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Tacos Quetzalcoatl
Tacos Quetzalcoatl
Matthew Kang

The 12 Best Meat-Free Tacos in Los Angeles

Meat-free taco eats across the city.

by Farley Elliott
4 comments / new
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Tacos Quetzalcoatl
| Matthew Kang
by Farley Elliott
4 comments / new

Vegetarian tacos don’t get a lot of love in Los Angeles, despite the wide overlapping Venn Diagram of "people who like tacos (everyone)" and "people in L.A. who don’t eat meat." Thankfully, great non-meat options abound for anyone who’s willing to seek them out. Below are twelve of the city’s best meatless tacos, available from La Puente to Santa Monica.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Omega 2 at Quetzalcoatl Taco Truck

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Tacos Quetzalcoatl is a popular weekend stop for many in East L.A., who come for the lamb barbacoa but keep returning for the wild greens. Their well-known Omega 2 option pins native Mexican greens like huauzontles and quintoniles inside a tortilla with cheese, spinach and more.

East Olympic Boulevard & South Ferris Avenue, East Los Angeles, CA 90022

Cauliflower Tostada at Tacos Punta Cabras

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As meat substitute, cauliflower has long had an edge over lots of other vegetables. Its roasts well, without falling apart, and takes to a variety of sauces with ease. It’s all the more surprising then that Tacos Punta Cabras in Santa Monica would choose to go far afield with their cauliflower take, shaving it paper thin overtop of a fresh tostada, alongside a slew of other greens.

2311 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 917-2244
(310) 917-2244

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Tempura Acorn Squash at Petty Cash Taqueria

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Beverly Blvd.’s “semi-authentic taqueria” throws together a butternut squash mole with some tempura fried acorn squash on top, then folds in pistachio, spinach and manchego cheese. Don’t skip the kale cauliflower nachos either.

7360 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 933-5300
(323) 933-5300

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Queso Fresco at Tacoteca

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There are a couple of non-meat options on the menu at Tacoteca, the new Santa Monica spot from Ricardo Diaz and AdVantage Partners. but the most fulfilling has to be the Queso Fresco, a cheesy option laced with avocado, fried red potatoes, and fiery serrano salsa.

2460 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 828-2115
(310) 828-2115

Dorados de Papa at CaCao Mexicatessen

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Don’t be overwhelmed by the large, colorful menu here. Just skip to the vegetarian taqueria portion and order with ease — though it should be noted that the fried tacos dorados de papa is a stellar hard-shelled potato taco option.

1576 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 478-2791
(323) 478-2791

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Cauliflower Taco at Colonia Taco Lounge

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Cauliflower is left in large, hefty chunks here at Colonia Taco Lounge, softened just enough to make for an easy bite. It’s fried too, of course, then laced with crema and just a hint of salsa, for a decadently vegetarian bite.

13030 Valley Blvd, La Puente, CA 91746
(626) 363-4691
(626) 363-4691

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Taco Combination Plate at Gracias Madre

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It’s all vegan everything at Gracias Madre, which means vegetarians can go wild for their three taco plate, comprised of things like asparagus, broccoli and mushrooms. The sopes are popular as well.

8905 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 978-2170
(323) 978-2170

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Calabacitas at Guisados

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This stewed taco specialist doesn’t rely on meat to make flavors go far. There’s the slightly firm calabacitas taco that works as a blend of squash, peppers and corn, as well as the more mellow frijoles con queso. Other options abound.

2100 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 264-7201
(323) 264-7201

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Nopales at Taqueria Los Anaya

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West Adams’ Los Anaya keeps things decidedly old school, offering a nopales (cactus) taco that’s every bit as good as the meaty tacos that surround it.

4651 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
(323) 731-4070
(323) 731-4070

Garlic Bomb at Mondo Taco

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Fusion-y West LA taco spot Mondo Taco has an entire section dedicated to non-meat tacos, many using tempe and soyrizo as suitable replacements. But it’s the Garlic Bomb that loads on mushrooms, crispy onions, goat cheese and garlic aioli, with no need for a meat substitute.

2200 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 310-8922
(310) 310-8922

Tacos de Chile Toreados at Bizarra Capital

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If you want a mouth of pure fire, get to Bizarra Capital for the tacos de chile toreados, which offer unabashedly hot peppers as the main ingredient for one of their most popular vegetarian tacos. Of course, if you’re already there, it couldn’t hurt to try the mole fries too, right?

12706 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90601

Broccolini and Mushroom at Guerrilla Tacos

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Wes Avila has built a strong reputation on Cooks Ranch pork from his truck Guerrilla Tacos, but he’s never left the meat-free set to suffer. The truck’s broccolini and mushroom taco is worthy of anyone’s plate, regardless of their meat affinity. Other occasional options like potato and leek, or slow-cooked purple potato, are just as magical.

