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Name: Tucson Tamale Company
Address: 2545 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85716
Telephone: (520) 305-4760
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.39

Tucson Tamale Company

2545 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85716

(520) 305-4760
Store is closed

Tucson Tamale Company Menu

Burgers

Kid?s Burger 110g

Kid?s Cheeseburger 120g

Bacon Cheddar Burger 125g

Bacon Double Cheeseburger 250g

Big Buford® 230g

Bacon Buford® 255g

Bacon Swiss Buford® 250g

1/4 LB. Champ® 205g

1/4 LB. Champ® with Cheese 225g

1/4 LB. Bacon Cheese Champ® 235g

1/2 LB. Double Champ® 280g

1/2 LB. Double Champ® with Cheese 300g

Checkerburger® 170g

Checkerburger® with Cheese 179g

Cheese Double Cheese 190g

Chili Cheeseburger 135g

Double Chili Cheeseburger 180g

Double Decker 215g

Rallyburger® 170g

Rallyburger® with Cheese 179g

Smokehouse Buford® 265g

Triple Cheeseburger 250g

Healthy Meal suggestions for

Burgers

Kid?s Burger 110g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 28, Sodium (s): 570, Saturated Fat (ms) : 6, Calories: 280, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Kid?s Cheeseburger 120g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 29, Sodium (s): 730, Saturated Fat (ms) : 8, Calories: 320, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Bacon Cheddar Burger 125g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 29, Sodium (s): 730, Saturated Fat (ms) : 9, Calories: 370, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Bacon Double Cheeseburger 250g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 32, Sodium (s): 1340, Saturated Fat (ms) : 20, Calories: 650, Sugar (ms): 6 ]

Big Buford® 230g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 31, Sodium (s): 1090, Saturated Fat (ms) : 18, Calories: 570, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Bacon Buford® 255g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 31, Sodium (s): 1510, Saturated Fat (ms) : 21, Calories: 680, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Bacon Swiss Buford® 250g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 28, Sodium (s): 1310, Saturated Fat (ms) : 21, Calories: 660, Sugar (ms): 4 ]

1/4 LB. Champ® 205g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 32, Sodium (s): 810, Saturated Fat (ms) : 12, Calories: 490, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

1/4 LB. Champ® with Cheese 225g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 33, Sodium (s): 930, Saturated Fat (ms) : 18, Calories: 580, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

1/4 LB. Bacon Cheese Champ® 235g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 35, Sodium (s): 1230, Saturated Fat (ms) : 18, Calories: 630, Sugar (ms): 4 ]

1/2 LB. Double Champ® 280g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 30, Sodium (s): 1030, Saturated Fat (ms) : 25, Calories: 740, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

1/2 LB. Double Champ® with Cheese 300g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 34, Sodium (s): 1360, Saturated Fat (ms) : 28, Calories: 790, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Checkerburger® 170g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 32, Sodium (s): 680, Saturated Fat (ms) : 8, Calories: 390, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Checkerburger® with Cheese 179g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 33, Sodium (s): 810, Saturated Fat (ms) : 12, Calories: 420, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Cheese Double Cheese 190g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 31, Sodium (s): 1140, Saturated Fat (ms) : 17, Calories: 510, Sugar (ms): 4 ]

Chili Cheeseburger 135g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 30, Sodium (s): 620, Saturated Fat (ms) : 8, Calories: 320, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Double Chili Cheeseburger 180g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 30, Sodium (s): 760, Saturated Fat (ms) : 14, Calories: 460, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Double Decker 215g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 31, Sodium (s): 720, Saturated Fat (ms) : 13, Calories: 480, Sugar (ms): 4 ]

Rallyburger® 170g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 32, Sodium (s): 680, Saturated Fat (ms) : 8, Calories: 390, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Rallyburger® with Cheese 179g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 33, Sodium (s): 810, Saturated Fat (ms) : 12, Calories: 420, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Triple Cheeseburger 250g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 33, Sodium (s): 1450, Saturated Fat (ms) : 23, Calories: 690, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Healthy Meal suggestions for CheckersRally

Burgers

Smokehouse Buford® 265g [ Sodium (s): 1610, Calories: 650, Sugar (ms): 15 ]

Visit below restaurant in Tucson for healthy meals suggestion.

Arby’s ( 5633 W Cortaro Farms Rd )

Subway ( 6878 E Sunrise Dr,Ste 150 )

Write An Anonymous Review

Terri M.

LOVE Tucson Tamale!! Stopped by tonight to use an about to expire Living Social deal. 2 actually, so I took my mom. We picked up 2 family packs, one for the meat eaters and one for the vegetarians. Sonoran chicken, blue corn... can't pick a favorite. I love the rice salad and have yet to try a salsa that I did not like. Tried the pico de gallo for the first time today. YUM! I have not tried the breakfast yet, but it will be soon, very soon.
(5)
Jim T.

This was a great lunch spot. Four of us had a variety of tamales. My favorites are the Sonoran and the Santa Fe. They are famous for their tamales and I can see why. With great meat and vegetarian choices, you'll love eating here. The people are fun and pleasant and will share and tell you how they make the delicious items you will consume here. Terrific. Jump in and enjoy.
(5)
Steph B.

Best tamales I've ever eaten (and that includes abuelita's home-made). Affordable, consistently great. New flavors keep turning up - each one better than the last. This place has become one of my regular and favorite stops for a great meal, and I keep a couple of different flavors in the freezer at home to meet impromptu tamale cravings.
(5)
Slewis J.

This place makes authentic tamales with nice fresh ingredients. I bought some frozen and they made it back to Alaska frozen. Give them a try next time your in Tucson.
(4)
Erika L.

Fantastic! Clean, friendly, delicious.
(5)
Andre M.

I first went to Tucson Tamale Company after their Groupon deal, and have been back many times and ordered for company dinners/events before. And, I must say, these are some of the BEST tamale's I've had.
(5)
Carianne C.

Stopped intoday for the first time and I will be making this a regular. Clean and friendly, this place felt so very "Tucson". Grabbed a couple of tamales (blue corn and Santa Fe) and a side salad to go. All were delicious and I cannot wait to go back and try some of the other selections! It is nice to have another healthy "fast food" option that is locally owned and delicious!!!
(5)
Jake R.

It is awesome to find a niche food company here in Tucson. The staff is outstanding. A great place for lunch meetings or a quick bite with a friend. I enjoy taking friends to the Tucson Tamale Company to discover a true delight in the Old Pueblo. They have some staple tamales everyday then one or two new creations. The "Little Italy" is OUTSTANDING! And they are gluten free. This is a must have! They have a Twitter too: @tucsontamales
(5)
Brittany A.

I can't say enough good things about this place. The owner and his family are extremely friendly, the food is excellent, and there is definitely something for everyone. My sister and I are super picky eaters and we can find something we like (and something that's different) every time we go. They have hearty entree tamales and delicious dessert tamales (I wait for the pumpkin ones every year!). The place is small but cozy, the food is delicious and prompt, and you won't meet a greater group of people. These guys also go to the Meet Yourself every year and show up wherever they can to share good food and good times. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Jackie K.

I am obsessed with Tucson Tamale Company. Every single tamale I have tried has been amazing. Moreover, every single thing on the menu is gluten-free!!! I love the Tucson Tamale, the Berkley, the Madison, the Sonora and the Blue. I still have lots more to try. The black beans are sooo good. You can get two tamales and rice and beans for 6 bucks. Unbelievable!
(5)
Marlys S.

Great tamales. Extensive vegetarian and vegan menu. The chips are forgettable, but the black beans are tasty.
(4)
Emily F.

Holy cow this place is good! I might move to Tucson just for the tamales?
(5)
Surranna V.

I love this little place. When my family and I make tamales we use so much lard that I can't even believe I eat them so knowing that this place can make a tamale with out lard and it be moist, well I am impressed. They are pricey and they could be bigger because I always want three and the large order only comes with two. So far I love them all, from the meaty, to the vegan, and as far as I know they are all gluten free. Now I want some tamales.
(4)
Jonathan K.

Among the best tamales in town. Really nice salsas to go with them too.
(4)
Ron B.

Wow! Worth searching for! A palette pleasure... Stopped in and had the JoJo, the blue tamale which is vegetarian and soo good! My husband had the New Delhi... Mild curry veggie delight a must try for sure.. Staff is friendly and service is fast... A great choice... Will be back or ordering some to ship!
(5)
Lisa M.

I ordered a catered lunch for 30 people from TTC and *everyone* enjoyed it. A true feat for any restaurant! Todd (the owner) put together an excellent selection of tamales (my favorites are the Berkeley - bean, corn & spices and the San Carlos - shrimp, corn, cilantro, chives & red salsa). The catered lunch also included: an amazing green salad with veggies, sides, a variety of homemade salsas, plates etc and delivery. TTC was on time (even a little early), helped me set up and were great to work with. Gourmet tamales are a great alternative to greasy Mexican, sandwiches or fast food.
(5)
Gary F.

Hands down the BEST tamales EVER! Tried the beef, pork, breakfast with sausage and the Vegan. Incredible salsa! Loved it all.
(5)
Angelina K.

Best tamales! I had the Boise, Sonora, and the pumpkin tamale. Hubby had the Arizona, jojo, and Santa fe. We didn't do sides. Total was $15 and hubby thought afterwards 2 would be enough for him in the future. Don't know what people are complaining about regarding size & cost. They are just silly. I can't eat gluten & dairy due to allergies so I am thrilled that their tamales are vegan, no lard & gluten free. Totally awesome & extremely well worth the cost of $2.95 per tamale or $4.99 for 2 (as of dec '09).
(4)
Lawrence R.

Great little spot in Tucson...must try for lunch or dinner. Ok atmosphere, but great people and service, and best of all great tamales. Tamales are big, lard free, moist, and they have many unique options to try. Had the sweet potato masa filled with plantains, unbelievable!!!
(4)
Ami D.

Delicious place. Everyone else has already talked about the food so I'll give my perspective on ambiance and service. The decor of this place is really cohesive to the food. The whole kitchen has glass panels so you can see everything going on. Smiles have been exchanged both times I've been here. Me and my friend both agreed that the family-ownership vibe is present and the owner even offered to give me my tamale for free because I wasn't sure what I really wanted. I couldn't accept that so we made a deal: If I didn't enjoy my tamale, he would give me another one for free. Needless to say, I enjoyed the tamale and have been back since then.
(4)
Louda L.

I really like this place, nothing amazing or over the top about it, but tasty, good quality tamales and pretty cheap too. I also really appreciate the fact that they offer meat, vegetarian and even vegan tamales. Always good for a quick, inexpensive snack. Try the New Delhi, it's delicious.
(4)
Leo B.

Good start to the restaurant. Very nice people but many of our fresh tasty tamales were served lukewarm. My wife and brother swear by the Arizona tamale and I enjoyed their vegetarian option. They need better sides but I'd go back.
(3)
Rory J.

Tamales are very, very good. They have a very unique and delicious take on the tamale...not what I'd consider authentic (i.e. not like abuela's), but still great. Great variety as well (even cheese for kids). Ambiance isn't much, but OK for lunch. Perfect for takeout as they are prepackaged for easy prep at home. They even told us how to fix the cheese tamale for our kids so it mimics a grilled cheese (I ate most of it b/c it was excellent). Highly recommend.
(5)
Glenn B.

great people, Todd and Kirby extensive menu, expensive prices, 30.00 for a dozen tamales? OK but but - this is illogical for me.
(4)
Sally P.

Fabulous and funky. If we visit Tucson again, we'll be eating here for sure. Try to go when it's not too busy as it's a very small seating area.
(5)
Lisa H.

fab! loved the food i got for take out. for $23, i got 8 tamales, 2 large sides and a container of salsa (the family pack--not enough for a family but perfect for a girl and a guy with leftovers). the black beans and the basmati rice were subtly spiced and delicious. i love green sauce, and colette's green (medium heat) did not disappoint. the green corn tamales were perfectly sweet and the tucson tamales were spicy and not too hot, with lots of cheese. the madison was pretty good, it seemed like a healthier alternative as there was not lots of cheese. the new dehli was not as flavorful as i had anticipated based on the description. i didn't find any of the tamales to be dry. the staff was friendly and service was fast. i definitely will be back.
(4)
Elaine W.

The tamale menu is extensive and unique, the restaurant is bright, clean and cheerful and the staff is exuberantly friendly. I had a vegetarian tamale, the Austin, and the San Carlo, with shrimp. Everything was seasoned perfectly and the black beans are smoky and spicy, with pepitas on top. What a find and I can see why people were lining up when I finished my lunch, all eager to order tamales for December parties or their own Saturday lunch. I can hardly wait to go back. This is a place to bring your out of town guests, a true Tucson treasure.
(5)
Desi V.

My mother and I are visiting from San Diego and went for lunch yesterday to check it out! We are SO happy we did! The tamales are sooo delicious, we spent about $60 on frozen tamales to take back with us. The sonora and tahiti was my fave! Everyone must try when stopping by Tucson
(5)
cristina c.

I love the chili relleno tamale!!! I took off a star for price. I don't always leave with a full/satisfied tummy. I've also tried the shrimp and blue corn tamale. Always delicious!
(4)
Clare C.

Driving through Arizona and figured we would check it out. Unimpressed. The tortilla chips were stale and bad-quality. The tamales had hardly any meat or sauce and their flavor was average. There was a chunk of avocado skin in the guacamole and the rice in my salad was undercooked. Almost gave it two stars, but then I realized I couldn't think of a redeeming quality.
(1)
Joyce C.

My decision to give up meat a year ago has put a serious strain on my relationship with Mexican food. More often than not, I was stuck with the token vegetarian burrito. The oh-so-boring green pepper, onion, rice and beans... snore. And because I'd never developed a serious craving for tamales, all the hoopla about Tucson Tamale Company was sorta lost on me. And then ... we ran into each other in an aisle of Whole Foods at a recent Yelp Gets Schooled event and (cue the mariachis) it was love at first bites. It was kismet, really. I lost my heart to the Blue Tamale (calabacitas in blue corn masa). And a second later? I discovered my undying love for the Green Corn (fresh corn masa, roasted green chile and cheese). Beyond all reason, an ex-Intuit exec started a company with a whole section of his menu devoted to Vegetarian and Vegan Tamales. And I'm talking real ingredients: organic spinach, sweet potato, fresh corn and the divinely inspired "calabacitas" (a squash, tomato, onion and green chile medley). So ... my first real date with Tucson Tamale Company was breakfast this past Sunday. I demurely ordered the Austin and (listing more toward vegetarian than vegan that day) added scrambled eggs. The hand-rolled tamale was, predictably, awesome. But the (cage-free) eggs? The best I have tasted outside my own kitchen. The covered outdoor patio was intimate and cool. (Two overhead fans and a fountain!) We will meet again, Tucson Tamale Company ... and I am already dreaming of taking our relationship to the next level (which I hope involves one of your take-home desserts.) Until then ... XXXXX mi amor.
(5)
Mike K.

I went here when I visited Tucson, and loved it so much I ordered a box of tamales shipped back to the East Coast! Delicious, fat, flavorful tamales with fresh ingredients, your choice of classic or "creative." As a vegetarian I really appreciated the several meatless choices they provide, including a couple of vegan tamales. Small, funky restaurant with a good vibe. Not many seats but it wasn't a problem when I was there.
(5)
chris c.

Excellent tamales, do not forget to try the yellow curry one it was surprisingly delicious. Altogether we shared four kinds of tamales and all were good. Not too heavy or lingering of Lard. The hot salsa is really good and hot..
(5)
James O.

Awesome. If you haven't been...go! Everything was good and obviously made from fresh ingredients. Priced right on the dollar too.
(5)
Bianca W.

I live in phoenix and visited tucson for a little stay-cation and visited this restaurant after a little research. The food is definitely tasty but nothing outrageous. I planned on taking some home with us when we left but forgot. Luckily, tucson tamale is located in 5 different locations in phoenix. The location closest to me did not have them and did not know when they would have them so.... OH WELL! I would probably visit again if I was back in tucson.
(3)
Kate J.

We became addicted to these delicious tamales buying them frozen at Sprouts. Then, I stumbled across the actual store, where they are both cheaper and even more delicious plus yummy salsa. My favorite is the JoJo and the vegan blue (I know, opposites do attract). And my husband loves the Wisconsin, Tucson and JoJo. A must-try if you like tamales!
(5)
George F.

We always stop in for some great tamales when we are in town. The selection and variety is outstanding, though they can be a bit on the small side. Get a tamale or two with the rice and black beans and you have a great meal that wont leave you waddling out the door.
(4)
Laura S.

One of the best places in Tucson. I love the blue corn & Santa Fe. Super fast service too
(5)
Mary T.

Doesn't look like anything from the outside, but the tamales are to die for. We ended up going two day in a row! The Green Sonora Tamale, Mexican slaw and pinto beans were al wonderful! Bummer they were out of guacamole when we went. Wish we had Tucson Tamale Company in California!
(5)
Zack R.

Great food, great prices. Tamales were moist and I really enjoyed their guacamole. I had the sonoran and the jojo. It is a hole in the wall but sometimes that's where the best food comes from. Wish it was bigger or had more of a seating area but really liked the back patio.
(5)
Daniel K.

Coming out of Los Angeles, I am a sucker for authentic and tasty tamales. When I moved to Tucson for a couple of months, I was looking for different eateries and found this wonderful place near my work. Their tamales are one of the best I've had and I can't wait to go back for more. Recommendations: I highly recommend you mix and match and grab both chicken and beef tamales! Perfect place for lunch!
(5)
Betty N.

**BEST GOURMET TAMALES IN TUCSON** Before arriving to Tucson, I ordered the following for Christmas Eve pick-up: *SONORA (WINNER) - Green Chile Chicken Gourmet Tamales - My favorite of the three flavors ordered. Simply delicious. Beautiful melded flavors of lard free masa, roasted chicken, green chiles, onions, tomatoes, and subtle spices. *SANTA FE (RUNNER UP) - Green Chile Pork and Cheese Gourmet Tamales was my second favorite. Wonderful pork loin, green chiles, tomatoes, cheese, onions, and spices was another awesome combination. *ARIZONA - Chipotle Beef Gourmet Tamales was decent, but not as simple and flavorful as the Sonora and Santa Fe. SIDES: *COLD BASMATI RIDE SALAD - Rice, corn, red peppers and scallions were a favorite side. *SPICED BLACK BEANS - Not my favorite because the spices were a bit off, but the others liked it. *ROASTED CORN ON THE COB - Liked it, but these did require butter and salt, wasn't sweet enough on its own. The provided GREEN CHILI SAUCE was AMAZING on the tamales. WOW WOW WOW. Must have. The staff was super friendly and there were small tables to dine inside. There was a line out the door during Christmas Eve. One of the staff members had a huge hickey on her neck. Not going to hate, but cover that up, please. 16 tamales and a few sides = $60 A dozen tamales was more than enough to feed a family of 4. Unfortunately, they gave us only 3 cobs and I ordered 4. Usually, this would warrant a one star ding, BUT, since their tamales are so super good, the 5 star rating stands. One of the best tamale experiences I've ever had. Simply awesome. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
(5)
Joseph L.

Great service 5 stars.... Order your Tamales and they will be done in 3 minutes after the microwave bell rings. Tamales from a microwave just do not work for this Mexican. Sorry Tucson Tamale Company. Turn your microwave off.
(5)
Stephanie G.

I love this place. I've never been disappointed with anything I've eaten. I refuse to eat tamales from anywhere else!
(5)
Evan B.

One tamale, two tamale, I still want more! This place is great. Obviously their deal is tamales, for those of you not from the South west a tamale involves corn masa (flour) place in a dried corn husk with other fillings and then is steamed for a long time resulting in a soft, moist and firm filling. Walk in, step up to the counter and face the hardest decision in life. What tamale or two will you get today. With many options including multiple vegetarian and vegan options, everyone will have a hard time choosing. As with Asian food they place chillies next to the dishes with kick. For 6.29 you can get a combo any two tamale's, with either chips, or rice salad and a small cup of black beans. both come with salsa, and the hot is a bit hot. I had a New Dehli tamale which is a real fusion dish with its yellow curry and potatoes (vegan). I also had a Tuscon with jalapeÃ±o cheese and more. Both were great, savory and the latter one was cheesy too. Great little place, that I really wish was closer to home. They also sell wrapped tamales for taking home and have a small store full of shirts sauces etc.
(5)
Greg N.

Wow! I'm impressed! The blond girl saw me cruising the menu and she came over and siphoned the code. She had me purchasing 3 varied tamales in no time. Took them home and went to heav3n! Delicious is an understatement. I know tucson has the best Mexican restaurants in the world, but this sent me back to when I was in school here in the 70's when I experienced my best ever cheese quessadilla from a little tortilla factory downtown. And their hot salsa is.delicious too.
(5)
Robert W.

Absolutely blown away I never expected this little place to be so good. Once I walked through the front door I was expecting the prices to be to high for the value but was pleasantly surprised. The only thing that wasn't amazing was the chips and gaucamole the gaucamole was bland and the chips were borderline stale. I'm still raving about the pork tamales. Mmmm I'll be back for the rest of the flavors. :-)
(4)
Deb H.

I heard about this little gem from roadfood.com and decided to try it on my way to see one of my sons during his spring break. Like others, I appreciated the Mexican Coke and loved the Blue (vegetarian) tamales so much that I bought some frozen ones, on the spot, to take to my son. The frozen tamales are surprisingly affordable at the restaurant, but I just had a disappointment when I tried to shop for them online. The online prices are much higher, and the shipping fees seem out of sync with other fees that I've paid. The next time I drive through Tucson, I'll come prepared with a cooler and just act as my own delivery service.
(5)
Bleep S.

A line forms at lunch time and moves quickly. The vegan blue tamale ( Calabacitas Squash, Tomato, Onion, Green Chile and Cheese in Blue Corn Masa) was especially delicious and it is blue! Green tomatillo salsa is medium hot and tasty.
(4)
Erin Y.

This place is great! I really try to avoid tamales because I need to watch for my weight but I can never say NO this this eatery. I enjoyed all the tamales on the menu but my favorite has to be the Santa Fe and Green Tamale. If you decide to eat here make sure you try the guacamole, it it delicious and fresh! Top off any tamale with the green salsa and you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Tera E.

After months of having this bookmarked I finally stopped in to pick up some frozen tamales after the Yelp Helps Ben's Bells event. We gobbled up the JoJo (the boy's favorite), Santa Fe, Green Corn (my fav) and Blue Tamales (wait this may be my favorite too.... my review, I can have more than one favorite!) Since then I've been keeping some in the freezer at all times in case we don't feel like cooking which is happening more often now that I have these to fall back on. I love that if you buy them in their store you get 10% off orders of 6 packages or more as well as free salsa... it seems like a better deal than buying them at whole foods. The staff is always super friendly; they were so helpful on my first visit and took the time to walk me through the menu a bit and make some recommendations for a first timer like me. They are also really quick with the to go orders... they have them out in a minute or two usually even if they're busy. We picked up a bunch this weekend to have on Christmas Eve this year... can't wait!
(5)
Liz D.

My husband and I decided to try this place last month. I've lived in Arizona for over a decade and had never had a tamale. Yes, never. Anyway, this was a good place to start. They have all kinds of tamales, but between the two of us we sampled the chile relleno, the Tucson (I think that's what it was called?), and a couple others I'm forgetting. They were pretty good except one of mine, the cheese never melted quite right and so it was like a semi-hard cube in the middle--just a weird texture is all. We got rice and beans on the side, but unless you HAVE to have those, I'd skip them. The black beans had a very strange taste. The first two bites were fine, but the rest of it tasted like they used a lot of clove or something similar. My husband said these tamales were good, but not typical of tamales everywhere (his family makes them, but not like this is how he described it). We agreed that when we have visitors from out of town, we'd probably take them there so they can try it. And the next time we go, it will probably be for breakfast so we can try the soyrizo tamales.
(3)
Michele D.

I ate here the other day for lunch. I definitely will go back. I had 2 chicken tamales with chips and a drink. I will have to say-- these are the best tamales that I have had in Tucson. I am more of a fan of the Cuban style tamales of my youth-- but these are still super good for Sonoran style. They tasted super fresh and were wrapped in the traditional corn husks. I might try the veggie style next time. I will be back :)
(4)
Dawn B.

Not only do they have vegan and vegetarian options, they are delicious to boot!
(5)
Miranda M.

Such an amazing Tucson staple! Amazingly flavorful, never a let down and the price cannot be beat. Love this place (and buying the tamales at remote vendors such a farmer's markets).
(5)
Stephanie C.

Love the tamales here! They have an amazing variety and I think most (if not, all) of them are made with lard-free masa. I can't wait until I can go again so that I can try more tamales!!! The price is very reasonable too...you can get a really cheap lunch/dinner!
(5)
Michelle N.

The food has always been good, but the customer service is lacking. Everytime, and I mean everytime I have come into the store, same poor service. The older thin lady wearing a hat is the worst. They must stay open from the food being great, definitely not for the friendly smile greetings :(
(2)
Sami A.

tasty stuff tasty salsa!
(4)
Bern F.

I am just piling on the good reviews with this one. Classic Tucson laid back vibe. Comfortable atmosphere and FAST friendly service. Been there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner now. Eat in and take out. I especially like the meat-bearing tamales. Absolutely fabulous Tucson original. Quite the turn around for me, since my 1st thought was, "A tamale restaurant? Really?"
(5)
Zach F.

Tucson Tamale Company is quite nice. The restaurant has a warm atmosphere and is very casual. The employees were knowledgeable with the menu and answered any questions I had. Service was fast, food was very tasty, and prices were incredibly reasonable. Before the food was served my expectations were incredibly high and for good reason. Everything was perfect. I'd like to go into more detail, but see for yourself and I'm confident you'll agree. For the heat lovers I suggest the JoJo tamales. (my new favorite) The Sonora was also quite the treat. In my mind, the place is a hit. Consider me a regular in the making.
(4)
Jen M.

Delicious tamales! The rice salad was really good also. We tried a chicken tamale - the chicken was moist and the chiles were really flavorful. The Jo-Jo spicy beef tamale was also incredible as was the pork tamale. The grilled corn was a little overcharred but we were also arriving just at closing time so it may have been on the grill a little overlong. Service was great - food was terrific. We will definitely be back!!!
(5)
Mike E.

Top tamales in Tucson. they might be a little expensive, but if you want the best then stop in.
(5)
RL P.

Their tamales are great, but for breakfast we get their Huevos Rancheros. The first time we had them there were 2 masa cakes as they call them. They were crunchy, which was a welcome texture because everything else on the plate is moist/runny. The black beans are the way to go, highly flavorful. This visit however there was only 1 masa cake hidden under almost everything. It was all soggy except for 2 bites. Bring back the 2 cakes and keep them crispy, when this dish is prepared that way it is one of the best/unique variations on Huevos Rancheros that I have had.
(4)
Andrea H.

YUM! Ok-- this place is awesome. There really is a tamale for everyone. I sampled the Santa Fe, Sonoran, and I have 2 blue corn tamales in my fridge that I've yet to sample. The salsas are quite tasty too. Being from Wisconsin, I was eager to try the Wisconsin tamale, but avoided it because it only contains cheese. (I like more stuff in my tamales) I plan on ordering it next time. The fresh salsas are a nice compliment. I also enjoyed the friendly staff's help when I explained that I was a TTC rookie. They helped me pick a bouquet of tamales to go and also included each type of salsa for me to sample. I'm looking forward to my next trip!
(5)
Yolanda G.

It doesn't get better than this, when it comes to tamales. This place is AHHH MAZING!! If you haven't been, RUN, don't walk. Best tamales in Tucson, by far.
(5)
Laura H.

I just ate my first Tucson Tamale Company tamale and it deserves five stars! OMYGOSH!! This is the best tamale I have ever eaten! EVER. (I had the Madison...black beans, fresh corn....num num!!!) I cannot believe it has taken me 8 years in Tucson to hear about this place! I will be a regular. Looking forward to a breakfast tamale soon.
(5)
Eric G.

Good good tamales. Brought home a selection which included four different types--calabasitas and cheese in blue corn, another more standard veggie and cheese, shrimp, and finally a hot dog tamale. Yeah, a hot dog tamale. That one was a hit, although I did not try it. Might be good to help children expand their tastes. The shrimp tamale was quite interesting however. The color alone was, um, unique--kind of an orange pink hue. The flavor was not quite what I expected--certainly shrimp but not heavy on the seafood. Really quite refreshing with the almost straight forward corn taste delicately infused with shrimp. I'll certainly revisit this one. The highlights were the shrimp and blue corn tamales. The rice and beans on the side were nice. Tasty and simple. Looking forward to trying more of their vast selection.
(4)
Eric L.

