Tamale Store, Phoenix, Arizona, Mexican Restaurant Details

Food:

I'm not really sure what that other guy is talking about, I have bought a few diffrent types of tamales from The Tamale Store now at the uptown farmer market. Me and my family are in love. They are so flavorful and moist I'm not sure how they do this without any lard or shorting. They are great the bean and cheese are so good as well as the red chili pork. You can beat the portions either. I can't wait to try more flavors. I would definitely recommend trying them.

Food:

After reading some comments about Tamale Store, I would encourage others to continue their search for the better tamale elsewhere. I purchased some red chilli pork tamales and was presented with rock hard frozen tamales not fresh like I had in mind. Leaving this aside, I warmed up and plated what looked to be a tamale but smelled like enchiladas. I decided to continue further, against my better judgement, and as if i was teasing a dog as it eats and growls at you with warning. Sure enough I was bitten! Measuring a perfect fork full mix of masa and meat, I was met by an unusual mix of flavors that overwhelmed me and continue to linger as I type this comment. I'm not sure what seasoning they are using for the meat but I'm positive it was a cheap seasoning mix as apposed to fresh chilies. Nevertheless, the flavor has strayed the farm. The masa was a spongy facsimile to traditional tamales but that detail was definitely overshadowed by the seasoning of the masa. At this point I was left completely offended. This was not the tortilla store that happened to sell tamales or the local carneceria who's visiting relatives were consigning tamales to make ends meet, but calling themselves The Tamale Store and producing this poor quality of a product is self indulgence to its finest. There are popular restaurants who use tamales like these and present them to unsuspecting victims. Tamales saturated and smothered with cheese and sauce to pass as quality. I have had better tamales, litterally, from a ranch market parking lot tamale lady. Furthermore two cans of Coke have not washed away the seasoning after taste from my mouth. Masa is corn and there is no need to mask that wonderful flavor, just imagine corn bread. Meats are also so individually non identical to each and when slow cooked properly they just need to spice it up a bit not saturate with cheep spices. I conclusion, grasp your Latino friends and invite them to show how to make tamales and pass on the tamale recipes that are great. Once they go comercial it seems something gets lost.

Food:

We would not think of ordering Tamales anywhere else! They are the best in Phoenix! We would never have Christmas Eve dinner without them, or any other family celebration either. Thank you Tamale Store, We Love You.
Susan & Walt

Food:

These are the best tamales I have ever had. My local farmers market has them for sale and I buy that all the time. I'm a vegan so those are the flavors I get.

Food:

Amazing food and people. They have a great vegetarian and vegan selection also.