# Mexican Tamales Vanishing from US Menus

> Tamales face disappearing from American restaurant menus due to high labor costs and low demand.
- Title: Mexican Tamales Vanishing from US Menus · Fox News | Shortify
- Summary: Tamales face disappearing from American restaurant menus due to high labor costs and low demand. Tamales have dropped 7.8% on US menus over five years as…
- Keywords: tamales, mexican food, restaurant menus, labor costs, demand, us restaurants, technomic, news, politics, Mexican, Vanishing, Menus
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/food-drink/beloved-mexican-food-disappearing-from-restaurant-menus-across-america
- Author: Peter Burke
- Published: 2026-09-20T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tamales, mexican food, restaurant menus, labor costs, demand, us restaurants, technomic, news, politics
## Tamales Disappearing from Menus
Tamales have dropped 7.8% from menus over five years according to Technomic's Ignite Menu data comparing 2021 and 2026.
## Labor-Intensive Preparation
Tamales require three days of labor including corn processing, masa mixing, and careful wrapping to avoid drying.
## Chef Training Time
A chef spent months training an employee to handle the complex tamale preparation process without drying.
## Low Demand for Tamales
Tamales generate less demand than tacos and are not expected as a staple by customers.
## Price and Economics
Tamales cost $6 but some customers remember cheaper versions from the past.
## What Happens Next
Tamales remain a special food for holidays and family gatherings rather than everyday meals.

> You feel like you're getting a hug when you're eating a tamale.
## Key takeaway

Tamales have dropped 7.8% on US menus over five years as labor-intensive preparation and low demand make them economically challenging to serve.