The Tamale Store

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hidden Gem Alert: Best Tamales in Phoenix! I don’t usually leave reviews—unless a place really disappoints me or completely blows me away. And let me tell you, this place? Blew. Me. Away. From the moment I walked in, the vibe was warm, welcoming, and super authentic. I originally stopped by for just a couple tamales… somehow left with a full dozen. 😂 I had a little buyer’s remorse—until I got home, opened them up, and took one bite. Game over. These tamales are next level. Fresh, flavorful, legit homemade goodness. The kind that makes you wanna slap your mama (but don’t—she’ll hit you with a chancla 🩴). They even have tamales for dogs! Located off Greenway & Cave Creek in Phoenix, it’s a small, easy-to-miss spot—but trust me, it’s worth the trip. My “week’s worth” of tamales barely lasted a day in my house. Consider this your official warning: I’ve got a new addiction. And I’m not even mad about it. 😋🌽🔥

Overall, fantastic!! It is a mix of a casual restaurant with a clean, casual space for eating in, as well as a small market with to-go options for foods. The staff at the front are extremely helpful and kind. I have celiac disease (strict gluten-free) and vegetarian, and I was pleasantly surprised about the gluten-free vegetarian options that were absolutely delicious, and with multiple options. Their fryer only cooks tostadas and tortilla chips, which are both gluten-free, so thus a gluten-free fryer was available! I enjoyed a doble style with a southwest veggie tamale, hatch & jack tamale, and sides of pinto beans and a bean & cheese tostada. The portions are extremely generous and also served with some chips. This was definitely the best tamales I have ever had. The tamale thickness and texture was perfect, while the hatch chile and cheese smothered in cheese suace on top was delicious and accompanied well by the savory southwest veggie tamale covered in red chile sauce. I wish tamales everywhere were served like this. The size of the sides was generous, and both the tostada and beans were an excellent complement to the tamales. I devoured them too quickly. They were so good, I decided to buy 6 frozen tamales (they have 5 veggie and 4 vegan options!) for my road trip, and my only regret is not making it in time to go again in person before leaving Phoenix. Excellent service, ambiance, and food that is both delicious and well-priced .

This place is so stinking cute and so dang delicious! I live in the east valley but it’s totally worth the drive to come up. The tamales are absolutely delicious. The masa was so soft and moist and the filling was so flavorful and delicious. I got the southwest veggie tamale and it was to die for. The side of rice and beans I got was also so tasty. I picked up jamaica flowers, salsa, and a two pack of tamales from the store and it was only 28$ which I thought was a steal! The employees were all so nice and welcoming. This is such a gem and I will definitely be making the drive out here again. Plus- the tamales are GF and my husband with celiac had no issues.

I ordered a red chili beef tamale, a side of beans and some chips through DD. I don’t usually leave reviews, but holy cow!!! This was so so good! If I had to give any kind of complaint, it would be that I didn’t get much of my remote work done while I was scarfing down the food while sitting at my desk. It was so delicious. Such a great tamale. And they give you a side of red sauce, I’m assuming it’s to pour on top of the tamale, I poured it over some bites and it is really good as well but the tamale didn’t even need it. I think that was the best tamale I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to actually go in and try another tamale. Oh and the beans, the beans were so delicious. I mean, chef’s kiss! If you are contemplating going to the tamale store, just freaking go, you won’t regret it!Yum!

Amazing…. Fresh, delicious, friendly staff and great service. Cute retail store and amazing daily menu of tamales and sides. I had the tamales fondido with a green chili cheese tamale, refried pinto beans and their pan de elote. My partner had the tamales fresco with the pork tamale in red sauce, pozole and their pan de elote. Both were so tasty, seriously no complaints…… like I’m blown away. Neither of us have had that good Mexican food in a LONG time.

