Masa Party
Top tamale spots in Dallas to stock up for 2013 holidays
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
Enjoying tamales during the holidays is a tradition for many Texans, regardless of birthplace. Making tamales is time-intensive. Buying tamales, not so much. Then again, you'll probably find lines at some of these veteran tamale spots.
In any case, here's our list of where to get tamales in Dallas. Most of these vendors require pre-ordering, but will sell whatever's left to walk-ups, depending on availability.
Agave Tamale Company, 106 N. Lambert St., Granbury. 817-579-7600.
Open 11 am to 4 pm Christmas Eve; closed Christmas Day. No pre-orders and limited availability.
Fillings: Pork, beef and chicken
Price: $18 for 10
Blue Goose, five locations, including Addison, Frisco, Greenville Avenue, 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 with jalapeño and Jack cheese
Price: $20 a dozen
Cantina Laredo, six locations in North Texas, including Addison, Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, Grapevine and Lewisville. 214-265-1610.
Pick-up times on December 23 and 24.
Fillings: Chicken and beef
Price: $16.95 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 jalapeño, beef and jalapeño
Price: $8.95 per dozen warm; $7 cold.
El Ranchito, 610 W. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas. 214-946-4238.
December 20-22 and December 27-29.
Fillings: Pork, Sanchez family recipe
Price: $12 a dozen
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-jalapeño, chocolate, and more
Price: $20-$30 per dozen
La Popular Tamale House, 5004 Columbia Ave., Dallas. 214-824-7617.
Open noon-7 pm Christmas Eve; 10 am to 1 pm Christmas Day. (Farmers Market location opens at 10 am.)
Fillings: Pork, pork and jalapeño, spicy beef, chicken-tomatillo, mixed vegetables, beans and jalapeño. Black-eyed pea available December 26-31.
Price: 12-$13 a dozen
Lopez Tortillas & Tamales,9727 Brockbank Dr., Dallas 214-353-9538.
Open Christmas Eve until noon; closed Christmas Day.
Fillings: Chicken, pork, rajas (peppers and cheese), raisin
Price: $10 a dozen
Luna's Tortilla Factory, 8424 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-jalapeño, cinnamon-raisin
Price: $14 a dozen
The Tamale Company, at Eatzi's, Jimmy 's Foods, Rudolph's Meat Market, Celebration Market, Cox's Farms, Green Spot, Bolsa Mercado. 214-233-6392.
Hours depend on store.
Fillings: Pork, chicken-tomatillo, beef, cheese-jalapeño, vegan
Price: $13-14 a dozen
Urban Taco
Both locations (Mockingbird Station and McKinney Avenue in Uptown) are celebrating the annual 12 Days of Tamales, a special menu of tamales with a new flavor every day, available through December 24. Place a to-go order for any flavor with 24 hours notice.
Price: Minimum one dozen for $16.95
