Find OMG tamales at the new location for 3 in 1 Restaurant

The Vasquez family's Salvadoran tamales are popular at Indianapolis and Carmel farmers markets. Light and fluffy, with a hint of sweetness thanks to Indiana corn cut from the cob, they are my favorite tamales in Indianapolis.

The problem has been that you had to wake up early on Saturday mornings to go to the farmers market to eat them.

The Vasquezes once operated a restaurant named 3 in 1 on the northwest side where you could get their tamales almost every day. It closed in 2016, but reopened June 15 at a new location, 1413 W. 86th St., at Ditch Road, owner Juan Vasquez said.

Tucked inside Northbrook Shopping Center, the new 3 in 1 location fills former Sesame Chinese restaurant. Besides tamales, the 35-seat restaurant serves pupusas, which are thick corn tortillas with various toppings, as well as some Mexican favorites including tacos and quesadillas.

Order at the counter and then wait for food to be delivered to your table at 3 in 1 Restaurant. Tamales come plain or stuffed with pork or chicken. Doll them up with queso, pico de gallo and housemade red and green salsas.

Pupusas come with chicken and cheese, beans and cheese, pork and cheese, but the Vasquezes have been known to make breakfast pupusas with local eggs and chorizo and vegetarian pupusas with assorted vegetables.   

Also look for corn poppers, balls of deep-fried corn blended with masa, finger food for dipping is salsa. Pisques are Salvadoran tamales wrapped in banana leaves and served as a savory dish or as a sweet dish sprinkled with confectioners sugar, Vasquez  said.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sunday.

Follow IndyStar food writer Liz Biro on Twitter: @lizbiro, Instagram: @lizbiro, and on Facebook. Call her at 317-444-6264.