Don’t let the unassuming exterior fool you— The Tamale Store is a culinary treasure nestled in a strip mall on Cave Creek Road. Step inside, and you're instantly transported to Mexico. The vibrant atmosphere, traditional Spanish music, and the tantalizing aroma of freshly made tamales set the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. Upon entering, we were warmly greeted by Elizabeth, who guided us through the extensive menu. As first-timers, we were overwhelmed by the variety, but Elizabeth's recommendations were spot-on. She suggested a selection of six tamales, each offering a unique flavor profile. The tamales are generously filled and crafted with care. The masa is thick and flavorful, a testament to the store's commitment to quality. We sampled three before we were thoroughly satisfied. The chicken green chile featured all-natural shredded chicken breast with a mild salsa verde made from fresh tomatillos, cilantro, and roasted green chiles. The beef red chile offered lean shredded beef with a mild red chile sauce made from an all-natural tomato sauce and an exotic blend of dried Mexican chilies. The hatch & jack tamale combined roasted New Mexican Hatch chilies with a gooey Monterey Jack cheese center, delivering a delightful and spicy experience. Accompanying our tamales were sides of red mashed potatoes and two eggs. The potatoes were bursting with flavor, and the eggs were cooked to my liking. A suggestion: a home-style potato option would be a welcome addition to the menu. The restaurant is impeccably organized and maintained, with a condiment station conveniently located near the soft drink machine. Whether you're dining in or taking out, the experience is seamless and enjoyable. On our way out, I couldn't resist ordering a coffee. As a self-proclaimed coffee aficionado, I can confidently say it was one of the best cups I've had in recent memory. The addition of Abuela's chocolate made it a standout. The Tamale Store is more than just a restaurant; it's a culinary journey that brings the flavors of Mexico to Phoenix. With its friendly staff, authentic dishes, and inviting atmosphere, it's a must-visit for anyone craving a taste of tradition. For a list of their different tamales, more information or to plan your visit, check out their official website.

Great food. Good service, loved the atmosphere. Would definitely come here again!

This place is heaven on earth!!!✨️🙌💕🇲🇽 their tamales are Devine and soooo hard to pick which one that's why i always end up buying a bunch of frozen ones to take home😭💕 Definitely full of delicious flavors Definitely recommend the green chili hatch with cream cheese and the queso ones!

TL;DR: This is, by far, the best tamales I've ever had in my whole life. The staff are friendly and always so kind with a fun atmosphere inside. I grew up in SoCal (see my other reviews) and nothing beats these tamales. Arizona has beat us at tamales for a fact. Melt in your mouth soft, flavourful, and so so so delicious. Their sides are so phenomenal (recommend the beans and the chorizo potatoes. I still dream of them weeks later.) The staff is friendly and made me feel so welcomed as I entered exhausted from the drive. The decor is so cute and I loved it all!

What's not to like about this place!? Everything is so great. Fast service, yummy food, nice staff. The ambiance is lovely, they have lots of decorations. They have a store inside as well. They sell frozen tamales that taste just as good as the fresh ones. I always recommend this place to friends.

Coming off Xmas in July celebrating. I had a yearning for tamales. I ordered the double style tamale plate. I picked two tamales off the rotating tamale menu. It comes with two sides. And they are all delicious. Get the bean tostada it's loaded with toppings. And you can pick anyone of the tasty sides or get two tostadas, you will not be disappointed.

I took my spouse here because she's never been. I crossed my fingers in hopes my recommendation didn't disappoint her or me. They blew the expectations out the water! The atmosphere is a nice and the layout is very inviting. The ordering process is simple and easy. The service was friendly and the food came out hot and fast. The little store they have inside is pretty cool, with gift options for out of towners who would like something local. The food itself is delicious. The tamales have a good amount of filling and the sauces are good! I loved the corn! I will definitely be back and highly recommend.

The best!!!! Please get the white salsa to dip your tamales in! The best food hack ever. I love all of them but my favorite is the pork green. The smell when you first walk in them foods tell you everything you need to know lol. The workers are always super helpful and decor is always so so cute'

Best place for tamales in the valley, other than homemade And their tamales are HUGE. Reasonably priced for what you get, and they have a great selection of flavors. They have a freezer case to heat and serve later, and a large dining room to eat in. The staff were friendly, and there's decent parking.

I LOVE tamales, and this place was on my list to go for a while now. It's like a 45min drive from my home, but I was within 10min of it today and had to go, nothing was gonna stop me! The place was super clean and welcoming with lots of salsas and other items for sale. The staff were great and very friendly. I went with a group and we all received our food rather quickly, which was great. I talked this place up to them so I was crossing my fingers it delivered on the expectations I set. Spoiler Alert: raving reviews from all those with me!! Yay! I got the "Double Style" - Green Chile Pork and Red Chile Pork tamales with Papas con Chorizo & Refried Pinto Beans! The tamales were unreal! Loved them both but the Green Chile was my fav. On a scale of 1 - 10, this is the best place for tamales in my book! I'd drive 45min for these any day of the week.