Tried two frozen tamales to go. Both reheated well per the instructions on the wrapper, and both were delicious. Frozen makes them extremely convenient when you're in a pinch playing your favorite video game. More hipster, than Mexican. More Chipotle, than the South Tucson Taqueria.
(4)
Jay P.

It's too bad that Tucson does not have more quality options for Mexican inspired food. TTC's tamales are extremely bland and dry - every flavor, every time. I have gone back over an over wanting them to be better, and they just never are. On the other hand, their salsas ROCK. I often go in with a quart jar and have them fill it with the GREEN salsa. I put that on Tamales that I buy from random people in front of Amigos Meat Market or some other business - or Trader Joe's frozen tamales - they are better than those from TTC. I agree with reviews here that say the people at TTC are nice - they are - just wish that the namesake product was better....
(2)
Molly H.

An abundance of tamales is a great idea for a lazy holiday dinner. I picked up 12 for the family along with beans and rice. I love their green corn tamale, the chipotle beef was also good and the green chile pork as usual. My favorite is the blue corn with calabacitas, but some are turned off by the color. The staff has always been friendly when I have picked up an order, though last night they were completely disorganized and I watched a woman walk out when she hadn't been waited on for the 5 minutes she was standing there. Service misses aside, the tamales are the best I have ever had and all the interesting flavor combinations makes it fun for everyone.
(4)
Lauren G.

What a great little dive!! Found this local restaurant while spending a weekend in Tucson. I tried the JoJo and the Santa Fe tamales with the basmati rice salad and black beans. Yum!!!! The JoJo was my favorite as it was very flavorful with a little bit of heat. The Santa Fe was a little bland for my taste. I'm thinking they should try to make it more like a real Santa Fe tamale with some NM red chile for flavor. They also add cheese to their tamales, which is different than I'm used to, but it's a very good thing!! I also really loved the rice salad and the beans. All of this great food comes with some VERY friendly staff! I highly recommend this place!
(4)
Paul C.

Love their tamales and green salsa. Great proportion of masa to fillings. Been three times and planning to become a regular!
(5)
Sam L.

on my god the st valentine tamale blew my mind it is chocolate desert tamale that tastes just like chocolate cake with cherries!!! I also love the wisconsin grilled cheese (great for a white boy like me lol, bland for arizonians tasty for me). I deducted a star because they seem to do more retail business compared to an actual restaurant business! but yum -o!!! and for thos saying it is expensive? wtf. they use organic and fresh ingredients of course they are going to be more expansive than the tamale ladys at a grocery store parking lot!!!
(4)
Barbara G.

I don't know if it was just because I haven't had tamales in awhile, but wow these were hands down the best. I strongly suggest the Santa Fe tamale, it's the one with the pork and delicious cheese. I didn't have to wait long at all to get my food after I ordered. It was served piping hot wrapped in husk, along with the chips and medium salsa that I ordered. Amazingly, these tamales are glutten-free! The beverages come in cans here and a bottomless cup of water. It's not a big restaurant and is very easy to miss if you aren't looking for it since it is tucked away in the corner. Because of the small area and kitchen, it gets pretty warm in there. Beware of bringing a lot of people though because of the limited seating. For the food you are getting, it is quite the bang for your buck.
(5)
Michelle L.

I love tamales! So I was worried I'd be disappointed in this place. To my surprise, they have more than 15 types of tamales- some meat, some vegetarian, and some crazy unique favors. Fast service, affordable food, and good prices that tastes great. I bought $50 worth of frozen tamales (18 tamales total) to take home with me (2 hours away). I don't plan on coming back to Tucson, but If I ever have to, this place will be on my to go list.
(5)
Kate D.

My friend was picking up her dog and the groomer next door, and we were STARVING so I ran in just to grab us two green corn tamales. This was my first time ever in the store, and I was welcomed by the most friendly employees at the counter, who enthusiastically took my measly two ala cart tamale order. While they grabbed my order, I looked over a menu and made some joke about how could they let me order a regular ol' green corn tamala\e when they had this amazing-sounding blue corn tamale with blue corn masa, squash, tomato, corn, onion, green chile and cheese?! They told me I just had to try it, and offered to switch one out. When I declined, they emphatically insisted I try one and threw one in my bag. Oh. My. God. Thank you so much wonderful TTC employees! My friend and I are still talking about the tamales 3 days later and cannot WAIT to try the entire menu.
(5)
Will L.

Extremely tasty! Passing through Tuscon, we stopped at this place, since the other highest reviewed place was a hotdog joint (seriously, Tuscon?). This place was great! I'm not a vegetarian, but upon seeing positive reviews for the Green Corn tamale, I ordered that, along with the New Delhi tamale. I enjoyed them both, but I preferred the Green Corn tamale.
(5)
Roland W.

My second visit and I've loved it each time. The tamales are fresh and delicious. This is another place I normally wouldn't bother stopping at, but after reading about Tucson Tamales in Arizona Highways I had to give it a try. Reasonable prices, fantastic food, friendly staff and quirky decor make this place a keeper. It's another place I wish we had in Phoenix.
(5)
Karl S.

Oh boy, these tamales are great. What's good is they sell their tamales the various framers' markets. We buy them frozen.They cook up great in the micro. No fuss no muss. Great for breakfast or dinner. We like to serve them for holiday breakfasts. I love the spicy meatatarian varieties as well as the veggies options. The thanksgiving tamale (turkey stuffing etc) and the pumpkin pie tamale (especially with whip cream) are exquisite.
(5)
Carolyn W.

I've never eaten in the restaurant but order the tamales online and have them shipped to me. Best tamales ever! Shipping isn't cheap but worth it.
(5)
Anqi L.

Best tamales! I miss this place since moving away. Fantastic masa, always moist, and all the varieties are never too salty or greasy. Sometimes tough to get seating inside -- but that's always a good sign. The frozen choices are just as good at home.
(4)
Nick P.

Nickzilla is an important business-type dinosaur and, as such, frequently attends important business-type lunches. Okay, not really THAT important but it gets us out of the office for a couple hours to try something new. After reading the menu on the interwebs, I was practically salivating at the vegetarian and vegan selections at Tucson Tamale Company and the product did not disappoint. Their signature tamale, called the Tucson surprisingly enough, deliciously cheesy and spicy. I enjoyed the Madison tamale more, but I think that's because the Madison just had more stuff in it. The place itself is quintessential Tucson: a smattering of tables, swamp-cooled and friendly, laid back staff in shorts and sneakers. The folks who run the place were actually in the kitchen and bussing tables and seemed truly appreciative of every customer that came in. Three meals plus chips/salsa: 20 bucks. (Did I mention inexpensive? Yeah, the food is roadside burrito-stand cheap but don't let the price fool you, the quality is top notch)
(5)
Sara S.

I loved the tamales here! I think it's important to mention that there is a very good vegetarian and vegan selection here! I didn't go for a long time because I assumed most tamales would have meat and I didn't see it mentioned anywhere. But it has a great selection of vegetarian and vegan options! And they're tasty and cheap!
(5)
Victoria K.

I love that there are many vegan options. Yummy food, fast, friendly, easy.
(5)
Jess S.

I couldn't remember if I've reviewed this place before, but we went there again on a business trip to Tucson. We love it. Sonora for him, a Madison for me. Delicious black beans and basmati rice sides. Really good salsa. And the service couldn't be better. Only request...expand!
(4)
Zeke S.

So good. The corn in the tamales is moist and delicious, the grilled cheese tamales are a big favorite of my kids, the Sonoran chicken is like my personal reward for making it through a busy work day. The service is generally good and the workers nice. We love the place and now pick up some tamales about once a week. Go get yourself tamalied!
(4)
gaby g.

This place is great. My recommendation is to try the more creative tamales -- that's where this place shines. You can get a regular old tamale anywhere - so why not try something different? Also, I really appreciate the "Tamale Salad" option. w00t!
(4)
H K.

Very tasty. All organic, no-lard, no-GMO wholesome food. They ship wherever you want them to be shipped..
(5)
Andrea B.

A Mexican, a Puerto Rican, a Venezuelan and a Southern gentleman from GA walk into a tamale shop...Sounds like the start of a joke, but the tamales here are no joking matter. My fellow diners had a broad range of tastes, preferred levels of spiciness, and previous experience with tamales but we all found something to love here. The Santa Cruz (Mild Red Chile Beef in Red Chile Masa) was a pretty safe choice, but I like seeing how places do with the standards. This tamale did not disappoint. Full of flavor, moist and delicious. I also tried the Green Corn Tamale, which was good but a little bland. It's a rare day that I add more salt to anything. The rest of my group tried the JoJo (declared amazing and fiery), the Blue (interesting and chock-full of veggies), the Santa Fe and the Sonoran. Well worth searching out. It's not fancy, but who cares about fancy when the food is this good? Even the one member of my group that asked plaintively "Do they have anything BUT tamales?" left full and happy.
(4)
Tricia E.

Tamales heaven
(4)
Wintergreen C.

Excellent to come across on my recent trip to Tucson, since I've always had to hunt down individual tamale sellers selling out of grocery carts in parking lots around Christmas. Anyway, I was thrilled to find multiple varieties of vegan tamales, and two very, very solid salsas. The kicker was to bump into them at the farmer's market, and get to chow down all over again. I'll definitely visit Tucson Tamale Company again on my next Tucson visit!
(4)
Loretta G.

Coming by here has become part of my normal routine when coming to Tucson for a day visit. I usually order the Santa Fe (pork) or Sonora (chicken) with a side of salad. The latter tamale is one of my favorites. The vinaigrette dressing that comes with the salad is very light, but flavorful. The ladies that work the front counter are so friendly and nice!
(5)
Mark P.

It was sad for me to move from Tucson to San Tan Valley and leave me beloved Tamales! Oh the humanity!
(5)
K E.

I rated them low before because their corn suuuuucked....Whew! They stopped serving corn!!! I guess I could now ding them for NOT SERVING CORN NOW...BUT DAMN THOSE TAMALES ARE GOOD!!!
(4)
Andrea C.

Tried these tamales in Tucson last year. Loved the pork ones and the green chile and corn ones. Came back home to NC, and placed an order for delivery to the East Coast!! Now we are loving chicken, veggie and dessert tamales. Can't wait to back to AZ and try new flavors.
(5)
Aaron M.

Simply awesome. One of only 3 places in Tucson I recommend when people ask for a restaurant recommendation.
(5)
Angie B.

Everything on the menu is gluten-free, which is a wonderful thing to find. And the food pops! I really like to mix the cold basmati rice salad with the black beans for a fun mix of hot and cold, spicy and not. The Madison tamale (black beans, cheese in a red pepper masa) and Wisconsin (cheddar cheese & more cheddar cheese) are my favorites. Cheap, quick, yummy!
(5)
Scott P.

The tamales were great and the staff is super friendly! Even took my little guy back to the windows and showed him how they are made. Fast service. I had the JoJo and then bought some to go. I want to go back with a checklist and try them all!
(5)
Melanie C.

I've loved Tucson Tamale Company since they opened. The tamales are delicious and the vegetarian and vegan versions make my vegetarian family very happy. In fact, I fly a batch back to Chicago with me for our now-traditional Tucson Tamale Company Christmas eve dinner. Last night, they catered our big rehearsal dinner/out-of-towner party. Not only did TTC deliver across town on time with good cheer, but they brought us a card and a pair of frozen tamales to heat and eat on our first anniversary. Awwwwww! So sweet! And our guests loved the tamales. Really, they laid waste to them. Yay and yum!
(5)
James G.

Amazing tamales. The tuscon and the santa fe were my favorites. Not too many places to sit. Friendly staff. It was kinda hot in there though, but all in all a pleasurable experience. I am and will continue to be a frequent customer. These are the best tamales in the world. And they are glutten free.
(4)
Jason P.

I don't care for tamales but these are an exception for me. I tried five diffrent tamales and liked them all.
(4)
Erik S.

Yum! I went here after reading the great reviews and I have to agree with them. I got the Santa Fe and Sonora with a side of chips and salsa. The masa is just right and the fillings were quite tasty in both of the tamales. There is also an extensive hot sauce collection at the counter but you aren't going to want to use it as the flavors of the tamales are quite good on their own. The Santa Fe tamale was my favorite and I have to say that I enjoyed the tomatillo and jalapeno salsa I had with the chips so much that I went back up and bought a 12 oz of the salsa to bring home.
(5)
Lisannette R.

Best Tamales I've had that were not purchased in a Food City parking lot!! A representative came by our office with a sample and the menu one afternoon and after that one taste I was hooked. I ordered a few for lunch! The masa is very moist and flavorful, and the variety is interesting. Now, I always get my tamales delivered when I'm at work because the price is great and two are perfect for a lunch portion. The delivery is always fast (to Speedway and Tucson) and the food still hot when it arrives.
(4)
Marwan C.

This place in my opinion, is the official spokesmen of what a tamale should be. Great effort has been invested in perfecting the art and craft of making their tamale. The quality, quantity of the fillings, and the flavor is on the money. These are hand made tamales, and labor & skills are not cheap. Although I enjoyed all the flavors, I believe that the flavor profile across the entire menu still has room for improvement specially the New Delhi. The corn and green beans are out of place in this recipe, and a more appropriate Indian ethnic substitution should be made. In regards to the other flavors offered, as it is often the case the ingredients used might be right, but the recipe might be off the mark in striking that high note in flavor. I just found out about TTC about a week ago, and I have already been there 3 times already for dine- in and take out. Great operation. This weekend I plan on trying their new breakfast menu. Will keep you posted.
(4)
Lucia M.

Always delicious, every variety I've tried I've really liked. Great value and delicious, whether for 2 of us at home, or to serve a group of 5 or 6 with the family platter...
(4)
Bunny L.

NOBODY makes tamales as good as my Tata did! At least, not until I tried Tucson Tamale Company. Oh. My. God. They are incredible! The Santa Fe and Tucson are my absolute favorite, and some day I hope my prayers are answered and the Santa Fuscon ends up on the menu- that's where they use the jalapeÃ±o masa from the Tucson and the green chile pork from the Santa Fe and make the best tamale mankind has ever known! Luckily, I can always special order a batch in advance and they are always willing to accommodate my dreams :) Todd and Sherry are the owners and they are ALWAYS in the shop working their butts off to meet the demand of deliciousness right next to their hard working employees. I can stop in in my jammies and order a couple of hot tamales to go and eat them in the comfort of my home with fried eggs on top, or enjoy the bustling ambiance of the restaurant itself where they'll cook my eggs for me on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Be sure you get the medium salsa- it is so good I could drink it! Even though I prefer super spicy, I will always forgo the heat for the delicious flavor of Colette's green salsa.
(5)
Danielle L.

I loved it! Excellent customer service. Food was fresh, tasty, and original.
(5)
Mike B.

Great tamales with extremely friendly workers. The tamales are not only good, they are (relatively) good for you! The masa was not dry at all and the fillings were very tasty. I really liked the black bean side as well, but I wasn't a big fan of the cold rice salad. You can get cold or frozen tamales for takeout as well.
(5)
Valerie L.

I've only picked up tamales to go here so no opinion on physical restaurant. Unfortunately, I got green corn tamales and they were nasty. Greasy, no flavor, weird texture. I am a native and have eaten all kinds of green corn, from my auntie's to the tamale lady at Bookmans' - I see it, I want it! My father bought some of these the other day and had the same opinion. Yuck. We are not fans.
(1)
Amanda K.

prior to moving to tucson, i had never had a tamale. now i am OBSESSED! you can get plenty of food for your money, if you have a group of friends, I highly recommend the family pack. Every tamale i tried was wonderful and I reccommend them all: the madison, green corn, sonora, santa fe. the staff here is so wonderful. we cam eat closing time, and they couldn't have been nicer to us! i cannot wait to come back!!
(5)
Joe H.

If you love tamales, then Tucson Tamale Company is the way to go. They have an excellent variety, and superb food. My personal favorites are the Santa Fe and Tucson tamales.
(5)
Jen W.

It's all about the filling! When I was in elementary school, back when my long-distance relatives could afford Christmas presents, they used to ship tamales to my family. I was amazed at how these tamales came frozen, and the green and red tamales did not have much in them but packed amazing flavor. Fast forward to summer 2009, I heard the hype about Tucson Tamale Company and decided to buy a frozen two-pack from a natural foods store. I was so disappointed - no corn husk, barely any size, mostly squash, and not that great heated in my microwave. But wow, did today change my life. Go to their storefront. Get their tamales. Leave satisfied and not hungry! $6.29 for two tamales, cold rice salad, and warm spiced beans. The cold rice salad tastes to me like a couscous salad with longer grain rice. The beans are black and smelled to me like Indian spices which seemed totally random. But wow, the tamale filling is great; the meat fillings are better than barbecue places. The red pepper masa and the regular masa are excellent. The spiciest tamale on the medium is like a hot-medium. If you are a tamale purist, you may want to just try the traditional size green tamale. If you are like me and feel like 90% of the tamales sold on the street in Tucson taste like corn mush, you may want to come to Tucson Tamale Company. Not just great tamales, great food! So good I would take an out of town vegan here...that is, if I knew any... There were a bunch of picky customers all around me - I am glad the owners still have a store and don't just do custom orders; please, people, get exactly what you want, but be nice about it.
(5)
Susan S.

I am a native Phoenician, and huge tamale fan. I recently ordered from Tucson Tamale for my company's pot luck holiday party. Unfortunately, right before they were to ship my order, I had a change in circumstances, and no longer needed the tamales, and called to cancel the order. They called back and said they were shipping the order, and to not worry about the charges, I got the tamales today, and it was a little bit of heaven having something from home in a time when things have been difficult. Thank you so much Tucson Tamale Co., it's the best Christmas present I could ask for, and the tamales are fabulous! PS -- I will pay it forward.
(5)
Russell B.

Upon our arrival in Tucson, my parents met us at the property we were renting with a selection of frozen Tamale's from Tuscon Tamale Co. Wrapped in a wet paper towel and thrown in the microwave for 5:30 min they were wonderful treats, however, they simply whetted our appetite for the fresh product sold out of their tiny store front in downtown Tucson. We got the opportunity to visit the store yesterday and were not disappointed. From the incredibly helpful and informative staff to the incredibly tasty tamale's everything was near perfect. They have a nice selection of tamales, some vegetarian and even a choice of gluten free products. My personal favorite is the Blue Corn Tamale, which is a vegetarian choice with roasted vegetables wrapped in blue corn. I think my only disappointment, if you would like to call it that, is they had a very limited selection of beverages and no margharita's. If you're lucky enough to be in Tucson, make sure you stop by.
(5)
Eleanor Q.

I love this place! Tamales are one of my favorite foods, and knowing they are gluten free makes me jump for joy. The food is tasty, reasonably priced, and did I mention tasty? My favorite side is the chilled rice. At first I thought, "ew, weird" and then I tasted it. Wow! The seasonings make it a perfect compliment to the tamales, especially the spicier versions. It cools the palette making it even more fun to eat more tamales. Yay! The ambiance, staff and food are all terrific. I took some friends there who were passing through and they loved it as well.
(5)
Bernadet G.

The food was ok. The tamales are heavily Americanized but maybe it's because I'm spoiled by fresh homemade Guatemalan-style tamales.
(3)
mark c.

This place just hits it out of the park. Went for breakfast and came back for lunch. Huevos rancheros, Sonora and Santa Fe tamales. Rice salad was great. Beans a little flat. Good selection of beers and nice back patio. Will be back
(4)
Debbie T.

Best tamales in Tucson.
(5)
Daniela B.

I love the tamales. I also love eating a tamale that is served like a grilled cheese sandwich, called the Wisconsin grilled cheese. I do think the pricing on these tamales is too steep and hopefully it will be considered when they are sold in bulk bags. Also the table in the front is cool and makes it seem like a family type dinner. Great for informal meetings.
(4)
Ben T.

This place has the best tamales that I have ever had. As a vegetarian I often get stuck eating green chili tamales and these can get repetitive. This place is extremely creative in their tamale ingredients and have a ton of variety. On this trip I had one that had sweet potato masa, brilliant. I have since ordered a bunch through the mail and they were delivered still delicious two days later. I will stop in here any time I am in Tucson without a doubt. YUM.
(5)
Maynard G.

Saw Valerie's review just below, which reminds me that I once tried their green corn tamales too, and had about the same opinion of them.
(2)
sybil c.

I am both vegan and far too lazy to make my own tamales, which meant I went tamale-free for years. Then TTC opened! And they made DELICIOUS vegan tamales! In a variety of flavors! At bargain prices! I wish they had a beer and wine license, because tamales love to snuggle with beers in my tummy, but that's not really a dealbreaker. Great spot to pick up tamales to stock the freezer, OR takeout meals.
(5)
Brenda A.

Finally got to try this place out. So glad!!! It was everything I'd hoped for and then some. The tamales were moist almost to the point of being wet. We tried the Santa Fe (pork), the Sonora (chicken), the Blue Corn & a limited edition holiday called the Thanksgiving Dinner. The Santa Fe was the stand out for my dining partner and I was blown away by the Thanksgiving Dinner which was made with sage seasoned masa and filled with turkey, cooked carrots & cranberries. I know it sounds very odd for a tamale but it totally worked. We had chips and the green chili salsa which was bursting with flavor. Since they have their tamales frozen as well to take home, we snagged up some San Carlos (shrimp) and Wisconsin Grilled Cheese to try later. Thrilled to find out their products are sold at many locations around Tucson too. :)
(5)
Maggie M.

We could live on these tamales! They were delicious, and not greasy. Usually tamales are lard-laden and leave me feeling icky and like I clogged my arteries. So I avoid them. But not at Tucson Tamale Company!!! My fiance and I ate their tamales and salsa for dinner 5 days in a row. The sides were great, I loved the unique spices in the black beans! Everyone there was helpful & friendly. The choices were exciting, they carry the more common green corn & beef options, but also have an Indian inspired tamale, a lot of vegetarian and even vegan varieties, and a delicious "Little Italy" tamale stuffed with authentic Italian sausage. YUM!!! A tamale with black beans, corn, and their amazing green salsa = a perfect meal that leaves my taste buds and stomach so happy!
(5)
Paul D.

Went to Tucson Tamale Company today and got ten frozen tamales to go. I thought I would bring an assortment home. My wife is a big tamale fan and I thought she would like to try different tamales. But when I got home, she asked if I bought her favorite tamale. I was not sure what her favorite was so I told her they were out. She did not believe me and was badgering me all the way til dinner. Then she tried "the Tucson" and liked it. She is still unhappy that I didn't get the green corn tamales, but that's OK because it just means that we will have to go back there again.
(4)
Daniel H.

You will never in your life eat a better Tamale! Period! No question what so ever about how good they are. I've been known to take them with cross country. TSA agents smile and lick their lips! I'm addicted...
(5)
Jason F.

Not only is the food excellent and the staff friendly, but the owners are a local couple who care about their restaurant and their customers. That is a key ingredient in making a restaurant with good food into a great place to eat. Highly recommend.
(5)
Rachel S.

Went in the day before christmas...here in the SW tamales are traditional Christmas food and this place was PACKED. Staff friendly and informative all the same. Got three frozen packs for gifts. i liked some tamales and others i didn't like, but definitely would go back for some of the hot serve it up now tamales they had further back.
(4)
Thomas W.

I Love tamales! I won't eat here again though. I don't know how this place has all the nice reviews, I really don't. We arrived at about 3pm Saturday,our first impression of the place was that of a cheap dive bar with cheap paint job cheap tables and chairs as well cheap wood "art" working (for sale with pieces of paper taped to the wall with prices). There was no one there except employees who were nice enough. When greeted we were asked if we wanted a menu, lol, after she gave them to us we were a bit confused as to how this place works as she just walked away. We sat our self's and decided on the Santa Fe (pretty sure that's what it was called) I chose the Green corn, I LOVE Green corn tamales. I also wanted to order the soup and drinks. The sign next to the register showed the soup of the day. When ordered they told me they were out of soup, grabbed the sign and put it under the counter. So we went with just the 2 orders of two tamales each, (we expected to take one of each home) and the 2 soft drinks NO sides, our total was over $16 some how but not a huge deal. A few minutes later they arrived I quickly saw that they were not "Hot" warm at best so I went back and asked them to try again. our tamales were average at best, maybe less than average. bland, my wife had one pretty good one with the filling and that but the other three were almost filling less. For a few dollars more go have some real Mexican food at one of the better places around town. If want to buy frozen tamales this maybe the place for you, I think these are also carried by some of the supermarkets around town. I will not be returning for fresh or frozen.
(2)
Grant S.

There are few places in Tucson i would say you have to visit as far as food goes. This is one of them. Amazing options for vegetarians and vegans. Great flavor and verity. I would highly recommend the Tucson Tamale.
(5)
Denis F.

I have become a fan after eating there several times in the past few weeks. I have tried a number of different tamales - all have been great - but the Green Corn and Berkeley are my favorites. The staff is warm and friendly, as is the atmosphere, and the prices are good. Great local art on display. I also like their Twitter updates - one today lured me in to try their shrimp tamales.
(4)
S. M.

As far as tamales are concerned - this is the place to be. By far the best tamales I've ever had (other than those I make myself... which, I must admit, were inspired by Tucson Tamale Co.) I actually didn't even like tamales until I tried these at the Saint Philip's Plaza Farmer's Market (every Sunday morning - check it out). I've been completely addicted ever since. It's a problem. They offer plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, in addition to dessert tamales (which I have yet to try).
(5)
Bill N.

These are the best tamales I've ever had. It's a small place that fills up at lunch time. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Alex P.

Theses tamales rock!! if you go around closing they may give you a free tamale if they have extra with you're order.
(4)
Charlene O.

I'm truly shocked that people are giving this place such high ratings. In fact, the only reason that I came here was because of the raving yelp reviews. But my experience proved that yelp can only bring us so far. I walked into the restaurant and there was literally not a single other person there at 6pm on a weekday. Bad sign. The cashier was nice, but very young and advised us not to get the spicier tamales on the menu. Now, let me be clear: I do not like a lot of spice. But I like flavor. The food came out very quickly. Since this is not Taco Bell, I'm not really looking for a quick, easy bite. I want food that is made fresh to order, that isn't just sitting around getting freezer burn. Nothing that I put in my mouth was good. The rice was cold. The pinto beans had no flavor. The "Austin" tamale tasted like the mushrooms had gone bad. The guacamole tasted like your average run-of-the-mill guac, but wasn't anything special. I will not be back. Yelpers, I'm sorry, but this place sucks. This is the review I wish I read before I wasted my time there.
(2)
Larry B.

Superb takeout tamales! We got a $40 mix & match of green corn, paella, chicken and beef tamales and ate to our heart's content (and stomach content) at home. The dessert tamales (frozen) are awesome. We loved the chocolate tamales - they smelled so good when we warmed them up.
(5)
Brittany S.

I purchased 4 vegan tamales from the farmers market and as my daughter and i were eating them I realized they were missing the ingredients listed on the vegan tamales which then led me to the fact that these were not vegan tamales at all. I took them back to the table and the girls working there didn't seem too concerned about the fact that they just gave a vegan regular tamales. I don't eat meat for ethical reasons but my daughter has a kidney disease where I don't allow her to have any animal protein. to me this is a HUGE mess up. why in the world would you keep regular tamales and vegan tamales wrapped in foil all mixed together? I emailed the company awhile ago and never heard back which is why I now took it to yelp. it's unfortunate really. the girls didn't have any heated vegan tamales left at this point and gave us some frozen but regardless of the mix up I didn't like them. We are from austin and the "Gardners Feast" that sells tamales at the farmers market there is 100% better in taste. My search for amazing vegan tamales in Tucson continues...
(1)
Sam C.

Tamales aren't generally the first food I'll go for, because the texture generally bothers me. But these looked so good I had to try. I now completely understand why the great reviews. The texture of the tamale is perfect.I ordered the JoJo with medium side sauce. I enjoy spicy so the JoJo was PERFECT. The meat was flavorful and the sauce was the great balance to the filling. The service was quick, but I went during the late lunch hours so I may have missed the lines. On my next trip I'm going to get some for the freezer because I know I'm going to have cravings for these tamales.
(5)
Thomas M.

Awesome tamales with very nouveau fillings. You won't find food like this just anywhere... Definitely one of my favorite local food options in Tucson.
(5)
Robert Bobby Rivers B.

Love it for the Holidays....eating there tonight with out of town friends.
(5)
Darren E.

