The irresistible aroma of masa and slow-cooked carnitas greets visitors at Frelard Tamales, where husbands and co-owners Osbaldo Hernandez and Dennis Ramey have built both a culinary institution and a vibrant Queer community hub over the past decade. Their story — from a humble market stall to a thriving Fremont restaurant with an attached brewery — reflects Seattle’s appetite for authentic Mexican flavors and inclusive spaces.

“We started in 2013 as a weekend side gig at the Fremont Sunday Market,” Hernandez told the SGN. “Dennis worked at Seattle Children’s; I was with the government. We just wanted extra income, but people really welcomed the tamales. They really enjoyed them.”

What began as a pop-up operation quickly gained a loyal following.

“After three years of pop-ups, customers kept asking, ‘Where can we find you during the week?’” he added. “That pushed us to open our first brick-and-mortar in Green Lake in 2015.”

The Fremont location, with its expanded kitchen and brewery, marks Frelard’s evolution into a full-service restaurant.

The name “Frelard” itself has a serendipitous origin.

“It was midnight, and we needed a business license to register for an event,” Hernandez said, while chuckling. “We lived in Ballard and sold at Fremont markets, so we mashed the names together.

Family recipes and Queer identity

Generations of family traditions feed into Frelard Tamales. Hernandez shared that he was born in Puerto Vallarta and moved to Seattle at the age of 11.

“Every recipe comes from my mom and grandma — these are the exact flavors I grew up with,” he said.

While proud of their food, they resist competitive claims: “We don’t believe in arguing who makes the ‘best’ tamales. Everyone’s grandma’s tamales are special to them,” Hernandez said.

What truly sets Frelard apart is its unapologetic Queer identity, he added
“We’re a Mexican restaurant that happens to be Queer-owned, and both identities matter equally.”

This dual heritage shines through initiatives like Frelard’s annual “Un Poco Gay” Pride beer collaboration with El Suenito Brewing (“the cans feature stunning Queer artwork”) and its twice-monthly, sold-out drag brunches, where performers are paid some of the highest rates in Seattle.

Challenging craft beer norms, plus menu must-tries

The owners have deliberately disrupted the craft beer scene, as the industry has been dominated by long-bearded, white, straight men, Hernandez said.

“While Dennis is white, we wanted to challenge the idea that beer is for everyone. Our staff is Queer, femme, and BIPOC — we center communities often excluded from breweries.”

Frelard’s Mexican Lager is a favorite and a testament to its mission: accessible, flavorful, and rooted in ethos.

While the Taco Flight Tuesdays draw rave reviews, when pressed for recommendations, Hernandez highlighted the chicken tamales with verde sauce (“my personal favorite”) and newer additions, like Jalisco-style carnitas tacos, made with pork skin for authentic texture.

“Don’t miss the queso fundido,” he added. “It took a month to perfect—just real cheese, milk, and chilies. No fillers.”

Community and the future

As Frelard enters its second decade, Hernandez is focused on expanding outdoor seating, seasonal specials, and partnerships with LGBTQ+ businesses like Charlie’s Queer Books.

“We don’t just hang a rainbow flag — this is a truly Queer space,” he emphasized, adding how a recent one-star review criticizing their “Queer-centric” branding only solidified their resolve. “If your fragility can’t handle our identity, we’re not for you.”

For Hernandez, Queer ownership is both privilege and responsibility.

“We’re here to uplift others,” he said. “Whether it’s paying drag performers well or partnering with Bellingham’s Queer-owned Wink Wink Sex Shop for our ‘CNTJCE’ beer, we want to keep pushing boundaries.”

Visit Frelard Tamales at 106 N. 36th St. in Fremont for tamales, tacos, and a side of radical inclusivity. Follow @frelardtamales for event updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of their kitchen.