Honestly, really good food. We've driven past the Tamale Store many of times and decided to try for lunch. Store was quiet & service was quick. Tamales were great, sides were even better. Corn casserole is a must. Fiance loved the pozole, fruit was super fresh. We'll definitely come back.

O. M. G. I love this locally family owned restaurant and market!!! Their brunch is so The boozy horchata is amazing and the pumpkin pie waffle was next level yum

I have been buying tamale store tamales from farmers markets for well over a decade now but this was my first time at the restaurant! My parents took me and my husband here for my bday and we brought our son too! I got the chilaquiles with a southwest veggie tamale. It was a ton of food and really good, for sure enough for two meals. Super flavorful, lots of cheese and creama! Good service and everything was ready fast. Love that they sell a bunch of salsas and stuff here, it's cute! Would come back again!

Love these tamales so much. Typically I go to the Gilbert Farmers Market to get my tamales weekly. At the market, they have fresh options to grab a hot tamale to enjoy or frozen options to bring home. The great thing about the tamales is when frozen they can last 6 months. During the holidays, we missed the farmers market and decided we would make the drive from Gilbert to their physical brick and mortar location and it didn't disappoint. The service was impeccable - they were prepared for the holiday rush and had plenty of people ready to assist with bagging and ordering. The store is amazing. It's actually a restaurant and store. You can get a fresh to order tamale with rice and beans and other sides. I even saw they have chips and salsa to enjoy. They have plenty of seating and welcomed you as you walked through the door. A very positive and inviting ambiance. Also they have a little side store with extras like chips, salsas, hot sauces and more. Our order was put together supper fast and they were very patient as everyone was asking questions about flavor options. Definitely will be buying more of these in our future. They are so flavorful and fresh. Our favorites are Hatch Green Chile Chicken, Chicken Mole, Chicken Chipotle, and Bean and Cheese.

This place is a classic for a reason and it still smacks! Hands down the best tamales I've ever had. Also incredibly affordable! My partner and I got one doble plate and struggled to finish it. We will definitely be whenever we're in the area.

It took me way too long to give this place a try! The size & flavors of our tamales was crazy! The chips had a good crunchiness & sides were delightful. Being Mexican, and brought up on the tamale Christmas, I feel like I was previously in a tamale rut. The tamale store has taken a beautiful thing & made it even better! We each ordered 2 tamales...plenty to take home. They are huge! There is always going to be a vegan in every family (though I'm not one) & I love it that they have so many offerings to choose from. We had the green pork, red pork, and I think a mole tamale. (trying to remember a few months back) I can't wait to return & try another choice. I love their vibe, their service, the huge selection, and their origin story! This place is not to be missed! Go

The food was simply amazing!! I cannot say enough how tasty everything was and how clean and friendly the staff were when we visited. We tried the pork/beef tamales with the red sauce and also the chicken molé and have to say that they were by far the best tamales we've ever had! If we're ever in town again, we will definitely hit this place up again!

Delicious and filling! Love that you can purchase frozen items for future use, but their two tamale plate with beans and the side of corn was enough to last me 2 1/2 meals! Basic restaurant but cute enough I grabbed it to go so cannot really comment on service or ambience

Best place to brunch! Try the chile relleno omelette with a cafe con leche - amazing!

Generously sized tamales! I tried both the red and green pork chili options with two sides, but ended up being too full to finish everything. The tamales are especially tasty, with a substantial amount of masa that is packed with flavor. Although the street corn lacked the desired crunch and the texture was slightly mushy, the flavor was on point. As for the sides, the refried beans were a standout and the chips were also enjoyable. I would highly suggest giving this place a try.

The reviews speak for themselves, but I really liked the Tamale Store. Service was very good, food was delicious. My only complaint is that I ate too much and those tamales are very filling. I got the green chili pork and the green corn cream cheese. Both were excellent and I'd get them again. I also tried the pineapple tamale . Warm, sweet, and delicious. Definitely unique and worth a try.

