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

• $2,325 702 FRANKLIN Boulevard #B
  Austin, TX
• $559,000 5702 Avenue G
  Austin, TX
• $559,000 200 E Skyview Road
  Austin, TX
• $1,800 401 W 55 1/2 Street #B
  Austin, TX
• $1,050 701 North Loop Boulevard #111
  Austin, TX
• $1,050 701 North Loop Boulevard #104
  Austin, TX
• $3,350 904 E 54th Street #A
  Austin, TX
• $300,000 909 Reinli Street #101
  Austin, TX
• $1,350 608 W North Loop Boulevard #A
  Austin, TX
• $3,395 611 Franklin Boulevard #A
  Austin, TX
• $3,695 5407 Evans Avenue
  Austin, TX
• $4,435 106 Nelray Boulevard #A
  Austin, TX
• $2,495 4906 Duval Street #A
  Austin, TX
• $2,500 710 Franklin Boulevard #C
  Austin, TX
• $465,000 5405 Bennett Avenue #B
  Austin, TX
• $179,971 701 Nelray Boulevard #4
  Austin, TX
• $4,195 5501 Duval Street #A
  Austin, TX
• $850,000 704 Franklin Boulevard
  Austin, TX
• $215,000 701 Nelray Boulevard #14
  Austin, TX
• $1,950 4610 Connelly Street
  Austin, TX
• $725,000 5309 Harmon Avenue #A
  Austin, TX
• $2,295 609 NELRAY Boulevard
  Austin, TX
• $2,695 610 Genard Street #B
  Austin, TX
• $3,250 5115 Duval Street
  Austin, TX
• $525,000 5510 Avenue G #A
  Austin, TX

