Tamale Factory And Tequila - Durham

I really enjoyed this restaurant. It's definitely pricier than many other Mexican places, but the attention to detail in the food is evident. If you're expecting something like Torreros, this is a more upscale option, and you definitely pay for that quality. The service is incredibly friendly and welcoming, which adds to the experience. The atmosphere is cozy, but getting there can be a bit of a hassle due to its location on the side of the building and the lack of parking. If you're not familiar with the area, it might be challenging to find. They also need to address the floor during rainy weather, as it poses a slip hazard. That said, the food is quite good and I felt it was worth the price. The pinto beans were among the best I've ever had, and while I'm not a tamale expert, I found them to be great as well. We loved nearly everything we ordered, except for the corn appetizer, which was just okay.

The decor is charming, the service is exceptional, and the quesadillas are the best I've ever tasted. The tamales are absolutely delicious as well. The frozen margaritas were fantastic too. I can't believe I didn't find this hidden gem sooner!

Let me start by saying they serve the most authentic tamales I've had west of Colorado—definitely try the Swiss chard one if you're vegetarian! Their Mexican street corn is fantastic, too! One evening, the owner whipped up a mole sauce and prepared enchiladas for us, even though it wasn't on the menu—so good! During our last visit, I had the skirt steak, perfectly cooked to medium rare and incredibly tender, almost like butter. And don't miss the churros, which are heavenly. All their cocktails are handcrafted, including their homemade margarita mix. My favorite so far has been the frozen mango margarita, and the selection of tequila is one of the best I've seen in a long time. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the owner, Margariette, is usually around, either engaging with guests or personally cooking for them. You can genuinely tell she cares deeply about her craft and has a real passion for the food she serves. The majority of reviews for this restaurant online are overwhelmingly positive. There are a few, very few, complaints about prices, often accompanied by unrelated grievances about the food. Here’s the thing: this is not your typical cheap, Americanized Mexican chain restaurant or a fajita place. You won't be filled up on unlimited chips and canned tomato salsa. It’s not a grocery store or a taco truck, so don't expect to be standing in a parking lot or eating in your car. While I love food trucks, carts, and street vendors, Tamale Factory is a distinctly different experience, and the prices should reflect that. It’s a locally-owned, chef-driven upscale restaurant that sources ingredients carefully. I’ve become friends with the chef/owner, and having been a professional chef for 20 years myself, I can personally vouch for the quality of the ingredients and the attention given to the preparation and presentation of each dish. High-end Mexican cuisine is a focus of my personal style, and I can affirm the authenticity and flavor of the meals I’ve enjoyed here. That said, I find the few negative reviews to be quite absurd and not worth considering for anyone seeking a great meal and experience. When I read comments like "the food was far from edible," I can’t help but wonder if that person has ever actually dined at this restaurant. If they have, I wouldn't trust any of their other reviews. Complaining about the food being expensive and insisting that taco trucks or grocery store fare are more authentic often sounds like, "I only know taco trucks and believe everything should be like that because that’s the only authentic experience I accept." To criticize the flavor and price while being dishonest about your meal’s nature is just wrong. For example, I personally enjoyed the beef tamale and corn combination for lunch. The tamale is packed with beef, the masa is made in-house (not instant), and it’s topped with house-made ranchero sauce, crema, and imported Oaxacan cheese—delicious! The corn is fresh off the cob and seasoned with garlic, cilantro, and epazote. Do you even know what that is? If not, then you might not understand the essence of authentic Mexican cuisine. You paid $24 for that? That’s a $4 tamale, and the corn is $3—so that totals $7. Where does the $24 come from? I have to call out that review as well! As for anyone leaving a one-star review, I'd like to hear every little detail about your terrible experience. Did you tell a manager, the owner, or a server about your issues and receive no help? If you didn’t do that, then you’re just attempting to unjustly damage the business’s reputation.

I haven’t eaten here but the cocktails are great! I’m a big fan of mezcal and I rarely see it anywhere outside of Mexico. This place has three different kinds! Classic cocktails, seasonal cocktails and tequilas straight up or with a sangrita chaser. Mexican fare and outdoor seating.

Relatively new restaurant that specializes in tamales and tequila 2 of my favorite food groups. We got to the restaurant on the late side and as it was nice outside we sat in the patio. The margarita I had was tasty and we enjoyed the tamales and tostada. Also had the chicharrones which were very nice and besides which how can you go wrong with fried pork skin?! Churros were pretty good, but not as good as those from Cocoa Cinnamon. Parking is not difficult and service was very friendly. Would like to go back to sample more tequila.