Stopped in yesterday for an early dinner before the Dbacks game. Service was great and the place was very clean. We shopped in the market for some take home tamales while we awaited our order. We got 3 tamales: Pork red chili Pork green chili Chicken mole All were very large and very tasty. I especially liked the pork green chili as it was a little spicy. We also got a side of street corn and it was just ok. Easy pass next time. The only criticism is the agua frescas weren't fresh and the margaritas were way too sweet and tasted pre made. Otherwise it was a great experience.

We always buy tamales during the Holidays. Usually, we purchase them in Texas while visiting family. This year, I wanted to try someone different, as the Tamales back home have had less and less filling as the years have gone by. So I Yelped Phoenix, looking for Tamales. To my amazement, not only was there a tamale store, but one with right at a five-star review. I didn't expect that find! I went on to the Tamale Store website to find that pre-orders were sold out, but that there are plenty still available at the store. It's a drive, but off I went. Upon arrival, I found the parking lot full. Must be good! That's okay, there's plenty of street-side parking. This place hosts restaurant and a store. I stopped by the store first and ordered Red Pork and Green Chile and Jack tamales. I got three dozen and some red Chile sauce from there well stocked store. The lady behind the counter was as friendly and helpful as anyone can be. That really makes the experience nice. She wished me a Merry Christmas and I was off to the restaurant side. My gosh, the bag is really heavy. These Tamales are not what I had been accustomed to in the past. They are a little shorter, but real fatties! The restaurant and store are spacious and beautifully decorated with merchandise all around. At the restaurant counter, I ordered one Red Pork and one Chile Jack tamale plate. I was given my choice of sides. I chose re-fried beans, Alote and a bean tostada as my sides. Really, a tostada as a side! It was loaded with toppings and really, really good! The tamales from the restaurant were covered in sauce, the tamales themselves were really meaty and delicious. They didn't scrimp on the ingredients. In addition, all of the sides were a pleasing companion to my tamales. Yes, the tamale store has it all! A beautiful well stocked store, a large selection of frozen tamales to take home and a really pleasing restaurant to enjoy while shopping! I will be back!

Need a quick tamale? Go here. We dined in and took food home. The food was very good fresh. I love that we can buy frozen tamales to take home but it's important to eat those fairly quickly eventually frozen. I think we must have waited too long and some of the tamales just didn't quite taste the best. I wouldn't say these tamales are the absolute best but they are better than most restaurants.

Filling tamales and a variety of options! They have meal combos available which include your choices of tamales and sides or you can buy tamales on their own. All of the food is absolutely delicious and the portion sizes are great. They have various types of tamales which I appreciate options! The inside is huge and there is plenty of room to eat in and shop their pantry. They have snacks and pre-made tamales you can buy as well. Quick service, kind staff, and a nice place to enjoy a delicious meal!

I wish I would have gotten a picture before I devoured my delicious meal! I pass by this place every time I visit my cousin and today decided to give it a try, it did not disappoint! I ordered the tamale con chilaquiles and chose the green corn and cream cheese tamale. The chilaquiles were covered in a yummy queso sauce, cheese and beans and the tamale was much bigger than I expected and had so much flavor. I love that they have options for every diet too! The staff was very helpful with choosing what to order and had our food out so fast. My favorite part of this place was that there is a whole little market inside where you can but frozen tamales, local salsa, and international snacks.

When craving authentic tamales look no further. I got to try these tamales at a farmers market. I drove 40 minutes to experience the restaurant and it didn't disappoint.

Stupid good! Like, ridiculous! Like, I'm so mad I just found this place! I was invited here with my Bible study group, which now I know they know what's up when it comes to great food! Let me start with how cute it is inside! It's not just a restaurant or a place to pickup tamales, it has cool shopping from other local vendors. I'm totally gonna come back here for gifts and gifts for myself Now, the food! Oh my goodness with a capital "OH MY!" They have a variety of tamales from classic flavors to unique takes to dessert tamales! I got a Chicken Green Chile and a Green Corn & Cream Cheese + street corn and Mexican white rice...I. Ate. EVERYTHING! They were so flavorful and so moist and jam packed. And bonus, you can buy packs frozen or fresh to-go! The environment is fun and inviting not only because of the decor but because of the people who work here. I'm already planning to come back and with more friends!

