Parties. Offices. Holidays. All of it.
Tamales by the Dozen — For Your Party, Your Office, Your Holiday Table
From 5 Dozen to 500
We've Filled Tables From Birthday Lunches to Christmas Eves
Catering means the math gets bigger and the planning gets earlier. That's the only difference. An office lunch for forty? Give us forty-eight hours. A Christmas party for two hundred? Give us a couple weeks. A holiday catering order for fifty-plus dozen comes with a deposit, not because we're being careful with our trust, but because we're being careful with the masa. We have to order ingredients, schedule production, and reserve the steamers. Christmas tamale season runs from October through December. The closer you get to the 24th, the more days ahead you'll need to call. Order early and we can handle anything Lubbock throws at us.
The process is short. Call us, or fill out the form, and tell us how many dozen, what varieties, and the date you'd like to pick up. Victor confirms the order, you get a written total, and for big orders you put down a deposit. On the day, your order is bagged, boxed, and ready at the factory window. We don't deliver catering, same as wholesale. You pick up at 6205 19th.
Order Size & Lead Times
Plan ahead and we can handle anything. Here's what we need from you.
Standard Pickup
No pre-order required for quantities under 10 dozen. Walk in Monday through Friday, 11 AM – 9 PM, and we'll have tamales ready.
Payment: Pay on pickup
48-Hour Notice
Ordering 5 or more dozen? Call or fill out the form at least 48 hours before your pickup date. We'll have your order ready and confirmed.
Payment: Pay on pickup
1–2 Weeks + Deposit
Large orders — offices, events, holiday catering — need 1 to 2 weeks lead time. A deposit is required, amount based on order size. Victor will discuss on the call.
Payment: Deposit upfront, remainder on pickup
December Is Our Busiest Month
Holiday Tamales — Order Early
In West Texas, ordering Christmas tamales weeks ahead is just how the holiday works. You call, you put your name on the calendar, and you pick them up the day before everyone arrives. The four year-round varieties — pork, chicken, bean, green chile and cheese — all run full-tilt through holiday season. By the second week of December, every steamer in the kitchen runs full. If your family wants tamales on the table this Christmas, call us six to eight weeks out for the big orders. The earlier the better.
Call Now to Reserve Your Holiday OrderCommon Catering Questions
Before You Place a Big Order
The questions worth answering before the form. Anything else, call (806) 780-LEAL.
Do you deliver catering orders?
No. All catering and bulk orders are pickup-only at 6205 19th Street, Lubbock. We don't run delivery vehicles, and outsourced delivery for hot food doesn't meet our standard. If you need delivery for a smaller order, DoorDash works for retail quantities under a few dozen.
What's the smallest catering order?
5 dozen with 48-hour notice is where we draw the line between walk-in and catering. Below 5 dozen, just walk in during business hours and we'll take care of you on the spot. Above 50 dozen, lead time stretches to 1–2 weeks and a deposit is required.
Can I substitute or mix varieties?
Yes. Most catering orders are a mix — half pork, half chicken is the most common, with green chile and bean filling out the order for groups with vegetarians. Tell us your breakdown when you fill out the form or call. There's no extra charge for variety mixes.
What if I need to cancel?
Call as soon as possible. For orders without a deposit (under 50 dozen), there's no cancellation penalty if you call before production starts. For orders with a deposit, the deposit covers the masa, fillings, and production scheduling that's already underway — once we've started, the deposit is non-refundable. We'll work with you in good faith on partial cancellations.
Do you provide chafing dishes, setup, or servers?
No. We're a tamale factory, not a full-service caterer. Your order is bagged and boxed for pickup. Hot tamales travel well in insulated coolers and reheat easily — we'll talk you through it on the call. For events that need a full caterer with staff, the family network at lealsmexicanfoods.com may be able to help.
How early should I order for Christmas?
Six to eight weeks ahead for any order over 50 dozen during the holiday window. The closer you get to December 24th, the more days you'll need to call. By the second week of December, every steamer in the kitchen is running full and we start having to turn orders away. Don't wait.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Our bean tamale and chicken tamale are made without lard. We don't currently offer gluten-free options — all tamales use corn masa, and corn is the only flour involved. We operate a shared kitchen, so cross-contact between varieties is possible. Call us if your group has specific allergies and we'll talk through what's safe and what isn't.
Request a Catering Order
Fill out the form and Victor will follow up within 1 business day. For orders over 50 dozen, please give us at least 2 weeks.
Or call directly: (806) 780-LEAL