Los Hernández Tamales
📍 3706 Main St, Union Gap, WA 98903, USA
Weighted rating from:
Google: 4.7 • TripAdvisor: 5
JetlyGo Score
Score calculated from online mentions, review sentiment, and dining indicators across Washington. Trust this score to find where to eat, drink, and dine in Washington.
Available amenities(4)
Based on verified guest experiences
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Located in Union Gap, Washington, Los Hernández Tamales is a beloved gem celebrated for its award-winning tamales and a warm, inviting atmosphere. This family-owned eatery has garnered acclaim, including the prestigious James Beard 'America’s Classics' award, making it a must-visit for both locals and travelers alike. The charming interior exudes a cozy vibe, perfect for enjoying a delicious meal with friends or family. Guests rave about the variety of tamales, including seasonal favorites like asparagus and pepper jack, alongside traditional pork options. The friendly staff enhances the experience, ensuring that every visit feels like a homecoming. With a focus on authentic Mexican cuisine and a commitment to quality, it’s no wonder that patrons keep coming back for more. Los Hernández is not just a restaurant; it’s a true taste of community spirit and culinary excellence.
Signature Dishes
- •Pork Tamales
- •Asparagus and Pepper Jack Tamales
- •Cactus and Pepper Jack Tamales
- •Rice and Beans
Overall rating 4.7 / 5 (1,303 reviews)
Google: 4.7 (1201 reviews)
TripAdvisor: 5 (102 reviews)
Customer Reviews
As a winner of the James Beard “America’s Classics” award, a restaurant has to be family-owned, operating for over a decade, and serve “quality food that reflects the character of its community.” Los Hernandez seems to check all of those boxes. The interior was cute and homey, and tamales were delicious. I got the lunch combo with asparagus and pepperjack tamales and felt that the texture of the asparagus was an excellent replacement for meat. The masa had great moisture and texture too. It was a bit expensive and I felt like the salsa quantity provided was too little, but otherwise a great experience.
My wife and I went here on a recommendation from a buddy while in Spokane. We came back to Olympia through Yakima just to try this place out! It did not disappoint. I had two tamales with rice and beans. Hands down the absolute best pork tamale I’ve ever had. The pork was moist and delicious and the corn tamale wrap was moist, thin and tasted perfectly of corn. The rice and beans were nice as well. My wife started with one pork tamale and went back for a second (which is unheard of!) she raved about them. It’s a very Spartan place, the ambience is non existent but you’re there for the flipping food not the decor! The staff were friendly and helpful. We will go back for sure, I’m really looking forward to the asparagus tamales which are seasonal in the spring/summer. Try it out!
We were passing through the Yakima Valley today and decided to try the award-winning tamale place in Union Gap. The service was pretty fast, the tamales were good, and the prices are very reasonable. Place was busy in the late morning.
It's always dangerous to approach any experience that has been the repeated subject of rave reviews. The tamales of Los Hernandez have been praised to the skies, but I never managed to make it to Union Gap, WA to try them. Finally got there. Was afraid the tamales wouldn't live up to the hype. But they did. They're excellent. I especially appreciated the asparagus and jack cheese tamales. They were so good we made it a point to arrange our trip so that we could stop again on the way home for more.