Torchy’s Tacos is a fast-casual restaurant chain based in Texas known for its creative and delicious tacos made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Since its founding in 2006, it has snowballed, expanding beyond Texas to other states. Torchy’s has become a favourite among taco lovers with a diverse menu and vibrant atmosphere. However, the question is, is there a place for vegan tacos on Torchy’s Tacos menu? You will like to answer this question, I promise!
What is vegan at Torchy’s Tacos?
Like most Tex-Mex-styled restaurants, Torchy’s Tacos also offers some vegan options. Furthermore, it isn’t a bland side dish or vegetable taco. No, Torchy offers something more. Torchy’s Tacos has authentic vegan tacos, with plant-based beef-like grounded not-meat. Here is the whole list:
- Mofaux: Cowboy-style Beyond Beef on a corn tortilla with extras.
- Fried avocado: exclude cheddar, and ask for substitutions for poblano sauce.
- Airstream salad: exclude cheese, and substitute the sauce with a vegan one.
- Chips and salsa
- Chips and avocado
- Diablo Sauce and chips
- Torchy’s Mexican rice
- Drinks.
Is there vegan taco at Torchy’s Tacos?
Yes, one new taco called Mofaux at Torchy’s Tacos is a certified vegan. Mofaux is not just a good choice but an excellent one. It’s a flavorful, satisfying option for vegetarians and vegans since it is meatless and dairy-free. It is made by Beyond Beef and topped with green chiles, grilled corn, peppadew peppers, fresh avocado slices, cilantro, and Diablo sauce served on a soft corn tortilla. It is a perfect blend of flavours, in my opinion.
Airstream Salad
Compared to Caesar salads and other side dishes, Airstream Salad is a decent vegan option. You should exclude cheese from the order and choose avocado, diablo, or salsa sauce instead of the regular one.
Fried Avocado
Fried Avocado is also a great choice. Just order it without cheddar cheese and ask for Salsa, Avocado, or Diablo sauce instead of poblano, which is not vegan.
Chips and one of the vegan sauce
Chips with a great sauce are always welcome for appetisers, or sides. The following sauces are vegan at Torchy’s Tacos:
- Diablo,
- Avocado, and
- salsa.
The chips are vegan; however, cross-contamination is a considerable risk.
Torchy’s Mexican rice
Mexican rice is always a good choice as a side dish. Before ordering, always make sure that it is vegan.
What looks like vegan, but they are not?
Some items sound vegan; however, they are not, and sadly, they can’t be made vegan.
- Juan’s refried beans are marked with “V,” but they are only vegetarian. The description says they are topped with cotija cheese; however, the dish has more dairy, which can’t be excluded.
- There are veggie options for the Grande Burrito; however, it is only vegetarian since it comes with Juan’s refried beans anyway. Removing everything from the Grande Burrito, which is not vegan, will be quite a disappointment that isn’t worth it.
- Street corn is also marked with a “V” label, but it is only vegetarian, and according to the staff, it cannot be made vegan.
How does Torchy’s Tacos look as a vegan in short?
To be honest, it isn’t that bad, especially since it offers vegan options like the Mofaux taco with Beyond Beef, green chiles, avocado, and Diablo sauce. The Fried Avocado taco can be vegan without cheddar cheese and with salsa or avocado sauce. Airstream Salad, chips with vegan sauces, and Torchy’s Mexican Rice are also vegan-friendly choices, but confirming their status is advisable. It is much better than Del Taco and, in my opinion, slightly better than On the Border. While there are more vegan choices at On the Border, they still do not have plant-based meat substitutes such as Beyond Beef.
If you ask me, it is worth a try!
