, and prepare fillings and banana leaves. The masa is mixed with fat, broth, and salt, aerated for the right consistency, then assembled and cooked.

Training for tamales is intensive. Gomez trained an employee for months before they were ready to make them correctly. Despite the effort, demand remains lower than for more popular items like tacos: “It’s not the same demand as a taco,” Gomez notes. In Mahon’s restaurants, tamales are not essential: “They’re not walking out of our restaurants if we don’t serve tamales,” says Mahon.

Price adds another challenge. Gomez charges $6 per tamale, which is inexpensive considering the labor. However, some diners remember cheaper versions. For Gomez, tamales evoke memories of Mexico City, where they were a staple breakfast item sold by street vendors.

Today, tamales in the U.S. are more of a special occasion food, connected to holidays and family events. “You feel like you’re getting a hug when you’re eating a tamal,” Gomez says, capturing the comforting nature of the dish.

Peter Burke, a lifestyle editor at Fox News Digital, focuses on topics like food and drink.