702 FRANKLIN Boulevard #B
Austin, TX

$2,325

Lot Size

7,798 sqft

---

Home Size

1,350 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

5702 Avenue G
Austin, TX

$559,000

Lot Size

7,319 sqft

---

Home Size

936 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

200 E Skyview Road
Austin, TX

$559,000

Lot Size

7,057 sqft

---

Home Size

798 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

401 W 55 1/2 Street #B
Austin, TX

$1,800

Lot Size

10,281 sqft

---

Home Size

754 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

701 North Loop Boulevard #111
Austin, TX

$1,050

Lot Size

14,637 sqft

---

Home Size

11,798 sqft

---

Beds

1 Bed

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

701 North Loop Boulevard #104
Austin, TX

$1,050

Lot Size

14,637 sqft

---

Home Size

11,798 sqft

---

Beds

1 Bed

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

904 E 54th Street #A
Austin, TX

$3,350

Lot Size

6,970 sqft

---

Home Size

1,661 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

909 Reinli Street #101
Austin, TX

$300,000

Lot Size

1,351 sqft

---

Home Size

1,235 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

608 W North Loop Boulevard #A
Austin, TX

$1,350

Lot Size

8,146 sqft

---

Home Size

600 sqft

---

Beds

1 Bed

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

611 Franklin Boulevard #A
Austin, TX

$3,395

Lot Size

8,059 sqft

---

Home Size

1,580 sqft

---

Beds

4 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

5407 Evans Avenue
Austin, TX

$3,695

Lot Size

6,404 sqft

---

Home Size

3,373 sqft

---

Beds

5 Beds

---

Baths

4 Baths

---

106 Nelray Boulevard #A
Austin, TX

$4,435

Lot Size

7,101 sqft

---

Home Size

3,307 sqft

---

Beds

6 Beds

---

Baths

4 Baths

---

4906 Duval Street #A
Austin, TX

$2,495

Lot Size

7,319 sqft

---

Home Size

1,288 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

710 Franklin Boulevard #C
Austin, TX

$2,500

Lot Size

7,841 sqft

---

Home Size

1,400 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

5405 Bennett Avenue #B
Austin, TX

$465,000

Lot Size

3,572 sqft

---

Home Size

1,436 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

701 Nelray Boulevard #4
Austin, TX

$179,971

Lot Size

654 sqft

---

Home Size

387 sqft

---

Beds

1 Bed

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

5501 Duval Street #A
Austin, TX

$4,195

Lot Size

6,230 sqft

---

Home Size

3,285 sqft

---

Beds

5 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

704 Franklin Boulevard
Austin, TX

$850,000

Lot Size

7,798 sqft

---

Home Size

1,900 sqft

---

Beds

5 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

701 Nelray Boulevard #14
Austin, TX

$215,000

Lot Size

785 sqft

---

Home Size

456 sqft

---

Beds

1 Bed

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

4610 Connelly Street
Austin, TX

$1,950

Lot Size

5,881 sqft

---

Home Size

1,128 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

5309 Harmon Avenue #A
Austin, TX

$725,000

Lot Size

3,594 sqft

---

Home Size

1,614 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

3 Baths

---

609 NELRAY Boulevard
Austin, TX

$2,295

Lot Size

7,500 sqft

---

Home Size

1,000 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

610 Genard Street #B
Austin, TX

$2,695

Lot Size

7,536 sqft

---

Home Size

1,820 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

5115 Duval Street
Austin, TX

$3,250

Lot Size

8,146 sqft

---

Home Size

1,850 sqft

---

Beds

3 Beds

---

Baths

2 Baths

---

5510 Avenue G #A
Austin, TX

$525,000

Lot Size

6,317 sqft

---

Home Size

698 sqft

---

Beds

2 Beds

---

Baths

1 Bath

---

• 702 FRANKLIN Boulevard #B
  Austin, TX
  

  $2,325
  Lot Size

  7,798 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,350 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 5702 Avenue G
  Austin, TX
  

  $559,000
  Lot Size

  7,319 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  936 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 200 E Skyview Road
  Austin, TX
  

  $559,000
  Lot Size

  7,057 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  798 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 401 W 55 1/2 Street #B
  Austin, TX
  

  $1,800
  Lot Size

  10,281 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  754 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 701 North Loop Boulevard #111
  Austin, TX
  

  $1,050
  Lot Size

  14,637 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  11,798 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  1 Bed

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 701 North Loop Boulevard #104
  Austin, TX
  

  $1,050
  Lot Size

  14,637 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  11,798 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  1 Bed

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 904 E 54th Street #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $3,350
  Lot Size

  6,970 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,661 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 909 Reinli Street #101
  Austin, TX
  

  $300,000
  Lot Size

  1,351 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,235 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 608 W North Loop Boulevard #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $1,350
  Lot Size

  8,146 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  600 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  1 Bed

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 611 Franklin Boulevard #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $3,395
  Lot Size

  8,059 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,580 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  4 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 5407 Evans Avenue
  Austin, TX
  

  $3,695
  Lot Size

  6,404 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  3,373 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  5 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  4 Baths

  ---

• 106 Nelray Boulevard #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $4,435
  Lot Size

  7,101 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  3,307 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  6 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  4 Baths

  ---

• 4906 Duval Street #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $2,495
  Lot Size

  7,319 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,288 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 710 Franklin Boulevard #C
  Austin, TX
  

  $2,500
  Lot Size

  7,841 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,400 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 5405 Bennett Avenue #B
  Austin, TX
  

  $465,000
  Lot Size

  3,572 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,436 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 701 Nelray Boulevard #4
  Austin, TX
  

  $179,971
  Lot Size

  654 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  387 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  1 Bed

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 5501 Duval Street #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $4,195
  Lot Size

  6,230 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  3,285 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  5 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 704 Franklin Boulevard
  Austin, TX
  

  $850,000
  Lot Size

  7,798 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,900 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  5 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 701 Nelray Boulevard #14
  Austin, TX
  

  $215,000
  Lot Size

  785 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  456 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  1 Bed

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 4610 Connelly Street
  Austin, TX
  

  $1,950
  Lot Size

  5,881 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,128 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 5309 Harmon Avenue #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $725,000
  Lot Size

  3,594 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,614 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  3 Baths

  ---

• 609 NELRAY Boulevard
  Austin, TX
  

  $2,295
  Lot Size

  7,500 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,000 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

• 610 Genard Street #B
  Austin, TX
  

  $2,695
  Lot Size

  7,536 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,820 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 5115 Duval Street
  Austin, TX
  

  $3,250
  Lot Size

  8,146 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  1,850 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  3 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  2 Baths

  ---

• 5510 Avenue G #A
  Austin, TX
  

  $525,000
  Lot Size

  6,317 sqft

  ---

  Home Size

  698 sqft

  ---

  Beds

  2 Beds

  ---

  Baths

  1 Bath

  ---

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