PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Chef Jennifer Zavala realized she wanted to open a restaurant in Philadelphia after spearheading a pop-up shop at Underground Arts.
“It was my commissary kitchen-turned-pandemic side hustle,” she said. “When I saw the response, I kind of felt, all right, Jen, it’s time.”
Last week, she finally opened Juana Tamale, a Mexican fast-casual tamale stand in South Philadelphia, at 1941 E. Passyunk Ave. It’s partially inspired by the name that her father called her, as well as a phrase she heard often while serving her food.
“Everybody would say, ‘Oh my gosh, do you have any tamales on you? I really wanna tamale.’ ”
Zavala serves Jarritos, tacos and tamales, which she describes to people unfamiliar with them as a Mexican Hot Pocket.
“It is wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf. Inside, you have a variety of fillings.”
For more on Juana Tamale — and Zavala’s special tamale take on Thanksgiving leftovers — listen to the KYW Newsradio original podcast What’s Cooking on the Audacy app or in the player above.