Sara Rodriguez’s tamales come in less-expected, vegetable-centric flavors like spinach and cheese and maitake mushroom, but traditionalists will also be able to find pork, chicken, and more. The green salsa is bright and maybe the best of the bunch, though festive eaters might dress their tamales with stripes of both the red and green varieties. Find her at farmers markets in and around the city, including Portland Farmers Market, Gresham Farmers Market, and Oregon City Farmers Market.

Likely the most famous spot in Portland for tamales, Tamale Boy’s wide range of both Oaxacan and Northern Mexican variations make it a local favorite. In the former, custardy, banana-leaf-steamed masa arrives filled with mole negro or citrusy cochinita pibil, while the fluffy, plump, corn-husk-steamed cousin comes with options like chile verde or chicken tinga. Another fun route at Tamale Boy: Ordering a tamale frito, a fried Northern Mexican tamale with avocado salsa and two fried eggs. You can pre-order Christmas tamales online.

When it comes to sheer variety of tamales, it is extremely difficult to beat this Milwaukie tamale shop. The frozen selection is staggering, with options like chorizo-potato, pork and asparagus in red chile, chicken-pesto with cheese, and even tiger prawn with tomato-jalapeno sauce. Canby Asparagus also offers tamales from other parts of Latin America, including Nicaraguan nacatamales. Be prepared to steam them at home.

While many Mexican markets have large, devoted followings in Portland, La Oaxaqueña stays relatively under the radar. However, this market’s selection of banana leaf tamales is very strong, with a nice, luscious texture and plenty of filling. Expect a classic roundup: Pork in chile verde, chicken in salsa rojo, rajas, and sweet corn.

Parked within the Eastport Food Carts pod, Los Tamales Locos serves its namesake with fillings like mole-braised pork, chicken in chile verde, and rajas. Tamales here strike the right balance of moist and fluffy, though the mole with the pork may even outshine the masa. The cart’s take on a Oaxacan tamale comes with shredded chicken and tomatillo.

This Yucatecan spot near Rocky Butte serves the region’s style of tamales, akin to Oaxacan with a banana-leaf wrap. Mestiza’s tamales do hew a little smaller, but the texture of the masa and generous portion of filling make them stand out. They come stuffed with a tender chicken; order them alongside some of Mestiza’s fantastic panuchos.

Tamale Factory is a Gresham institution, thanks to its parcels of masa-stuffed corn husks with fillings like pork in salsa verde or jalapeno-cheese. The sweet corn here is a particular standout; order them all for delivery.