Where to find the best tamales in Denver

Zoom in: El Tamalero in Aurora and Tamales Moreno in Arvada are two great options this holiday season.

• Tamales Moreno, which also has a Lakewood location, sells theirs by the dozen and half-dozen, with the option to add multiple sides that can serve multiple people.
• El Tamalero is an understated restaurant along Colfax Avenue offering traditional tamales with unique options, including cheese and a sweet strawberry variety.

Between the lines: Most tamales are made with pork, with red being milder and green being slightly spicier.

Here are a few other great local choices:

• Curtis Park Creamery — A family-owned business since 1969, this no-fuss eatery sells tamales by the dozen, and you can get them smothered.
• La Casita — This place has been serving northwest Denver families for decades, churning out 18,000 tamales a day.

• La Popular on Lawrence Street has the best red tamale option, in my opinion, but their green version is just as tasty.
• Comal Denver — A relative newcomer, this RiNo-based food incubator is still selling pork red sauce and chicken green sauce tamales by the dozen.

Go deeper: Our 2022 tamale picks.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to show La Casita is in northwest Denver, not northeast.