Everything was delicious - even the chips, salsa, and guacamole. I will definitely be back next time I'm in Tucson.
(5)
Barbara T.

I'm new to tamales and the southwest. I had tasted one on a food tour and liked it so was anxious to try again. The green corn and cheese tamale was amazing. I'm not a big fan of re-heating food but these microwave well and tasted as good as in the store. Inexpensive, so a great deal. The place was packed but the wait wasn't bad. The waitstaff were friendly but more importantly very knowledgeable, especially for a first timer.
(5)
Betsy Z.

Tucson Tamale Company is a great little place for visitors and Tucsonians alike! It's a very small venue located on Broadway. You can dine in or take out. The restaurant has a variety of tamales to choose from. All are gluten free, and there are some vegetarian options. My husband and I tried four different tamales and we were pleased! We could tell that fresh, quality ingredients were used. The restaurant also has different sides and sauces (the salsa is fabulous!). This is a great local place for a casual meal.
(4)
David H.

Was driving back to San Diego from Houston and was in the area during lunch and checked out Yelp for places to eat and this little place popped up. Read the reviews and saw lots of four and five star reviews. My dad and I stopped by here and decided to give them a try. I got two of the JoJo tamales. Very tasty and spicy with the Chipotle Beef and cheese in Jalapeno masa. The taste was very good, with a little heat in the back end. If you're a wimp when it comes to spicy food, just be warned that it might be a little on the spicy side for you, but I really liked it with the jalapeno masa. All tamales come with salsa, Sherry's Red - Mild, Colette's Green - Medium and Todd's Fire - Hot. I got the mild since I already had the spicy JoJo tamales. My Dad got the Santa Fe Tamale which has Pork Loin, Green Chile Sauce, Green Chile, Tomato, Onion and cheese. He said it was okay, that he's had better. All of the items that they serve here are gluten free! The hours here are Monday thru Saturday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Sundays hours are from 8 AM to 3 PM. They also offer shipping and catering. Tamales run $2.95 for one and $5.39 for two tamales. If you order one tamale and a side it's $4.95. Two tamales with rice and beans will cost you $6.29. They offer Meat, Vegetarian, Vegan, Breakfast and Dessert Tamales.
(4)
Reina R.

Ok Tucson Tamale Company, you got me. I have to admit that I had my reservations about tamales that are not homemade by my mom or nana. Some coworkers suggested that we go to lunch at TTC. I sighed but agreed to give it a shot. There were a fair amount of people ordering lunch and the place seemed to have its fair share of regular clientele. I ordered the two tamale combo with a side salad and hot salsa. The tamales I ordered were the Sonora (roasted chicken with green chile) and the Tucson (cheese in a jalapeÃ±o masa). I was pleasantly surprised! The salad was fresh with a great vinaigrette and the salsa was tasty although not very spicy. The Sonora tamale was tasty, and went well in the salad's vinaigrette that made its way to the tamales' side of the plate. I really enjoyed the Tucson, you always win me over with cheese and jalapeÃ±o! One of my coworkers ordered the Wisconsin (described on the menu as Lots and Lots of freshly grated CHEESE!) why didn't I order this tamale? It was delicious! It did have lots and lots of cheese and tasted like cornbread, yum! I told my mom about my lunch experience and asked me if they had pumpkin tamales. Of course they do, so we went in to buy some for a pre-Thanksgiving pumpkin tamale fest.The tamales are not over-sweet, a good thing in my mind. We've gone back a few times when we want tamales without the long process of making them ourselves. Check out the tamales that are only available frozen. They have fun flavors like the Little Italy, Paella, and the Dogmale (made with hot dog weenie!). The tamales are a bit pricy but if you've ever made or watched anyone make tamales, you understand why. If my mom likes your tamales, you have done it right! Thank you Tucson Tamale Company. You have converted a non-believer!
(4)
Mark L.

The response from my review, Susie J Says: "Please do not ever come back here again. No one likes people like you. Always fucking bickering for this or that. Go to Nico's I am sure you will fucking love it there" A good example of the warmth we felt at this place.
(1)
Mark S.

I wanted to visit my childhood home near Broadway Village when I returned to Tucson for my 50th high school reunion and searched Yelp for nearby Mexican restaurants where we could lunch while in the neighborhood. The tamales at Tucson Tamale Company lived up to all of the five star reviews.
(5)
Nita M.

Tucson Tamale Company is awesome. They have a huge menu of so many delicious tamales, and tons of vegetarian and vegan options. Normally vegetarian tamales are restricted to cheese & green chili (if you're lucky) but here there are around 15 different options full of good veggies. I really like the Blue Tamale which is full of cheesy vegetable goodness. The tamale dough is fresh and feels lighter than other (worse) tamales I've had. The Wisconson Grilled Cheese tamale is out of this world - so cheesy and so delicious and dare I say, better than a grilled cheese. I also really like that there is a Tamale Salad option, a tamale of your choice on top of a fresh salad. Probably the only thing that I didn't like and would skip in the future is their rice. It's cold rice with a weird dressing (to be fair it is called a 'rice salad' on the menu so maybe I should have known).
(5)
Deepak S.

Excellent place for tamales! Lot of options for vegetarians and the staff are very courteous and friendly. Must visit when in Tucson!
(5)
Chloe O.

Alright service. I liked 2 out of the 4 tamales my boyfriend and I had. He hated all of them, but he's weird. Cute little place with artwork on the walls, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.
(3)
Dana Z.

We were in Tucson right before Christmas and decided to bring over 30 sunny tamales home for Christmas dinner to the rainy NW. I called ahead and the person who helped me was cheerful and informative. She made sure our tamales were super frozen and packed in an airplane friendly cooler when we arrived to pick them up. I was impressed by the friendly staff and how efficient they were. Everything was ready for us to pick up our precious cargo and run, before anyone tackled us! Now for the tamales, I can honestly say they are the best tamales that I have ever had. I have had a lot of tamales, living in the Southwest for many years in a previous life. These were crazy good! We took home about 10 different varieties but our favorites were the Arizona (Chipotle Beef), Madison (Black Beans, Fresh Corn, Red Pepper, Spices, Cheese in Red Chile Masa) Santa Fe (Pork Loin, Green Chile Sauce (Green Chile, Tomato, Onion) and Cheese) and last but not least the Sonoran (Roasted Chicken with Green Chile Sauce (Green Chile, Tomato, Onion). We really enjoyed the dinner and it was worth the trouble of flying them back to Oregon. Thank you Tucson Tamale company for a memorable Christmas dinner!
(5)
Shea C.

TO DIE FOR tamales.. especially the Jojo and Sonoran. The service was fast, they were hot, and had the perfect amount of spice. I will come here again!!
(5)
Chelsea L.

I love this place so much and so does my family. Every time i drive to visit them in LA i am ordered to bring a cooler full of tucson tamales. They are opening their second location this month! Thank you so much for bringing your wonderful food to the tucson community.
(5)
Jen W.

When I was in Tucson a few weeks ago we stopped here on our way out of town to pick up some tamales to bring back to Seattle. Such a good idea! Their tamales are sooo good, even when reheated. I just wish I'd bought more!
(5)
James K.

Wonderful and outstanding!! The desert Tamale was a wonderful treat...who knew there could be a chocolate flavored tamale? It's called the St. Valentine and a must have!
(5)
Yogi B.

Tucson Tamale Company is a favorite stop for lunch. I love their interestingly flavored tamales. I feel it's just a bit more expensive than it needs to be for the amount of food you get, but everything I've had there has been flavorful and high quality. They're a hole-in-the-wall place, so sometimes I find it hard to get a seat. It's always worth it, though. Great place for lunch if you love tamales as much as I!
(4)
Jerry M.

Love the tamales and I love everything about this place! I've had them a number of times around town at the Farmers Markets and I was amazed to see all of the different varieties. They honestly have a huge selection and something for everyone. I must admit that these are not your typical Grandmas tamales (although they do have a couple that come close) and if you aren't open-minded then this might not be the place for you. We ordered a total of 24 tamales, so we actually tried just about all of them including the dessert and I can't really say that I disliked any of them (recommend the Paella and the Blue) . We went as soon as they opened which was a good decision because around lunchtime this place really starts to pick up. The restaurant itself isn't the biggest, but they do a great job accommodating all customers and they have a nice little patio in back with air conditioning. I can't say enough about this restaurant, the food is unique, creative, fresh and consistent. The staff is top notch, friendly, inviting oh and they make the tamales right in front of you. I would definitely recommend to all Friends, Family and Yelpers looking to try something new and incomparable.
(5)
Jessica G.

While I love the idea of a tamale "only" shop, it is just simply not anywhere near the best tamale in Tucson. I feel the flavors tend to fall short on almost all of their tamales. We've had almost every variety and I always find them to be on the drier side and a little too much "tamale" and too little filling. The pluses however, are many. It is all handmade, their pricing is easy and very reasonable, there is something for everyone and they make a great last minute potluck addition. Also the services is always perfect- even when they're busy they are pleasant and helpful. My first choice for tamales in Tucson? No. Something to please when you're with a group or in need of a quick easy meal? Yes.
(4)
Marjolaine R.

First time eating Tamale. I really liked it. The restaurant staff is friendly. The atmosphere is cool and friendly. There is nothing fancy, but, the food is tasty. You order at the cashier. You sit down and they come to give you the food. It is quick and efficient. I totally recommend it !
(4)
Chris V.

ARIZONA! Tamales! made-to-order and great portions, a lot of diversity for any tamale enthusiast.
(5)
Barry B.

I've never historically been a fan of tamales. Coming from the northeast, they always seemed a bit odd to me. I must say that Tucson Tamale Company has helped me get over that. This is an excellent place to go for a quick lunch, or to bring something tasty home for dinner. I've now tried several of the varieties that they offer, and strangely, considering that I'm usually a diehard carnivore, two of the vegetarian options have become fast favorites. The Madison is full of well-seasoned black beans, corn and cheese, and is absolutely sublime when I'm looking for something fresh and mild. If I'm in the mood for something with a little more kick, the Tucson is my go-to option. how can you go wrong with cheese and Jalapenos? The only reason I can't rate them 5-stars is that the sides are both small and slightly pedestrian. The rice I would go as far as to call bland. That said, it's still definitely worth coming here for the tamales themselves.
(4)
Roja N.

I live really close to this place and i go there often. Blue tamale and New Delhi are my favorites. Their dessert tamales shouldn't be missed if you've a sweet tooth
(4)
Christina D.

I love this place. It is always a treat during the winter to get a steaming hot tamale from tucson tamale company. The selection is amazing. You can be a vegetarian, get gluten free, and still feel like you are eating something healthy. Tucson Tamale Company makes tamales that aren't heavy and they won't slow you down. I recommend Jojos, Boise, and New Dheli. Don't forget to get chips as well as the Green Chili sauce. The sauce is AMAZING.
(5)
Angelica R.

These Tamales were decent nothing spectacular like people are making them out to be. Had the Santa Cruz Tamales lacking in the meat to masa ratio too much masa and not enough meat. I think they are way over priced for take home Tamales, but their combinations are priced good. I would return only because I haven't found any other tamale place.
(4)
Shelly B.

We stopped here based on reviews and were in the area. As native Tucsonans, we know our Mexican food. Tucson Tamale really delivered the goods! The staff was very friendly and the tamales were excellent! Try the grilled tamale! Heaven. Cheap pricing...We will be back!
(5)
Jasmine W.

Good selections of tamales to choose from, but at $3.50 each, it's a tad steep. It was pretty tasty but not the best I've had for sure. I think it's a fun snack for the farmer's market but not something I would get in larger quantities.
(3)
Shannon C.

The decor is somewhere between folksy, local and dive-y. I like the painted glass door on their wall. The place is small but I have yet to go and not find a seat. The food is good and prices are reasonable. It seems they only have steamed tamales for part of their menu and all other ones are frozen. I have only ordered their steamed tamales there and taken the frozen ones home to eat another day. Works out for me as that means I have lunch the next day. After being in AZ for a few years now, I don't expect spicy food often. Their spicier tamales and salsas are mild by New Mexican standards but has a itty-bitty kick so you know there are chilies in there. I like they have blue corn masa, actual corn pieces in white masa and ones with pumpkin/cinnamon flavor(I was thinking pumpkin pie when I ate this). The tamale options ranges from smokey chipotle to BBQ to cheesy to sweet. Depending on the tamale you get, some have great flavor and others are plain enough I would not order again. However, as this is American-ized they've got to accommodate different tastes so I can see why they did this. I really like the fact that they take into account different types of eaters. They have plenty of vegan, gluten free, vegetarian and meat options. They don't compromise on the flavor variety despite being cheese-less or meat-less. I have for the last few years made tamales for Thanksgiving to compliment the other dishes. My favorite part is i can eat tamales when it's not Thanksgiving, without getting a soar back from making so many. Yay!
(4)
Christina B.

i love this place! Ive been there many times and am always greeted with a smile and an amazing meal! The tucson tamale is by far my favorite!!!
(5)
Butterfly H.

Fantastic tamales!!! My favorite is the Tucson Tamale. They are great for catering...a definite crowd pleaser!
(5)
John M.

Decent and creative tamales, but not up to the hype. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options, but a bit expensive and definitely not the best tamales in town. Come on people, we're talking about Tucson here.
(3)
Leah W.

My friend and I went yesterday. Both got food poisoning. Sadly, I had heard good stuff about this restaurant so decided to try it. But we did not have a good experience. First of all, the cashier was very rude. I ordered a burrito and a soda, and paid. When I asked for a cup, the cashier told me I did not order a soda. Instead of just charging me for another one, she felt the need to argue with me and walk me through our (incorrectly portrayed) conversation where I supposedly did not ask for a soda. Anyway, I was there and 100% willing to pay for it. Why argue? Ugh. Second of all, the food. My chicken in my burrito in pretty sure wasn't chicken, or at least it didn't taste so. My friend had the tamales. Both of us ended up getting sick...go figure? I don't recommend this place the good was bad and the staff was unfriendly.
(1)
Melisa R.

I know that it's almost pointless to review Tucson Tamale Co., but I have to. After reading the stellar reviews by fellow Yelpers, we had to try the food here. The tamales were outstanding. I had the green corn with cheese & green chiles and it was great. My daughters loved the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese. ( I thought it was great to have something like this, especially for kids. ) Husband loved the JoJo but it wasn't spicy enough for him. I tried a bite and it was plenty spicy for me! The customer service was above expectations also. Someone actually opened the door for my husband as he was leaving with our order. Why not 5 stars, you ask? We didn't care for the tortilla chips or the sides. Next time it will be all tamales!
(4)
Vanna C.

My partner & I just adore this place - organic corn meal - great variety - lots of vegan and vegetarian options - fun place to eat - cool restaurant - great marketing - Tucson Tamale just rocks. Did I mention they were great cooks - and the tamales are absolutely delish? I'm doing gluten free and sugar free so this is a great choice for me. But I am also on a diet, so I must admit that cornmeal has loads of calories. For this gal, Tucson Tamales are a special treat only. But they are at the top of my list! Serious yum factor.
(5)
Mary C.

I've been a fan of these tamales for years (enjoying takeout, and buying frozen from the CO-OP), but I ate in the restaurant for the very first time a few weeks ago and the service was TERRIBLE. Our very presence was an inconvenience to them. Every single thing that was requested warranted an eye roll, they were out of a bunch of things (which I didn't mind), but was obviously causing the servers distress. The negative, downright rude attitudes of the staff were noticeable to every single patron... many of us, looking around at each other to see if others had witnessed the completely unnecessary nastiness being thrown our way. All said and done, the food wasn't even good. Won't be going back or giving this company anymore money, even indirectly. There are plenty of other places in Tucson to get a fantastic tamale!
(1)
Baoqi L.

Ordered the Madison veggie tamale with beans. For a non-cheese eater like myself, I thought I wouldn't like it. The tamale turned out to be great! The cheese did not seem to be a lot. But the beans are sort of bland, wound recommend offering barbecue flavored beans to the menu.
(4)
Stephanie H.

Oops! How have I not reviewed this place yet? It's great. Such amazingly yummy tamales, and so cheap. Don't bother with the beans and rice, if you're hungry just get another tamale because this place (as you might have guessed by the name) is all about great tamales. It's fast, and delicious. If you like tamales, go here.
(5)
Heidi N.

Have been here quite a few times and the food never disappoints. I love their vegetarian tamales! It's a little small, but their service is fast and friendly. This is definitely a go-to take out place for me.
(4)
Melinda C.

How did we not know this place was here??!! Stupid of us for sure! We had been around town and were looking for a place to get a quick bite to eat. I pulled out my phone and pulled up Yelp, filtered out expensive and closed places and this place popped up. It had so many great ratings we had to try it. We're sure glad we did. I tried the traditional Santa Cruz tamales and the special summer side of roast corn on the cob. YUMMY! Usually I want some sour cream in case the tamales are spicy or dry, but I didn't have any and didn't need any. Hubby had the Santa Fe and the JoJo (3 chiles hot) with rice salad and black beans. He also had hot salsa to go with it. He didn't need it with the JoJo with jalapeÃ±os in the masa. He loved them! They were so good, we ordered a couple green corn tamales to take to my mom for dinner, which she really enjoyed too. We also ordered a 6 pack to go. Hubby decided to try the Blue (calabasitas and other veggies in masa) and I've got green corn waiting for me for lunch in a couple days. Looking forward to those! Make sure they explain how the pricing works as I got confused and ordered more than I expected, but sure won't waste what I bought. Now that we know this little gem is here, we'll definitely be back to get our tamal fix!
(5)
Diamond P.

Torn! While I love this place and the wonderful tamale foods, the staff is a joke. They run around like distracted ferrets and it took her 5 minutes to stop and take my order. Not to mention that after we paid, she all but pushed us aside to take the next customer's order. Im not planning on going back just based on that. Its sad because their food is so amazingly good.
(3)
T H.

I've only gone once but it was a great one time to say the least. My personal favorite (of the 6 I tried) was the Wisconsin Tamale. I could have eaten 5827275928 of those. Good and quick service. Very enjoyable and will definitely be back soon as I am currently moving to Oro Valley, Arizona.
(5)
Louise S.

We did not have time to eat at this little gem so we ordered 20 frozen tamales to place in our freezer. The staff is very helpful and will provide an honest description and personal favorite to help choose. I ended up with a large variety as I wanted to experience flavors that were new to me. We drove home to San Diego and were hungry, so I popped two Sonora Tamales in the steamer and 20 minutes later, VOILA dinner. The masa- not overly done, filling-blended beautifully, and the balance between the two- perfection. We also had JOJO later in the week and it was a little drier but yummy as well. They were on the high end for Tamales, but that is a result of fresh high quality ingredients. A two pack will cost an average of $5. We will be ordering more when the freezer runs low.
(5)
Eleana H.

Cant say if I ever had them fresh.. always buy them frozen from the food co-op on fourth ave....... hmmm but as far as I can tell they are yummy yummy yummy! This company understands how to make a traditional.. or modern tamale! I really like their new dehli tamales.. those are so good. ! Will have to make a stop at the store and buy them fresh one day
(5)
Candice C.

Lots of veggie/vegan options. Not a huge tamale fan but I really liked these. The side salad is awesome- I heard the side of cold rice salad isn't that great. The service is really fast and the food is reasonably priced. You must try the chocolate cherry tamale! It tastes like a brownie.
(4)
Becky M.

This place is great. The tamales are cheap and delicious. I generally order two to make a dinner-sized meal, but if you're a big eater you will probably want to add a side or two. You can mix and match the different kinds of tamales, and they have several vegetarian options. I highly recommend the blue tamales. Oh and ask for both salsas.
(5)
Kyann M.

We went here for breakfast this morning. I had the huevos rancheros and they were delicious! They have the Thanksgiving tamales right now but I haven't been brave enough to try them. I like that there are so many options. I usually just get the traditional but always want to be more adventurous. You know how it is.....you try something and you like it and then you don't want to try anything else in case you are disappointed. I haven't been disappointed yet here. Just a warning though, the parking is terrible!
(4)
Aishan S.

Love love love!! My friend discovered this place and after we tried it, I absolutely loved it. Whenever I have friends or family in town, I always want to bring them here, and I often suggest this place to people who have never had a tamale before, or simply have never visited this restaurant. Everyone walks out with pleasant smiles and satisfied stomachs. The staff here are also extremely friendly and never even kicked us out although we tend to come in near closing time and stay late. Their menu includes a great variety of meat and vegetarian tamales, so even after I went vegetarian this summer, I was able to enjoy one of their delectable meals. I usually order the Madison (black beans, red bell peppers, cheese, and corn with spice on red corn masa) or the Blue Tamale (squash, corn, tomatoes, onions, green chilies, and cheese or blue corn masa). Both are wonderful. Just one with basmati rice (my favourite side) and salsa makes a filling meal. Before going vegetarian, I did try some of their meat tamales. I rarely eat beef, so I only had the Santa Fe (pork) and the Sonora (chicken). Personally, I thought the pork was better because it had more flavour, but for those who have milder preferences, the Sonora Tamale is an excellent choice as well.
(5)
C. C.

Absolutely amazing. The price is high but you get a lot of food and the tamales are incredible. I was not a fan on the rendition of rice served with the tamales (it was a cold rice salad dish) but that is where the complaints stop. They still get a 5 and I would ship these to CA every week if it wouldn't be so expensive. You must try the "Blue" ( a blue corn tamale with calabazitas inside) and the "Sonoran" chicken. This place even has a curry tamale which wasn't half bad if you are not feeling a mexican taste. Everything here is high quality, the staff is always friendly and it is just simply delicious. If you are in Tucson and want gourmet tamales, look no further.
(5)
A J.

Best Tamales that I have ever had. Seriously, they are that good. They are a bit different than a "normal" mexican food restaurant tamale, but trust me, you will love them. My favorites are the Tucson Tamale with red mild salsa and the cold rice salad. The Tucson is a cheese tamale with spicy jalepeno masa and it's hot but not overwhelming. The red mild salsa has fantastic flavor and is the perfect complement. The rice salad is so unique, I love the cold against the spicy tamales. It's something you need to try to understand how good it is. I'm bummed to say this because it wasn't the case a few years ago when we started going but the last few times we've been in the service has gone down hill. They are hurried, a little rude at times, and when you go in at the end of the day, they've run out of few things (quack, beans, etc.) That's the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. One example was we got there about 10 minutes before closing and the girl pretty much forced us to take it to go. I wouldn't want to work late either but I feel like in the service industry she would win a lot of points by encouraging us to stay and eat there instead of making us feel like a burden. I will say that the food is so good, that the not so good service doesn't stop me from going back. The food is easily 5 stars
(4)
Corey D.

I will write review updates for Tucson Tamale Company as long as they continue to rock my world with menu additions that blow my mind. Listen to this... bittersweet cocoa and cherry masa (real cherries inside the masa folks) wrapped around ooey gooey chocolate chips. When you slice into this magical creation, warm chocolate oozes out a la a molen lava cake, AND I hear from the sweet girl ringing me up that if you eat it cold, it's like a rich brownie. The guys at TTC put this little number together during Valentine's Day and it was so popular that you can fall in love with these guys in their freezer section in two packs to go!
(5)
Adam F.

I highly recommend going to this place. Their tamales are amazing!
(4)
Jennifer D.

I LOVE TAMALE'S!!! When they are done right! And this place has it going ON!!! They were quick and I didn't have to wait in a long line. And soooo Friendly too! I had the beef chipotle tamale with mild sauce and a side salad all under 6 bucks! GREAT place for lunch or a little afternoon snack.
(5)
Jeff C.

Our first time to try was today. Extremely tasty tamales. We are visitors but love trying local businesses. This is definitely a good find and we will return. Didn't try any of the sides yet and anxious to try more of the plentiful variety. Who knew you could pick from about 20 flavor choices?!!
(5)
Debra R.

Food was good! Our favorites were the chili relleno, Jojos, and green corn variety. We had cold Basmati salad and spicy black beans for sides. We thought it was yummy, reasonably priced, and we didn't encounter any of the snotty attitude others have complained about--the opposite! The girls were helpful and very nice. We could buy flour tortillas to take home, too.
(5)
John H.

First things first: These are only technically tamales and so if you are expecting anything like a traditional tamale you will be sorely disappointed. (These days you are going to have to hunt for that in Tucson, maybe the original El Charro, but they too have suffered from expansionism-see below, maybe the Tamale Lady--haven't tried them in awhile but they were excellent, or Little Cafe Poca Cosa is always a sure bet). However, they are tasty! Think of them like a masa delivery vehicle for some really interesting fillings. No, the masa is not top of the line, doesn't have that just-made homemade smell or texture, but where else will you get so many choices of fillings? I bumped them down from 4 stars to 3 because their quality has suffered greatly since they opened in 2008, I believe. Anyway, whenever it was I've been going there since about the first week and things are not quite as good as they were when it was just the little shop and Sundays at the St. Phillips Farmers Market. For example, Sherry's salsa used to be a very nice compliment (and that's saying a lot in a town full of great salsas) but is now uneven, and often watery. And the same quality controls persist throughout: the blue corn tamales, for example, often are filled with a bleak and very bland shadow of their once very good calabacitas. Beyond their zombie staff, which has slightly improved but is still basically socially inept, apathetic, and have a I-want-to-be-anywhere-but-here attitude, their real problem is cleanliness. I know they pass their health grades consistently, which isn't easy working with this product in this heat (think Nico's:), so perhaps it is just a problem with the nature of making tamales themselves, especially in the huge quantities they do now. It's just a very buggy product (the husks) and the place itself is next to our dog groomer, which is not the best feeling. I've had flies and other assorted bugs in my tamales, frozen usually, and I will admit it's sickening, but they've usually been in the husk wrapping, except for the errant hair. Quality control at this level is a huge problem. I've seen this happen to so many great businesses as they take off in popularity and expand too quickly. Just imagine if Mi Nidito or Raging Sage did the same thing? Can you imagine buying Cafe Poca Cosa food frozen at Whole Foods! Jebus! So, for now I go back occasionally and hope not to get a hair or a creature in my tamale as I wince unwrapping it, or I'll pick a pack up at Whole Foods, despite my misgivings, since the simple ones, say the Tucson or Madison, are quite tasty and freeze well. Still I wish this Tucson success story would slow down and think about the long game. Someone else here said Tucson is a small town and that is so true.
(3)
Peg P.

After reading rave reviews and being a tamale lover, we had to visit Tucson Tamale Company. We were NOT disappointed. Friendly and funky atmosphere with fair prices and wonderful choices for vegans and vegetarians. I tried the green tamale filled with fresh corn masa, roasted green chile, and cheese with an order of chips and salsa. We also tried the famous Tucson Tamale which is a spicy tamale filled with lots of cheese in grilled jalapeno masa. The side dish of black beans had a wonderful flavor to them that unlike anything I've ever tasted. That alone deserves another visit. All this for $13. We have definitely added this wonderful restaurant to our favorites list and will be visiting again, with more friends.
(5)
Chris K.

I had a friend recommend this place and I finally got around to trying it out and I'm very mad that I did. Tamale's are my weakness and I can see myself hitting this place way too much! :) It is definitely a take out only place. All the tamales we got were good, but I crown the Green Corn tamale my new favorite..it was awesome!
(4)
Joshua B.

I know they have a restaurant, but I have never been. I was fortunate enough to find a vendor selling their tamales at the Bisbee Farmer's Market. Their tamales came highly recommended, so I had to try them. I was immediately impressed. There isn't a lot of choice in their list of tamales, but each one is unique in its' own right. They have both meaty and vegetarian options (which I think is nice), and each tamale was delicious. Over the past year I've tried every tamale they offer, and each one has been a pleasant experience. It doesn't matter if you dine in their restaurant, get them to go at an event, or buy the frozen ones from the grocery... these tamales are good every time you try one!
(5)
Barnabas L.

