Nothing quite sums up the holidays in Arizona like a Christmas tamale. In case you missed the Tamale Festival last weekend, Dec 10-11, hosted by Food City at Cesar Chavez Plaza, here a few places in Phoenix to get your hands on some excellent handmade tamales before the holidays end.
El Bravo
This 7th Street restaurant offers shredded beef, chicken green corn, spinach, and vegetarian at $33 a dozen.
8338 N Seventh Street, Phoenix, AZ 85020 – 602-943-9753
Carolina’s
At this classic Valley restaurant on Cactus Rd, tamale lovers have their choice between red beef, green corn, and green chicken. They are selling for $16.70 for a dozen uncooked, and $27.20 for a cooked dozen.
2126 E Cactus Road, Phoenix, AZ 85022 – 602-275-8231
The Tamale Store
This niche Mexican restaurant serves up a variety of tamales to fit many appetites with chicken green chile, chicken chipotle, chicken mole, pork red chile, pork green chile, traditional holiday tamale, beef red chile, and several vegetarian and vegan options. All handmade and 1/2 pound each. $20 for a 1/2 dozen and $35 for a dozen.
13046 N Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85022 – 602-435-2604
Tee Pee Mexican Food
At 40th Street and Indian School Road, Tee Pee offers beef, pork and green corn flavors to satisfy the locals’ holiday tamale cravings at $30 a dozen.
4144 E Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018 – 602-956-0178
Be sure to order your tamales fast before supplies run out. You can store them in your fridge or freezer to preserve them throughout the holidays.
