Best Tamales THE TAMALE STORE 15842 North Cave Creek Road 602-435-2604 thetamalestore.com as humanly possible. Is it the most imagi- native burrito you’ll ever eat? Probably not, but these are breakfast burritos that we’re talking about, and what these bad boys lack in innovation, they more than make up for in overall quality and a kind of down-home connection that all the truly best foods foster. Food should be about community and connection as much as the way the potatoes are perfectly cooked — that’s why PBH feels like the breakfast burrito for this city. Tamales are traditionally a holiday treat, made around Christmastime. But we’re glad we can grab this comfort food practi- cally any day of the year at The Tamale Store in north Phoenix. The bright, airy space has a little bit of everything: plenty of seating, shelves featuring Tamale Store- branded salsas and other items, flat-screen TVs, and a mercado area offering frozen tamales to take home. The daily lineup of fresh tamales varies a bit, but we’re always happy when the Tex-Mex (ground beef and Monterey Jack cheese), pork red chile, or Arizona cornbread with Colby Jack are options. All of the tamales are soft and deli- cious — never stale or bland. We like to pick a couple and stick them in a combo meal, pairing them with great side dishes like elote and potatoes with chorizo. Best Tortas LOS REYES DE LA TORTA 9230 North Seventh Street 602-870-2967 And other Valley locations losreyesdelatortaphx.com No less a personage than Guy Fieri agrees that the sandwiches at Los Reyes de la Torta are something special. They start with a soft bolillo roll, and then the sky’s the limit. The Del Rey is the most popular sandwich, according to the website, and we can confirm it’s pretty great — a mix of ham, mozzarella, pork sirloin, breaded beef, and sausage-chorizo omelet, plus tomato, caramelized onions, fresh avocado, and chipotle sauce, it vanquishes all appetites. We’re also partial to the Hawaiian, a sweet and savory dish made with ham, pineapple, and pork sirloin, topped with melted mozzarella, queso fresco, and a chipotle dressing. With 15 tortas to choose from made with fresh, quality ingredients, there’s a sandwich to everyone’s liking. Best Quesadillas TACO CHELO 501 East Roosevelt Street 602-368-5316 tacochelo.com Gaze at a mural of Frida Kahlo and sip on a cold margarita while you devour a quesa- dilla or three at Taco Chelo. These handheld creations are different from the large ones you’re used to, made on your choice of a small corn or flour tortilla folded in half. And like so much in life, the simpler these quesadillas are, the better. The cheese blend melts into the tortilla creating a perfect bite, warm and melty with nothing but queso and carbs. Add carnitas or veggies to the little snack if you’d like, but know that the classic dipped into some red or green salsa is just as good. Chilaquiles Best THE BREAD AND HONEY HOUSE 4801 East Indian School Road, #4 602-825-1048 thebreadandhoneyhouse.com 174 Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican breakfast food featuring tortilla chips lightly fried and simmered in a sauce, then used as a base for various toppings. At popular Arcadia eatery The Bread and Honey House, the chilaquiles are a deli- cious mess, a huge portion of tortillas made soft and mouthwatering by fresh guajillo- and pasilla-roasted salsa. They get topped with crema fresca, cotija cheese, sliced onions, and cilantro, plus one egg your way (we like ’em scrambled). The Bread and Honey House gives you a huge portion of chilaquiles, but if you’re still looking for more sustenance, try adding a protein like carnitas, bacon, or our pick, savory chorizo. It’ll fill you up and make your taste buds sing, a perfect start to your day. BEST OF PHOENIX 2022 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX202W.C0M | SEPTEMBER 29, 2022