Where to get tamales for the holidays in the Phoenix area

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Eating tamales for the holidays, especially around Christmas, is a tradition for many Latino families. Here’s a list of restaurants still offering preorders for tamales this December.

El Bravo

The Phoenix Mexican restaurant offers four flavors: beef, chicken, spinach or vegetable tamales with or without sauce. A dozen tamales cost $32 and can be preordered at any time. El Bravo is closed on Sundays.

Carolina’s Mexican Food

Four locations around the Valley offer tamales by the platter with traditional-style red beef or green corn. Platters come with 30 tamales and start around $85. The restaurant is closed on Sundays, and it is recommended that you call several days in advance of when you want to pick up. It also closes early on Dec. 23 and is closed from Dec. 24-26.

Espo’s Mexican Food

The Chandler restaurant is taking preorders for tamales through Dec. 22. Espo’s is closed on Sundays. The tamales, which are available in red chili beef or green chili corn, are $30 a dozen.

Jalapeño Inferno

Green corn tamales are offered at Pinnacle Peak in North Scottsdale and Park West in Peoria. Both locations are open seven days a week but are closed on Christmas Day. Preorders must be made 24 hours in advance. A dozen tamales cost $42.

Mama Olga’s

The Phoenix restaurant offers three kinds of tamales: beef in red chili sauce, chicken in green sauce, and cheesy jalapeño. They are open on Christmas day to pick up but require you to make a pre-order at least one week before. Orders start at $30 for a dozen tamales. Mama Olga’s Tamales is closed on Sundays.

Old El Paso Tamales

The Mesa restaurant is not offering preorders, but you can still pick up their tamales on a first-come, first-serve basis. They offer green chile chicken, green chili and cheese, sweet corn, shredded red beef, and shredded pork tamales. Old El Paso Tamales is open seven days a week but is closed on Christmas Day and has limited hours on Christmas Eve.

Old Pueblo Cafe and Pub

The Litchfield Park restaurant is open seven days a week and offers green corn or pork tamales. The last day to preorder them for Christmas is Dec. 21. Prices start at $30 for a dozen. Old Pueblo Cafe and Pub is open seven days a week.

La Purisima Bakery

Both restaurant locations offer four flavors: red chile pork, green chile pork, roasted chilies with cheese, and sweet raisin with coconut. Preordering in advance is encouraged and the last day to pick up is on Christmas Eve. Prices start at $30 for a dozen tamales.

Salvadoreño Restaurant

The restaurant offers Salvadoran tamales at multiple locations around the valley. You can preorder by phone, online or in person and must do so several days before pickup. The restaurant offers green corn tamales and chicken with black beans. The Tempe and Mesa locations also offer special red chile beef tamales. 15 tamales start around $53.

Los Sombreros

The Mexican restaurant has two locations: one in south Scottsdale and one in Mesa. It offers six different kinds of tamales for holiday pre-order, including Tomatillo Chicken, Pineapple, Red Chili Beef, Rajas (peppers) and Cheese, Green Corn, and Chipotle Pork. Tamales must be ordered 24 hours in advance, with the last pickup date of Dec. 24. They start at $35 a dozen.

The Tamale Store

The Phoenix Restaurant offers over 16 types of tamales, including a variety of traditional and unique flavors like Chicken, Green Chile, Pork, Red Chile, and Hatch & Jack. They also introduce seasonal flavors including Triple Chocolate Brownie and Red Velvet for the holidays. The Tamale Store is no longer accepting preorders for December and is selling tamales on a first-come, first-serve basis. The restaurant is closed on Christmas Day. A dozen tamales start at $45.

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