It’s that time of year again when tamalitos reign supreme and tamaladas are in full effect with families in complete assembly formation around a kitchen table, mixing, filling, wrapping, and steaming up the nostalgic masa regalitos we’re desperately craving to unwrap. Luckily every Angeleno has their go-to tamalera/o they swear by and support. But something is shifting in the world of the tamal. The parcel usually packed with lard and animal meat has gone vegan, and in Los Angeles, you can blame a die-hard Morrissey fan for the delicious switch.
The vegan tamal everyone should give a chance to comes from Shane’s Tamales. Owner Chayane Sarabia, a name that’s obviously not spelled or pronounced “Shane,” says the name stuck after a home economics teacher refused to get Chayane’s name right (Shy-Ann). Instead (and unfortunately), Chayane learned to just roll with it and uses the anglicized version of his name as his business name while selling his tasty tamales all across Los Angeles County and beyond.
Before COVID hit, you’d find Chayane posted up at eastside bars like Footsie’s in Highland Park and vegan food fests. Today, he’s picking back up with his usual pop-up lineups at breweries as well as offering online ordering via Instagram DMs.