Five Items to Avoid -- Even Though They Sound Good

• You're maybe one of the seriously challenged people I've ever had the misfortune of reading your post. I live in Pueblo, CO and if you were ever to talk this way about tamales, rellenos and corona you would probably get tared and feathered and run out of town. Obviously, you either don't know where to go or don't have any good restaurants where you live. Or maybe you made them yourself and are just a bad cook. Get a grip. To each their own though.

• 5. Can be hit or miss but when they're good there's nothing like them. 4. Agree - good ones are so hard to fine almost not worth trying. 3. Never, never, never. I prefer the beer of a local Houston craft brewery. Not to mention clear bottles. 2. See # 3 above 1, Try the Linguini Pescatore at Nicks Italian Restaurant. Mussels, shrimp, clams and calamari in white sauce Not in your neighborhood but worth the drive (11511 FM Rd. 1464). But you're right most are pretty bad.

• while at a multi-location restaurant, the pasta mardi-gras at pappadeaux is excellent. it even reheats well.

• @say what - I've had them only in Puerto Rican restaurants or cooked by a friend's PR grandmother. Isla Coqui use to have delicious pasteles, but they unfortunately closed. Try Tex Chick - I believe its the only PR restaurant left in town! http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2009/08/tex_chick_puerto_rican.php

• I'm with the author on this, Tamales are awful. I appreciate any other good Tex-mex or Mexican food varieties but these always come out pasty and like pureed mush. Eweee.

• You really don know Houston food if you can't find good tamales or chiles rellenos. I feel pity towards you. Maybe you need some Mexican friends.

• I'm sorry that you seem to have given up on the tamales. There are good one out there but they are hard to find. Some of the best I've had were in Louisiana.

• Battle Tamale begs to differ! http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2009/11/food_fight_battle_tamale.php ;)

• Where ARE you getting your Tex-Mex fix? Wherever it is - it's not the right place.

• Poblano rellenos are dreadful lost-in-translation versions of the superb New Mexico green chile relleno, which is best served as part of a combo, say a #7. It's possible to find tasty tamales, but not very likely.

• CMN - do tell - Where can I find them? I have never heard of "pasteles" before

• Lennie: You have been eating some bad tamales. Try La Mexicana. I agree with Corona, it has an aroma like burnt tires to me.

• Maybe people who reference Family Guy should be sent to a work camp.

• Anyone who uses the terms "irregardless", "a whole nother", and "all of the sudden" will be sent to a work camp. Haha sorry, off-topic, but that comment reminded me of phrases Stewie hates.

• Get Coronitas if you're so such a slow-sipping troglodyte.

• &#64;say what - i'm betting your tamales wrapped in banana leaves were actually <strong><a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=pasteles&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;aq=t&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;rlz=1R1GGGL_en___US333">pasteles</a></strong> which is a whole nother can of [often delicious] worms.

• You must try the tamales wrapped in banana leaves before you rule them out. Dona Tere Tamales are good but you have to get there early in the morning because those go fast!

• Amen to the tamales - always seems like a better idea than it actually is. Another one for me is any form of fast food, aside from Chick-fil-a.

• When done right, a chile relleno can be fantastic. But I'll have to agree with Lennie in that many of them are not done right and hence suck ape.

• I feel that way about olives and pickles. Not really a fan but every now and then I get an overwhelming need to eat one, only to take 3 bites and throw the rest in the trash. It's actually quite bizarre. Maybe I should just carry around a salt packet instead.

• Must have had bad chile rellenos too.

• Youve had bad tamales.

TotalComments: 22