Winner: Tellez Tamales & Barbacoa

Multiple locations, (210) 433-1367

With two locations in San Antonio (1802 Bandera Road and 1737 S. General McMullen Drive), Tellez is a perennial favorite for tamales and barbacoa alike. This year's voters were likely wooed by the sprawling Willy Wonka factory vibes of the Bandera location that's lined with 2-liter bottles of Big Red. Stop by early in the morning for a dozen tamales or a pound of barbacoa just like you like it, and don't forget the fixin's — fresh pico, salsa, jalapenos and chunky guac. Don't sleep in, though. The holidays mean early morning campouts to score your orders of corn husk-wrapped tamalitos available in pork, chicken or jalapeño pork.

Barbacoa

2. Rios Barbacoa

Multiple locations, facebook.com/riosbarbacoa

3. Pico De Gallo Restaurant

111 S. Leona St., (210) 225-6060, picodegallo.com