My first few attempts at eating here were huge failures, Day 1 - we arrive at 7:10, they close at 7, sad day :( , Day 3 - people cancel on me and i end up not adventuring out, Day 6 (sunday), they are not open. Finally one week later i finally get there!!! Me and my friends are greeted by a very polite and happy worker (Johanna, btw her 4th day working there), and instead of us ordering up front she gives us table service; (i'm on crutches right now due to a surgery). She is very polite and knowledgeable about the tamales. I ordered the JoJo (hottest/spiciest tamale they have), the Santa Fe, and two sides (basmati rice and black beans). I started off with my two sides, oh wow, delicious.. i personally do not eat beans, let alone black beans but this was good enough for me to eat and finish 2/3 of it. These are the best tasting/freshest black beans i have had before, it wasn't thick and pasty like most other places. The basmati rice, had some mixed veggies in it and it was cold (thats how they serve it). the Rice seriously was very delicious, the sides were only 4oz. and i wish i had more rice than 4oz. I seriously want a bucket of the rice next time i go. BTW homemade tortilla chips.GET SOME!! (no seriously get some they are good) The tamales oh man soo delicious, they came with your choice of Mild, Medium, and Hot salsas. Mild is a verde, medium is a regular red salsa, and hot was a thick red salsa. The hot was not as hot as i would have preferred but if i was able to rate it on a chili scale i would say, above a jalapeno but below a serano. The JoJo is as hot as a jalapeno, but a milder jalapeno. YUM. Santa Fe is pork, with other stuff (i forget sorry), but this was a very good tamale, if you have questions about what to get and aren't sure this is a winner. At the end they gave us some free tamales because it was "BOGO" near the end of the night, but i think she was just being kind to us. But me and all my friends who went scored some free tamales. YUmmmy On the barnabas scale: I DEFINITELY will be back
(5)
N P.

Delicious vegan tamales. Especially the "New Delhi."
(4)
Chris B.

Went here with a friend for a quick plate, the restaurant itself is hard to get parking and its pretty small but for the money this would be the first spot in tucson i would hit up for tamales. I tried a combo plate with one Santa Fe and one JoJo tamale, theres no way to tell them apart except for the flavors. I was at first dissapointed that their "Very Spicy" tamale was pretty flat on the spice, but included with their fresh salsas the tamales really pack in the flavor. The order itself didn't take long and my entire plate was fresh, easy recommendation for quick tamale stop with friends.
(4)
Rahm R.

Simply the best tamales in the whole world. They have great clean flavors and always leave you wanting more even if you have had to much. Personal favorites are the Sonora and Blue, Sonora a more traditional flavor and the Blue is truly unique even made with blue corn masa. Don't for get try their salsa and the cold rice salad. Really you can't go wrong here and they just opened a new restaurant on the east side. YAY!
(5)
Jennifer P.

There are few things in life more satisfying than a hot tamale after a long day. Thank you Yelp universe for directing me to Tucson Tamale Company! Good service and quality ingredients at a reasonable price. The Tucson Tamale Company is located in a small strip near the intersection of East Broadway and N Tucson Blvd. Parking is plentiful, as there's not much else in the parking lot. Seating here is limited. The dining room is pretty small, and there are only two tables outside. I walked in, placed my order, and was out the door 5 minutes later. The two tamale combo came in around $6 and included one side. I had the Green Corn Tamale and the JoJo. I was a little disappointed in the JoJo after reading so many reviews that praised its spiciness. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate the heat at a 5. The "Very Spicy!!!" on the menu was a bit misleading. The Green Corn Tamale was noticeably smaller than the JoJo, which was fine by me. The tortilla chips were good, and the green salsa was fantastic!
(4)
Justin N.

After reading so many high ranking reviews, I was guessing this place was a good size place- nope. This is a small place in a strip mall type of location. Not much parking. The tamales are great, and the staff is as friendly as they get. Very helpful people. Best food I had in Tucson. While I think the Tamale meal was a little bit expensive (near $7 for 2 tamales and rice/beans), it was worth it.
(5)
Yvett R.

We stopped by on Saturday to pick up some red, white and blue tamales to have on the 4th. Since we were there anyway, and since people were twisting my arm, we picked up some tamales for lunch. Yeah, they didn't have to twist too hard. The 4th of July tamales were a hit! Red: BBQ pork in a red pepper masa. White: BBQ chicken in white corn masa. Blue: calabasitas and cheese in a blue corn masa. All came with the yummy already baked inside. I would have NEVER thought to make tamales with BBQ, but it really worked. I wonder what it is that makes these tamales not taste like dry bricks since they don't use lard. Now, we all know that these are practically the best tamales in the world (and if you don't know that, you need to drive yourself over and taste one right now), but I think the beans here are under appreciated. They're delicious! They're spiced black beans that are served with pumpkin seeds (pepitas) on top. I had them with a bit of their tomatillo sauce and hmmm, mmmm, mmmm. * A little birdie told me that maybe, MAYBE the red, white and blue tamales would be added to the regular menu instead of only being available on the week before the 4th of July. Here's hoping . . . .
(5)
Kristy N.

The tamales here are good quality and they have tamales for everyone - vegan, chicken, spicy, mild. My favorite is the cheese with jalapeno called the Tucson. They have a few tables to dine in if you prefer. I often buy them frozen as they reheat very well and taste freshly made.
(4)
Amy L.

This place certainly lives up to the hype. The tamales are outstanding, and I really appreciate the delicious vegetarian options.
(4)
Jason C.

Lots of hidden menu only available for to go (I mean forzen tamale) If possible, try to bring some tamale back home. They give you 10% discount if you purchase more then 6 (I hope I get the number right) Because some menu only available for to go. I suggest everyone bring some tamale home
(5)
Tiffany S.

Yummy, Yummy, & Yummy. A plethora of fantastic tamales. They have every sort of flavor for every sort of taste. Typical spicy ones, beef ones, corn ones, etc. And then the more exotic curry ones, Wisconsin cheese ones, sweat potato ones. Some are better than others, but they pretty much are all yummy. You can't go wrong if you stick with the best sellers, but there is major reward for branching out and trying some of their new and rotating specials. Plus if you go right before closing they have specials (e.g. buy one get two), try this on a Mon or Tues when they will have an ample selection left to choose from.
(4)
Mariel T.

Tamales are great. I had the red chile and the green. Both are delicious. Only complaint is how ridiculous they're tamales are priced if you want to eat them there hot. Much better off to take them home and cook them yourself.
(4)
Mary Y.

Tucson Tamale is no secret, but tourists and guests need to be introduced to this place. I've take 3 groups here this past winter. We get two tamales each, all different, then cut them in half -- four tastes apiece. My personal favorite is the Arizona, but recent guests loved the Madison and the curry one. Honestly, you cannot go wrong here. The service is super-fast, too.
(5)
Krista E.

These were some absolutely fantastic tamales! (I had the Sante Fe with the medium "Colette's Green" salsa.) I'm a little on the fence about the rice salad, so I think next time I would get more tamale and less of the sides. The service was friendly and fast, restaurant was clean, and artwork interesting to look at. I'll be ordering some to be shipped to our house (in Portland) before the holiday craziness hits. Unless you or a relative has the time to make tamales, the Tucson Tamale Company is the way to go!
(5)
Ana T.

A Tale of Two Juicy Tamales... Once upon a time, there were two Yelpy gals who made arrangements to meet for the first time. Yelpy Gal #1 had been craving tamales for months, while Yelpy Gal #2 was in serious need of some gluten-free eats. Therefore, it seemed fitting that they meet at Tucson Tamale Company. Yelpy Gal #1 knew that the journey to Tamale Company would be a long one, for she would be car-less that afternoon, and 'car-less' in Tucson is actually a synonym for 'impeded.' So her journey began, as she researched The Sun Tran (said in a breathy voice). Once leaving home, she encountered two major obstacles: her iPhone unexpectedly indicated a whopping 11% for battery life, and she missed the first bus. Ah, but that didn't stop her from reaching the tamales. Eventually, she embarked on her final bus route and was well on her way to arriving in a tardy fashion. She informed Yelpy Gal #2 of her tardiness, but unfortunately this ultimately led to her iPhone's demise, thereby leaving her somewhat oblivious as to the whereabouts of this Tamale Company. The bus driver was likewise oblivious, but he yelled to the rest of the passengers, and a woman announced that it could be found at the last stop. So of course Yelpy Gal #1 jumped off and began her trek through the cold... only to arrive to Tamale Company dressed in tardiness and cold pink cheeks. Well, Yelpy Gal #2 didn't seem to mind. And after the long, cold journey, nothing could make Yelpy Gal #1 happier than to eat two juicy tamales in good company. The Arizona Tamale brought her much-needed heat with its spicy chipotle beef, and the Sonora Tamale filled her with the warmth of a saucy, green chile-d chicken. Moral of the Story: Yelpy Gal #1 needs to scrap the Sun Tran and drive herself back to Tucson Tamale Company to try two more juicy tamales: the Pumpkin Tamale and the Thanksgiving Tamale.
(4)
Ryan M.

Holy tamale! These are really incredible; can definitely see how people get them shipped directly to their door. Got the Arizona, Santa Fe, and Sonora. Can't describe how great these are! The only downside is to watch their hours... they close at 7 on most days, so make sure you get here on time. One note... if you come as they're closing, you might get a deal on whatever they have hot!
(4)
Anthony C.

Went here for lunch expecting good tamales but was very let down. Being Hispanic I had expectations of what good tamales were to taste like and this fell short, VERY SHORT.
(1)
Scott S.

Delicious and fast. I will be back for sure!
(4)
Stephen B.

Unbelievably good! This was the second tamale i ever had aside from a frozen one at a grocery store in california i wasn't impressed with. This was amazing. Modestly priced, i filled up on the 2 tamale w/ rice and beans (the rice had a really interesting cooling flavor). The salsa verde was the best i'd ever tasted anywhere
(5)
Peter L.

Got take out here last weekend and was very satisfied. We got the family pack which included 8 tamales, two large sides and salsa. We got six Santa Fe (pork) and two Sonora (chicken) tamales. It tasted super good with their Sherry's Red Mild salsa. For the sides, we got their guacamole & chips and pinto beans. You can taste it is fresh guacamole. The person who took our order was rude and the person who packed our food got the wrong items for us; therefore, they only get 3 stars instead of 4.
(3)
Alison R.

Let me preface this by saying that I assumed Tucson would be a cactus-laden hellscape. I had an afternoon to kill there, so I drove around hungry and grouchy, figuring food would be the one bright spot (this kind of thinking has kept me out of a bikini for years). My trusty yelp app pointed me in the direction of the Tucson Tamale Co. Best decision ever! I ordered the Jojo (jalapeno masa, beef & cheese) and the Green Corn (green chile & cheese) tamales with the intention on eating half of each, and saving the other half for the bf when he got done working. Alas, my greedy brain took over, and I ate them all myself. The tamales were not dry at all, both perfectly flavored and spicy. The green corn was small and vegetarian (eek), but truly delicious. They also make their own salsa. They sell vegan tamales, too. Crazy, they've thought of everything. Departed the Tamale Co. and found Occupy Tucson, which also made me happy. Tamales and protest make for a lovely afternoon. Thanks, Tucson, you're not so bad. Now I feel like an asshole.
(5)
Benjiman K.

Fantabulous Tamales! They have some original ones that push the envelope, like the grilled cheese tamale (Wisconsin?) which is stuffed with cheese and grilled on the griddle like a grilled cheese sandwich. Of course, they have great green chile, pork and beef standard ones too. Their standard red salsa was a dark red thin style which I'm not crazy about. Has a roasted jalapeno (poblano) flavor. But the chunky style was very tasty, as was the guacamole.
(5)
Arlene B.

We lived in Phoenix for 16 years and loved the Mexican food in that area. One Restaurant we went to had great green chile corn tamales that were our favorite tamales. We now have been living in San Diego for the past 20+ years and never could find the kind of green chile corn tamalies we loved. I then discovered Tucson Tamle Company on line a few years ago and ordered the green chile corn tamalies they made and they were just as we remembered them from Phoenix. Since then we have also tried various other varieties of tamales and were very satisfied with the quality and taste. We reccomend this company to any Tamale lovers especially those who experienced Arizona and New Mexico style tamales. There customer service is very good and they are very prompt in their deliveries. A real winner in our book. ArBelt
(5)
Daye V.

I come here consistently because this place is my favorite Mexican food restaurant. I don't like Mexican food, and I have no one to tell me where to go eat, so the fact that I come here at least twice a month for a Sonora and a Santa Fe tamale says something. They always heat the tamales all the way through and they have some green salsa(ask for medium heat) that is to die for. Definitely one of my Tucson favorites. Oh, and the prices are a little pricey, but reasonable and definitely worth the food.
(5)
Victoria W.

This place definitely lives up to all of its excellent recommendations. Super casual place. Nice service. Tamales, yum. They are some big tamales tho! Beware! Do not be a fatty like me and get a 3 tamale plate plus a side haha- unnecessary amount of food! My favorite was the Santa Fe. Liked them so much I got three packages to go! The to go ones warmed up to be super delicious also! Just 2 min in the microwave! I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Vivian K.

The Tucson Tamale Company is the place to go if you're hungry for some of the best Tamales in Town. One day we needed to grab something quick before an event at 6pm, and my friend recommended this place. I am not a big fan of Tamales, but my friend said it had the best Tamales in Tucson, so I knew I had to give Tamales another try, and now I have to say that they are now a hit with me. I had the Santa Fe Tamale, and it was delicious! I also tasted my friend's Tucson and Santa Cruz tamales, and they were also very good. The prices were very reasonable, considering how much work it is to make Tamales at home. Service was good and quick. If you are in a rush, you will be happy to get your tummy filled quickly here. In addition, they also have some GLUTEN FREE products as well. I will definitely come back to here to explore their other Tamales in the future.
(4)
Jim P.

i would never go to tucson for fine dining. sorry, old pueblo, you don't do fancy so well. but finding this joint, this is everything i love about tucson. a local, fun, fresh take on tamales in a strip mall. i liked my tamale so much i ordered two more. then i liked those so much i bought two bags of them and took them home to california. this will become a regular stop for me, for sure.
(5)
Lisa Marie E.

Creative, conscious and delicious tamales. Vegan is a part of the menu because they care! This month's special is a New Delhi lovely and tasty piece of mmhmm. Check out the website for a background of the bizness. Good people make good food. See for yourself. Also have great take-out and family style.
(5)
Lindsey P.

OM NOM. Greatest tamale I've ever had... hands down. Around the holidays... I'm lucky enough to be gifted homemade tamales from family friends & neighbors. Thanks, guys... but your tamales have nothing on the Tucson Tamale Company. I ran in on a Saturday afternoon... they were packed! I just wanted to order some frozen tamales to go because I wasn't expecting much. I picked up the Arizona, the Sante Fe & the Madison tamales. & they were heaven. I'm not going to try to describe them... but seriously, the best tamale I have ever had. Go. Now.
(5)
Danny S.

Ugh...WHY DO I HAVE TO BE SUCH A HATER?! I had been really reluctant to write this review because...well, let's face it: everyone loves the Tucson Tamale Company, and it's such a sweet little place. Saying lukewarm things about it seems like frowning and shaking your head in disappointment at people's newborn babies: MEAN. But a little while ago, Corey D. called me a "hot tamale," and I promised him a review. So a few days later, when my special lady friend was having some people over to paint her new tea set (I swear to god -- the teapot I painted is totally baddass/elegant), I decided to bring a pile of TTC treats for everyone to enjoy. The menu: the Arizona, the JoJo, the Sonora, the Madison, the Green Corn Tamale, the Tucson Tamale, and the Blue. I figured that with a sampling like that, we'd be sure to get a good read on the true quality of TTC's offerings. Now just to be honest about this, I had previously been relatively underwhelmed by this place: I loved the concept, but I had found most of the tamales to be relatively short on flavor compared to others I've had. And this time, I had much the same reaction, though with some notable exceptions. The main problem with many of the tamale offerings is actually the masa (the corn dough that's used to make the filling of the tamale). The jalapeno masa in the JoJo and Tucson Tamale is spicy and delicious, the blue corn masa in the Blue is pretty tasty and aesthetically entertaining, and the green corn masa in the Green Corn tamale tastes like a tamale is supposed to taste like. But the regular masa that's used in the Arizona and Sonora (as well as others we didn't get) is relatively boring. The red pepper masa used in the Madison is a little less boring, but still not particularly exceptional. As a result, some of the final products end up tasting rather bland even though some of their fillings are pretty good. I think I'd probably recommend steering clear of any of the tamales that come in the regular masa, to be honest. The fillings in the tamales were diverse, and we liked some of them more than the others. The chipotle beef and cheese in the JoJo was a notable hit, and in general it seemed like people liked the ones that prominently featured cheese as an ingredient. The chicken in the Sonora was a little boring, however, and the mix of veggies in the Blue was not quite as interesting as I had hoped. The Green Corn Tamale was generally liked from the standpoint of flavor, though we were a bit disappointed by just how much smaller it was than the others -- TTC calls it "traditional size," but it was REALLY little! Overall, the consensus seemed to be that the JoJo was a standout in pretty much all departments, and the others ranged from pretty good to pretty boring. We also decided that the smokey "hot" salsa was relatively "medium," the green "medium" salsa was relatively "mild," and the "mild" wasn't really worth trying. The biggest disappointment was finding out later that for an extra $1.43 I could have gotten a "Family Platter" that would have come with two large sides...I don't really blame the girl at the counter for not pointing that out to me, but it definitely would have been nice. So anyway, there you have it: go to Tucson Tamale Company, get the JoJo, and be happy. Maybe try the Madison or the Tucson Tamale if you're a vegetarian or want some variety. Get the hot salsa. If you stray outside those recommendations, then you won't hate it, but you might not be particularly impressed either. A note for special diets: TTC has a wide range of vegetarian and vegan options, and all of the tamales are gluten-free.
(3)
Amanda B.

I have been here twice and both experiences were great. The staff at the counter is super nice and doesn't rush you when trying to decide which tamale, of the big selection, you would like... I like spice and the first time I got the Jo-Jo. Indeed, very spicy but oh so good. I even got some that were frozen and took them home. And, yes they were just as good when I had them at home a month later. Second time I tried two other tamales (what they were escapes me right now) and they were wonderful as well. In addition, I really like the side salad that comes with the plates. It is unique and light. Perfect compliment to the tamale. I really like this place and will always return. I especially like that they have a menu that changes frequently. It keeps it interesting.
(5)
Aletheia W.

sure, sure. maybe a bit pricey for the frozen tamales (2 for $4.99 - there's a discount if you get 6+ orders). but the taste???? indescribably wonderful. i ordered a tucson (heaps of cheeeeeese! in jalapeno masa), and an Austin (spinach and mushrooms in blue corn masa - my FAVEEEE!) . a vegetarian and a VEGAN tamale. and i LOVED them!!! what the. VEGAN, people!!! i'm a total carnivore and i was sooooo satisfied! i recommend getting the warm combos if you want to try a few different ones. i recommend getting BOTH salsas - they are amazing and perfect companions for the perfection that is TTC tamales. run, don't walk to get yours!
(5)
James G.

Visited this shop with my wife today. The restaurant was seriously disorganized. We waited at least twenty minutes for our food. The chicken in my wife's tamale was very rubbery. I did enjoy my beef tamales but overall the experience was underwhelming. If you avoid the chicken and peak hours it might be ok but don't go for the ambience.
(3)
Laura M.

I have to say...I feel a little like I've cheated myself by living in Tucson for almost two years and NEVER having ventured over to the Tucson Tamale Company. Well, coming up on a Livingsocial deal that was about to expire (anybody else do this but me?) I found myself driving on the other side of town to buy $20 of tamales (totally normal for 1 person to do). So glad that I did. I had an amazing chorizo, potato, cheese tamale with a side melon fruit salad for breakfast and then picked up three packages of frozen tamales to go. I'm most looking forward to the St.Valentines (chocolate and cherries...seriously), and the Pumpkin ('nuff said)...I'll definitely be back...with back-up.
(5)
Tamara W.

Having lived in Tucson for over 50 years, I've eaten a lot of tamales and made them several times. I've tried the TTC tamales 3 times at dinner parties, and I'm having a hard time figuring out how they manage to stay in business here. They're terrible! Dry and flavorless. The green corn were the worst I've ever had, I actually threw it away after a couple of bites and got a different flavored one because I thought it might be better. None of them have been. Just having novel ingredients doesn't necessarily mean good food, the quality still has to be there. I can't believe the reviews I read, unless they're from people who have never had good tamales.
(1)
Morgan H.

This place was amazing. I was on vacation in Tucson and just really wanted tamales. My friend and I found this place on google maps and we loved it. Everyone was super nice and the food was great. The patio out back was awesome. Value was good and taste was great! Thank you Tucson Tamale Company
(4)
Jide F.

I'm a big fan of tamales and I've heard so much about this place. I came with my roommate a few minutes before they closed. We ordered 8 cold tamales to take home and while we were waiting they served us tamales left over in the steamer free of charge! Man do I love free food. The people working there were not rushing us out the door and they were just down right gracious. Just as delicious as the tamales are the sides. We tried the rice and beans and they were delicious. The rice was very flavorful and it was basmati style which is unexpected for a tamale place. Can't wait to be a regular here!
(5)
Halle M.

I use to come here and rave about how good the tamales are. The last time I was there (this week!) with a group and the service was terrible and the workers were very spacy. That night the whole group ended up sick from the tamales. I am embarrassed I suggested this place to take a group of friends. Won't return.
(1)
Stacy D.

This place rocks! A must when in Tucson! Make sure you get the pinto beans! The only thing I didn't like was the tap water, but they sell bottled water :)
(5)
Sachin A.

Awesome experience of the Tamale, had it first time here...super tasty and Service is very good...the Staff is very gracious too....we ate so much!! Due to our order they gave us some freebies too...great experience...simply left me craving for more!!
(5)
Heather M.

In a rush to make a concert downtown a few weekends ago we stopped in here for a quick snack. Service was friendly and fast. Our food was quick and delicious. It was the perfect pre-concert, pre-beer drinking meal. This wasn't my first visit, but it had been a while. I had forgotten how DELISH those tamales are. The masa is pure heaven. I mean, it's really perfect in every way. The Santa Fe (pork) is awesome. Just what a tamale should be. My personal fave is the Tucson Tamale - spicy jalapeno masa and enough cheese to single handedly clog an artery. Oh, and its goooood cheese too. I'm not a big fan of the chipotle beef tamales. The flavors just don't connect for me. Maybe I'm more of a traditional gal when it comes to tamales. I'm not impressed with the sides either. Neither the rice or the black beans hit the spot for me. You've got to try the tamales. Awesome, heavenly tamales.
(4)
April T.

Fresh ingredients, innovative fillings. Busy on a Saturday night- about half of the orders were to go, though, because the place isn't that large and feels much like a fast food joint. We tried 6 different tamales and liked all of them. The ones with traditional fillings are among the best I've consumed anywhere, but for a new taste twist, be sure to try the New Delhi Tamal!
(4)
Craig S.

This is my favorite place when visiting Tucson. As a vegan, I really enjoy their tamales as well as the beans and guacamole. Fun place with a hip vibe -- highly recommended.
(5)
Susan O.

May, 2011: This is a small restaurant that produces a variety of tamales more for take-out than for eating in. However, there are a few tables where you can sit to eat your meal. By the time I arrived on the way home from work, there was only one roasted corn on the cob left! It was very good, and I look forward to eating more ; ) The tamales come with a variety of meats, or vegetarian, and degrees of spiciness. I bought four different kinds and have eaten three of them. Yummy! These are great to pick up to serve at parties, for your own dinner, etc. There are several side dishes from which to choose that come with the tamale dinner. Enjoy!
(4)
Hilary E.

MUST TRY the Organic Greens with Blue Corn Tamale (Veggie). I think it's only $5.50 or so. What? Shutchomouth FABULOUSNESS in a tight, cheap package. Now that's what I'm talkin' about.
(5)
Christina B.

I honestly don't have words for how much I LOVE Tucson Tamale Company. It may be my favorite restaurant in the entire state. My usual order: Boise, Berkeley, or New Delhi tamale (all vegetarian, all delicious) with a side of their salad. The salad itself is fabulous -- it's not a boring green salad as I expected the first time I went there, but it has a tangy dressing and has rice and corn tossed in. Just make sure to toss the salad to maximize the deliciousness factor! My only critique of the place? It's not close enough to my house to go to every day!! :-) This is definitely a must-try for anyone passing through the area.
(5)
Linnea P.

Delicious, and fast. Loved the Austin.
(5)
George C.

I love my mother's Tamales, but regular (Lard) tamales are getting harder for me to handle with my oldness....The tamales from Tucson Tamale Company are Fanatastic. No heartburn! And they taste Great, especially the Chicken! I always order the Tamale Salad with the Sonora Tamale. It is really one of my Favorite meals in Tucson!
(5)
Mike S.

These aren't your mothers' Tamales. Seriously, your mom could never make such unique and tasty treats. One of the great things about Tucson Tamale company is the wide ranging accessibility around town. Aside from the main store the tamales can be found at numerous other shops and farmers markets. The variety of tamales is great. In particular the New Delhi is damn good. If you don't eat meat there are also a number of vegetarian and vegan choices. Bottom line: This is a local business that uses fresh ingredients, works the local scene and makes wonderful food. I always have a stack of these sitting in my freezer and you should too.
(4)
Ani P.

The prices are ridiculous. How can fresh tamales be this cheap? Tamales are gluten free!!! I had bites of 3 tamales. One was a blue corn with veggies for my babies -- fresh, light and nourishing. The other 2 were spicy, I don't remember the details, just that I was very satisfied and felt nourished in a healthful way. Cheap, healthy and delish.
(5)
Joe N.

I'm not usually one for tamales unless they are home made. I rarely, if ever, order them in a restaurant. One day I was at a nearby store and hungry as a beast. I saw the tamale company and figured I'd step in to see what was there. Walking in was a plesant surprise. There were so many choices and some delicious salsas. I took a couple of different kinds with me to go. My friend and I decided to partake in these delicious morsels. We warmed them up in the microwave and they were delicious. This place has a tamale for everyone including vegetarian, vegan and dairy free options. It is slightly on the expensive side but well worth it if you're looking for a good tamale.
(5)
Stephen W.

Let me put it clearly... I have not encountered tamales as great as these ever before. Top it off with some awesome salsa + sour cream/guac and you have probably one of the tastiest meals you can ever get. The pork tamales IMO were the best out of the five or six we tried. And YES we were only in Tucson for 4 days, but we went out of our way to return back here a few extra times for more. Bonus points for vegetarian/breakfast/dessert options too!! Will need to try out the shipping to try it out a few more times.
(5)
Gavin C.

Best tamales I've ever had that weren't loaded with lard. They rely on quality ingredients and superb preparation and timing instead of smothering them with cheese and chili (though you can do that, too, if you want :-)) to make delicious tamales on every visit. Its one of the few places I've been to, anywhere really, that I have consistently left without saying, "well that could have been better." There's a TON of variety on their eclectic menu and after throwing in a mix of homemade salsas you really can't go wrong here. I give them four stars only because I do find the sides a little tasteless and dull (my wife REALLY likes the rice salad, however) and their guacamole is bland and looks store bought even though it isn't, but i'm not there for the sides. I make tamales at home a lot...or i used to. Tucson Tamale Company stole that from me (but do i really miss it?) because I can just buy from them, have better tamales, and really not pay much more for them in the long run. Plus, Gluten-Free and Vegetarian! Thanks TTC!
(4)
Matthew B.

Went in on a whim after reading some positive reviews. The inside is pretty small but serviceable for a quick bite. Went and ordered at the front. Ordered the two tamales combo. Picked my fav and asked for whatever sells best as my second option. She also threw in an extra pork tamale to try out as well. So in all I got a green corn, thanksgiving dinner, pork, side of ride, and beans. Total? Less than $7. Verdict on food? Pretty darn good. They offer vegetarian and vegan options as well. So t rex's and brachiosaurus can dine together in harmony.
(4)
David C.

I checked out the Tamale Company while visiting my grandparents. Nice small place with great service and cheap prices. I had the two tamale combo with rice and beans for a bit over $6. I am not a tamale expert but my dad and I were very pleased. They will even ship frozen tamales to all 50 states! My girlfriend was very jealous as she missed out because she was at the Gem show.
(5)
Evan S.

A meal at the Tucson Tamale Company is like unwrapping a Christmas present. As a recent transplant to the area, I have been excited to sink my teeth into as many southwest and Mexican flavors that I can. I stumbled onto the magic of the Co.'s tamale while visiting the Sierra Vista farmer's market. CHEAP and easy to take and make for dinner I purchased a vegetarian Tucson Tamale and a Arizona chipotle beef for my husband. After just a few minutes of cooking the little packages wrapped up in corn were ready. Unwrapped I found a dumpling of vegan masa moist and perfectly spicy. My husband rejoiced at his first tamale experience. I could take a bath in the fire chipotle sauce and do the back stroke in the deep flavor. Today was my first trip to the actual store front. I excitedly brought a friend. The Austin with a side of rice and beans were the perfect lunch. The spinach and mushrooms were nestled inside a traditional corn masa. I can't say enough about the addition of pepitas to the black beans! Who thinks of this? They added great crunch and salt. I promise that you will not be disappointed...be sure to take some frozen ones home for the inevitable cravings.
(5)
Ingrid T.