826 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(818) 640-3033
(818) 640-3033

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Omega 2 at Quetzalcoatl Taco Truck

East Olympic Boulevard & South Ferris Avenue, East Los Angeles, CA 90022

Tacos Quetzalcoatl is a popular weekend stop for many in East L.A., who come for the lamb barbacoa but keep returning for the wild greens. Their well-known Omega 2 option pins native Mexican greens like huauzontles and quintoniles inside a tortilla with cheese, spinach and more.

East Olympic Boulevard & South Ferris Avenue, East Los Angeles, CA 90022

Cauliflower Tostada at Tacos Punta Cabras

2311 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

As meat substitute, cauliflower has long had an edge over lots of other vegetables. Its roasts well, without falling apart, and takes to a variety of sauces with ease. It’s all the more surprising then that Tacos Punta Cabras in Santa Monica would choose to go far afield with their cauliflower take, shaving it paper thin overtop of a fresh tostada, alongside a slew of other greens.

2311 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 917-2244
(310) 917-2244

Tempura Acorn Squash at Petty Cash Taqueria

7360 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Beverly Blvd.’s “semi-authentic taqueria” throws together a butternut squash mole with some tempura fried acorn squash on top, then folds in pistachio, spinach and manchego cheese. Don’t skip the kale cauliflower nachos either.

7360 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 933-5300
(323) 933-5300

Queso Fresco at Tacoteca

2460 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

There are a couple of non-meat options on the menu at Tacoteca, the new Santa Monica spot from Ricardo Diaz and AdVantage Partners. but the most fulfilling has to be the Queso Fresco, a cheesy option laced with avocado, fried red potatoes, and fiery serrano salsa.

2460 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 828-2115
(310) 828-2115

Dorados de Papa at CaCao Mexicatessen

1576 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Don’t be overwhelmed by the large, colorful menu here. Just skip to the vegetarian taqueria portion and order with ease — though it should be noted that the fried tacos dorados de papa is a stellar hard-shelled potato taco option.

1576 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 478-2791
(323) 478-2791

Cauliflower Taco at Colonia Taco Lounge

13030 Valley Blvd, La Puente, CA 91746

Cauliflower is left in large, hefty chunks here at Colonia Taco Lounge, softened just enough to make for an easy bite. It’s fried too, of course, then laced with crema and just a hint of salsa, for a decadently vegetarian bite.

13030 Valley Blvd, La Puente, CA 91746
(626) 363-4691
(626) 363-4691

Taco Combination Plate at Gracias Madre

8905 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069

It’s all vegan everything at Gracias Madre, which means vegetarians can go wild for their three taco plate, comprised of things like asparagus, broccoli and mushrooms. The sopes are popular as well.

8905 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 978-2170
(323) 978-2170

Calabacitas at Guisados

2100 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033

This stewed taco specialist doesn’t rely on meat to make flavors go far. There’s the slightly firm calabacitas taco that works as a blend of squash, peppers and corn, as well as the more mellow frijoles con queso. Other options abound.

2100 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 264-7201
(323) 264-7201

Nopales at Taqueria Los Anaya

4651 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016

West Adams’ Los Anaya keeps things decidedly old school, offering a nopales (cactus) taco that’s every bit as good as the meaty tacos that surround it.

4651 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
(323) 731-4070
(323) 731-4070

Garlic Bomb at Mondo Taco

2200 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Fusion-y West LA taco spot Mondo Taco has an entire section dedicated to non-meat tacos, many using tempe and soyrizo as suitable replacements. But it’s the Garlic Bomb that loads on mushrooms, crispy onions, goat cheese and garlic aioli, with no need for a meat substitute.

2200 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 310-8922
(310) 310-8922

Tacos de Chile Toreados at Bizarra Capital

12706 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90601

If you want a mouth of pure fire, get to Bizarra Capital for the tacos de chile toreados, which offer unabashedly hot peppers as the main ingredient for one of their most popular vegetarian tacos. Of course, if you’re already there, it couldn’t hurt to try the mole fries too, right?

12706 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90601

Broccolini and Mushroom at Guerrilla Tacos

826 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Wes Avila has built a strong reputation on Cooks Ranch pork from his truck Guerrilla Tacos, but he’s never left the meat-free set to suffer. The truck’s broccolini and mushroom taco is worthy of anyone’s plate, regardless of their meat affinity. Other occasional options like potato and leek, or slow-cooked purple potato, are just as magical.

826 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(818) 640-3033
(818) 640-3033

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