The Tamale Place on Rockville Road in Indianapolis has been making hand-crafted tamales from family recipes since it opened, building a regional reputation around one of the most labor-intensive and tradition-bound dishes in Mexican cooking. It appeared in Season 12, Episode 3 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “You Can Only Get It Here,” which aired May 23, 2011. Guy Fieri found an Indianapolis kitchen producing authentic Mexican tamales from scratch — fresh masa ground in house, fillings slow-cooked from family recipes, and the careful wrapping and steaming that separates a real tamale from the shortcuts most kitchens take. The episode title fit perfectly: there is genuinely nowhere else in Indiana doing this.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: The Tamale Place
City: Indianapolis, Indiana
Cuisine: Authentic Mexican / Tamales
DDD Season: 12
DDD Episode: 3
Episode Title: You Can Only Get It Here
Original Air Date: May 23, 2011
Address: 5226 Rockville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46224
Phone: 317-248-9771
Website: https://www.thetamaleplace.com
Status: Open
What to Eat
The Pork Tamales with red chile sauce are the classic — slow-braised pork in a rich chile-based filling wrapped in fresh masa and steamed in corn husks, the benchmark by which all other tamales are measured. The Chicken Tamales with green tomatillo salsa are the other flagship, the lighter variation that earns equal devotion among regulars. The Cheese and Jalapeño Tamales are the vegetarian option that converts anyone who thinks a tamale needs meat. The Sweet Tamales with cinnamon and raisin are the dessert version worth ordering alongside the savory plates. The House-Made Salsas and Sauces are the accompaniments that elevate each order — ask what’s available. Find an Indianapolis hotel on Travelocity.
Plan Your Visit
Check the website for current hours.
Address: 5226 Rockville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46224
Phone: 317-248-9771
Website: https://www.thetamaleplace.com
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream the You Can Only Get It Here episode on Amazon.
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The Tamale Place appeared in Season 12, Episode 3 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “You Can Only Get It Here,” originally aired May 23, 2011.