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.

2. Delicious Tamales

Multiple locations, delicioustamales.com

3. Ruben's Homemade Tamales

1807 Rigsby Ave., (210) 337-0025