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

• $599,000 5307 Avenue H #A
  Austin, TX
• $375,000 107 W 55 1/2 ST
  Austin, TX
• $410,000 5308 Evans AVE
  Austin, TX
• $320,000 5605 Bennett AVE #A
  Austin, TX
• $299,888 909 Reinli #104
  Austin, TX
• $569,000 502 W 51st ST #B
  Austin, TX
• $330,000 506 W 51st ST #B
  Austin, TX
• $849,900 306 Nelray BLVD
  Austin, TX
• $600,000 5012 Rowena
  Austin, TX
• $1,100,000 705 Nelray BLVD
  Austin, TX
• $499,900 4612 Connelly ST
  Austin, TX
• $299,000 921 E 49th ST
  Austin, TX
• $599,000 5411 Bennett AVE
  Austin, TX
• $385,000 5317 Harmon AVE
  Austin, TX
• $498,000 911 E 54th ST
  Austin, TX
• $549,000 205 Nelray BLVD #B
  Austin, TX
• $549,000 205 Nelray BLVD #A
  Austin, TX
• $374,000 5211 Evans AVE
  Austin, TX
• $425,000 5213 Evans AVE
  Austin, TX
• $394,999 608 Genard ST #A
  Austin, TX
• $615,000 5102 Martin AVE #1
  Austin, TX
• $975,000 5513 Avenue H
  Austin, TX
• $679,000 5114 Avenue F
  Austin, TX
• $300,000 300 W 55th ST
  Austin, TX
• $539,900 1004 E 49th ST
  Austin, TX

5307 Avenue H #A
Austin, TX

$599,000

Lot Size

N/A

---

Home Size

1,462 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

107 W 55 1/2 ST
Austin, TX

$375,000

Lot Size

6,622 sqft

---

Home Size

920 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

5308 Evans AVE
Austin, TX

$410,000

Lot Size

6,099 sqft

---

Home Size

1,071 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

5605 Bennett AVE #A
Austin, TX

$320,000

Lot Size

N/A

---

Home Size

830 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

909 Reinli #104
Austin, TX

$299,888

Lot Size

N/A

---

Home Size

1,260 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

502 W 51st ST #B
Austin, TX

$569,000

Lot Size

3,877 sqft

---

Home Size

1,715 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

506 W 51st ST #B
Austin, TX

$330,000

Lot Size

N/A

---

Home Size

995 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

306 Nelray BLVD
Austin, TX

$849,900

Lot Size

6,578 sqft

---

Home Size

2,306 sqft

---

Beds

4 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

5012 Rowena
Austin, TX

$600,000

Lot Size

7,885 sqft

---

Home Size

1,346 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

705 Nelray BLVD
Austin, TX

$1,100,000

Lot Size

8,364 sqft

---

Home Size

3,861 sqft

---

Beds

N/A

---

Baths

N/A

---

4612 Connelly ST
Austin, TX

$499,900

Lot Size

6,317 sqft

---

Home Size

1,424 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

921 E 49th ST
Austin, TX

$299,000

Lot Size

5,881 sqft

---

Home Size

904 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

5411 Bennett AVE
Austin, TX

$599,000

Lot Size

11,631 sqft

---

Home Size

2,293 sqft

---

Beds

4 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

5317 Harmon AVE
Austin, TX

$385,000

Lot Size

6,012 sqft

---

Home Size

1,080 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

911 E 54th ST
Austin, TX

$498,000

Lot Size

5,925 sqft

---

Home Size

1,369 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

205 Nelray BLVD #B
Austin, TX

$549,000

Lot Size

8,669 sqft

---

Home Size

1,627 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

205 Nelray BLVD #A
Austin, TX

$549,000

Lot Size

8,669 sqft

---

Home Size

1,613 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

5211 Evans AVE
Austin, TX

$374,000

Lot Size

N/A

---

Home Size

728 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

5213 Evans AVE
Austin, TX

$425,000

Lot Size

N/A

---

Home Size

984 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

608 Genard ST #A
Austin, TX

$394,999

Lot Size

7,580 sqft

---

Home Size

1,025 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

5102 Martin AVE #1
Austin, TX

$615,000

Lot Size

3,921 sqft

---

Home Size

1,559 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

5513 Avenue H
Austin, TX

$975,000

Lot Size

6,099 sqft

---

Home Size

2,483 sqft

---

Beds

4 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

5114 Avenue F
Austin, TX

$679,000

Lot Size

5,968 sqft

---

Home Size

1,685 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

300 W 55th ST
Austin, TX

$300,000

Lot Size

7,406 sqft

---

Home Size

1,222 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

1004 E 49th ST
Austin, TX

$539,900

Lot Size

7,231 sqft

---

Home Size

1,676 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

• 5307 Avenue H #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $599,000
  Lot Size

  N/A

  ---

  Home Size

  1,462 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 107 W 55 1/2 ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $375,000
  Lot Size

  6,622 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  920 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 5308 Evans AVE
  Austin, TX
  

  $410,000
  Lot Size

  6,099 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,071 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 5605 Bennett AVE #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $320,000
  Lot Size

  N/A

  ---

  Home Size

  830 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 909 Reinli #104
  Austin, TX
  

  $299,888
  Lot Size

  N/A

  ---

  Home Size

  1,260 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 502 W 51st ST #B
  Austin, TX
  

  $569,000
  Lot Size

  3,877 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,715 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 506 W 51st ST #B
  Austin, TX
  

  $330,000
  Lot Size

  N/A

  ---

  Home Size

  995 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 306 Nelray BLVD
  Austin, TX
  

  $849,900
  Lot Size

  6,578 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  2,306 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  4 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 5012 Rowena
  Austin, TX
  

  $600,000
  Lot Size

  7,885 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,346 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 705 Nelray BLVD
  Austin, TX
  

  $1,100,000
  Lot Size

  8,364 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  3,861 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  N/A

  ---

  Baths

  N/A

  ---

• 4612 Connelly ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $499,900
  Lot Size

  6,317 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,424 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 921 E 49th ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $299,000
  Lot Size

  5,881 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  904 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 5411 Bennett AVE
  Austin, TX
  

  $599,000
  Lot Size

  11,631 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  2,293 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  4 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 5317 Harmon AVE
  Austin, TX
  

  $385,000
  Lot Size

  6,012 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,080 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 911 E 54th ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $498,000
  Lot Size

  5,925 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,369 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 205 Nelray BLVD #B
  Austin, TX
  

  $549,000
  Lot Size

  8,669 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,627 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 205 Nelray BLVD #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $549,000
  Lot Size

  8,669 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,613 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 5211 Evans AVE
  Austin, TX
  

  $374,000
  Lot Size

  N/A

  ---

  Home Size

  728 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 5213 Evans AVE
  Austin, TX
  

  $425,000
  Lot Size

  N/A

  ---

  Home Size

  984 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 608 Genard ST #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $394,999
  Lot Size

  7,580 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,025 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 5102 Martin AVE #1
  Austin, TX
  

  $615,000
  Lot Size

  3,921 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,559 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 5513 Avenue H
  Austin, TX
  

  $975,000
  Lot Size

  6,099 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  2,483 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  4 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 5114 Avenue F
  Austin, TX
  

  $679,000
  Lot Size

  5,968 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,685 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 300 W 55th ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $300,000
  Lot Size

  7,406 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,222 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 1004 E 49th ST
  Austin, TX
  

  $539,900
  Lot Size

  7,231 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,676 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

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