In 1999, the Tamale House Fixed Austin’s Hangovers on Airport Boulevard

The Tamale House #3 on Airport Boulevard, shot in 1999. Image: YouTube

You’ll still find a Tamale House elsewhere in town, but the location most cherished by Austinites on Airport Boulevard was technically the restaurant’s third iteration — though in our experience most people eating there didn’t have a firm understanding of why the sign had a #3 at the end. Opened in 1977 and closed after the death of owner Robert Vasquez in 2014, the Tamale House was arguably one of the main players responsible for Austin’s city-wide affinity for the breakfast taco.

A street view of the Tamale House circa 2009, five years before it closed for good.

Documentarian Susannah Erler filmed the definitive history of the Tamale House #3 in 1999, and two decades later, its portrait of the city’s laid-back, pre-boom, possibly hung over population is one of Austin’s more profound ’90s cultural artifacts:

(h/t to Leyla Shams for sending this our way.)

North Loop homes for sale

• $475,000 928 E 53 1/2 ST #2
  Austin, TX
• $594,000 930 E 54th ST #B
  Austin, TX
• $595,000 930 E 54th ST #A
  Austin, TX
• $395,000 5705 AVENUE F
  Austin, TX
• $625,000 928 E 53 1/2 ST #1
  Austin, TX
• $525,000 948 E 53rd ST
  Austin, TX
• $1,217,000 406 Zennia ST
  Austin, TX
• $449,900 5403 Duval ST
  Austin, TX
• $2,490,000 600 Franklin BLVD
  Austin, TX
• $337,000 5710 Chesterfield AVE
  Austin, TX
• $415,000 201 W 55th ST
  Austin, TX
• $375,000 213 Franklin BLVD
  Austin, TX
• $225,000 909 Reinli #135
  Austin, TX
• $899,900 5015 Martin AVE
  Austin, TX
• $573,000 203 W 55th ST
  Austin, TX
• $569,000 103 E 52nd ST
  Austin, TX
• $405,000 4908 Rowena AVE #B
  Austin, TX
• $395,000 4908 Rowena AVE #A
  Austin, TX
• $699,900 5303 AVENUE G
  Austin, TX
• $949,000 5106 Avenue H
  Austin, TX
• $389,000 5302 Avenue H #B
  Austin, TX
• $500,000 1001 E 53rd ST
  Austin, TX
• $389,000 305 W 55 1/2 ST
  Austin, TX
• $594,000 5307 Avenue H #A
  Austin, TX
• $299,888 909 Reinli #104
  Austin, TX