So I am impressed with every other yelper's review. I want to Tucson Tamale Company and perhaps we were there on an off day. I was really disappointed. Let me start off though I love the location and the interior very south west theme and that was enjoyable. The tamales so we had the sweet potato one which was pretty awful it almost had a sweet taste that isn't the sweet taste of a potato but of something gone bad. Now let me give credit though for the meat tamales they were good-not great but they were good. I talked to some other people about this restaurant wanting their feedback and again all the locals say some of the same things it's overpriced and they've had better. Well I have to agree. Would I go there again? Probably not to be honest I just wasn't impressed. Sorry Tucson Tamale Company but it didn't quite stand up to my expectations.
(2)
Jessica L.

I'm not normally a fan of tamales, so you can imagine my surprise when I took a bite of a Sante Fe covered with Sherry's salsa and found myself wanting more. I got a side of chips (with salsa) and those were alright. The vibe of this place is very quaint. It is definitely places like this that make Tucson such a beautiful place for foodies. The staff was also extremely friendly, even though we were slowpokes and stayed a bit after 7.
(5)
Meghan b.

I've been here 3 times in the last three days! I can't get enough of these tamales, they are amazing. I've tried the Tucson tamale, and the Berkley....YUM! This is definitely one of my new favorite places. Try it, you wont regret it!
(5)
L B.

on a recent trip i met the owner of this fabulous restatuarant on the plane. I love to be able to support a small business owner.... even better when they are the best tamales I have had since my aunt's house. We were travelling with a group of 15+ students and staff from UC Davis and ordered a variety of the tamales vegatarian and meat like... EVERYONE WAS MORE THAN SATISFIED! That is a lot to say for such a large group. The beans were amazing and the salsas were equally awesome! I don't have many reasons (actually none) to return to Tucson but if I ever did I would make a special trip here... thank goodness they also ship tamales to 50 states!!!! I have to plan an order! AMAZING!
(5)
Yolanda G.

It doesn't get better than this, when it comes to tamales. This place is AHHH MAZING!! If you haven't been, RUN, don't walk. Best tamales in Tucson, by far.
(5)
Mike E.

Top tamales in Tucson. they might be a little expensive, but if you want the best then stop in.
(5)
RL P.

Their tamales are great, but for breakfast we get their Huevos Rancheros. The first time we had them there were 2 masa cakes as they call them. They were crunchy, which was a welcome texture because everything else on the plate is moist/runny. The black beans are the way to go, highly flavorful. This visit however there was only 1 masa cake hidden under almost everything. It was all soggy except for 2 bites. Bring back the 2 cakes and keep them crispy, when this dish is prepared that way it is one of the best/unique variations on Huevos Rancheros that I have had.
(4)
Andrea H.

YUM! Ok-- this place is awesome. There really is a tamale for everyone. I sampled the Santa Fe, Sonoran, and I have 2 blue corn tamales in my fridge that I've yet to sample. The salsas are quite tasty too. Being from Wisconsin, I was eager to try the Wisconsin tamale, but avoided it because it only contains cheese. (I like more stuff in my tamales) I plan on ordering it next time. The fresh salsas are a nice compliment. I also enjoyed the friendly staff's help when I explained that I was a TTC rookie. They helped me pick a bouquet of tamales to go and also included each type of salsa for me to sample. I'm looking forward to my next trip!
(5)
Ani P.

The prices are ridiculous. How can fresh tamales be this cheap? Tamales are gluten free!!! I had bites of 3 tamales. One was a blue corn with veggies for my babies -- fresh, light and nourishing. The other 2 were spicy, I don't remember the details, just that I was very satisfied and felt nourished in a healthful way. Cheap, healthy and delish.
(5)
Joe N.

I'm not usually one for tamales unless they are home made. I rarely, if ever, order them in a restaurant. One day I was at a nearby store and hungry as a beast. I saw the tamale company and figured I'd step in to see what was there. Walking in was a plesant surprise. There were so many choices and some delicious salsas. I took a couple of different kinds with me to go. My friend and I decided to partake in these delicious morsels. We warmed them up in the microwave and they were delicious. This place has a tamale for everyone including vegetarian, vegan and dairy free options. It is slightly on the expensive side but well worth it if you're looking for a good tamale.
(5)
Linnea P.

Delicious, and fast. Loved the Austin.
(5)
George C.

I love my mother's Tamales, but regular (Lard) tamales are getting harder for me to handle with my oldness....The tamales from Tucson Tamale Company are Fanatastic. No heartburn! And they taste Great, especially the Chicken! I always order the Tamale Salad with the Sonora Tamale. It is really one of my Favorite meals in Tucson!
(5)
Mike S.

These aren't your mothers' Tamales. Seriously, your mom could never make such unique and tasty treats. One of the great things about Tucson Tamale company is the wide ranging accessibility around town. Aside from the main store the tamales can be found at numerous other shops and farmers markets. The variety of tamales is great. In particular the New Delhi is damn good. If you don't eat meat there are also a number of vegetarian and vegan choices. Bottom line: This is a local business that uses fresh ingredients, works the local scene and makes wonderful food. I always have a stack of these sitting in my freezer and you should too.
(4)
Stephen W.

Let me put it clearly... I have not encountered tamales as great as these ever before. Top it off with some awesome salsa + sour cream/guac and you have probably one of the tastiest meals you can ever get. The pork tamales IMO were the best out of the five or six we tried. And YES we were only in Tucson for 4 days, but we went out of our way to return back here a few extra times for more. Bonus points for vegetarian/breakfast/dessert options too!! Will need to try out the shipping to try it out a few more times.
(5)
Gavin C.

Best tamales I've ever had that weren't loaded with lard. They rely on quality ingredients and superb preparation and timing instead of smothering them with cheese and chili (though you can do that, too, if you want :-)) to make delicious tamales on every visit. Its one of the few places I've been to, anywhere really, that I have consistently left without saying, "well that could have been better." There's a TON of variety on their eclectic menu and after throwing in a mix of homemade salsas you really can't go wrong here. I give them four stars only because I do find the sides a little tasteless and dull (my wife REALLY likes the rice salad, however) and their guacamole is bland and looks store bought even though it isn't, but i'm not there for the sides. I make tamales at home a lot...or i used to. Tucson Tamale Company stole that from me (but do i really miss it?) because I can just buy from them, have better tamales, and really not pay much more for them in the long run. Plus, Gluten-Free and Vegetarian! Thanks TTC!
(4)
Matthew B.

Went in on a whim after reading some positive reviews. The inside is pretty small but serviceable for a quick bite. Went and ordered at the front. Ordered the two tamales combo. Picked my fav and asked for whatever sells best as my second option. She also threw in an extra pork tamale to try out as well. So in all I got a green corn, thanksgiving dinner, pork, side of ride, and beans. Total? Less than $7. Verdict on food? Pretty darn good. They offer vegetarian and vegan options as well. So t rex's and brachiosaurus can dine together in harmony.
(4)
David C.

I checked out the Tamale Company while visiting my grandparents. Nice small place with great service and cheap prices. I had the two tamale combo with rice and beans for a bit over $6. I am not a tamale expert but my dad and I were very pleased. They will even ship frozen tamales to all 50 states! My girlfriend was very jealous as she missed out because she was at the Gem show.
(5)
Evan S.

A meal at the Tucson Tamale Company is like unwrapping a Christmas present. As a recent transplant to the area, I have been excited to sink my teeth into as many southwest and Mexican flavors that I can. I stumbled onto the magic of the Co.'s tamale while visiting the Sierra Vista farmer's market. CHEAP and easy to take and make for dinner I purchased a vegetarian Tucson Tamale and a Arizona chipotle beef for my husband. After just a few minutes of cooking the little packages wrapped up in corn were ready. Unwrapped I found a dumpling of vegan masa moist and perfectly spicy. My husband rejoiced at his first tamale experience. I could take a bath in the fire chipotle sauce and do the back stroke in the deep flavor. Today was my first trip to the actual store front. I excitedly brought a friend. The Austin with a side of rice and beans were the perfect lunch. The spinach and mushrooms were nestled inside a traditional corn masa. I can't say enough about the addition of pepitas to the black beans! Who thinks of this? They added great crunch and salt. I promise that you will not be disappointed...be sure to take some frozen ones home for the inevitable cravings.
(5)
Arlene B.

We lived in Phoenix for 16 years and loved the Mexican food in that area. One Restaurant we went to had great green chile corn tamales that were our favorite tamales. We now have been living in San Diego for the past 20+ years and never could find the kind of green chile corn tamalies we loved. I then discovered Tucson Tamle Company on line a few years ago and ordered the green chile corn tamalies they made and they were just as we remembered them from Phoenix. Since then we have also tried various other varieties of tamales and were very satisfied with the quality and taste. We reccomend this company to any Tamale lovers especially those who experienced Arizona and New Mexico style tamales. There customer service is very good and they are very prompt in their deliveries. A real winner in our book. ArBelt
(5)
Daye V.

I come here consistently because this place is my favorite Mexican food restaurant. I don't like Mexican food, and I have no one to tell me where to go eat, so the fact that I come here at least twice a month for a Sonora and a Santa Fe tamale says something. They always heat the tamales all the way through and they have some green salsa(ask for medium heat) that is to die for. Definitely one of my Tucson favorites. Oh, and the prices are a little pricey, but reasonable and definitely worth the food.
(5)
Victoria W.

This place definitely lives up to all of its excellent recommendations. Super casual place. Nice service. Tamales, yum. They are some big tamales tho! Beware! Do not be a fatty like me and get a 3 tamale plate plus a side haha- unnecessary amount of food! My favorite was the Santa Fe. Liked them so much I got three packages to go! The to go ones warmed up to be super delicious also! Just 2 min in the microwave! I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Vivian K.

The Tucson Tamale Company is the place to go if you're hungry for some of the best Tamales in Town. One day we needed to grab something quick before an event at 6pm, and my friend recommended this place. I am not a big fan of Tamales, but my friend said it had the best Tamales in Tucson, so I knew I had to give Tamales another try, and now I have to say that they are now a hit with me. I had the Santa Fe Tamale, and it was delicious! I also tasted my friend's Tucson and Santa Cruz tamales, and they were also very good. The prices were very reasonable, considering how much work it is to make Tamales at home. Service was good and quick. If you are in a rush, you will be happy to get your tummy filled quickly here. In addition, they also have some GLUTEN FREE products as well. I will definitely come back to here to explore their other Tamales in the future.
(4)
Becky M.

This place is great. The tamales are cheap and delicious. I generally order two to make a dinner-sized meal, but if you're a big eater you will probably want to add a side or two. You can mix and match the different kinds of tamales, and they have several vegetarian options. I highly recommend the blue tamales. Oh and ask for both salsas.
(5)
Kyann M.

We went here for breakfast this morning. I had the huevos rancheros and they were delicious! They have the Thanksgiving tamales right now but I haven't been brave enough to try them. I like that there are so many options. I usually just get the traditional but always want to be more adventurous. You know how it is.....you try something and you like it and then you don't want to try anything else in case you are disappointed. I haven't been disappointed yet here. Just a warning though, the parking is terrible!
(4)
Aishan S.

Love love love!! My friend discovered this place and after we tried it, I absolutely loved it. Whenever I have friends or family in town, I always want to bring them here, and I often suggest this place to people who have never had a tamale before, or simply have never visited this restaurant. Everyone walks out with pleasant smiles and satisfied stomachs. The staff here are also extremely friendly and never even kicked us out although we tend to come in near closing time and stay late. Their menu includes a great variety of meat and vegetarian tamales, so even after I went vegetarian this summer, I was able to enjoy one of their delectable meals. I usually order the Madison (black beans, red bell peppers, cheese, and corn with spice on red corn masa) or the Blue Tamale (squash, corn, tomatoes, onions, green chilies, and cheese or blue corn masa). Both are wonderful. Just one with basmati rice (my favourite side) and salsa makes a filling meal. Before going vegetarian, I did try some of their meat tamales. I rarely eat beef, so I only had the Santa Fe (pork) and the Sonora (chicken). Personally, I thought the pork was better because it had more flavour, but for those who have milder preferences, the Sonora Tamale is an excellent choice as well.
(5)
C. C.

Absolutely amazing. The price is high but you get a lot of food and the tamales are incredible. I was not a fan on the rendition of rice served with the tamales (it was a cold rice salad dish) but that is where the complaints stop. They still get a 5 and I would ship these to CA every week if it wouldn't be so expensive. You must try the "Blue" ( a blue corn tamale with calabazitas inside) and the "Sonoran" chicken. This place even has a curry tamale which wasn't half bad if you are not feeling a mexican taste. Everything here is high quality, the staff is always friendly and it is just simply delicious. If you are in Tucson and want gourmet tamales, look no further.
(5)
A J.

Best Tamales that I have ever had. Seriously, they are that good. They are a bit different than a "normal" mexican food restaurant tamale, but trust me, you will love them. My favorites are the Tucson Tamale with red mild salsa and the cold rice salad. The Tucson is a cheese tamale with spicy jalepeno masa and it's hot but not overwhelming. The red mild salsa has fantastic flavor and is the perfect complement. The rice salad is so unique, I love the cold against the spicy tamales. It's something you need to try to understand how good it is. I'm bummed to say this because it wasn't the case a few years ago when we started going but the last few times we've been in the service has gone down hill. They are hurried, a little rude at times, and when you go in at the end of the day, they've run out of few things (quack, beans, etc.) That's the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. One example was we got there about 10 minutes before closing and the girl pretty much forced us to take it to go. I wouldn't want to work late either but I feel like in the service industry she would win a lot of points by encouraging us to stay and eat there instead of making us feel like a burden. I will say that the food is so good, that the not so good service doesn't stop me from going back. The food is easily 5 stars
(4)
Corey D.

I will write review updates for Tucson Tamale Company as long as they continue to rock my world with menu additions that blow my mind. Listen to this... bittersweet cocoa and cherry masa (real cherries inside the masa folks) wrapped around ooey gooey chocolate chips. When you slice into this magical creation, warm chocolate oozes out a la a molen lava cake, AND I hear from the sweet girl ringing me up that if you eat it cold, it's like a rich brownie. The guys at TTC put this little number together during Valentine's Day and it was so popular that you can fall in love with these guys in their freezer section in two packs to go!
(5)
Adam F.

I highly recommend going to this place. Their tamales are amazing!
(4)
Jennifer D.

I LOVE TAMALE'S!!! When they are done right! And this place has it going ON!!! They were quick and I didn't have to wait in a long line. And soooo Friendly too! I had the beef chipotle tamale with mild sauce and a side salad all under 6 bucks! GREAT place for lunch or a little afternoon snack.
(5)
Jeff C.

Our first time to try was today. Extremely tasty tamales. We are visitors but love trying local businesses. This is definitely a good find and we will return. Didn't try any of the sides yet and anxious to try more of the plentiful variety. Who knew you could pick from about 20 flavor choices?!!
(5)
Debra R.

Food was good! Our favorites were the chili relleno, Jojos, and green corn variety. We had cold Basmati salad and spicy black beans for sides. We thought it was yummy, reasonably priced, and we didn't encounter any of the snotty attitude others have complained about--the opposite! The girls were helpful and very nice. We could buy flour tortillas to take home, too.
(5)
Eleana H.

Cant say if I ever had them fresh.. always buy them frozen from the food co-op on fourth ave....... hmmm but as far as I can tell they are yummy yummy yummy! This company understands how to make a traditional.. or modern tamale! I really like their new dehli tamales.. those are so good. ! Will have to make a stop at the store and buy them fresh one day
(5)
Stephanie H.

Oops! How have I not reviewed this place yet? It's great. Such amazingly yummy tamales, and so cheap. Don't bother with the beans and rice, if you're hungry just get another tamale because this place (as you might have guessed by the name) is all about great tamales. It's fast, and delicious. If you like tamales, go here.
(5)
Heidi N.

Have been here quite a few times and the food never disappoints. I love their vegetarian tamales! It's a little small, but their service is fast and friendly. This is definitely a go-to take out place for me.
(4)
Candice C.

Lots of veggie/vegan options. Not a huge tamale fan but I really liked these. The side salad is awesome- I heard the side of cold rice salad isn't that great. The service is really fast and the food is reasonably priced. You must try the chocolate cherry tamale! It tastes like a brownie.
(4)
Rory J.

Tamales are very, very good. They have a very unique and delicious take on the tamale...not what I'd consider authentic (i.e. not like abuela's), but still great. Great variety as well (even cheese for kids). Ambiance isn't much, but OK for lunch. Perfect for takeout as they are prepackaged for easy prep at home. They even told us how to fix the cheese tamale for our kids so it mimics a grilled cheese (I ate most of it b/c it was excellent). Highly recommend.
(5)
Glenn B.

great people, Todd and Kirby extensive menu, expensive prices, 30.00 for a dozen tamales? OK but but - this is illogical for me.
(4)
Sally P.

Fabulous and funky. If we visit Tucson again, we'll be eating here for sure. Try to go when it's not too busy as it's a very small seating area.
(5)
Lisa H.

fab! loved the food i got for take out. for $23, i got 8 tamales, 2 large sides and a container of salsa (the family pack--not enough for a family but perfect for a girl and a guy with leftovers). the black beans and the basmati rice were subtly spiced and delicious. i love green sauce, and colette's green (medium heat) did not disappoint. the green corn tamales were perfectly sweet and the tucson tamales were spicy and not too hot, with lots of cheese. the madison was pretty good, it seemed like a healthier alternative as there was not lots of cheese. the new dehli was not as flavorful as i had anticipated based on the description. i didn't find any of the tamales to be dry. the staff was friendly and service was fast. i definitely will be back.
(4)
Elaine W.

The tamale menu is extensive and unique, the restaurant is bright, clean and cheerful and the staff is exuberantly friendly. I had a vegetarian tamale, the Austin, and the San Carlo, with shrimp. Everything was seasoned perfectly and the black beans are smoky and spicy, with pepitas on top. What a find and I can see why people were lining up when I finished my lunch, all eager to order tamales for December parties or their own Saturday lunch. I can hardly wait to go back. This is a place to bring your out of town guests, a true Tucson treasure.
(5)
Betty N.

**BEST GOURMET TAMALES IN TUCSON** Before arriving to Tucson, I ordered the following for Christmas Eve pick-up: *SONORA (WINNER) - Green Chile Chicken Gourmet Tamales - My favorite of the three flavors ordered. Simply delicious. Beautiful melded flavors of lard free masa, roasted chicken, green chiles, onions, tomatoes, and subtle spices. *SANTA FE (RUNNER UP) - Green Chile Pork and Cheese Gourmet Tamales was my second favorite. Wonderful pork loin, green chiles, tomatoes, cheese, onions, and spices was another awesome combination. *ARIZONA - Chipotle Beef Gourmet Tamales was decent, but not as simple and flavorful as the Sonora and Santa Fe. SIDES: *COLD BASMATI RIDE SALAD - Rice, corn, red peppers and scallions were a favorite side. *SPICED BLACK BEANS - Not my favorite because the spices were a bit off, but the others liked it. *ROASTED CORN ON THE COB - Liked it, but these did require butter and salt, wasn't sweet enough on its own. The provided GREEN CHILI SAUCE was AMAZING on the tamales. WOW WOW WOW. Must have. The staff was super friendly and there were small tables to dine inside. There was a line out the door during Christmas Eve. One of the staff members had a huge hickey on her neck. Not going to hate, but cover that up, please. 16 tamales and a few sides = $60 A dozen tamales was more than enough to feed a family of 4. Unfortunately, they gave us only 3 cobs and I ordered 4. Usually, this would warrant a one star ding, BUT, since their tamales are so super good, the 5 star rating stands. One of the best tamale experiences I've ever had. Simply awesome. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
(5)
Joseph L.

Great service 5 stars.... Order your Tamales and they will be done in 3 minutes after the microwave bell rings. Tamales from a microwave just do not work for this Mexican. Sorry Tucson Tamale Company. Turn your microwave off.
(5)
Stephanie G.

I love this place. I've never been disappointed with anything I've eaten. I refuse to eat tamales from anywhere else!
(5)
Evan B.

One tamale, two tamale, I still want more! This place is great. Obviously their deal is tamales, for those of you not from the South west a tamale involves corn masa (flour) place in a dried corn husk with other fillings and then is steamed for a long time resulting in a soft, moist and firm filling. Walk in, step up to the counter and face the hardest decision in life. What tamale or two will you get today. With many options including multiple vegetarian and vegan options, everyone will have a hard time choosing. As with Asian food they place chillies next to the dishes with kick. For 6.29 you can get a combo any two tamale's, with either chips, or rice salad and a small cup of black beans. both come with salsa, and the hot is a bit hot. I had a New Dehli tamale which is a real fusion dish with its yellow curry and potatoes (vegan). I also had a Tuscon with jalapeÃ±o cheese and more. Both were great, savory and the latter one was cheesy too. Great little place, that I really wish was closer to home. They also sell wrapped tamales for taking home and have a small store full of shirts sauces etc.
(5)
Greg N.

Wow! I'm impressed! The blond girl saw me cruising the menu and she came over and siphoned the code. She had me purchasing 3 varied tamales in no time. Took them home and went to heav3n! Delicious is an understatement. I know tucson has the best Mexican restaurants in the world, but this sent me back to when I was in school here in the 70's when I experienced my best ever cheese quessadilla from a little tortilla factory downtown. And their hot salsa is.delicious too.
(5)
Robert W.

Absolutely blown away I never expected this little place to be so good. Once I walked through the front door I was expecting the prices to be to high for the value but was pleasantly surprised. The only thing that wasn't amazing was the chips and gaucamole the gaucamole was bland and the chips were borderline stale. I'm still raving about the pork tamales. Mmmm I'll be back for the rest of the flavors. :-)
(4)
Deb H.

I heard about this little gem from roadfood.com and decided to try it on my way to see one of my sons during his spring break. Like others, I appreciated the Mexican Coke and loved the Blue (vegetarian) tamales so much that I bought some frozen ones, on the spot, to take to my son. The frozen tamales are surprisingly affordable at the restaurant, but I just had a disappointment when I tried to shop for them online. The online prices are much higher, and the shipping fees seem out of sync with other fees that I've paid. The next time I drive through Tucson, I'll come prepared with a cooler and just act as my own delivery service.
(5)
Bleep S.

A line forms at lunch time and moves quickly. The vegan blue tamale ( Calabacitas Squash, Tomato, Onion, Green Chile and Cheese in Blue Corn Masa) was especially delicious and it is blue! Green tomatillo salsa is medium hot and tasty.
(4)
Erin Y.

This place is great! I really try to avoid tamales because I need to watch for my weight but I can never say NO this this eatery. I enjoyed all the tamales on the menu but my favorite has to be the Santa Fe and Green Tamale. If you decide to eat here make sure you try the guacamole, it it delicious and fresh! Top off any tamale with the green salsa and you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Tera E.

After months of having this bookmarked I finally stopped in to pick up some frozen tamales after the Yelp Helps Ben's Bells event. We gobbled up the JoJo (the boy's favorite), Santa Fe, Green Corn (my fav) and Blue Tamales (wait this may be my favorite too.... my review, I can have more than one favorite!) Since then I've been keeping some in the freezer at all times in case we don't feel like cooking which is happening more often now that I have these to fall back on. I love that if you buy them in their store you get 10% off orders of 6 packages or more as well as free salsa... it seems like a better deal than buying them at whole foods. The staff is always super friendly; they were so helpful on my first visit and took the time to walk me through the menu a bit and make some recommendations for a first timer like me. They are also really quick with the to go orders... they have them out in a minute or two usually even if they're busy. We picked up a bunch this weekend to have on Christmas Eve this year... can't wait!
(5)
Jen W.

When I was in Tucson a few weeks ago we stopped here on our way out of town to pick up some tamales to bring back to Seattle. Such a good idea! Their tamales are sooo good, even when reheated. I just wish I'd bought more!
(5)
James K.

Wonderful and outstanding!! The desert Tamale was a wonderful treat...who knew there could be a chocolate flavored tamale? It's called the St. Valentine and a must have!
(5)
Yogi B.

Tucson Tamale Company is a favorite stop for lunch. I love their interestingly flavored tamales. I feel it's just a bit more expensive than it needs to be for the amount of food you get, but everything I've had there has been flavorful and high quality. They're a hole-in-the-wall place, so sometimes I find it hard to get a seat. It's always worth it, though. Great place for lunch if you love tamales as much as I!
(4)
Jerry M.

Love the tamales and I love everything about this place! I've had them a number of times around town at the Farmers Markets and I was amazed to see all of the different varieties. They honestly have a huge selection and something for everyone. I must admit that these are not your typical Grandmas tamales (although they do have a couple that come close) and if you aren't open-minded then this might not be the place for you. We ordered a total of 24 tamales, so we actually tried just about all of them including the dessert and I can't really say that I disliked any of them (recommend the Paella and the Blue) . We went as soon as they opened which was a good decision because around lunchtime this place really starts to pick up. The restaurant itself isn't the biggest, but they do a great job accommodating all customers and they have a nice little patio in back with air conditioning. I can't say enough about this restaurant, the food is unique, creative, fresh and consistent. The staff is top notch, friendly, inviting oh and they make the tamales right in front of you. I would definitely recommend to all Friends, Family and Yelpers looking to try something new and incomparable.
(5)
Jessica G.

While I love the idea of a tamale "only" shop, it is just simply not anywhere near the best tamale in Tucson. I feel the flavors tend to fall short on almost all of their tamales. We've had almost every variety and I always find them to be on the drier side and a little too much "tamale" and too little filling. The pluses however, are many. It is all handmade, their pricing is easy and very reasonable, there is something for everyone and they make a great last minute potluck addition. Also the services is always perfect- even when they're busy they are pleasant and helpful. My first choice for tamales in Tucson? No. Something to please when you're with a group or in need of a quick easy meal? Yes.
(4)
Marjolaine R.

First time eating Tamale. I really liked it. The restaurant staff is friendly. The atmosphere is cool and friendly. There is nothing fancy, but, the food is tasty. You order at the cashier. You sit down and they come to give you the food. It is quick and efficient. I totally recommend it !
(4)
Chris V.

ARIZONA! Tamales! made-to-order and great portions, a lot of diversity for any tamale enthusiast.
(5)
Barry B.

I've never historically been a fan of tamales. Coming from the northeast, they always seemed a bit odd to me. I must say that Tucson Tamale Company has helped me get over that. This is an excellent place to go for a quick lunch, or to bring something tasty home for dinner. I've now tried several of the varieties that they offer, and strangely, considering that I'm usually a diehard carnivore, two of the vegetarian options have become fast favorites. The Madison is full of well-seasoned black beans, corn and cheese, and is absolutely sublime when I'm looking for something fresh and mild. If I'm in the mood for something with a little more kick, the Tucson is my go-to option. how can you go wrong with cheese and Jalapenos? The only reason I can't rate them 5-stars is that the sides are both small and slightly pedestrian. The rice I would go as far as to call bland. That said, it's still definitely worth coming here for the tamales themselves.
(4)
Roja N.

I live really close to this place and i go there often. Blue tamale and New Delhi are my favorites. Their dessert tamales shouldn't be missed if you've a sweet tooth
(4)
Christina D.

I love this place. It is always a treat during the winter to get a steaming hot tamale from tucson tamale company. The selection is amazing. You can be a vegetarian, get gluten free, and still feel like you are eating something healthy. Tucson Tamale Company makes tamales that aren't heavy and they won't slow you down. I recommend Jojos, Boise, and New Dheli. Don't forget to get chips as well as the Green Chili sauce. The sauce is AMAZING.
(5)
Mary C.

I've been a fan of these tamales for years (enjoying takeout, and buying frozen from the CO-OP), but I ate in the restaurant for the very first time a few weeks ago and the service was TERRIBLE. Our very presence was an inconvenience to them. Every single thing that was requested warranted an eye roll, they were out of a bunch of things (which I didn't mind), but was obviously causing the servers distress. The negative, downright rude attitudes of the staff were noticeable to every single patron... many of us, looking around at each other to see if others had witnessed the completely unnecessary nastiness being thrown our way. All said and done, the food wasn't even good. Won't be going back or giving this company anymore money, even indirectly. There are plenty of other places in Tucson to get a fantastic tamale!
(1)
Baoqi L.

Ordered the Madison veggie tamale with beans. For a non-cheese eater like myself, I thought I wouldn't like it. The tamale turned out to be great! The cheese did not seem to be a lot. But the beans are sort of bland, wound recommend offering barbecue flavored beans to the menu.
(4)
Melinda C.

