Order Christmas tamales from these mom-and-pop restaurants in metro Phoenix

Endia Fontanez, Arizona Republic
Updated ·4 min read

Tamales have long been a Christmas tradition in Latin America and have become a part of holiday celebrations for many families in the United States. The tradition is said to have started in ancient Mexico, where the Aztecs ate them as part of winter solstice celebrations. After European settlers arrived in Mexico, tamales were incorporated into Christmas holiday festivities.

Tamales typically consist of meat such as chicken, pork or beef, which is then cooked in a cornmeal dough called masa, then steamed and served in a corn husk wrapping. They can also be made with cheese, fruit and vegetable fillings.

Tamale making parties are a wonderful part of the holiday season for many, but it's a big job, so if you'd rather leave it to the experts, there are several Mexican restaurants around the Valley where you can order your holiday tamales.

Here's a guide to ordering Christmas tamales in metro Phoenix.

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La Fama Mexican Food and Bakery

This long-standing bakery has served the West Valley for more than 45 years. Obdulio Marquez, a former mariachi performer from Zacatecas, opened La Fama in 1974. He was involved with the shop until his death in 2011 and since then his daughters have kept the family business going strong.

Lourdes Marquez Adame told The Republic in 2019 that the Christmas Eves of her childhood were spent piling into the family van early morning to drive from south Phoenix to Glendale, where it was all hands on deck to supply the lines of people buying last-minute tamales. Typically, from November to December, La Fama makes anywhere from 40 to 70 dozen tamales a day.

La Fama is currently taking Christmas pre-orders for red chile meat and green corn tamales. Bags of masa preparada are also available at the shop.

Details: 5328 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale. 623-931-1460, facebook.com/LaFamaBakery.

The Tamale Store

Martha Castillo (center) stands with her famous tamales and daughters Maria Stanzak (L) and Pauline Pimienta (R) at the Tamale Store in Phoenix, Ariz. on November 26, 2018.
Martha Castillo (center) stands with her famous tamales and daughters Maria Stanzak (L) and Pauline Pimienta (R) at the Tamale Store in Phoenix, Ariz. on November 26, 2018.

You won't find tacos or burritos at The Tamale Store. As the name of this north Phoenix restaurant implies, co-owner Martha Castillo prefers to focus almost exclusively on tamales.

"I grew up eating tamales almost every day because I loved them so much. Every morning, close to my house there was a vendor of tamales. I walked there every day to eat tamales for breakfast. Every day," the Mexico City-born tamale chef told The Republic in 2018.

Her tamale menu features a variety, including chipotle chicken, chicken mole and Tex-Mex style with ground beef, Monterey Jack and mild red chile.

Christmas pre-orders for frozen tamales end Dec. 1, but tamales willstill be available in the store on a first-come basis. The store will be closed Sundays, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 except for pre-order pickups.

Details: 15842 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix. 602-435-2604, thetamalestore.com.

Tamales y Tacos Puebla

Ricardo Aguirre used to sell his and his wife’s homemade red and green chile tamales from a minivan in west Phoenix, showing up at llanteras, Park ‘n Swaps and the drive-in movie theater in Glendale.

The idea of selling tamales started with Aguirre's wife, Silvia Romero, who made a bet that she could sell more tamales than a colleague could at the produce company where she worked. Their tamales feature a chunky, rather than shredded, chicken, beef and pork fillings. The couple have since turned their business into a licensed food trailer and catering company named for Romero's hometown of Puebla.

People can order from Tamales y Tacos Puebla online at tamalesytacospuebla.com. Options include green or red chile with chicken, beef or pork; rajas con queso; chicken mole wrapped in banana leaf; sweet strawberry and sweet pineapple tamales.

Preorders for Christmas tamales are open Dec. 10 through Dec. 22 for pickup on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day until 1 p.m.

Details: 602-308-9334, facebook.com/pueblaaz.

Carolina's Mexican Food

Josephine Hernandez, left, a co-owner at The Original Carolina's Mexican Food, and Supervisor Felix Corona, pose for a portrait at the restaurant's 1202 E Mohave Street location in Phoenix on March 28, 2023.
Josephine Hernandez, left, a co-owner at The Original Carolina's Mexican Food, and Supervisor Felix Corona, pose for a portrait at the restaurant's 1202 E Mohave Street location in Phoenix on March 28, 2023.

Carolina's (pronounced car-oh-LINE-az) is considered a Phoenix treasure. Founders Manuel and Carolina Valenzuela got their start in the 1950s selling homemade tortillas, burritos and tamales out of the back seat of the family car at wrestling matches and to migrant farmworkers, according to one of the restaurant websites.

The couple opened their first restaurant in Phoenix in 1968 and soon cemented themselves as a Valley staple. Today, various family members continue the legacy at locations in Phoenix, Avondale, Peoria and Mesa.

Preorders of red chile beef, green chile corn and green chile chicken tamales for pickup at the Mohave Street location will begin after Thanksgiving and will remain open until all preorder slots are booked.

Details: 1202 E. Mohave St., Phoenix. 602-252-1503, carolinasmex.com.

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Reach the reporter at endia.fontanez@gannett.com. Follow @EndiaFontanez on X, formerly Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Where to buy holiday tamales in metro Phoenix at 4 Mexican restaurants