Phoenix area cheap eats

[Rubee]

Originally Posted by sidrah

The Tamale Store. Menu

I'm a big fan of the ones from the Tamale Store too, and agree they are all good (haven't had the sweet ones). You can find them at farmers markets or pick them up at their location on N. Cave Creek Rd. They're $24 a dozen though, and my husband, having grown up in El Paso, balks at paying $2 for a tamale, so this Christmas we tried a new spot - a Mexican bakery called La Purisima. $14 a dozen, but only red and green (green is spicier than the red). They were great- moist yet fluffy masa, and plenty of filling (pic):
La Purisima Bakery - Red chile tamale from La Purisima - Photo Gallery - CHOW

There's a location in Phoenix, although I've only been to the original in Glendale and am not sure if there is the same policy - cash only, and you have to pay for the tamales when you order ahead of time so you have to do it in person and come back. They also sell fresh hot tortillas for $2.50 a dozen and the pastries are inexpensive. For example, I think the fruit empanadas are 60 cents apiece. My favorite when they have them are "flautas" - small flaky rolls filled with fruit or cream cheese and dusted with powdered sugar. There's always a line to the door but it moves fast. Definitely cheap eats.

[sidrah]

That sounds good. Maybe next time I find myself in Glendale, I will make a stop. All the older MExican ladies at school shake their head when I bring a dozen in. They eat them, but shake their head that I paid $24 a dozen, but I think they are worth it, so I buy them anyway. I do like green chilli tamales, so I'll try them there. Good to know about cash only. Thanks

[jimj]

Has anyone tried La Tolteca? Supposed to have great tamales...
As for pizza and italian we really like #1 Brothers #1 Brothers Pizza they are family run from NYC and can/do actually speak italian. This place is the real deal in our opinion.
The only downside(?) is it's hard sometimes to understand the workers due to the heavy italian accent

[slackjaw]

Saigon Pho on Alma between Ray & Warner.

For about $6 you can come out of there absolutely sloshing with soup where if I stabbed you in the stomach it would come out in such a beautiful geyser of flavorful goodness you'd probably not care about the wound and instead try to catch it in your hands or in any nearby available container like an empty slurpee cup discarded on the ground. Bystanders to this horrific attack would probably then try to wrest the container from your dying hands to take home and enjoy.