Keely N.

I haven't been to tamale boy in a while so here's a review of what we ordered: - chips and guac ($12.99): I felt like it was a bit expensive for the size of the guac. The chips were also cold and tasted stale. - spinach and mushroom taco ($4.99): this was my favorite mix. Generous filling with the mix of spinach and mushroom and guacamole. - vegetable tamale ($7.59): absolutely my favorite! very delicious and I would definitely get a tamale from now on. It was soft and flavorful.

Kait L.

I've tried the Queso Fundido, Tacos, Refried Beans, and Burrito Bowls. They have all been very tasty and are decently portioned. The staff have always been friendly and accommodating of requests. This restaurant is located inside of the Valley Public House behind the bar portion of the premises. Minors are only allowed in this portion of the Valley Public House upstairs. Great spot to get some Tamale Boy & beers.

Patrick D.

My brother took me here for my first experience. I've been wanting to come here for a while and I was not disappointed. The tamales a huge and they tasted so good. Minus half a star (rounded down) because I think the masa is part of the wholenexperience and it was a very thin layer that didn't add to the flavor at all. I return with my wife. She loved the ones I brought home and she's not as particular as me in this case. The food court was very clean and the ambiance was mellow. The staff was very friendly.

Tia J.

We stopped in this location because we could see the large signage for the "public house". I had in mind that it would be bar food type offerings, fried foods, sandwiches, possibly burgers... that's not what this place is. As we strolled around we found food pods, a lot like what you'd find in a mall food court. Tamale Boy was one of these as well as a pizza place and one other. Since we were starving we decided on Tamale Boy for our meal. The service here was great! Super friendly people and great customer service. The food was just ok though. We chose a salad and a chimichanga with an order of chips and guac. The chips and guac were the best part. The guac had great flavor. The salad and chimichanga weren't great. The rice served as a side wasn't good at all. Since tamale is in their name we might stop back in to try a variety of those and I'll update my review at that time.

William D.

16 dollars for a burrito with very little meat. Didn't come with any salsa at all. But a 1/4 filled cup of red onion? I love salsa. The fact that this came with ZERO?! Come on! Im using some stale cold Cholula from my fridge. Do better

Nikky B.

Came for late lunch looking for fresh tamale since I have been craving it since this summer and still haven't found a decent place in or around PDX. One key factor, in the last year or so most of the conferences and meetings I attended, the Tamale Boy was catering them. So I was hoping fresh tamale would be better. This Happy Valley location is located inside the Valley Public House in Happy Valley sharing space with Whiskey Barrel Lounge and Ranch Pizza. The Valley Public House turns 3 on October 28th, 2023. I don't know if Tamale Boy joined this shared space from the beginning. The portion of tamale is very generous, more than enough for two servings or to share with another person. For a non-Hispanic food lover like me, what I love and crave about tamale is the masa; this is the primary make-it-or-break-it for me! Unfortunately, both of the tamales I ordered the masa were bland and too little compared to the meat portion. The green sauce was what saved it for me to finish 1/3 of each tamale. If you prefer meat a lot more than masa in your tamale, then this is your place. Oaxaquenos Tamale-Cochinita Pibil, steamed in a banana leaf ($6): slow-roasted pork in citrus juices, achiote, and a variety of spices specialty of the state of Yucatan. The pork was too salty for my taste even with the citrus juice. Norteno Tamale-Tinga de Pollo, steamed in corn hush ($5.25): the chicken in this one had a bit more flavor and was much more enjoyable than the slow-roasted pork in the Cochinita Pibil. Again, as I mentioned above for both tamales, the masa had a very disappointing lack of flavor and portion. Tostadas De Ceviche GF-Seasonal Specials ($16): this was surprisingly a hit and saved it for me during my first visit here! I would definitely come back for this! Though it listed both tilapia and shrimp ceviche marinated in lime juice, which is what I prefer over a tomato base, there was noticeably more shrimp than tilapia in all three crispy tostadas. I could taste the marinated shrimp but couldn't say the same for the tilapia. Everything that came with this was well-seasoned and balanced in textures. Well Done, Tamale Boy! If you like lime-based ceviche, this is a must-get item! Platanos Fritos ($6): only 2.5 slides, too little for this price, and was over-fried for sure. The flavor was still good since the plantains were ripe with sweetness. It was not worth the money nor satisfied my dessert craving. Cafe Luna ($5): it was too sweet and too weak coffee for me, forgettable. Overall, prompt and friendly service! It is a much-needed addition to Happy Valley's growing eateries. Opens 7 days a week until 9:30 PM, except Sunday until 8:30 PM per Yelp's hours updated 3 months ago. P.Y. (Post Yelp): My own spin on giving a shout-out to place with Toilet Seat Covers! The shared restroom space is cleaned and well-stocked with toilet seat covers!

Billy F.

Tamale Boy is a local chain that makes some very good Mexican food. This location is way out in the suburbs of Happy Valley and part of a food hall where it shares a space with a few other restaurants (Ranch Pizza, Detroit style, is right next to it). You order at a counter, picks a table, plop down your number sign and food finds your way to you in a little bit. This location's food is about the same as any other location, really good. The tamales have a lot of masa, but are still wonderful and around $6-$7 each. The namesake is a good choice, but we like to balance it out with some other dishes. The rojas sauce is delightful and we also tried the fried brussels that were a little under-fried, but we'll seasoned with a bit of heat and bit of sweetness (mango). I like Ranch pizza, I like Tamale Boy. You can get some nice mixed drinks downstairs at the Whiskey Lounge. Beer is $7 from the beer place (whose name I never remember). Love the overall establishment, as long as it isn't too busy. Tamale boy is a great choice for quality Mexican food (the other is Yolotl, but it has fewer tables) at the end of suburbia in Happy Valley. Would recommend and come back somewhat regularly for date nights.

Ming H.

Everytime I go to Tamale Boy, I usually get the Burrito Del Mar, packed with fresh seafood, seasoned rice, and vibrant veggies. The flavors are well-balanced, and the portion size is generous. I love the white wine cream sauce underneath the burrito, the sauce is delicious. However, this time I also ordered chips and guacamole, and unfortunately the chips were a little stale, which was disappointing. But this casual relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff make it a nice spot for a casual meal. Despite the issue with the chips, the main dishes, especially the Burrito Del Mar, are worth trying.

Connor B.

Loved Tamale Boy and Valley Public House in Happy Valley! I got the vegetarian tamale, guacamole, and 2 tacos: cauliflower & a mushroom one. I was a big fan of the guacamole and will be getting it whenever I visit Valley public house again. The mushroom taco was good but I wish they put more filling. Cauliflower one was good too but I thought the mushroom one was tastier. The veggie tamale was very good and surprisingly juicy (no pics because I made a mess opening it). The employee who served us was also very cool and nice! Highly recommend.

Meagan N.

Let me preface this by saying it's more of a 3.5. I would recommend the tamale. It had great flavor and the ingredients tasted like quality. If I had just tried the tamale, I would've rated this place a 4. The sauce for the tamale was excellent too and the pickled onions were a great touch. Now for the Gordita, I wasn't a fan. It just felt like a pile of food that had no thought or flavor to it. I will definitely be returning for the tamales!