Skip the turkey. These Latino restaurants in Phoenix offer a different Thanksgiving feast
For many Latino immigrants living in the U.S., the traditional feast and get-together that takes place for Thanksgiving are welcomed celebrations.
Being grateful for what one has and being with loved ones is an honored pastime in Latin American countries. The fact that many get to take the day off and bask in that kind of tradition in their second home is a plus.
Some Latino households opt for the traditional American dinner, fully embracing the turkey entree, while others prefer to cook typical foods from their home countries. Those dishes can also be found in the dozens of Latin American restaurants in metro Phoenix — and some are offering special menus for the upcoming holiday.
So if you're not feeling like cooking up a feast, but want something a little different for Thanksgiving, these are some local options.
Los Andes Peruvian Cuisine: Pollo a la brasa
The Peruvian restaurant Los Andes Peruvian Cuisine, located near 27th Avenue and Bethany Home Road, is accepting special orders for Thanksgiving Day. Although the restaurant will be closed on Thursday, it will be open late on Wednesday and very early on Friday to offer that special menu.
"Every year we prepare a meal of pollo a la brasa that is very typical in Peru. It is a chicken that is marinated with more than three spices, we roast it with enough flavor. It is an option for the person who does not want to eat turkey," said Carlos Urteaga, owner of the restaurant that opened its doors in 2018.
People can order the family meal by phone or in person and just pick it up. The package comes with a 2-liter Inka Cola, a Peruvian soda that is imported from that country. Additionally, the customer can choose two side: French fries, salad, beans or rice.
The restaurant also offers to-go trays packed with most of what they offer on their menu. Like the causa rellena, a potato pie, the picadillo stuffed potato balls and even traditional Peruvian ceviche.
Advance payment is required and orders can be made by phone or in person.
Details: Los Andes Peruvian Cuisine, 6025 N. 27th Ave., Ste. 24, Phoenix. Closed on Thanksgiving Day. Open regular hours on Wednesday and until 4 p.m. Friday. Call ahead for orders: 602-368-9205.
Las 15 Salsas Restaurant Oaxaqueño: Tamales and atole
Las 15 Salsas Restaurant Oaxaqueño, located on Hatcher Road between 7th and 9th avenues, does not have a special menu for Thanksgiving. It is the only day when employees do not cook and only work half a day so that they can enjoy dinner with their families at home.
But they do offer take-home family meals.
“We already have our customers every year who ask us for meals with mole, tamales or other things that we have on the menu... You can pick it up from when we open until 4 in the afternoon,” said Elizabeth Hernández, owner of the restaurant.
What people ask for most are the traditional Oaxacan tamales, trays of rice, beans and atole, a traditional holiday drink made of brown sugar, cinnamon, milk and flour often served hot.
Details: Las 15 Salsas Restaurant Oaxaqueño, 722 W. Hatcher Rd., Phoenix. Open until 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving. For orders call 602-870-2056.
Salvadoreño Restaurant: Pupusas
With five locations in the Valley — two in Mesa, two in Phoenix and one in El Mirage — Salvadoreño Restaurant is already taking orders for Thanksgiving. Their most popular package, of course, are pupusas.
This Salvadoran restaurant, specializing in pupusas, opened its doors in 2002 in Mesa.
"We have family meals of pupusa trays that are very popular. We have asada, chicharrón, chicken, bacon. We have 25 types of pupusas," Yesenia Ramírez, one of the owners, said to The Republic.
Another of the dishes they have available is the Salvadoran stuffed bread, which consists of a bolillo-type bread filled with chicken and turkey cooked with a Creole sauce with different toppings on top such as pickles, green beans and carrots.
"Salvadoran stuffed bread is very popular at Christmas, but here we have it available from Thanksgiving Day until December 31," Ramírez said.
"The order can be placed by phone, in person or through our website. If it is done online, the order is paid in full. By phone or in person, no advance payment is needed," Ramírez added.
Details: Salvadoreño Restaurant, various locations in the Valley. Open on Thanksgiving Day until 4 p.m. For locations and orders, visit: https://salvadorenorestaurant.com/
Los Armandos: Carne asada and tacos
Los Armandos, a Mexican restaurant located in Maryvale near 59th Avenue and McDowell Road, is also offering family meals for Thanksgiving.
Francisco Vázquez, owner of Los Armandos — which opened its doors in 1996 — said that his customers on that date usually order trays by the pound of carne asada, beans and rice, as well as flautas, tacos and quesadillas.
“On Turkey Day we are going to open from 6 in the morning until 8 at night,” said Vázquez.
Orders can be placed by phone or in person.
Details: Los Armandos, 5820 W. McDowell Rd., Phoenix. Open from 6 a.m. to 8 pm. on Thanksgiving. For orders call (602) 353-1135.
Have story tips on Latino culture and cuisine in the Valley? Reach La Voz reporter Nadia Cantú at nadia.cantu@lavozarizona.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Latino restaurants in Phoenix offer a different Thanksgiving feast
