Delaney is working the counter at the Tucson Tamale Company when she hands over a couple of packs of New Delhi and Berkeley tamales. She asks us: "So you like the vegan ones?" Vegan? We don't care about that—we just think they're the best damn tamales we've ever tasted! If Mr. Fantastic set out to re-engineer the tamale, he couldn't match the super-genius of Todd Martin, who has brought true grandeur to the humble and often-neglected tamale. He's put curry, peas and sweet potatoes into the New Delhi; he's put shrimp, roasted corn and tomatoes into the San Carlos; he's even put a hot dog, bacon, onions and tomatoes into the dogmale. Want to go old-school? The green-corn tamales will knock your cape off.
Runners up:
2. Lerua's
2005 E. Broadway Blvd.
623-7011
Various locations