After over 50 businesses were nominated, the search for the best tamales in metro Phoenix has concluded after three intensive weeks of voting.
Racking up nearly 12,000 votes in our final voting round, which lasted from Dec. 2 through Dec. 8, among five finalists — The Tamale Store, Sazón Sinaloense, La Güera Hispanic Food, Old El Paso Tamales and Fire and Braids — we officially have our winners.
Who makes the best tamales in metro Phoenix? Meet the three winners of the 2024 Top Tamal contest.
First place: Fire and Braids
Fire and Braids is the overall winner of the 2024 Top Tamal contest, with just over 60% of the votes. The Scottsdale food truck belongs to the owner of the Dish is Da Bomb food business, which every holiday season offers tamales to its customers.
“It is such an honor to be recognized for my tamales! It makes me proud to be able to share my heritage through my tamales. I get to share my traditions and family legacies left by the women who inspired the recipe I created in their honor,” said Brenda Mercado Valdez, owner of Fire and Braids and Dish is Da Bomb.
Dish is Da Bomb’s the menu includes beef or chicken tamales in red chile, sliced potato, carrot, jalapeño, onion, and olives stuffed with pimento; pork in green chile, sliced green chile and onion; cheese and roasted chile; and sliced cheese and jalapeño. These are $25 a dozen. They also offer vegan options at $30 a dozen: “chicken” tamales (palm and jackfruit) in slices of red chile, potato, zucchini, carrot; green olives stuffed with pepper; and squash with corn (zucchini, corn, jalapeño, and vegan cheese).
The business offers free delivery with a minimum order of $35 within a 5-mile radius of Fire and Braids. There is a $6 fee with a $50 minimum order within a 10-mile radius.
Order by these dates for the holidays:
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For Christmas orders: by noon on Thursday, Dec. 15, for pickup or delivery on Thursday, Dec. 24, before 2 p.m.
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For New Year’s: by noon on Thursday, Dec. 22, for pickup or delivery on Saturday, Dec. 31, before 2 p.m.
Details: 15111 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, (480) 442 7242, https://www.instagram.com/fireandbraids/, https://www.instagram.com/dishisdabomb/.
Second Place: La Güera Hispanic Food
La Güera Hispanic Food, a Phoenix home business, was crowned second place in the Top Tamal 2024 contest.
“We are absolutely thrilled and incredibly honored to not only be a candidate but also to achieve the esteemed title of first runner-up in Tamal 2024! Among all the wonderful businesses, both big and small, that sell tamales, being recognized in this way is a tremendous accomplishment for us! We are sincerely grateful to everyone who took the time to vote for us — your support means the world to us!” the business shared in a written statement.
The beef tamales with red chile came out as one of La Güera’s Hispanic Food’s favorites. The masa was the most highlighted element of the business’s dish.
La Güera’s Hispanic Food, a home business, opens for orders every Saturday and packages include chile and cheese tamales, beef with red chile, and chicken with green chile. Prices are $25 per dozen except for the chile and cheese dozen, which is $23.
“For us, tamales symbolize family and home. Each year, we joyfully come together as a family to prepare them for the holidays. It’s a time filled with laughter, storytelling, and cherished moments, free from distractions,” the statement read. “This truly is the most magical time of the year, and we are so grateful to share it with all of you!”
Details: (480) 231-6272, https://www.facebook.com/lagueras/.
Third Place: The Tamale Store
The Tamale Store was the second runner-up in the Top Tamale 2024 contest. Many voters conceded that one of the things that makes this place’s dish stand out the most is the quality and balance of the dough with the protein or vegetable filling.
The menu is extensive, but some of their favorites include green chile chicken, chipotle chicken, mole, red chile pork, Tex-Mex (seasoned ground beef and cheese), Baja Seafood (shrimp, crab, and cream cheese blend), corn and cream cheese, AZ Cornbread (corn dough with jalapeño and Colby Jack cheese filling) and the Hatch and Jack (a blend of New Mexican chiles and Monterey Jack cheese).
Prices vary: 2 for $9, half a dozen for $26, and a dozen for $45.
Details: 15842 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, (602) 435-2604, https://www.thetamalestore.com/
Have story tips on Latino communities in the Valley? Reach La Voz reporter Paula Soria at psoriaaguilar@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best tamales in Phoenix: Meet the winners of Top Tamale 2024