Absolutely delicious. The location is handy and the wide variety of tamales gave us lots of option.

We found the Tamale Store at the Gilbert Farmer's Market and wow, the tamales are some of the most delicious ones I've ever had! I ordered the Pork Green Chile, and it was so soft, moist, full of corn flavor, and the meat was so tender and juicy. When I have the time, I want to visit the actual store! Wish it wasn't 40 miles away.

Best tamales I have ever had! The place is extremely vegan friendly, and many of their sides can be made vegan even if they are not listed as such. I had the southwest veggie tamale with refried beans and squash and corn. Everything was delicious, and I can't wait to come back to try the other vegan tamales. The portion sizes are very generous, and prices are relatively low. Inside they also have a market where you can buy frozen tamales to take home.

Food was better this time and now during brunch, you can get different sides on weekends. I had breakfast potatoes and rice, along with the chicken mole tamale. Everything was good this time and other new items seem worth trying for brunch.

Have been here several times after seeing it on the AZ channel one Saturday morning earlier this year. Tamales are excellent, the Hatch Chili & Jack cheese is one of my favorites along with the Red Pork. Cannot go wrong with the papas and chorizo as a side. Wash it down with a cold beer and you have a great lunch or dinner. Give this family run establishment a try, you will be glad you did.

Highly recommend for anyone looking to get a delicious tamale! Ordered three dozen for Christmas for the family and everyone raved about how much meat was inside! Flavor was delicious, quality was great, and supporting a local business is always one of my favorite things! You can get tamales to go or sit inside and order.

Found this place when I had fam living in the area. Oh holy heck. The best. Now my family has moved to Texas. You know how good The Tamale Store is? So good we drive from CA to TX just so we can bring an ice chest and fill it on the way. That's goooood! They ship now which hasn't always been the case so you won't be out of luck no matter where you are. But it's nice to place an order by phone, ask for your tamales frozen if you're stocking up, and buzz by to get them. Since the new location, they have a MUCH larger space and more tamale variety on hand. If your heart is set on a particular flavor, call ahead. Tex-Mex is everyone's fave and every flavor isn't made every day. We were afraid once the foodie magazine chose them as best in the U.S. they'd be too overwhelmed to keep up their quality but that hasn't happened. The quality is still unbelievable. Be aware, during the holidays they're dealing with regular demand and the Latin culture's New Year tamale tradition. They have actually stopped taking orders just before Christmas due to filling the New Years orders. This is the time of year when you have to plan, call and order. The restaurant isn't fancy but the food is great, and you're always treated like family. They know we old-timers who supported their little hole-in-the-wall. And they're happy for their newcomers, too. Check out the website for all the flavors. Don't pass up something different. You'll love those too. Green chile cream cheese is a favorite here right along with beef and pork in red and green sauces. They just don't know how to goof anything up. Hey! Did I tell you my brother just drove from TX to the Bay Area? I guess you know what's in my freezer...

Favorite place ever for tamales! Much healthier and there huge. I've been coming here for years and the cornbread are my fav, the cream cheese green chili are second. The street corn is so good and the bean tostadas are delicious . We love buying from here for the holidays.

I'm so happy I finally had the chance to eat here! I got the solo on the menu which included 1 tamale and two sides- definitely enough and food and any more would have been too filling. Everything was quick and tasted sooo good! Tamales al a cart come in the corn husk as well! You can purchase frozen tamales in their store too and all at a decent price. Can't wait to come back here regularly!