How did we not know this place was here??!! Stupid of us for sure! We had been around town and were looking for a place to get a quick bite to eat. I pulled out my phone and pulled up Yelp, filtered out expensive and closed places and this place popped up. It had so many great ratings we had to try it. We're sure glad we did. I tried the traditional Santa Cruz tamales and the special summer side of roast corn on the cob. YUMMY! Usually I want some sour cream in case the tamales are spicy or dry, but I didn't have any and didn't need any. Hubby had the Santa Fe and the JoJo (3 chiles hot) with rice salad and black beans. He also had hot salsa to go with it. He didn't need it with the JoJo with jalapeÃ±os in the masa. He loved them! They were so good, we ordered a couple green corn tamales to take to my mom for dinner, which she really enjoyed too. We also ordered a 6 pack to go. Hubby decided to try the Blue (calabasitas and other veggies in masa) and I've got green corn waiting for me for lunch in a couple days. Looking forward to those! Make sure they explain how the pricing works as I got confused and ordered more than I expected, but sure won't waste what I bought. Now that we know this little gem is here, we'll definitely be back to get our tamal fix!
(5)
Diamond P.

Torn! While I love this place and the wonderful tamale foods, the staff is a joke. They run around like distracted ferrets and it took her 5 minutes to stop and take my order. Not to mention that after we paid, she all but pushed us aside to take the next customer's order. Im not planning on going back just based on that. Its sad because their food is so amazingly good.
(3)
T H.

I've only gone once but it was a great one time to say the least. My personal favorite (of the 6 I tried) was the Wisconsin Tamale. I could have eaten 5827275928 of those. Good and quick service. Very enjoyable and will definitely be back soon as I am currently moving to Oro Valley, Arizona.
(5)
Louise S.

We did not have time to eat at this little gem so we ordered 20 frozen tamales to place in our freezer. The staff is very helpful and will provide an honest description and personal favorite to help choose. I ended up with a large variety as I wanted to experience flavors that were new to me. We drove home to San Diego and were hungry, so I popped two Sonora Tamales in the steamer and 20 minutes later, VOILA dinner. The masa- not overly done, filling-blended beautifully, and the balance between the two- perfection. We also had JOJO later in the week and it was a little drier but yummy as well. They were on the high end for Tamales, but that is a result of fresh high quality ingredients. A two pack will cost an average of $5. We will be ordering more when the freezer runs low.
(5)
Chris K.

I had a friend recommend this place and I finally got around to trying it out and I'm very mad that I did. Tamale's are my weakness and I can see myself hitting this place way too much! :) It is definitely a take out only place. All the tamales we got were good, but I crown the Green Corn tamale my new favorite..it was awesome!
(4)
Joshua B.

I know they have a restaurant, but I have never been. I was fortunate enough to find a vendor selling their tamales at the Bisbee Farmer's Market. Their tamales came highly recommended, so I had to try them. I was immediately impressed. There isn't a lot of choice in their list of tamales, but each one is unique in its' own right. They have both meaty and vegetarian options (which I think is nice), and each tamale was delicious. Over the past year I've tried every tamale they offer, and each one has been a pleasant experience. It doesn't matter if you dine in their restaurant, get them to go at an event, or buy the frozen ones from the grocery... these tamales are good every time you try one!
(5)
John H.

First things first: These are only technically tamales and so if you are expecting anything like a traditional tamale you will be sorely disappointed. (These days you are going to have to hunt for that in Tucson, maybe the original El Charro, but they too have suffered from expansionism-see below, maybe the Tamale Lady--haven't tried them in awhile but they were excellent, or Little Cafe Poca Cosa is always a sure bet). However, they are tasty! Think of them like a masa delivery vehicle for some really interesting fillings. No, the masa is not top of the line, doesn't have that just-made homemade smell or texture, but where else will you get so many choices of fillings? I bumped them down from 4 stars to 3 because their quality has suffered greatly since they opened in 2008, I believe. Anyway, whenever it was I've been going there since about the first week and things are not quite as good as they were when it was just the little shop and Sundays at the St. Phillips Farmers Market. For example, Sherry's salsa used to be a very nice compliment (and that's saying a lot in a town full of great salsas) but is now uneven, and often watery. And the same quality controls persist throughout: the blue corn tamales, for example, often are filled with a bleak and very bland shadow of their once very good calabacitas. Beyond their zombie staff, which has slightly improved but is still basically socially inept, apathetic, and have a I-want-to-be-anywhere-but-here attitude, their real problem is cleanliness. I know they pass their health grades consistently, which isn't easy working with this product in this heat (think Nico's:), so perhaps it is just a problem with the nature of making tamales themselves, especially in the huge quantities they do now. It's just a very buggy product (the husks) and the place itself is next to our dog groomer, which is not the best feeling. I've had flies and other assorted bugs in my tamales, frozen usually, and I will admit it's sickening, but they've usually been in the husk wrapping, except for the errant hair. Quality control at this level is a huge problem. I've seen this happen to so many great businesses as they take off in popularity and expand too quickly. Just imagine if Mi Nidito or Raging Sage did the same thing? Can you imagine buying Cafe Poca Cosa food frozen at Whole Foods! Jebus! So, for now I go back occasionally and hope not to get a hair or a creature in my tamale as I wince unwrapping it, or I'll pick a pack up at Whole Foods, despite my misgivings, since the simple ones, say the Tucson or Madison, are quite tasty and freeze well. Still I wish this Tucson success story would slow down and think about the long game. Someone else here said Tucson is a small town and that is so true.
(3)
Peg P.

After reading rave reviews and being a tamale lover, we had to visit Tucson Tamale Company. We were NOT disappointed. Friendly and funky atmosphere with fair prices and wonderful choices for vegans and vegetarians. I tried the green tamale filled with fresh corn masa, roasted green chile, and cheese with an order of chips and salsa. We also tried the famous Tucson Tamale which is a spicy tamale filled with lots of cheese in grilled jalapeno masa. The side dish of black beans had a wonderful flavor to them that unlike anything I've ever tasted. That alone deserves another visit. All this for $13. We have definitely added this wonderful restaurant to our favorites list and will be visiting again, with more friends.
(5)
Barnabas L.

My first few attempts at eating here were huge failures, Day 1 - we arrive at 7:10, they close at 7, sad day :( , Day 3 - people cancel on me and i end up not adventuring out, Day 6 (sunday), they are not open. Finally one week later i finally get there!!! Me and my friends are greeted by a very polite and happy worker (Johanna, btw her 4th day working there), and instead of us ordering up front she gives us table service; (i'm on crutches right now due to a surgery). She is very polite and knowledgeable about the tamales. I ordered the JoJo (hottest/spiciest tamale they have), the Santa Fe, and two sides (basmati rice and black beans). I started off with my two sides, oh wow, delicious.. i personally do not eat beans, let alone black beans but this was good enough for me to eat and finish 2/3 of it. These are the best tasting/freshest black beans i have had before, it wasn't thick and pasty like most other places. The basmati rice, had some mixed veggies in it and it was cold (thats how they serve it). the Rice seriously was very delicious, the sides were only 4oz. and i wish i had more rice than 4oz. I seriously want a bucket of the rice next time i go. BTW homemade tortilla chips.GET SOME!! (no seriously get some they are good) The tamales oh man soo delicious, they came with your choice of Mild, Medium, and Hot salsas. Mild is a verde, medium is a regular red salsa, and hot was a thick red salsa. The hot was not as hot as i would have preferred but if i was able to rate it on a chili scale i would say, above a jalapeno but below a serano. The JoJo is as hot as a jalapeno, but a milder jalapeno. YUM. Santa Fe is pork, with other stuff (i forget sorry), but this was a very good tamale, if you have questions about what to get and aren't sure this is a winner. At the end they gave us some free tamales because it was "BOGO" near the end of the night, but i think she was just being kind to us. But me and all my friends who went scored some free tamales. YUmmmy On the barnabas scale: I DEFINITELY will be back
(5)
N P.

Delicious vegan tamales. Especially the "New Delhi."
(4)
Justin N.

After reading so many high ranking reviews, I was guessing this place was a good size place- nope. This is a small place in a strip mall type of location. Not much parking. The tamales are great, and the staff is as friendly as they get. Very helpful people. Best food I had in Tucson. While I think the Tamale meal was a little bit expensive (near $7 for 2 tamales and rice/beans), it was worth it.
(5)
Chris B.

Went here with a friend for a quick plate, the restaurant itself is hard to get parking and its pretty small but for the money this would be the first spot in tucson i would hit up for tamales. I tried a combo plate with one Santa Fe and one JoJo tamale, theres no way to tell them apart except for the flavors. I was at first dissapointed that their "Very Spicy" tamale was pretty flat on the spice, but included with their fresh salsas the tamales really pack in the flavor. The order itself didn't take long and my entire plate was fresh, easy recommendation for quick tamale stop with friends.
(4)
Rahm R.

Simply the best tamales in the whole world. They have great clean flavors and always leave you wanting more even if you have had to much. Personal favorites are the Sonora and Blue, Sonora a more traditional flavor and the Blue is truly unique even made with blue corn masa. Don't for get try their salsa and the cold rice salad. Really you can't go wrong here and they just opened a new restaurant on the east side. YAY!
(5)
Jennifer P.

There are few things in life more satisfying than a hot tamale after a long day. Thank you Yelp universe for directing me to Tucson Tamale Company! Good service and quality ingredients at a reasonable price. The Tucson Tamale Company is located in a small strip near the intersection of East Broadway and N Tucson Blvd. Parking is plentiful, as there's not much else in the parking lot. Seating here is limited. The dining room is pretty small, and there are only two tables outside. I walked in, placed my order, and was out the door 5 minutes later. The two tamale combo came in around $6 and included one side. I had the Green Corn Tamale and the JoJo. I was a little disappointed in the JoJo after reading so many reviews that praised its spiciness. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate the heat at a 5. The "Very Spicy!!!" on the menu was a bit misleading. The Green Corn Tamale was noticeably smaller than the JoJo, which was fine by me. The tortilla chips were good, and the green salsa was fantastic!
(4)
Barbara T.

I'm new to tamales and the southwest. I had tasted one on a food tour and liked it so was anxious to try again. The green corn and cheese tamale was amazing. I'm not a big fan of re-heating food but these microwave well and tasted as good as in the store. Inexpensive, so a great deal. The place was packed but the wait wasn't bad. The waitstaff were friendly but more importantly very knowledgeable, especially for a first timer.
(5)
Betsy Z.

Tucson Tamale Company is a great little place for visitors and Tucsonians alike! It's a very small venue located on Broadway. You can dine in or take out. The restaurant has a variety of tamales to choose from. All are gluten free, and there are some vegetarian options. My husband and I tried four different tamales and we were pleased! We could tell that fresh, quality ingredients were used. The restaurant also has different sides and sauces (the salsa is fabulous!). This is a great local place for a casual meal.
(4)
Robert Bobby Rivers B.

Love it for the Holidays....eating there tonight with out of town friends.
(5)
Darren E.

Everything was delicious - even the chips, salsa, and guacamole. I will definitely be back next time I'm in Tucson.
(5)
Kate D.

My friend was picking up her dog and the groomer next door, and we were STARVING so I ran in just to grab us two green corn tamales. This was my first time ever in the store, and I was welcomed by the most friendly employees at the counter, who enthusiastically took my measly two ala cart tamale order. While they grabbed my order, I looked over a menu and made some joke about how could they let me order a regular ol' green corn tamala\e when they had this amazing-sounding blue corn tamale with blue corn masa, squash, tomato, corn, onion, green chile and cheese?! They told me I just had to try it, and offered to switch one out. When I declined, they emphatically insisted I try one and threw one in my bag. Oh. My. God. Thank you so much wonderful TTC employees! My friend and I are still talking about the tamales 3 days later and cannot WAIT to try the entire menu.
(5)
Thomas W.

I Love tamales! I won't eat here again though. I don't know how this place has all the nice reviews, I really don't. We arrived at about 3pm Saturday,our first impression of the place was that of a cheap dive bar with cheap paint job cheap tables and chairs as well cheap wood "art" working (for sale with pieces of paper taped to the wall with prices). There was no one there except employees who were nice enough. When greeted we were asked if we wanted a menu, lol, after she gave them to us we were a bit confused as to how this place works as she just walked away. We sat our self's and decided on the Santa Fe (pretty sure that's what it was called) I chose the Green corn, I LOVE Green corn tamales. I also wanted to order the soup and drinks. The sign next to the register showed the soup of the day. When ordered they told me they were out of soup, grabbed the sign and put it under the counter. So we went with just the 2 orders of two tamales each, (we expected to take one of each home) and the 2 soft drinks NO sides, our total was over $16 some how but not a huge deal. A few minutes later they arrived I quickly saw that they were not "Hot" warm at best so I went back and asked them to try again. our tamales were average at best, maybe less than average. bland, my wife had one pretty good one with the filling and that but the other three were almost filling less. For a few dollars more go have some real Mexican food at one of the better places around town. If want to buy frozen tamales this maybe the place for you, I think these are also carried by some of the supermarkets around town. I will not be returning for fresh or frozen.
(2)
Grant S.

There are few places in Tucson i would say you have to visit as far as food goes. This is one of them. Amazing options for vegetarians and vegans. Great flavor and verity. I would highly recommend the Tucson Tamale.
(5)
Denis F.

I have become a fan after eating there several times in the past few weeks. I have tried a number of different tamales - all have been great - but the Green Corn and Berkeley are my favorites. The staff is warm and friendly, as is the atmosphere, and the prices are good. Great local art on display. I also like their Twitter updates - one today lured me in to try their shrimp tamales.
(4)
Will L.

Extremely tasty! Passing through Tuscon, we stopped at this place, since the other highest reviewed place was a hotdog joint (seriously, Tuscon?). This place was great! I'm not a vegetarian, but upon seeing positive reviews for the Green Corn tamale, I ordered that, along with the New Delhi tamale. I enjoyed them both, but I preferred the Green Corn tamale.
(5)
Roland W.

My second visit and I've loved it each time. The tamales are fresh and delicious. This is another place I normally wouldn't bother stopping at, but after reading about Tucson Tamales in Arizona Highways I had to give it a try. Reasonable prices, fantastic food, friendly staff and quirky decor make this place a keeper. It's another place I wish we had in Phoenix.
(5)
Karl S.

Oh boy, these tamales are great. What's good is they sell their tamales the various framers' markets. We buy them frozen.They cook up great in the micro. No fuss no muss. Great for breakfast or dinner. We like to serve them for holiday breakfasts. I love the spicy meatatarian varieties as well as the veggies options. The thanksgiving tamale (turkey stuffing etc) and the pumpkin pie tamale (especially with whip cream) are exquisite.
(5)
Carolyn W.

I've never eaten in the restaurant but order the tamales online and have them shipped to me. Best tamales ever! Shipping isn't cheap but worth it.
(5)
Anqi L.

Best tamales! I miss this place since moving away. Fantastic masa, always moist, and all the varieties are never too salty or greasy. Sometimes tough to get seating inside -- but that's always a good sign. The frozen choices are just as good at home.
(4)
Nick P.

Nickzilla is an important business-type dinosaur and, as such, frequently attends important business-type lunches. Okay, not really THAT important but it gets us out of the office for a couple hours to try something new. After reading the menu on the interwebs, I was practically salivating at the vegetarian and vegan selections at Tucson Tamale Company and the product did not disappoint. Their signature tamale, called the Tucson surprisingly enough, deliciously cheesy and spicy. I enjoyed the Madison tamale more, but I think that's because the Madison just had more stuff in it. The place itself is quintessential Tucson: a smattering of tables, swamp-cooled and friendly, laid back staff in shorts and sneakers. The folks who run the place were actually in the kitchen and bussing tables and seemed truly appreciative of every customer that came in. Three meals plus chips/salsa: 20 bucks. (Did I mention inexpensive? Yeah, the food is roadside burrito-stand cheap but don't let the price fool you, the quality is top notch)
(5)
Marlys S.

Great tamales. Extensive vegetarian and vegan menu. The chips are forgettable, but the black beans are tasty.
(4)
Emily F.

Holy cow this place is good! I might move to Tucson just for the tamales?
(5)
Anthony C.

Went here for lunch expecting good tamales but was very let down. Being Hispanic I had expectations of what good tamales were to taste like and this fell short, VERY SHORT.
(1)
Scott S.

Delicious and fast. I will be back for sure!
(4)
Stephen B.

Unbelievably good! This was the second tamale i ever had aside from a frozen one at a grocery store in california i wasn't impressed with. This was amazing. Modestly priced, i filled up on the 2 tamale w/ rice and beans (the rice had a really interesting cooling flavor). The salsa verde was the best i'd ever tasted anywhere
(5)
Peter L.

Got take out here last weekend and was very satisfied. We got the family pack which included 8 tamales, two large sides and salsa. We got six Santa Fe (pork) and two Sonora (chicken) tamales. It tasted super good with their Sherry's Red Mild salsa. For the sides, we got their guacamole & chips and pinto beans. You can taste it is fresh guacamole. The person who took our order was rude and the person who packed our food got the wrong items for us; therefore, they only get 3 stars instead of 4.
(3)
Alison R.

Let me preface this by saying that I assumed Tucson would be a cactus-laden hellscape. I had an afternoon to kill there, so I drove around hungry and grouchy, figuring food would be the one bright spot (this kind of thinking has kept me out of a bikini for years). My trusty yelp app pointed me in the direction of the Tucson Tamale Co. Best decision ever! I ordered the Jojo (jalapeno masa, beef & cheese) and the Green Corn (green chile & cheese) tamales with the intention on eating half of each, and saving the other half for the bf when he got done working. Alas, my greedy brain took over, and I ate them all myself. The tamales were not dry at all, both perfectly flavored and spicy. The green corn was small and vegetarian (eek), but truly delicious. They also make their own salsa. They sell vegan tamales, too. Crazy, they've thought of everything. Departed the Tamale Co. and found Occupy Tucson, which also made me happy. Tamales and protest make for a lovely afternoon. Thanks, Tucson, you're not so bad. Now I feel like an asshole.
(5)
Benjiman K.

Fantabulous Tamales! They have some original ones that push the envelope, like the grilled cheese tamale (Wisconsin?) which is stuffed with cheese and grilled on the griddle like a grilled cheese sandwich. Of course, they have great green chile, pork and beef standard ones too. Their standard red salsa was a dark red thin style which I'm not crazy about. Has a roasted jalapeno (poblano) flavor. But the chunky style was very tasty, as was the guacamole.
(5)
Mike K.

I went here when I visited Tucson, and loved it so much I ordered a box of tamales shipped back to the East Coast! Delicious, fat, flavorful tamales with fresh ingredients, your choice of classic or "creative." As a vegetarian I really appreciated the several meatless choices they provide, including a couple of vegan tamales. Small, funky restaurant with a good vibe. Not many seats but it wasn't a problem when I was there.
(5)
chris c.

Excellent tamales, do not forget to try the yellow curry one it was surprisingly delicious. Altogether we shared four kinds of tamales and all were good. Not too heavy or lingering of Lard. The hot salsa is really good and hot..
(5)
James O.

Awesome. If you haven't been...go! Everything was good and obviously made from fresh ingredients. Priced right on the dollar too.
(5)
Bianca W.

I live in phoenix and visited tucson for a little stay-cation and visited this restaurant after a little research. The food is definitely tasty but nothing outrageous. I planned on taking some home with us when we left but forgot. Luckily, tucson tamale is located in 5 different locations in phoenix. The location closest to me did not have them and did not know when they would have them so.... OH WELL! I would probably visit again if I was back in tucson.
(3)
Kate J.

We became addicted to these delicious tamales buying them frozen at Sprouts. Then, I stumbled across the actual store, where they are both cheaper and even more delicious plus yummy salsa. My favorite is the JoJo and the vegan blue (I know, opposites do attract). And my husband loves the Wisconsin, Tucson and JoJo. A must-try if you like tamales!
(5)
George F.

We always stop in for some great tamales when we are in town. The selection and variety is outstanding, though they can be a bit on the small side. Get a tamale or two with the rice and black beans and you have a great meal that wont leave you waddling out the door.
(4)
Laura S.

One of the best places in Tucson. I love the blue corn & Santa Fe. Super fast service too
(5)
Mary T.

Doesn't look like anything from the outside, but the tamales are to die for. We ended up going two day in a row! The Green Sonora Tamale, Mexican slaw and pinto beans were al wonderful! Bummer they were out of guacamole when we went. Wish we had Tucson Tamale Company in California!
(5)
Zack R.

Great food, great prices. Tamales were moist and I really enjoyed their guacamole. I had the sonoran and the jojo. It is a hole in the wall but sometimes that's where the best food comes from. Wish it was bigger or had more of a seating area but really liked the back patio.
(5)
Daniel K.

Coming out of Los Angeles, I am a sucker for authentic and tasty tamales. When I moved to Tucson for a couple of months, I was looking for different eateries and found this wonderful place near my work. Their tamales are one of the best I've had and I can't wait to go back for more. Recommendations: I highly recommend you mix and match and grab both chicken and beef tamales! Perfect place for lunch!
(5)
Ingrid T.

So I am impressed with every other yelper's review. I want to Tucson Tamale Company and perhaps we were there on an off day. I was really disappointed. Let me start off though I love the location and the interior very south west theme and that was enjoyable. The tamales so we had the sweet potato one which was pretty awful it almost had a sweet taste that isn't the sweet taste of a potato but of something gone bad. Now let me give credit though for the meat tamales they were good-not great but they were good. I talked to some other people about this restaurant wanting their feedback and again all the locals say some of the same things it's overpriced and they've had better. Well I have to agree. Would I go there again? Probably not to be honest I just wasn't impressed. Sorry Tucson Tamale Company but it didn't quite stand up to my expectations.
(2)
Jessica L.

I'm not normally a fan of tamales, so you can imagine my surprise when I took a bite of a Sante Fe covered with Sherry's salsa and found myself wanting more. I got a side of chips (with salsa) and those were alright. The vibe of this place is very quaint. It is definitely places like this that make Tucson such a beautiful place for foodies. The staff was also extremely friendly, even though we were slowpokes and stayed a bit after 7.
(5)
Meghan b.

I've been here 3 times in the last three days! I can't get enough of these tamales, they are amazing. I've tried the Tucson tamale, and the Berkley....YUM! This is definitely one of my new favorite places. Try it, you wont regret it!
(5)
L B.

on a recent trip i met the owner of this fabulous restatuarant on the plane. I love to be able to support a small business owner.... even better when they are the best tamales I have had since my aunt's house. We were travelling with a group of 15+ students and staff from UC Davis and ordered a variety of the tamales vegatarian and meat like... EVERYONE WAS MORE THAN SATISFIED! That is a lot to say for such a large group. The beans were amazing and the salsas were equally awesome! I don't have many reasons (actually none) to return to Tucson but if I ever did I would make a special trip here... thank goodness they also ship tamales to 50 states!!!! I have to plan an order! AMAZING!
(5)
Zach F.

Tucson Tamale Company is quite nice. The restaurant has a warm atmosphere and is very casual. The employees were knowledgeable with the menu and answered any questions I had. Service was fast, food was very tasty, and prices were incredibly reasonable. Before the food was served my expectations were incredibly high and for good reason. Everything was perfect. I'd like to go into more detail, but see for yourself and I'm confident you'll agree. For the heat lovers I suggest the JoJo tamales. (my new favorite) The Sonora was also quite the treat. In my mind, the place is a hit. Consider me a regular in the making.
(4)
Jen M.

Delicious tamales! The rice salad was really good also. We tried a chicken tamale - the chicken was moist and the chiles were really flavorful. The Jo-Jo spicy beef tamale was also incredible as was the pork tamale. The grilled corn was a little overcharred but we were also arriving just at closing time so it may have been on the grill a little overlong. Service was great - food was terrific. We will definitely be back!!!
(5)
Jason P.

I don't care for tamales but these are an exception for me. I tried five diffrent tamales and liked them all.
(4)
Erik S.

Yum! I went here after reading the great reviews and I have to agree with them. I got the Santa Fe and Sonora with a side of chips and salsa. The masa is just right and the fillings were quite tasty in both of the tamales. There is also an extensive hot sauce collection at the counter but you aren't going to want to use it as the flavors of the tamales are quite good on their own. The Santa Fe tamale was my favorite and I have to say that I enjoyed the tomatillo and jalapeno salsa I had with the chips so much that I went back up and bought a 12 oz of the salsa to bring home.
(5)
Lisannette R.

Best Tamales I've had that were not purchased in a Food City parking lot!! A representative came by our office with a sample and the menu one afternoon and after that one taste I was hooked. I ordered a few for lunch! The masa is very moist and flavorful, and the variety is interesting. Now, I always get my tamales delivered when I'm at work because the price is great and two are perfect for a lunch portion. The delivery is always fast (to Speedway and Tucson) and the food still hot when it arrives.
(4)
Marwan C.

This place in my opinion, is the official spokesmen of what a tamale should be. Great effort has been invested in perfecting the art and craft of making their tamale. The quality, quantity of the fillings, and the flavor is on the money. These are hand made tamales, and labor & skills are not cheap. Although I enjoyed all the flavors, I believe that the flavor profile across the entire menu still has room for improvement specially the New Delhi. The corn and green beans are out of place in this recipe, and a more appropriate Indian ethnic substitution should be made. In regards to the other flavors offered, as it is often the case the ingredients used might be right, but the recipe might be off the mark in striking that high note in flavor. I just found out about TTC about a week ago, and I have already been there 3 times already for dine- in and take out. Great operation. This weekend I plan on trying their new breakfast menu. Will keep you posted.
(4)
Lucia M.

Always delicious, every variety I've tried I've really liked. Great value and delicious, whether for 2 of us at home, or to serve a group of 5 or 6 with the family platter...
(4)
Bunny L.

NOBODY makes tamales as good as my Tata did! At least, not until I tried Tucson Tamale Company. Oh. My. God. They are incredible! The Santa Fe and Tucson are my absolute favorite, and some day I hope my prayers are answered and the Santa Fuscon ends up on the menu- that's where they use the jalapeÃ±o masa from the Tucson and the green chile pork from the Santa Fe and make the best tamale mankind has ever known! Luckily, I can always special order a batch in advance and they are always willing to accommodate my dreams :) Todd and Sherry are the owners and they are ALWAYS in the shop working their butts off to meet the demand of deliciousness right next to their hard working employees. I can stop in in my jammies and order a couple of hot tamales to go and eat them in the comfort of my home with fried eggs on top, or enjoy the bustling ambiance of the restaurant itself where they'll cook my eggs for me on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Be sure you get the medium salsa- it is so good I could drink it! Even though I prefer super spicy, I will always forgo the heat for the delicious flavor of Colette's green salsa.
(5)
Danielle L.

I loved it! Excellent customer service. Food was fresh, tasty, and original.
(5)
Mike B.

Great tamales with extremely friendly workers. The tamales are not only good, they are (relatively) good for you! The masa was not dry at all and the fillings were very tasty. I really liked the black bean side as well, but I wasn't a big fan of the cold rice salad. You can get cold or frozen tamales for takeout as well.
(5)
Valerie L.

I've only picked up tamales to go here so no opinion on physical restaurant. Unfortunately, I got green corn tamales and they were nasty. Greasy, no flavor, weird texture. I am a native and have eaten all kinds of green corn, from my auntie's to the tamale lady at Bookmans' - I see it, I want it! My father bought some of these the other day and had the same opinion. Yuck. We are not fans.
(1)
Amanda K.

prior to moving to tucson, i had never had a tamale. now i am OBSESSED! you can get plenty of food for your money, if you have a group of friends, I highly recommend the family pack. Every tamale i tried was wonderful and I reccommend them all: the madison, green corn, sonora, santa fe. the staff here is so wonderful. we cam eat closing time, and they couldn't have been nicer to us! i cannot wait to come back!!
(5)
Surranna V.

I love this little place. When my family and I make tamales we use so much lard that I can't even believe I eat them so knowing that this place can make a tamale with out lard and it be moist, well I am impressed. They are pricey and they could be bigger because I always want three and the large order only comes with two. So far I love them all, from the meaty, to the vegan, and as far as I know they are all gluten free. Now I want some tamales.
(4)
Jonathan K.

Among the best tamales in town. Really nice salsas to go with them too.
(4)
Ron B.

