Tucson Tamale Company's win here is pretty amazing, considering the store only opened its doors last November. Since that time, Tucson Tamale Company has made quite an impact on the Tucson dining scene. The tamales are plump, filled with both traditional and not-so-traditional goodies. The Arizona, for example, has slow-roasted sirloin and chipotles; the Naples has Italian squash, red peppers and onions, and is topped with marinara sauce. Each holiday brings a special treat—the Thanksgiving tamale is rumored to "taste just like Thanksgiving dinner" in one bite. Fresh salsas and sauces were created specifically for the tamales. Our fave side is the basmati rice salad. Also, the tamales are all lard- and gluten-free!
Runners up:
2. Lerua's
2005 E. Broadway Blvd.
624-0322, www.leruas.com
3. El Charro Café
Various locations