928 E 53 1/2 ST #2
Austin, TX

$475,000

Lot Size

6,317 sqft

---

Home Size

936 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

930 E 54th ST #B
Austin, TX

$594,000

Lot Size

N/A

---

Home Size

2,228 sqft

---

Beds

4 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

930 E 54th ST #A
Austin, TX

$595,000

Lot Size

N/A

---

Home Size

2,228 sqft

---

Beds

5 Beds

---

Baths

4 Baths

---

5705 AVENUE F
Austin, TX

$395,000

Lot Size

6,839 sqft

---

Home Size

784 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

928 E 53 1/2 ST #1
Austin, TX

$625,000

Lot Size

6,317 sqft

---

Home Size

1,520 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

948 E 53rd ST
Austin, TX

$525,000

Lot Size

5,315 sqft

---

Home Size

2,350 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

406 Zennia ST
Austin, TX

$1,217,000

Lot Size

9,409 sqft

---

Home Size

3,528 sqft

---

Beds

N/A

---

Baths

N/A

---

5403 Duval ST
Austin, TX

$449,900

Lot Size

6,230 sqft

---

Home Size

922 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

600 Franklin BLVD
Austin, TX

$2,490,000

Lot Size

12,459 sqft

---

Home Size

5,748 sqft

---

Beds

N/A

---

Baths

N/A

---

5710 Chesterfield AVE
Austin, TX

$337,000

Lot Size

7,406 sqft

---

Home Size

784 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

201 W 55th ST
Austin, TX

$415,000

Lot Size

6,665 sqft

---

Home Size

966 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

213 Franklin BLVD
Austin, TX

$375,000

Lot Size

5,663 sqft

---

Home Size

744 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

909 Reinli #135
Austin, TX

$225,000

Lot Size

N/A

---

Home Size

914 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

5015 Martin AVE
Austin, TX

$899,900

Lot Size

6,055 sqft

---

Home Size

2,494 sqft

---

Beds

5 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

203 W 55th ST
Austin, TX

$573,000

Lot Size

6,622 sqft

---

Home Size

1,360 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

103 E 52nd ST
Austin, TX

$569,000

Lot Size

5,141 sqft

---

Home Size

1,248 sqft

---

Beds

N/A

---

Baths

N/A

---

4908 Rowena AVE #B
Austin, TX

$405,000

Lot Size

5,707 sqft

---

Home Size

862 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

4908 Rowena AVE #A
Austin, TX

$395,000

Lot Size

4,487 sqft

---

Home Size

862 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

5303 AVENUE G
Austin, TX

$699,900

Lot Size

6,534 sqft

---

Home Size

792 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

5106 Avenue H
Austin, TX

$949,000

Lot Size

6,186 sqft

---

Home Size

2,501 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

4 Baths

---

5302 Avenue H #B
Austin, TX

$389,000

Lot Size

6,142 sqft

---

Home Size

1,117 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

1001 E 53rd ST
Austin, TX

$500,000

Lot Size

11,283 sqft

---

Home Size

1,247 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

305 W 55 1/2 ST
Austin, TX

$389,000

Lot Size

6,534 sqft

---

Home Size

972 sqft

---

Beds

N/A

---

Baths

N/A

---

5307 Avenue H #A
Austin, TX

$594,000

Lot Size

N/A

---

Home Size

1,462 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

909 Reinli #104
Austin, TX

$299,888

Lot Size

N/A

---

Home Size

1,260 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

• 928 E 53 1/2 ST #2
  Austin, TX
  

  $475,000
  Lot Size

  6,317 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  936 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 930 E 54th ST #B
  Austin, TX
  

  $594,000
  Lot Size

  N/A

  ---

  Home Size

  2,228 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  4 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 930 E 54th ST #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $595,000
  Lot Size

  N/A

  ---

  Home Size

  2,228 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  5 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  4 Baths

  ---

• 5705 AVENUE F
  Austin, TX
  

  $395,000
  Lot Size

  6,839 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  784 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 928 E 53 1/2 ST #1
  Austin, TX
  

  $625,000
  Lot Size

  6,317 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,520 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 948 E 53rd ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $525,000
  Lot Size

  5,315 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  2,350 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 406 Zennia ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $1,217,000
  Lot Size

  9,409 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  3,528 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  N/A

  ---

  Baths

  N/A

  ---

• 5403 Duval ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $449,900
  Lot Size

  6,230 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  922 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 600 Franklin BLVD
  Austin, TX
  

  $2,490,000
  Lot Size

  12,459 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  5,748 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  N/A

  ---

  Baths

  N/A

  ---

• 5710 Chesterfield AVE
  Austin, TX
  

  $337,000
  Lot Size

  7,406 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  784 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 201 W 55th ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $415,000
  Lot Size

  6,665 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  966 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 213 Franklin BLVD
  Austin, TX
  

  $375,000
  Lot Size

  5,663 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  744 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 909 Reinli #135
  Austin, TX
  

  $225,000
  Lot Size

  N/A

  ---

  Home Size

  914 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 5015 Martin AVE
  Austin, TX
  

  $899,900
  Lot Size

  6,055 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  2,494 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  5 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 203 W 55th ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $573,000
  Lot Size

  6,622 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,360 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 103 E 52nd ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $569,000
  Lot Size

  5,141 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,248 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  N/A

  ---

  Baths

  N/A

  ---

• 4908 Rowena AVE #B
  Austin, TX
  

  $405,000
  Lot Size

  5,707 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  862 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 4908 Rowena AVE #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $395,000
  Lot Size

  4,487 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  862 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 5303 AVENUE G
  Austin, TX
  

  $699,900
  Lot Size

  6,534 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  792 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 5106 Avenue H
  Austin, TX
  

  $949,000
  Lot Size

  6,186 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  2,501 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  4 Baths

  ---

• 5302 Avenue H #B
  Austin, TX
  

  $389,000
  Lot Size

  6,142 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,117 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 1001 E 53rd ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $500,000
  Lot Size

  11,283 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,247 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 305 W 55 1/2 ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $389,000
  Lot Size

  6,534 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  972 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  N/A

  ---

  Baths

  N/A

  ---

• 5307 Avenue H #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $594,000
  Lot Size

  N/A

  ---

  Home Size

  1,462 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 909 Reinli #104
  Austin, TX
  

  $299,888
  Lot Size

  N/A

  ---

  Home Size

  1,260 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

Previous Next

 

Editor's Suggested Posts

Catching up with MTV's 'Austin Stories,' Nearly 20 Years Later

At Downtown Austin's Empty Post Office, the Wait Is Longer Than Usual

In Loving Memory: Downtown Austin's 'Golden Mirror'