My boyfriend & I are always looking for GREAT Mexican food in AZ. We relocated from Los Angeles, so our expectations are pretty high. We haven't had much luck but stumbled across the Tamale Store & OMG WE ARE IN LOVE!! We have been 2 times now in 2 months. Everyone is friendly, answers all our questions & you can tell they love what they do. The restaurant and store are always clean, good AC and you can smell the amazing tamales being made in the back. Love that you can see into the kitchen too! Like I said we are from LA, so tamales are literally everywhere. I've never had a tamale i didn't like in LA. And always go for homemade. The Tamale Store makes me feel like I'm back in LA. Every single one is so delicious! We got the red chili chicken, the chicken mole, the green chili beef & chicken, the sweet corn, the green corn & cream cheese AND the chili relano. That's all I can remember now lol The hot tamales come out fast & the sides portions are HUGE! Wasn't expecting that at all! I love the street corn! My boyfriend loves their rice and beans. And the chips are nice & crispy. We have both taken 4 to 6 packs of the frozen tamales home both trips so far. And they steam up really nice. Taste exactly the same as in the restaurant. We live in Mesa but the 45min drive is absolutely worth it! Next time though we are going to do the Gilbert Farmer's Market which is much closer to us, to get out fix. Either way though, we are def huge fans.

Fantastic hole-in-the-wall joint. Delicious tamales at a reasonable price. They have plenty of other food, but we went only for the tamales this time. Staff is friendly and helpful and the service prompt. They have all the meat options and even several vegetarian selections, as well. Spicy or non-spicy, so everyone can get what they want. Authentic Mexican. Bring an appetite as the tamales are generous in size.

lots of selections and big tamales , they're more expensive but you get morel Menu looks good next time i will make time to order in. They also sell condiments, salsas, spicy popcorn etc. A must go and actually not all the way in Cave Creek, about 15 miles south of it

What a great place! Service was quick and the waitress was extremely helpful when ordering. We got a half dozen of tamales, a kids bean burrito, and a side of rice and beans. Food was so good. Highly recommend. There is a small store inside as well.

Tamales are delicious! I ordered the hatch and Jack along with the Mexican street corn and rice. All are absolutely delicious. The tamale isn't dried out. As a Vegetarian they had quite a few options for me that I can't find anywhere else. I topped it all with a pineapple margarita-- perfection!!

Delicious, and portions far larger than I would have anticipated. I'll definitely be back. Again, and again, and again.

Tiny bit pricey, but absolutely worth it! Every flavor is amazing, and they have quite a few! Best tamales ever, I won't even try making them again. Served these at my nursing school graduation. It's super cool that you can observe the "tamale line" in the kitchen, bless these people, and you can see how stringently they adhere to cleanliness and compliance standards.

Delicious always. Don't forget to try the pozole. Breakfast dishes I highly recommend. This place has a nice ambiance with small market feel with a cool seating area. The service has always been top tier.

We cannot stay away from this place! Every time we come to Phoenix we have to eat here. Truly The Best Tamales we have found Anywhere! The food is deliciously amazing. Tamales a half pound each, filled well with your choice of meat or veggies and surrounded in a nice, not too thick layer of masa. Our favorite is the pork red chili. The mole is also very good. The side choices we love are the street corn and Papas con chorizo. Their chips and salsa are some of the best we have had as well. The chips are crisp and light, not greasy at all. The Horchata is some of my favorite we have found. They have a self serve machine after paying, so refills are a bonus! I really can't say enough about the Tamale Store!! So so good! You have to go here if you love Tamales!

Best tamales spot in the Arizona area. I live in Chandler and the drive is definitely worth it! My mom is a vegetarian, so to have a vegan option is 5 stars for us.... I took some tamales for my dad. Now he's asking when we can go again?

A friend recommended The Tamale Store and since I live only a couple of miles away, I decided to get take-out. It's a nice, clean place and they have a great selection of tamales...and they have chile rellenos. I bought frozen items for later and got the chicken green chile and Tex Mex to go...both were large and very good. My only critique is that the masa could be a bit less thick...in one of the tamales it was almost 1/2" thick.

Went for lunch and it was busy. Parking was a little difficult to find a space, I had to circle the area a few times. There's two entrances, the far left is where you purchase tamales to go, frozen or fresh. To the far right you can order your lunch and is pretty quick. Seating was crowded but the time we got through the line there was an open seat. The tamales were good and I got to take some home with me. I will definitely be back.

The food is abundant and good! Go hungry! Lots of choices, and you can combo or ala carte.

I ordered 12 to go tamales with sides. We had 3 different types of tamales, all excellent. They were hot and fresh. They were marked well so it was easy to tell them apart. The sides were good, but they gave us rice and I had ordered street corn. Great tamales though!

Service was okay, okay, boy at the cash register he did want to be there. We have better meals elsewhere.