Wow! Worth searching for! A palette pleasure... Stopped in and had the JoJo, the blue tamale which is vegetarian and soo good! My husband had the New Delhi... Mild curry veggie delight a must try for sure.. Staff is friendly and service is fast... A great choice... Will be back or ordering some to ship!
(5)
Lisa M.

I ordered a catered lunch for 30 people from TTC and *everyone* enjoyed it. A true feat for any restaurant! Todd (the owner) put together an excellent selection of tamales (my favorites are the Berkeley - bean, corn & spices and the San Carlos - shrimp, corn, cilantro, chives & red salsa). The catered lunch also included: an amazing green salad with veggies, sides, a variety of homemade salsas, plates etc and delivery. TTC was on time (even a little early), helped me set up and were great to work with. Gourmet tamales are a great alternative to greasy Mexican, sandwiches or fast food.
(5)
Gary F.

Hands down the BEST tamales EVER! Tried the beef, pork, breakfast with sausage and the Vegan. Incredible salsa! Loved it all.
(5)
Angelina K.

Best tamales! I had the Boise, Sonora, and the pumpkin tamale. Hubby had the Arizona, jojo, and Santa fe. We didn't do sides. Total was $15 and hubby thought afterwards 2 would be enough for him in the future. Don't know what people are complaining about regarding size & cost. They are just silly. I can't eat gluten & dairy due to allergies so I am thrilled that their tamales are vegan, no lard & gluten free. Totally awesome & extremely well worth the cost of $2.95 per tamale or $4.99 for 2 (as of dec '09).
(4)
Lawrence R.

Great little spot in Tucson...must try for lunch or dinner. Ok atmosphere, but great people and service, and best of all great tamales. Tamales are big, lard free, moist, and they have many unique options to try. Had the sweet potato masa filled with plantains, unbelievable!!!
(4)
Ami D.

Delicious place. Everyone else has already talked about the food so I'll give my perspective on ambiance and service. The decor of this place is really cohesive to the food. The whole kitchen has glass panels so you can see everything going on. Smiles have been exchanged both times I've been here. Me and my friend both agreed that the family-ownership vibe is present and the owner even offered to give me my tamale for free because I wasn't sure what I really wanted. I couldn't accept that so we made a deal: If I didn't enjoy my tamale, he would give me another one for free. Needless to say, I enjoyed the tamale and have been back since then.
(4)
Louda L.

I really like this place, nothing amazing or over the top about it, but tasty, good quality tamales and pretty cheap too. I also really appreciate the fact that they offer meat, vegetarian and even vegan tamales. Always good for a quick, inexpensive snack. Try the New Delhi, it's delicious.
(4)
Leo B.

Good start to the restaurant. Very nice people but many of our fresh tasty tamales were served lukewarm. My wife and brother swear by the Arizona tamale and I enjoyed their vegetarian option. They need better sides but I'd go back.
(3)
Sara S.

I loved the tamales here! I think it's important to mention that there is a very good vegetarian and vegan selection here! I didn't go for a long time because I assumed most tamales would have meat and I didn't see it mentioned anywhere. But it has a great selection of vegetarian and vegan options! And they're tasty and cheap!
(5)
Tricia E.

Tamales heaven
(4)
Wintergreen C.

Excellent to come across on my recent trip to Tucson, since I've always had to hunt down individual tamale sellers selling out of grocery carts in parking lots around Christmas. Anyway, I was thrilled to find multiple varieties of vegan tamales, and two very, very solid salsas. The kicker was to bump into them at the farmer's market, and get to chow down all over again. I'll definitely visit Tucson Tamale Company again on my next Tucson visit!
(4)
Loretta G.

Coming by here has become part of my normal routine when coming to Tucson for a day visit. I usually order the Santa Fe (pork) or Sonora (chicken) with a side of salad. The latter tamale is one of my favorites. The vinaigrette dressing that comes with the salad is very light, but flavorful. The ladies that work the front counter are so friendly and nice!
(5)
Victoria K.

I love that there are many vegan options. Yummy food, fast, friendly, easy.
(5)
Jess S.

I couldn't remember if I've reviewed this place before, but we went there again on a business trip to Tucson. We love it. Sonora for him, a Madison for me. Delicious black beans and basmati rice sides. Really good salsa. And the service couldn't be better. Only request...expand!
(4)
Zeke S.

So good. The corn in the tamales is moist and delicious, the grilled cheese tamales are a big favorite of my kids, the Sonoran chicken is like my personal reward for making it through a busy work day. The service is generally good and the workers nice. We love the place and now pick up some tamales about once a week. Go get yourself tamalied!
(4)
gaby g.

This place is great. My recommendation is to try the more creative tamales -- that's where this place shines. You can get a regular old tamale anywhere - so why not try something different? Also, I really appreciate the "Tamale Salad" option. w00t!
(4)
H K.

Very tasty. All organic, no-lard, no-GMO wholesome food. They ship wherever you want them to be shipped..
(5)
Andrea B.

A Mexican, a Puerto Rican, a Venezuelan and a Southern gentleman from GA walk into a tamale shop...Sounds like the start of a joke, but the tamales here are no joking matter. My fellow diners had a broad range of tastes, preferred levels of spiciness, and previous experience with tamales but we all found something to love here. The Santa Cruz (Mild Red Chile Beef in Red Chile Masa) was a pretty safe choice, but I like seeing how places do with the standards. This tamale did not disappoint. Full of flavor, moist and delicious. I also tried the Green Corn Tamale, which was good but a little bland. It's a rare day that I add more salt to anything. The rest of my group tried the JoJo (declared amazing and fiery), the Blue (interesting and chock-full of veggies), the Santa Fe and the Sonoran. Well worth searching out. It's not fancy, but who cares about fancy when the food is this good? Even the one member of my group that asked plaintively "Do they have anything BUT tamales?" left full and happy.
(4)
Desi V.

My mother and I are visiting from San Diego and went for lunch yesterday to check it out! We are SO happy we did! The tamales are sooo delicious, we spent about $60 on frozen tamales to take back with us. The sonora and tahiti was my fave! Everyone must try when stopping by Tucson
(5)
cristina c.

I love the chili relleno tamale!!! I took off a star for price. I don't always leave with a full/satisfied tummy. I've also tried the shrimp and blue corn tamale. Always delicious!
(4)
Clare C.

Driving through Arizona and figured we would check it out. Unimpressed. The tortilla chips were stale and bad-quality. The tamales had hardly any meat or sauce and their flavor was average. There was a chunk of avocado skin in the guacamole and the rice in my salad was undercooked. Almost gave it two stars, but then I realized I couldn't think of a redeeming quality.
(1)
Joyce C.

My decision to give up meat a year ago has put a serious strain on my relationship with Mexican food. More often than not, I was stuck with the token vegetarian burrito. The oh-so-boring green pepper, onion, rice and beans... snore. And because I'd never developed a serious craving for tamales, all the hoopla about Tucson Tamale Company was sorta lost on me. And then ... we ran into each other in an aisle of Whole Foods at a recent Yelp Gets Schooled event and (cue the mariachis) it was love at first bites. It was kismet, really. I lost my heart to the Blue Tamale (calabacitas in blue corn masa). And a second later? I discovered my undying love for the Green Corn (fresh corn masa, roasted green chile and cheese). Beyond all reason, an ex-Intuit exec started a company with a whole section of his menu devoted to Vegetarian and Vegan Tamales. And I'm talking real ingredients: organic spinach, sweet potato, fresh corn and the divinely inspired "calabacitas" (a squash, tomato, onion and green chile medley). So ... my first real date with Tucson Tamale Company was breakfast this past Sunday. I demurely ordered the Austin and (listing more toward vegetarian than vegan that day) added scrambled eggs. The hand-rolled tamale was, predictably, awesome. But the (cage-free) eggs? The best I have tasted outside my own kitchen. The covered outdoor patio was intimate and cool. (Two overhead fans and a fountain!) We will meet again, Tucson Tamale Company ... and I am already dreaming of taking our relationship to the next level (which I hope involves one of your take-home desserts.) Until then ... XXXXX mi amor.
(5)
Alex P.

Theses tamales rock!! if you go around closing they may give you a free tamale if they have extra with you're order.
(4)
Charlene O.

I'm truly shocked that people are giving this place such high ratings. In fact, the only reason that I came here was because of the raving yelp reviews. But my experience proved that yelp can only bring us so far. I walked into the restaurant and there was literally not a single other person there at 6pm on a weekday. Bad sign. The cashier was nice, but very young and advised us not to get the spicier tamales on the menu. Now, let me be clear: I do not like a lot of spice. But I like flavor. The food came out very quickly. Since this is not Taco Bell, I'm not really looking for a quick, easy bite. I want food that is made fresh to order, that isn't just sitting around getting freezer burn. Nothing that I put in my mouth was good. The rice was cold. The pinto beans had no flavor. The "Austin" tamale tasted like the mushrooms had gone bad. The guacamole tasted like your average run-of-the-mill guac, but wasn't anything special. I will not be back. Yelpers, I'm sorry, but this place sucks. This is the review I wish I read before I wasted my time there.
(2)
Larry B.

Superb takeout tamales! We got a $40 mix & match of green corn, paella, chicken and beef tamales and ate to our heart's content (and stomach content) at home. The dessert tamales (frozen) are awesome. We loved the chocolate tamales - they smelled so good when we warmed them up.
(5)
Brittany S.

I purchased 4 vegan tamales from the farmers market and as my daughter and i were eating them I realized they were missing the ingredients listed on the vegan tamales which then led me to the fact that these were not vegan tamales at all. I took them back to the table and the girls working there didn't seem too concerned about the fact that they just gave a vegan regular tamales. I don't eat meat for ethical reasons but my daughter has a kidney disease where I don't allow her to have any animal protein. to me this is a HUGE mess up. why in the world would you keep regular tamales and vegan tamales wrapped in foil all mixed together? I emailed the company awhile ago and never heard back which is why I now took it to yelp. it's unfortunate really. the girls didn't have any heated vegan tamales left at this point and gave us some frozen but regardless of the mix up I didn't like them. We are from austin and the "Gardners Feast" that sells tamales at the farmers market there is 100% better in taste. My search for amazing vegan tamales in Tucson continues...
(1)
Sam C.

Tamales aren't generally the first food I'll go for, because the texture generally bothers me. But these looked so good I had to try. I now completely understand why the great reviews. The texture of the tamale is perfect.I ordered the JoJo with medium side sauce. I enjoy spicy so the JoJo was PERFECT. The meat was flavorful and the sauce was the great balance to the filling. The service was quick, but I went during the late lunch hours so I may have missed the lines. On my next trip I'm going to get some for the freezer because I know I'm going to have cravings for these tamales.
(5)
Thomas M.

Awesome tamales with very nouveau fillings. You won't find food like this just anywhere... Definitely one of my favorite local food options in Tucson.
(5)
Jim P.

i would never go to tucson for fine dining. sorry, old pueblo, you don't do fancy so well. but finding this joint, this is everything i love about tucson. a local, fun, fresh take on tamales in a strip mall. i liked my tamale so much i ordered two more. then i liked those so much i bought two bags of them and took them home to california. this will become a regular stop for me, for sure.
(5)
Danny S.

Ugh...WHY DO I HAVE TO BE SUCH A HATER?! I had been really reluctant to write this review because...well, let's face it: everyone loves the Tucson Tamale Company, and it's such a sweet little place. Saying lukewarm things about it seems like frowning and shaking your head in disappointment at people's newborn babies: MEAN. But a little while ago, Corey D. called me a "hot tamale," and I promised him a review. So a few days later, when my special lady friend was having some people over to paint her new tea set (I swear to god -- the teapot I painted is totally baddass/elegant), I decided to bring a pile of TTC treats for everyone to enjoy. The menu: the Arizona, the JoJo, the Sonora, the Madison, the Green Corn Tamale, the Tucson Tamale, and the Blue. I figured that with a sampling like that, we'd be sure to get a good read on the true quality of TTC's offerings. Now just to be honest about this, I had previously been relatively underwhelmed by this place: I loved the concept, but I had found most of the tamales to be relatively short on flavor compared to others I've had. And this time, I had much the same reaction, though with some notable exceptions. The main problem with many of the tamale offerings is actually the masa (the corn dough that's used to make the filling of the tamale). The jalapeno masa in the JoJo and Tucson Tamale is spicy and delicious, the blue corn masa in the Blue is pretty tasty and aesthetically entertaining, and the green corn masa in the Green Corn tamale tastes like a tamale is supposed to taste like. But the regular masa that's used in the Arizona and Sonora (as well as others we didn't get) is relatively boring. The red pepper masa used in the Madison is a little less boring, but still not particularly exceptional. As a result, some of the final products end up tasting rather bland even though some of their fillings are pretty good. I think I'd probably recommend steering clear of any of the tamales that come in the regular masa, to be honest. The fillings in the tamales were diverse, and we liked some of them more than the others. The chipotle beef and cheese in the JoJo was a notable hit, and in general it seemed like people liked the ones that prominently featured cheese as an ingredient. The chicken in the Sonora was a little boring, however, and the mix of veggies in the Blue was not quite as interesting as I had hoped. The Green Corn Tamale was generally liked from the standpoint of flavor, though we were a bit disappointed by just how much smaller it was than the others -- TTC calls it "traditional size," but it was REALLY little! Overall, the consensus seemed to be that the JoJo was a standout in pretty much all departments, and the others ranged from pretty good to pretty boring. We also decided that the smokey "hot" salsa was relatively "medium," the green "medium" salsa was relatively "mild," and the "mild" wasn't really worth trying. The biggest disappointment was finding out later that for an extra $1.43 I could have gotten a "Family Platter" that would have come with two large sides...I don't really blame the girl at the counter for not pointing that out to me, but it definitely would have been nice. So anyway, there you have it: go to Tucson Tamale Company, get the JoJo, and be happy. Maybe try the Madison or the Tucson Tamale if you're a vegetarian or want some variety. Get the hot salsa. If you stray outside those recommendations, then you won't hate it, but you might not be particularly impressed either. A note for special diets: TTC has a wide range of vegetarian and vegan options, and all of the tamales are gluten-free.
(3)
Amanda B.

I have been here twice and both experiences were great. The staff at the counter is super nice and doesn't rush you when trying to decide which tamale, of the big selection, you would like... I like spice and the first time I got the Jo-Jo. Indeed, very spicy but oh so good. I even got some that were frozen and took them home. And, yes they were just as good when I had them at home a month later. Second time I tried two other tamales (what they were escapes me right now) and they were wonderful as well. In addition, I really like the side salad that comes with the plates. It is unique and light. Perfect compliment to the tamale. I really like this place and will always return. I especially like that they have a menu that changes frequently. It keeps it interesting.
(5)
Aletheia W.

sure, sure. maybe a bit pricey for the frozen tamales (2 for $4.99 - there's a discount if you get 6+ orders). but the taste???? indescribably wonderful. i ordered a tucson (heaps of cheeeeeese! in jalapeno masa), and an Austin (spinach and mushrooms in blue corn masa - my FAVEEEE!) . a vegetarian and a VEGAN tamale. and i LOVED them!!! what the. VEGAN, people!!! i'm a total carnivore and i was sooooo satisfied! i recommend getting the warm combos if you want to try a few different ones. i recommend getting BOTH salsas - they are amazing and perfect companions for the perfection that is TTC tamales. run, don't walk to get yours!
(5)
James G.

Visited this shop with my wife today. The restaurant was seriously disorganized. We waited at least twenty minutes for our food. The chicken in my wife's tamale was very rubbery. I did enjoy my beef tamales but overall the experience was underwhelming. If you avoid the chicken and peak hours it might be ok but don't go for the ambience.
(3)
Laura M.

I have to say...I feel a little like I've cheated myself by living in Tucson for almost two years and NEVER having ventured over to the Tucson Tamale Company. Well, coming up on a Livingsocial deal that was about to expire (anybody else do this but me?) I found myself driving on the other side of town to buy $20 of tamales (totally normal for 1 person to do). So glad that I did. I had an amazing chorizo, potato, cheese tamale with a side melon fruit salad for breakfast and then picked up three packages of frozen tamales to go. I'm most looking forward to the St.Valentines (chocolate and cherries...seriously), and the Pumpkin ('nuff said)...I'll definitely be back...with back-up.
(5)
Tamara W.

Having lived in Tucson for over 50 years, I've eaten a lot of tamales and made them several times. I've tried the TTC tamales 3 times at dinner parties, and I'm having a hard time figuring out how they manage to stay in business here. They're terrible! Dry and flavorless. The green corn were the worst I've ever had, I actually threw it away after a couple of bites and got a different flavored one because I thought it might be better. None of them have been. Just having novel ingredients doesn't necessarily mean good food, the quality still has to be there. I can't believe the reviews I read, unless they're from people who have never had good tamales.
(1)
Lisa Marie E.

Creative, conscious and delicious tamales. Vegan is a part of the menu because they care! This month's special is a New Delhi lovely and tasty piece of mmhmm. Check out the website for a background of the bizness. Good people make good food. See for yourself. Also have great take-out and family style.
(5)
Lindsey P.

OM NOM. Greatest tamale I've ever had... hands down. Around the holidays... I'm lucky enough to be gifted homemade tamales from family friends & neighbors. Thanks, guys... but your tamales have nothing on the Tucson Tamale Company. I ran in on a Saturday afternoon... they were packed! I just wanted to order some frozen tamales to go because I wasn't expecting much. I picked up the Arizona, the Sante Fe & the Madison tamales. & they were heaven. I'm not going to try to describe them... but seriously, the best tamale I have ever had. Go. Now.
(5)
Morgan H.

This place was amazing. I was on vacation in Tucson and just really wanted tamales. My friend and I found this place on google maps and we loved it. Everyone was super nice and the food was great. The patio out back was awesome. Value was good and taste was great! Thank you Tucson Tamale Company
(4)
David H.

Was driving back to San Diego from Houston and was in the area during lunch and checked out Yelp for places to eat and this little place popped up. Read the reviews and saw lots of four and five star reviews. My dad and I stopped by here and decided to give them a try. I got two of the JoJo tamales. Very tasty and spicy with the Chipotle Beef and cheese in Jalapeno masa. The taste was very good, with a little heat in the back end. If you're a wimp when it comes to spicy food, just be warned that it might be a little on the spicy side for you, but I really liked it with the jalapeno masa. All tamales come with salsa, Sherry's Red - Mild, Colette's Green - Medium and Todd's Fire - Hot. I got the mild since I already had the spicy JoJo tamales. My Dad got the Santa Fe Tamale which has Pork Loin, Green Chile Sauce, Green Chile, Tomato, Onion and cheese. He said it was okay, that he's had better. All of the items that they serve here are gluten free! The hours here are Monday thru Saturday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Sundays hours are from 8 AM to 3 PM. They also offer shipping and catering. Tamales run $2.95 for one and $5.39 for two tamales. If you order one tamale and a side it's $4.95. Two tamales with rice and beans will cost you $6.29. They offer Meat, Vegetarian, Vegan, Breakfast and Dessert Tamales.
(4)
Reina R.

Ok Tucson Tamale Company, you got me. I have to admit that I had my reservations about tamales that are not homemade by my mom or nana. Some coworkers suggested that we go to lunch at TTC. I sighed but agreed to give it a shot. There were a fair amount of people ordering lunch and the place seemed to have its fair share of regular clientele. I ordered the two tamale combo with a side salad and hot salsa. The tamales I ordered were the Sonora (roasted chicken with green chile) and the Tucson (cheese in a jalapeÃ±o masa). I was pleasantly surprised! The salad was fresh with a great vinaigrette and the salsa was tasty although not very spicy. The Sonora tamale was tasty, and went well in the salad's vinaigrette that made its way to the tamales' side of the plate. I really enjoyed the Tucson, you always win me over with cheese and jalapeÃ±o! One of my coworkers ordered the Wisconsin (described on the menu as Lots and Lots of freshly grated CHEESE!) why didn't I order this tamale? It was delicious! It did have lots and lots of cheese and tasted like cornbread, yum! I told my mom about my lunch experience and asked me if they had pumpkin tamales. Of course they do, so we went in to buy some for a pre-Thanksgiving pumpkin tamale fest.The tamales are not over-sweet, a good thing in my mind. We've gone back a few times when we want tamales without the long process of making them ourselves. Check out the tamales that are only available frozen. They have fun flavors like the Little Italy, Paella, and the Dogmale (made with hot dog weenie!). The tamales are a bit pricy but if you've ever made or watched anyone make tamales, you understand why. If my mom likes your tamales, you have done it right! Thank you Tucson Tamale Company. You have converted a non-believer!
(4)
Mark L.

The response from my review, Susie J Says: "Please do not ever come back here again. No one likes people like you. Always fucking bickering for this or that. Go to Nico's I am sure you will fucking love it there" A good example of the warmth we felt at this place.
(1)
Mark S.

I wanted to visit my childhood home near Broadway Village when I returned to Tucson for my 50th high school reunion and searched Yelp for nearby Mexican restaurants where we could lunch while in the neighborhood. The tamales at Tucson Tamale Company lived up to all of the five star reviews.
(5)
Nita M.

Tucson Tamale Company is awesome. They have a huge menu of so many delicious tamales, and tons of vegetarian and vegan options. Normally vegetarian tamales are restricted to cheese & green chili (if you're lucky) but here there are around 15 different options full of good veggies. I really like the Blue Tamale which is full of cheesy vegetable goodness. The tamale dough is fresh and feels lighter than other (worse) tamales I've had. The Wisconson Grilled Cheese tamale is out of this world - so cheesy and so delicious and dare I say, better than a grilled cheese. I also really like that there is a Tamale Salad option, a tamale of your choice on top of a fresh salad. Probably the only thing that I didn't like and would skip in the future is their rice. It's cold rice with a weird dressing (to be fair it is called a 'rice salad' on the menu so maybe I should have known).
(5)
Deepak S.

Excellent place for tamales! Lot of options for vegetarians and the staff are very courteous and friendly. Must visit when in Tucson!
(5)
Chloe O.

Alright service. I liked 2 out of the 4 tamales my boyfriend and I had. He hated all of them, but he's weird. Cute little place with artwork on the walls, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.
(3)
Dana Z.

We were in Tucson right before Christmas and decided to bring over 30 sunny tamales home for Christmas dinner to the rainy NW. I called ahead and the person who helped me was cheerful and informative. She made sure our tamales were super frozen and packed in an airplane friendly cooler when we arrived to pick them up. I was impressed by the friendly staff and how efficient they were. Everything was ready for us to pick up our precious cargo and run, before anyone tackled us! Now for the tamales, I can honestly say they are the best tamales that I have ever had. I have had a lot of tamales, living in the Southwest for many years in a previous life. These were crazy good! We took home about 10 different varieties but our favorites were the Arizona (Chipotle Beef), Madison (Black Beans, Fresh Corn, Red Pepper, Spices, Cheese in Red Chile Masa) Santa Fe (Pork Loin, Green Chile Sauce (Green Chile, Tomato, Onion) and Cheese) and last but not least the Sonoran (Roasted Chicken with Green Chile Sauce (Green Chile, Tomato, Onion). We really enjoyed the dinner and it was worth the trouble of flying them back to Oregon. Thank you Tucson Tamale company for a memorable Christmas dinner!
(5)
Shea C.

TO DIE FOR tamales.. especially the Jojo and Sonoran. The service was fast, they were hot, and had the perfect amount of spice. I will come here again!!
(5)
Chelsea L.

I love this place so much and so does my family. Every time i drive to visit them in LA i am ordered to bring a cooler full of tucson tamales. They are opening their second location this month! Thank you so much for bringing your wonderful food to the tucson community.
(5)
Melanie C.

I've loved Tucson Tamale Company since they opened. The tamales are delicious and the vegetarian and vegan versions make my vegetarian family very happy. In fact, I fly a batch back to Chicago with me for our now-traditional Tucson Tamale Company Christmas eve dinner. Last night, they catered our big rehearsal dinner/out-of-towner party. Not only did TTC deliver across town on time with good cheer, but they brought us a card and a pair of frozen tamales to heat and eat on our first anniversary. Awwwwww! So sweet! And our guests loved the tamales. Really, they laid waste to them. Yay and yum!
(5)
James G.

Amazing tamales. The tuscon and the santa fe were my favorites. Not too many places to sit. Friendly staff. It was kinda hot in there though, but all in all a pleasurable experience. I am and will continue to be a frequent customer. These are the best tamales in the world. And they are glutten free.
(4)
Joe H.

If you love tamales, then Tucson Tamale Company is the way to go. They have an excellent variety, and superb food. My personal favorites are the Santa Fe and Tucson tamales.
(5)
sybil c.

I am both vegan and far too lazy to make my own tamales, which meant I went tamale-free for years. Then TTC opened! And they made DELICIOUS vegan tamales! In a variety of flavors! At bargain prices! I wish they had a beer and wine license, because tamales love to snuggle with beers in my tummy, but that's not really a dealbreaker. Great spot to pick up tamales to stock the freezer, OR takeout meals.
(5)
Terri M.

LOVE Tucson Tamale!! Stopped by tonight to use an about to expire Living Social deal. 2 actually, so I took my mom. We picked up 2 family packs, one for the meat eaters and one for the vegetarians. Sonoran chicken, blue corn... can't pick a favorite. I love the rice salad and have yet to try a salsa that I did not like. Tried the pico de gallo for the first time today. YUM! I have not tried the breakfast yet, but it will be soon, very soon.
(5)
Jim T.

This was a great lunch spot. Four of us had a variety of tamales. My favorites are the Sonoran and the Santa Fe. They are famous for their tamales and I can see why. With great meat and vegetarian choices, you'll love eating here. The people are fun and pleasant and will share and tell you how they make the delicious items you will consume here. Terrific. Jump in and enjoy.
(5)
Maynard G.

Saw Valerie's review just below, which reminds me that I once tried their green corn tamales too, and had about the same opinion of them.
(2)
Brenda A.

Finally got to try this place out. So glad!!! It was everything I'd hoped for and then some. The tamales were moist almost to the point of being wet. We tried the Santa Fe (pork), the Sonora (chicken), the Blue Corn & a limited edition holiday called the Thanksgiving Dinner. The Santa Fe was the stand out for my dining partner and I was blown away by the Thanksgiving Dinner which was made with sage seasoned masa and filled with turkey, cooked carrots & cranberries. I know it sounds very odd for a tamale but it totally worked. We had chips and the green chili salsa which was bursting with flavor. Since they have their tamales frozen as well to take home, we snagged up some San Carlos (shrimp) and Wisconsin Grilled Cheese to try later. Thrilled to find out their products are sold at many locations around Tucson too. :)
(5)
Maggie M.

We could live on these tamales! They were delicious, and not greasy. Usually tamales are lard-laden and leave me feeling icky and like I clogged my arteries. So I avoid them. But not at Tucson Tamale Company!!! My fiance and I ate their tamales and salsa for dinner 5 days in a row. The sides were great, I loved the unique spices in the black beans! Everyone there was helpful & friendly. The choices were exciting, they carry the more common green corn & beef options, but also have an Indian inspired tamale, a lot of vegetarian and even vegan varieties, and a delicious "Little Italy" tamale stuffed with authentic Italian sausage. YUM!!! A tamale with black beans, corn, and their amazing green salsa = a perfect meal that leaves my taste buds and stomach so happy!
(5)
Paul D.

Went to Tucson Tamale Company today and got ten frozen tamales to go. I thought I would bring an assortment home. My wife is a big tamale fan and I thought she would like to try different tamales. But when I got home, she asked if I bought her favorite tamale. I was not sure what her favorite was so I told her they were out. She did not believe me and was badgering me all the way til dinner. Then she tried "the Tucson" and liked it. She is still unhappy that I didn't get the green corn tamales, but that's OK because it just means that we will have to go back there again.
(4)
Daniel H.

You will never in your life eat a better Tamale! Period! No question what so ever about how good they are. I've been known to take them with cross country. TSA agents smile and lick their lips! I'm addicted...
(5)
Jason F.

Not only is the food excellent and the staff friendly, but the owners are a local couple who care about their restaurant and their customers. That is a key ingredient in making a restaurant with good food into a great place to eat. Highly recommend.
(5)
Rachel S.

Went in the day before christmas...here in the SW tamales are traditional Christmas food and this place was PACKED. Staff friendly and informative all the same. Got three frozen packs for gifts. i liked some tamales and others i didn't like, but definitely would go back for some of the hot serve it up now tamales they had further back.
(4)
Jen W.

