Abstract: A tamale making apparatus has a rectangular or square portable table where the table has a top surface. The top surface is divided into two areas, the first area for holding a volume of masa, while the second area is for placing an outer wrapping material, such as a corn husk. The first area is utilized for placement of a masa storage compartment, which is formed by three retention members which are configured into a U-shaped compartment, with the open end facing the user. The second area, which is adjacent to the first area, is used for placing a corn husk on the table surface, and placing a husk press over the corn husk. The husk press has three guide members which are disposed along three adjacent edges of a flat plate, with no guide member on the fourth edge, thus also forming a u-shaped structure with the open end facing the user.