Everything You Need to Make Perfect Vegan Tacos, Plus 13 Restaurants to Try

Overlook Taco Tuesdays—a real taco aficionado by no means limits this Mexican street food to in the future of the week. It’s taco time any day, any time. From breakfast tacos to tacos dorados de papa (fried potato tacos), there’s a regional selection or distinctive mashup for each meal of the month. 

Chicano Eats

1 Tacos al pastor

Impressed by the Center Japanese strategy of cooking meat on a spit, al pastor is historically made with pork that’s rubbed down with spices, slow-roasted, and blended with pineapple. The vegan model—typically made with mushrooms or seitan—offers the identical sweet-meets-spicy taste profile with out the rotating pork shank. 
Find out how to make them: Vegan Tacos Al Pastor by Chicano Eats
The place to seek out them: Tacotarian, Las Vegas, NV

Plant Based mostly RD

2 Tacos dorados de papa

At occasions, there’s nothing higher than a easy fried potato taco. Whether or not loved on their very own or garnished with salsa and guacamole, these potato-stuffed fried tortillas by no means fail to fulfill a savory craving. 
Find out how to make them: Crispy Vegan Potato Tacos by Plant Based mostly RD
The place to seek out them: Pancho’s Vegan Tacos, a number of places, NV

El Palote

3 Tacos de barbacoa

Belief us, you don’t need to know the place the meat-based barbacoa comes from. The vegan model, nonetheless, is often comprised of mushrooms, seitan, or jackfruit. It’s tender, juicy, and never too spicy for these with delicate palates.
Find out how to make them: 1-Pot Vegan Barbacoa by Minimalist Baker
The place to seek out them: El Palote in Dallas, TX

Sugar Taco

4 Tacos de carnitas

Each mushrooms and jackfruit completely mimic the slow-cooked pulled pork that characterizes meat-based carnitas. This filling is succulent, flavor-packed, and works so nicely in a freshly pressed corn tortilla. 
Find out how to make them: Vegan Carnitas with Mushrooms by Vegan Richa
The place to seek out them: Sugar Taco, a number of places, CA

Taqueria La Veganza/Instagram

5 Tacos de carne asada

For a smoky, grilled taste of plant-based beef, go for the carne asada. It’s develop into a staple protein possibility for vegan taquerias from Los Angeles to San Antonio. When doubtful, it’s exhausting to go improper with this secure guess. 
Find out how to make them: Vegan Carne Asada Tacos by Candy Easy Vegan
The place to seek out them: Taqueria La Venganza in Oakland, CA

Seabirds Kitchen

6 Fried avocado tacos

Why prime a taco with guac when the whole taco can encompass a thick wedge of crispy-on-the-outside, creamy-on-the-inside avocado? This sort of taco wants no adornments; it’s good as is. 
Find out how to make them: Vegan Fried Avocado Wedge Tacos by the Leon Quick Vegan Cookbook
The place to seek out them: Seabirds Kitchen in Lengthy Seaside, CA

Eat Figs Not Pigs

7 Tacos de birria

This meaty, stew-like filling comes from the Guadalajara metropolis of Mexico and is commonly served as a celebration dish. Nonetheless, it’s not unusual to seek out it as a vegan possibility within the States. Be warned: it’s spicy—at the very least, it must be. 
Find out how to make them: Vegan Birria Tacos by Eat Figs Not Pigs
The place to seek out them: El Cocinero in Van Nuys, CA 

Brown Sugar and Vanilla

8 Tacos de jamaica 

We’re undecided how, however hibiscus petals—the type you’re used to infused in tea—truly make for an unimaginable vegan taco filling. When seasoned, cooked, and marinated, they tackle a pleasantly chewy, meaty texture. They’re considerably frequent at independently owned taquerias, however they’re additionally easy to make at house. 
Find out how to make them: Hibiscus Tacos by Brown Sugar & Vanilla
The place to seek out them: Vegan by El Zamorano in Costa Mesa, CA

Dora’s Desk

9 Fish tacos

The innovation in vegan fish tacos has shocked us with every crispy, flaky chunk. From expertly seasoned and fried tofu to nori-infused jackfruit, these Baja tacos don’t get sufficient credit score. 
Find out how to make them: Vegan Fish Tacos by Dora’s Mexican Desk
The place to seek out them: El Cantaro in Monterey, CA

Purple Carrot

10 Korean Tacos

Coined by the San Antonio Taco Editor José Ralat, these tacos are a product of Ok-Mex, largely dropped at recognition by movie star chef Roy Choi. Right now, yow will discover tacos in lots of Korean fusion eating places filled with tofu, kimchi, and cilantro.
Find out how to make them: Korean Tofu Tacos by Purple Carrot
The place to seek out them: Seabirds Kitchen in Lengthy Seaside, CA

Becky’s Bites/Cena Vegan

11 Tacos de pollo asado 

Pollo asado packs a deep taste mixture of citrus, smoke, and spice. It’s marinated then grilled, and whereas completely different cooks could have barely completely different spice ratios, this chicken-based taco filling is straightforward to establish because of its vibrant red-orange sheen. The plant-based model retains the flavour and easily swaps out the hen for a vegan protein different corresponding to seitan or TVP (textured vegetable protein). 
Find out how to make them: Vegan Chicken Tacos by Más Vegan
The place to seek out them: Cena Vegan in Los Angeles, CA

The Vegan Nom

12 Breakfast tacos

Don’t restrict your self—breakfast tacos might be eaten any time of day. Sometimes, these are characterised with the addition of vegan egg and sometimes chorizo or sausage. Like different tacos, the sky’s the restrict after that—load up a sizzling flour or corn tortilla with scrambled JUST Egg, beans, and salsa, or prime seasoned crumbled tofu with vegan sausage and pico de gallo. 
Find out how to make them: Vegan Migas Breakfast Tacos by The Nut-Free Vegan
The place to seek out them: The Vegan Nom in Austin, TX

Thyme & Love

13 Chorizo and potato

When mixed, savory potatoes and meaty vegan chorizo pack a punch of taste you received’t need to miss. Gown them up with all of the fixings (cilantro, onion, guacamole, and your selection of salsa) to your new go-to. 
Find out how to make them: Soy Chorizo and Potato Tacos by Thyme & Love
The place to seek out them: La Taquiza Vegana in Portland, OR

Succulent Vegan Tacos

14 Tacos de tinga

Smoky and tomatoey with a slight kick of warmth, tinga is ideal for scooping into smooth corn toritllas. One chunk of this saucy taco and also you’ll surprise the way you went so lengthy with out it. 
Find out how to make them: Vegan Tinga Tacos by The Curious Chickpea
The place to seek out them: Succulent Vegan Tacos in Nashville, TN

Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews in addition to a author and runner dwelling in Orange County, CA.