La Tapatia, Inc. is aMexican restaurant andtortilla factory located in theYsleta neighborhood ofEl Paso, Texas. The restaurant has been at the same location for over 65 years and is especially known for theirtamales. Over time, the restaurant has had several owners, includingAlicia R. Chacón. In the 1970s, La Tapatia sponsored asoftball team that was also known as "The Tamale Kings."
La Tapatia is located in theYsleta neighborhood ofEl Paso, Texas and has been in business at the same location for over 65 years.[1][2] Its Mexican food is influenced byBorderland culture and they are well-known for theirtamales.[3][4][5] TheEl Paso Times has written that La Tapatia is one of the city's "can't miss tamales."[6] La Tapatia makes their ownmasa for their tamales.[2] Other dishes served for breakfast and lunch includeenchiladas,chile rellenos, androlled tacos.[2]
The restaurant has also participated in events by sending large amounts of tamales to other parts of Texas.[7]
La Tapatia was originally atortilla factory that was founded by Marcelino and Felipa Galvan in the early 1950s.[8] The Galvan's daughter, Santos Garcia, worked as atamalera at the restaurant, and continued to do so into her 70s.[1]
In 1970, the factory was sold to Gus and Ted Rallis, who later moved the restaurant to its final location.[8] In July 1971, a request was made to the city torezone 61,008 square feet of land forcommercial use for the new spot[9] In July 1972, thepermits were approved for building at the new location.[10] During acorn husk shortage in 1973, Ted Rallis had to temporarily substituteparchment wrappings for their tamales.[11][12]
El Paso politician,Alicia R. Chacón, looked into buying La Tapatia in 1979.[13] Chacón eventually used her retirement funds and winnings fromraffle tickets at a church event inSan Antonio to purchase the restaurant in March of that year.[14][15] She went into business with Edward Alvarez and his wife.[16] When Chacón worked as analderman in the early 1980s, her husband, Joe Chacón, ran the restaurant.[17][18] In 1989, the restaurant was selling around 300 dozen tamales every day.[1] In the early 90s, Chacon sold her interest in the restaurant to her sister.[19] Esther Rosencrans was the owner of the restaurant in 1994.[20]
La Tapatia sponsored asoftball team in the 1970s.[8][21] The team was part of the El Paso Major Softball League and the players were known as "The Tamale Kings."[22][23] One player for the Tapatia team, Paul "Hoss" Lopez, was nominated for the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972.[24]
^"Oral History Interview with Alicia Chacón, 1996".University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Interviewed by José Angel Gutiérrez; Transcribed by Karen McGeeand and José Angel Gutiérrez. June 22, 1996. p. 117. RetrievedAugust 23, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
