Here today, gone tamale

Holiday hot list: Where to find the best tamales in Dallas

Tamales from El Ranchito on Jefferson Boulevard in Dallas.
Photo courtesy of El Ranchito
Blue Goose Cantina has tamales to-go.
Photo courtesy of Blue Goose Cantina
At Urban Taco, you can get your tamales to go or eat them in the restaurant.
Photo courtesy of Urban Taco
Hot Damn Tamales in Fort Worth is worth the drive.
Photo courtesy of Hot Damn Tamales

If you're part of a Mexican family that celebrates the festive tradition of making your own tamales during the holidays, then please give us a call. We'd like an invitation. If you're not, then you're like the rest of us: Buying your tamales from one of the many area vendors who ramp up production when December rolls around.

Below are some of the best tamales money can buy; most require pre-ordering but will do walk-up sales, depending on availability.

Blue Goose, all five locations, including Addison, Frisco, Lower Greenville Ave., Highland Village and Plano. 214-823-8339.
Open until 4 pm Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day.
Fillings: Pork with chile con carne sauce, and chicken within jalapeno and jack cheese. $20 a dozen.

Dallas Tortilla and Tamale Factory, 309 N. Marsalis Ave., Dallas 214-821-8854.
Open until 8 pm Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Fillings: Pork, beef, chicken, pork and jalapeno, beef and jalapeno. $8.95 per dozen warm, $7 cold.

Hot Damn Tamales, 713 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth. 817-926-9909.
Open until 2 pm Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day.
Fillings: Tenderloin, shrimp, black bean and cheese, poblano corn, mushroom and goat cheese, cranberry-jalapeno, chocolate, and more. $20 to $36 per dozen.

La Popular Tamale House, 5004 Columbia Ave., Dallas 214-824-7617.
Open until 7 pm Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Fillings: Pork, pork and jalapeno, spicy beef, chicken-tomatillo, mixed vegetables, beans and jalapeno. $10-$11 a dozen.

Lopez Tortillas & Tamales,9727 Brockbank Drive, Dallas 214-353-9538.
Open Christmas Eve until noon; closed on Christmas Day.
Fillings: Chicken, pork, rajas (peppers and cheese), raisin. $9 a dozen.

Luna's Tortilla Factory, 8524 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas 214-747-2661.
Open Christmas Eve until 3 pm, but only for pre-orders.
Fillings: Pork, beef, chicken, bean, spinach, cheese-jalapeno, cinnamon-raisin. $12 a dozen.

Urban Taco, both locations at Mockingbird Station and McKinney Avenue in Uptown, are celebrating their annual "12 Days of Tamales," a special menu with a rotating flavor every day, available December 13-24. Place a to-go order for any flavor with 24 hours notice, minimum one dozen for $24. You can also order the daily flavor at lunch or dinner, as a tamale trio plate with black beans and roasted corn con crema for $9.75.

12 Days of Tamales Menu:

December 13 – pollo con mole poblano
December 14 – cochinita pibil
December 15 – guajillo pork
December 16 – potato zucchini con queso fresco
December 17 – frijoles y queso Oaxaca
December 18 – tomatillo serrano con pollo
December 19 – carnitas con mole poblano
December 20 – Dos Equis Amber barbacoa con chorizo
December 21 – guajillo piquin con pollo
December 22 – chicharron adobado con salsa verde
December 23 – green chile con picadillo
December 24 – chicken tinga & potato

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Deli News

Gourmet market Ari's Pantry to open in Dallas' Trinity Groves

Ari's Pantry

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A new gourmet grocery is coming to Trinity Groves: Ari's Pantry, the market launched in Oak Cliff by husband-and-wife Ari and Amy Lowenstein, will open a second location in West Dallas’ Trinity Groves, with a grand opening celebration on Saturday, November 30.

Located at 3011 Gulden Ln. #119 in the space that was once home to Potato Flats who remembers them, the Trinity Groves store will offer: pasta, olive oil, vinegars, preserves, candy, bread, crackers, cheese, meats, pizza dough, fresh pasta, housewares, cocktail ingredients, novelty kitchen gadgets, spices, prepared foods, fresh pesto and Ari’s own tomato sauce.

“We are excited to open our newest location at Trinity Groves joining the great businesses already there and the wave of new ventures opening in the development,” Ari Lowenstein says in a release. “With this location we will reach a new audience in West Dallas and be closer to our customers coming from downtown and the north.”

The couple opened their first location in Winnetka Heights at 1307 ½ W. Davis St. in December 2023 to fulfill Ari's passion for all things Italy. The idea was a small Italian food store with recipe-ready staples, with a hyper-local vibe. It has since blossomed into a general-purpose gourmet stop.

In addition to the food staples for sale found at their Bishop Arts location, Ari’s Trinity Groves location will also include a commercial catering kitchen that will enable them to provide full-service catering, prepared meal pick-up, pasta classes, and private dinners.

“Amy and Ari bring something new and special to this development as our first partner to offer consumer packaged goods made by people and companies outside of Trinity Groves,” said Sam Romano, Partner at West Dallas Investments, parent company of Trinity Groves. “They are part of the vision we have for the future of Trinity Groves that will combine innovative, up and coming chefs and restauranteurs with lifestyle and entertainment options like pickleball, bocce ball, popup events, arcade game play and additional retail partners.”

The Ari's empire doesn't stop here: Their goal is to open multiple locations "in all corners of DFW and beyond," and that includes a location in the Cyprus Waters community in Coppell, slated to open in spring 2025.

downtown openings