It's all about the filling! When I was in elementary school, back when my long-distance relatives could afford Christmas presents, they used to ship tamales to my family. I was amazed at how these tamales came frozen, and the green and red tamales did not have much in them but packed amazing flavor. Fast forward to summer 2009, I heard the hype about Tucson Tamale Company and decided to buy a frozen two-pack from a natural foods store. I was so disappointed - no corn husk, barely any size, mostly squash, and not that great heated in my microwave. But wow, did today change my life. Go to their storefront. Get their tamales. Leave satisfied and not hungry! $6.29 for two tamales, cold rice salad, and warm spiced beans. The cold rice salad tastes to me like a couscous salad with longer grain rice. The beans are black and smelled to me like Indian spices which seemed totally random. But wow, the tamale filling is great; the meat fillings are better than barbecue places. The red pepper masa and the regular masa are excellent. The spiciest tamale on the medium is like a hot-medium. If you are a tamale purist, you may want to just try the traditional size green tamale. If you are like me and feel like 90% of the tamales sold on the street in Tucson taste like corn mush, you may want to come to Tucson Tamale Company. Not just great tamales, great food! So good I would take an out of town vegan here...that is, if I knew any... There were a bunch of picky customers all around me - I am glad the owners still have a store and don't just do custom orders; please, people, get exactly what you want, but be nice about it.
(5)
Russell B.

Upon our arrival in Tucson, my parents met us at the property we were renting with a selection of frozen Tamale's from Tuscon Tamale Co. Wrapped in a wet paper towel and thrown in the microwave for 5:30 min they were wonderful treats, however, they simply whetted our appetite for the fresh product sold out of their tiny store front in downtown Tucson. We got the opportunity to visit the store yesterday and were not disappointed. From the incredibly helpful and informative staff to the incredibly tasty tamale's everything was near perfect. They have a nice selection of tamales, some vegetarian and even a choice of gluten free products. My personal favorite is the Blue Corn Tamale, which is a vegetarian choice with roasted vegetables wrapped in blue corn. I think my only disappointment, if you would like to call it that, is they had a very limited selection of beverages and no margharita's. If you're lucky enough to be in Tucson, make sure you stop by.
(5)
Eleanor Q.

I love this place! Tamales are one of my favorite foods, and knowing they are gluten free makes me jump for joy. The food is tasty, reasonably priced, and did I mention tasty? My favorite side is the chilled rice. At first I thought, "ew, weird" and then I tasted it. Wow! The seasonings make it a perfect compliment to the tamales, especially the spicier versions. It cools the palette making it even more fun to eat more tamales. Yay! The ambiance, staff and food are all terrific. I took some friends there who were passing through and they loved it as well.
(5)
Bernadet G.

The food was ok. The tamales are heavily Americanized but maybe it's because I'm spoiled by fresh homemade Guatemalan-style tamales.
(3)
mark c.

This place just hits it out of the park. Went for breakfast and came back for lunch. Huevos rancheros, Sonora and Santa Fe tamales. Rice salad was great. Beans a little flat. Good selection of beers and nice back patio. Will be back
(4)
Debbie T.

Best tamales in Tucson.
(5)
Daniela B.

I love the tamales. I also love eating a tamale that is served like a grilled cheese sandwich, called the Wisconsin grilled cheese. I do think the pricing on these tamales is too steep and hopefully it will be considered when they are sold in bulk bags. Also the table in the front is cool and makes it seem like a family type dinner. Great for informal meetings.
(4)
Ben T.

This place has the best tamales that I have ever had. As a vegetarian I often get stuck eating green chili tamales and these can get repetitive. This place is extremely creative in their tamale ingredients and have a ton of variety. On this trip I had one that had sweet potato masa, brilliant. I have since ordered a bunch through the mail and they were delivered still delicious two days later. I will stop in here any time I am in Tucson without a doubt. YUM.
(5)
Susan S.

I am a native Phoenician, and huge tamale fan. I recently ordered from Tucson Tamale for my company's pot luck holiday party. Unfortunately, right before they were to ship my order, I had a change in circumstances, and no longer needed the tamales, and called to cancel the order. They called back and said they were shipping the order, and to not worry about the charges, I got the tamales today, and it was a little bit of heaven having something from home in a time when things have been difficult. Thank you so much Tucson Tamale Co., it's the best Christmas present I could ask for, and the tamales are fabulous! PS -- I will pay it forward.
(5)
Mark P.

It was sad for me to move from Tucson to San Tan Valley and leave me beloved Tamales! Oh the humanity!
(5)
K E.

I rated them low before because their corn suuuuucked....Whew! They stopped serving corn!!! I guess I could now ding them for NOT SERVING CORN NOW...BUT DAMN THOSE TAMALES ARE GOOD!!!
(4)
Andrea C.

Tried these tamales in Tucson last year. Loved the pork ones and the green chile and corn ones. Came back home to NC, and placed an order for delivery to the East Coast!! Now we are loving chicken, veggie and dessert tamales. Can't wait to back to AZ and try new flavors.
(5)
Aaron M.

Simply awesome. One of only 3 places in Tucson I recommend when people ask for a restaurant recommendation.
(5)
Angie B.

Everything on the menu is gluten-free, which is a wonderful thing to find. And the food pops! I really like to mix the cold basmati rice salad with the black beans for a fun mix of hot and cold, spicy and not. The Madison tamale (black beans, cheese in a red pepper masa) and Wisconsin (cheddar cheese & more cheddar cheese) are my favorites. Cheap, quick, yummy!
(5)
Scott P.

The tamales were great and the staff is super friendly! Even took my little guy back to the windows and showed him how they are made. Fast service. I had the JoJo and then bought some to go. I want to go back with a checklist and try them all!
(5)
Yvett R.

We stopped by on Saturday to pick up some red, white and blue tamales to have on the 4th. Since we were there anyway, and since people were twisting my arm, we picked up some tamales for lunch. Yeah, they didn't have to twist too hard. The 4th of July tamales were a hit! Red: BBQ pork in a red pepper masa. White: BBQ chicken in white corn masa. Blue: calabasitas and cheese in a blue corn masa. All came with the yummy already baked inside. I would have NEVER thought to make tamales with BBQ, but it really worked. I wonder what it is that makes these tamales not taste like dry bricks since they don't use lard. Now, we all know that these are practically the best tamales in the world (and if you don't know that, you need to drive yourself over and taste one right now), but I think the beans here are under appreciated. They're delicious! They're spiced black beans that are served with pumpkin seeds (pepitas) on top. I had them with a bit of their tomatillo sauce and hmmm, mmmm, mmmm. * A little birdie told me that maybe, MAYBE the red, white and blue tamales would be added to the regular menu instead of only being available on the week before the 4th of July. Here's hoping . . . .
(5)
Kristy N.

The tamales here are good quality and they have tamales for everyone - vegan, chicken, spicy, mild. My favorite is the cheese with jalapeno called the Tucson. They have a few tables to dine in if you prefer. I often buy them frozen as they reheat very well and taste freshly made.
(4)
Amy L.

This place certainly lives up to the hype. The tamales are outstanding, and I really appreciate the delicious vegetarian options.
(4)
Jason C.

Lots of hidden menu only available for to go (I mean forzen tamale) If possible, try to bring some tamale back home. They give you 10% discount if you purchase more then 6 (I hope I get the number right) Because some menu only available for to go. I suggest everyone bring some tamale home
(5)
Tiffany S.

Yummy, Yummy, & Yummy. A plethora of fantastic tamales. They have every sort of flavor for every sort of taste. Typical spicy ones, beef ones, corn ones, etc. And then the more exotic curry ones, Wisconsin cheese ones, sweat potato ones. Some are better than others, but they pretty much are all yummy. You can't go wrong if you stick with the best sellers, but there is major reward for branching out and trying some of their new and rotating specials. Plus if you go right before closing they have specials (e.g. buy one get two), try this on a Mon or Tues when they will have an ample selection left to choose from.
(4)
Mariel T.

Tamales are great. I had the red chile and the green. Both are delicious. Only complaint is how ridiculous they're tamales are priced if you want to eat them there hot. Much better off to take them home and cook them yourself.
(4)
Mary Y.

Tucson Tamale is no secret, but tourists and guests need to be introduced to this place. I've take 3 groups here this past winter. We get two tamales each, all different, then cut them in half -- four tastes apiece. My personal favorite is the Arizona, but recent guests loved the Madison and the curry one. Honestly, you cannot go wrong here. The service is super-fast, too.
(5)
Krista E.

These were some absolutely fantastic tamales! (I had the Sante Fe with the medium "Colette's Green" salsa.) I'm a little on the fence about the rice salad, so I think next time I would get more tamale and less of the sides. The service was friendly and fast, restaurant was clean, and artwork interesting to look at. I'll be ordering some to be shipped to our house (in Portland) before the holiday craziness hits. Unless you or a relative has the time to make tamales, the Tucson Tamale Company is the way to go!
(5)
Ana T.

A Tale of Two Juicy Tamales... Once upon a time, there were two Yelpy gals who made arrangements to meet for the first time. Yelpy Gal #1 had been craving tamales for months, while Yelpy Gal #2 was in serious need of some gluten-free eats. Therefore, it seemed fitting that they meet at Tucson Tamale Company. Yelpy Gal #1 knew that the journey to Tamale Company would be a long one, for she would be car-less that afternoon, and 'car-less' in Tucson is actually a synonym for 'impeded.' So her journey began, as she researched The Sun Tran (said in a breathy voice). Once leaving home, she encountered two major obstacles: her iPhone unexpectedly indicated a whopping 11% for battery life, and she missed the first bus. Ah, but that didn't stop her from reaching the tamales. Eventually, she embarked on her final bus route and was well on her way to arriving in a tardy fashion. She informed Yelpy Gal #2 of her tardiness, but unfortunately this ultimately led to her iPhone's demise, thereby leaving her somewhat oblivious as to the whereabouts of this Tamale Company. The bus driver was likewise oblivious, but he yelled to the rest of the passengers, and a woman announced that it could be found at the last stop. So of course Yelpy Gal #1 jumped off and began her trek through the cold... only to arrive to Tamale Company dressed in tardiness and cold pink cheeks. Well, Yelpy Gal #2 didn't seem to mind. And after the long, cold journey, nothing could make Yelpy Gal #1 happier than to eat two juicy tamales in good company. The Arizona Tamale brought her much-needed heat with its spicy chipotle beef, and the Sonora Tamale filled her with the warmth of a saucy, green chile-d chicken. Moral of the Story: Yelpy Gal #1 needs to scrap the Sun Tran and drive herself back to Tucson Tamale Company to try two more juicy tamales: the Pumpkin Tamale and the Thanksgiving Tamale.
(4)
Ryan M.

Holy tamale! These are really incredible; can definitely see how people get them shipped directly to their door. Got the Arizona, Santa Fe, and Sonora. Can't describe how great these are! The only downside is to watch their hours... they close at 7 on most days, so make sure you get here on time. One note... if you come as they're closing, you might get a deal on whatever they have hot!
(4)
Melisa R.

I know that it's almost pointless to review Tucson Tamale Co., but I have to. After reading the stellar reviews by fellow Yelpers, we had to try the food here. The tamales were outstanding. I had the green corn with cheese & green chiles and it was great. My daughters loved the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese. ( I thought it was great to have something like this, especially for kids. ) Husband loved the JoJo but it wasn't spicy enough for him. I tried a bite and it was plenty spicy for me! The customer service was above expectations also. Someone actually opened the door for my husband as he was leaving with our order. Why not 5 stars, you ask? We didn't care for the tortilla chips or the sides. Next time it will be all tamales!
(4)
Vanna C.

My partner & I just adore this place - organic corn meal - great variety - lots of vegan and vegetarian options - fun place to eat - cool restaurant - great marketing - Tucson Tamale just rocks. Did I mention they were great cooks - and the tamales are absolutely delish? I'm doing gluten free and sugar free so this is a great choice for me. But I am also on a diet, so I must admit that cornmeal has loads of calories. For this gal, Tucson Tamales are a special treat only. But they are at the top of my list! Serious yum factor.
(5)
Jasmine W.

Good selections of tamales to choose from, but at $3.50 each, it's a tad steep. It was pretty tasty but not the best I've had for sure. I think it's a fun snack for the farmer's market but not something I would get in larger quantities.
(3)
Shannon C.

The decor is somewhere between folksy, local and dive-y. I like the painted glass door on their wall. The place is small but I have yet to go and not find a seat. The food is good and prices are reasonable. It seems they only have steamed tamales for part of their menu and all other ones are frozen. I have only ordered their steamed tamales there and taken the frozen ones home to eat another day. Works out for me as that means I have lunch the next day. After being in AZ for a few years now, I don't expect spicy food often. Their spicier tamales and salsas are mild by New Mexican standards but has a itty-bitty kick so you know there are chilies in there. I like they have blue corn masa, actual corn pieces in white masa and ones with pumpkin/cinnamon flavor(I was thinking pumpkin pie when I ate this). The tamale options ranges from smokey chipotle to BBQ to cheesy to sweet. Depending on the tamale you get, some have great flavor and others are plain enough I would not order again. However, as this is American-ized they've got to accommodate different tastes so I can see why they did this. I really like the fact that they take into account different types of eaters. They have plenty of vegan, gluten free, vegetarian and meat options. They don't compromise on the flavor variety despite being cheese-less or meat-less. I have for the last few years made tamales for Thanksgiving to compliment the other dishes. My favorite part is i can eat tamales when it's not Thanksgiving, without getting a soar back from making so many. Yay!
(4)
Christina B.

i love this place! Ive been there many times and am always greeted with a smile and an amazing meal! The tucson tamale is by far my favorite!!!
(5)
Butterfly H.

Fantastic tamales!!! My favorite is the Tucson Tamale. They are great for catering...a definite crowd pleaser!
(5)
John M.

Decent and creative tamales, but not up to the hype. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options, but a bit expensive and definitely not the best tamales in town. Come on people, we're talking about Tucson here.
(3)
Leah W.

My friend and I went yesterday. Both got food poisoning. Sadly, I had heard good stuff about this restaurant so decided to try it. But we did not have a good experience. First of all, the cashier was very rude. I ordered a burrito and a soda, and paid. When I asked for a cup, the cashier told me I did not order a soda. Instead of just charging me for another one, she felt the need to argue with me and walk me through our (incorrectly portrayed) conversation where I supposedly did not ask for a soda. Anyway, I was there and 100% willing to pay for it. Why argue? Ugh. Second of all, the food. My chicken in my burrito in pretty sure wasn't chicken, or at least it didn't taste so. My friend had the tamales. Both of us ended up getting sick...go figure? I don't recommend this place the good was bad and the staff was unfriendly.
(1)
Angelica R.

These Tamales were decent nothing spectacular like people are making them out to be. Had the Santa Cruz Tamales lacking in the meat to masa ratio too much masa and not enough meat. I think they are way over priced for take home Tamales, but their combinations are priced good. I would return only because I haven't found any other tamale place.
(4)
Shelly B.

We stopped here based on reviews and were in the area. As native Tucsonans, we know our Mexican food. Tucson Tamale really delivered the goods! The staff was very friendly and the tamales were excellent! Try the grilled tamale! Heaven. Cheap pricing...We will be back!
(5)
Laura H.

I just ate my first Tucson Tamale Company tamale and it deserves five stars! OMYGOSH!! This is the best tamale I have ever eaten! EVER. (I had the Madison...black beans, fresh corn....num num!!!) I cannot believe it has taken me 8 years in Tucson to hear about this place! I will be a regular. Looking forward to a breakfast tamale soon.
(5)
Eric G.

Good good tamales. Brought home a selection which included four different types--calabasitas and cheese in blue corn, another more standard veggie and cheese, shrimp, and finally a hot dog tamale. Yeah, a hot dog tamale. That one was a hit, although I did not try it. Might be good to help children expand their tastes. The shrimp tamale was quite interesting however. The color alone was, um, unique--kind of an orange pink hue. The flavor was not quite what I expected--certainly shrimp but not heavy on the seafood. Really quite refreshing with the almost straight forward corn taste delicately infused with shrimp. I'll certainly revisit this one. The highlights were the shrimp and blue corn tamales. The rice and beans on the side were nice. Tasty and simple. Looking forward to trying more of their vast selection.
(4)
Eric L.

Tried two frozen tamales to go. Both reheated well per the instructions on the wrapper, and both were delicious. Frozen makes them extremely convenient when you're in a pinch playing your favorite video game. More hipster, than Mexican. More Chipotle, than the South Tucson Taqueria.
(4)
Jay P.

It's too bad that Tucson does not have more quality options for Mexican inspired food. TTC's tamales are extremely bland and dry - every flavor, every time. I have gone back over an over wanting them to be better, and they just never are. On the other hand, their salsas ROCK. I often go in with a quart jar and have them fill it with the GREEN salsa. I put that on Tamales that I buy from random people in front of Amigos Meat Market or some other business - or Trader Joe's frozen tamales - they are better than those from TTC. I agree with reviews here that say the people at TTC are nice - they are - just wish that the namesake product was better....
(2)
Molly H.

An abundance of tamales is a great idea for a lazy holiday dinner. I picked up 12 for the family along with beans and rice. I love their green corn tamale, the chipotle beef was also good and the green chile pork as usual. My favorite is the blue corn with calabacitas, but some are turned off by the color. The staff has always been friendly when I have picked up an order, though last night they were completely disorganized and I watched a woman walk out when she hadn't been waited on for the 5 minutes she was standing there. Service misses aside, the tamales are the best I have ever had and all the interesting flavor combinations makes it fun for everyone.
(4)
Lauren G.

What a great little dive!! Found this local restaurant while spending a weekend in Tucson. I tried the JoJo and the Santa Fe tamales with the basmati rice salad and black beans. Yum!!!! The JoJo was my favorite as it was very flavorful with a little bit of heat. The Santa Fe was a little bland for my taste. I'm thinking they should try to make it more like a real Santa Fe tamale with some NM red chile for flavor. They also add cheese to their tamales, which is different than I'm used to, but it's a very good thing!! I also really loved the rice salad and the beans. All of this great food comes with some VERY friendly staff! I highly recommend this place!
(4)
Paul C.

Love their tamales and green salsa. Great proportion of masa to fillings. Been three times and planning to become a regular!
(5)
Sam L.

on my god the st valentine tamale blew my mind it is chocolate desert tamale that tastes just like chocolate cake with cherries!!! I also love the wisconsin grilled cheese (great for a white boy like me lol, bland for arizonians tasty for me). I deducted a star because they seem to do more retail business compared to an actual restaurant business! but yum -o!!! and for thos saying it is expensive? wtf. they use organic and fresh ingredients of course they are going to be more expansive than the tamale ladys at a grocery store parking lot!!!
(4)
Barbara G.

I don't know if it was just because I haven't had tamales in awhile, but wow these were hands down the best. I strongly suggest the Santa Fe tamale, it's the one with the pork and delicious cheese. I didn't have to wait long at all to get my food after I ordered. It was served piping hot wrapped in husk, along with the chips and medium salsa that I ordered. Amazingly, these tamales are glutten-free! The beverages come in cans here and a bottomless cup of water. It's not a big restaurant and is very easy to miss if you aren't looking for it since it is tucked away in the corner. Because of the small area and kitchen, it gets pretty warm in there. Beware of bringing a lot of people though because of the limited seating. For the food you are getting, it is quite the bang for your buck.
(5)
Michelle L.

I love tamales! So I was worried I'd be disappointed in this place. To my surprise, they have more than 15 types of tamales- some meat, some vegetarian, and some crazy unique favors. Fast service, affordable food, and good prices that tastes great. I bought $50 worth of frozen tamales (18 tamales total) to take home with me (2 hours away). I don't plan on coming back to Tucson, but If I ever have to, this place will be on my to go list.
(5)
Steph B.

Best tamales I've ever eaten (and that includes abuelita's home-made). Affordable, consistently great. New flavors keep turning up - each one better than the last. This place has become one of my regular and favorite stops for a great meal, and I keep a couple of different flavors in the freezer at home to meet impromptu tamale cravings.
(5)
Slewis J.

This place makes authentic tamales with nice fresh ingredients. I bought some frozen and they made it back to Alaska frozen. Give them a try next time your in Tucson.
(4)
Erika L.

Fantastic! Clean, friendly, delicious.
(5)
Andre M.

I first went to Tucson Tamale Company after their Groupon deal, and have been back many times and ordered for company dinners/events before. And, I must say, these are some of the BEST tamale's I've had.
(5)
Carianne C.

Stopped intoday for the first time and I will be making this a regular. Clean and friendly, this place felt so very "Tucson". Grabbed a couple of tamales (blue corn and Santa Fe) and a side salad to go. All were delicious and I cannot wait to go back and try some of the other selections! It is nice to have another healthy "fast food" option that is locally owned and delicious!!!
(5)
Jake R.

It is awesome to find a niche food company here in Tucson. The staff is outstanding. A great place for lunch meetings or a quick bite with a friend. I enjoy taking friends to the Tucson Tamale Company to discover a true delight in the Old Pueblo. They have some staple tamales everyday then one or two new creations. The "Little Italy" is OUTSTANDING! And they are gluten free. This is a must have! They have a Twitter too: @tucsontamales
(5)
Brittany A.

I can't say enough good things about this place. The owner and his family are extremely friendly, the food is excellent, and there is definitely something for everyone. My sister and I are super picky eaters and we can find something we like (and something that's different) every time we go. They have hearty entree tamales and delicious dessert tamales (I wait for the pumpkin ones every year!). The place is small but cozy, the food is delicious and prompt, and you won't meet a greater group of people. These guys also go to the Meet Yourself every year and show up wherever they can to share good food and good times. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Jackie K.

I am obsessed with Tucson Tamale Company. Every single tamale I have tried has been amazing. Moreover, every single thing on the menu is gluten-free!!! I love the Tucson Tamale, the Berkley, the Madison, the Sonora and the Blue. I still have lots more to try. The black beans are sooo good. You can get two tamales and rice and beans for 6 bucks. Unbelievable!
(5)
Liz D.

My husband and I decided to try this place last month. I've lived in Arizona for over a decade and had never had a tamale. Yes, never. Anyway, this was a good place to start. They have all kinds of tamales, but between the two of us we sampled the chile relleno, the Tucson (I think that's what it was called?), and a couple others I'm forgetting. They were pretty good except one of mine, the cheese never melted quite right and so it was like a semi-hard cube in the middle--just a weird texture is all. We got rice and beans on the side, but unless you HAVE to have those, I'd skip them. The black beans had a very strange taste. The first two bites were fine, but the rest of it tasted like they used a lot of clove or something similar. My husband said these tamales were good, but not typical of tamales everywhere (his family makes them, but not like this is how he described it). We agreed that when we have visitors from out of town, we'd probably take them there so they can try it. And the next time we go, it will probably be for breakfast so we can try the soyrizo tamales.
(3)
Michele D.

I ate here the other day for lunch. I definitely will go back. I had 2 chicken tamales with chips and a drink. I will have to say-- these are the best tamales that I have had in Tucson. I am more of a fan of the Cuban style tamales of my youth-- but these are still super good for Sonoran style. They tasted super fresh and were wrapped in the traditional corn husks. I might try the veggie style next time. I will be back :)
(4)
Dawn B.

Not only do they have vegan and vegetarian options, they are delicious to boot!
(5)
Miranda M.

Such an amazing Tucson staple! Amazingly flavorful, never a let down and the price cannot be beat. Love this place (and buying the tamales at remote vendors such a farmer's markets).
(5)
Stephanie C.

Love the tamales here! They have an amazing variety and I think most (if not, all) of them are made with lard-free masa. I can't wait until I can go again so that I can try more tamales!!! The price is very reasonable too...you can get a really cheap lunch/dinner!
(5)
Michelle N.

The food has always been good, but the customer service is lacking. Everytime, and I mean everytime I have come into the store, same poor service. The older thin lady wearing a hat is the worst. They must stay open from the food being great, definitely not for the friendly smile greetings :(
(2)
Sami A.

tasty stuff tasty salsa!
(4)
Bern F.

I am just piling on the good reviews with this one. Classic Tucson laid back vibe. Comfortable atmosphere and FAST friendly service. Been there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner now. Eat in and take out. I especially like the meat-bearing tamales. Absolutely fabulous Tucson original. Quite the turn around for me, since my 1st thought was, "A tamale restaurant? Really?"
(5)
S. M.

As far as tamales are concerned - this is the place to be. By far the best tamales I've ever had (other than those I make myself... which, I must admit, were inspired by Tucson Tamale Co.) I actually didn't even like tamales until I tried these at the Saint Philip's Plaza Farmer's Market (every Sunday morning - check it out). I've been completely addicted ever since. It's a problem. They offer plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, in addition to dessert tamales (which I have yet to try).
(5)
Bill N.

These are the best tamales I've ever had. It's a small place that fills up at lunch time. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Jide F.

I'm a big fan of tamales and I've heard so much about this place. I came with my roommate a few minutes before they closed. We ordered 8 cold tamales to take home and while we were waiting they served us tamales left over in the steamer free of charge! Man do I love free food. The people working there were not rushing us out the door and they were just down right gracious. Just as delicious as the tamales are the sides. We tried the rice and beans and they were delicious. The rice was very flavorful and it was basmati style which is unexpected for a tamale place. Can't wait to be a regular here!
(5)
Halle M.

I use to come here and rave about how good the tamales are. The last time I was there (this week!) with a group and the service was terrible and the workers were very spacy. That night the whole group ended up sick from the tamales. I am embarrassed I suggested this place to take a group of friends. Won't return.
(1)
Stacy D.

This place rocks! A must when in Tucson! Make sure you get the pinto beans! The only thing I didn't like was the tap water, but they sell bottled water :)
(5)
Sachin A.

Awesome experience of the Tamale, had it first time here...super tasty and Service is very good...the Staff is very gracious too....we ate so much!! Due to our order they gave us some freebies too...great experience...simply left me craving for more!!
(5)
Heather M.

In a rush to make a concert downtown a few weekends ago we stopped in here for a quick snack. Service was friendly and fast. Our food was quick and delicious. It was the perfect pre-concert, pre-beer drinking meal. This wasn't my first visit, but it had been a while. I had forgotten how DELISH those tamales are. The masa is pure heaven. I mean, it's really perfect in every way. The Santa Fe (pork) is awesome. Just what a tamale should be. My personal fave is the Tucson Tamale - spicy jalapeno masa and enough cheese to single handedly clog an artery. Oh, and its goooood cheese too. I'm not a big fan of the chipotle beef tamales. The flavors just don't connect for me. Maybe I'm more of a traditional gal when it comes to tamales. I'm not impressed with the sides either. Neither the rice or the black beans hit the spot for me. You've got to try the tamales. Awesome, heavenly tamales.
(4)
April T.

Fresh ingredients, innovative fillings. Busy on a Saturday night- about half of the orders were to go, though, because the place isn't that large and feels much like a fast food joint. We tried 6 different tamales and liked all of them. The ones with traditional fillings are among the best I've consumed anywhere, but for a new taste twist, be sure to try the New Delhi Tamal!
(4)
Craig S.

This is my favorite place when visiting Tucson. As a vegan, I really enjoy their tamales as well as the beans and guacamole. Fun place with a hip vibe -- highly recommended.
(5)
Susan O.

May, 2011: This is a small restaurant that produces a variety of tamales more for take-out than for eating in. However, there are a few tables where you can sit to eat your meal. By the time I arrived on the way home from work, there was only one roasted corn on the cob left! It was very good, and I look forward to eating more ; ) The tamales come with a variety of meats, or vegetarian, and degrees of spiciness. I bought four different kinds and have eaten three of them. Yummy! These are great to pick up to serve at parties, for your own dinner, etc. There are several side dishes from which to choose that come with the tamale dinner. Enjoy!
(4)
Hilary E.

MUST TRY the Organic Greens with Blue Corn Tamale (Veggie). I think it's only $5.50 or so. What? Shutchomouth FABULOUSNESS in a tight, cheap package. Now that's what I'm talkin' about.
(5)
Christina B.

I honestly don't have words for how much I LOVE Tucson Tamale Company. It may be my favorite restaurant in the entire state. My usual order: Boise, Berkeley, or New Delhi tamale (all vegetarian, all delicious) with a side of their salad. The salad itself is fabulous -- it's not a boring green salad as I expected the first time I went there, but it has a tangy dressing and has rice and corn tossed in. Just make sure to toss the salad to maximize the deliciousness factor! My only critique of the place? It's not close enough to my house to go to every day!! :-) This is definitely a must-try for anyone passing through the area.
(5)

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Address : 2545 E Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ, 85716
Phone (520) 305-4760
Website https://www.tucsontamalecompany.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :9:00 am - 8:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

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Tucson Tamale Company

2545 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85716

Tucson Tamale Company Menu

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