“I don’t like tacos!” Said NO ONE EVER! Everyone loves tacos, and it isn’t just the basic ground beef with packaged taco seasoning in a flour tortilla with a sprinkle of cheese anymore. Tacos have been revolutionized, especially here in Southern California. Food habits are evolving, and whether it be by choice or dietary necessity, people need more options, and that’s why I’ve been searching for delicious vegetarian tacos, just for you! (Some or most of these can also be accomodated to be vegan/ gluten free as well.)
This blog took a while to produce because I’ve been waiting for the opening of Not Not Tacos in the brand new Little Italy Food Hall.
I knew these tacos were going to be worth the wait. And If you know anything about Sam the Cooking Guy, you know that he loves potato chips! So there was no surprise that his mashed potato taco was garnished with his beloved potato chips! In Sam’s words, “they added the perfect little crunch,” and I have to agree with him! The mashed potatoes are garnished with sour cream, Cholula sauce, green onion, and crushed potato chips…and if you aren’t a vegetarian, you can add bacon like me! To say it was delicious, is an understatement!
I actually fell in love with the tacos from South Beach long before I moved to San Diego. For a girl who doesn’t like fish very much, I immediately took to their fish tacos, and you can’t beat that view of Ocean Beach.
My favorite here is their shrimp taco, but on the vegetarian side, their fried zucchini taco is bomb! I love not feeling too guilty about eating these delicious tacos topped with house made pico de gallo, red cabbage, monterrey jack cheese, and rancho crema.
A North Park hot spot, and home to the Observatory, West Coast Tavern is the place to be for amazing cocktails and appetizing food created by Executive Chef, Marcos Navarro. A personal favorite is the Chimichurri Steak Mac’n’Cheese, but when I saw a post about potato rolled tacos, I knew I had to try them!
These stunning fried potato tacos are rolled in corn tortillas with potato puree, cheddar cheese, chipotle crema, shredded lettuce, and garnished with salsa fresca and cotija crumbles. They’re almost too pretty to eat…almost!
If you’re a taco lover in San Diego, certainly you’ve spent a taco tuesday at Puesto either at the Headquarters in Seaport Village or La Jolla. In many of their tacos, Puesto wraps the taco ingredients inside a crispy cheese that will have you ordering a second round.
The verduras taco has crispy melted cheese, rajas, papas, corn and tomato, nopales, avocado, and a vibrant zucchini blossom. They also have a mushroom taco, but a little fun fact about me, I’m not a fan of funghi.
I have a total love affair with artichokes and have had many artichoke dishes over the years, but a taco has never been one of them. Needless to say I was pumped to see a fried artichoke taco on the menu at Werewolf.
This surprising, but super tasty taco has battered artichoke hearts, shredded cabbage, pickled red onion, cotija, charred scallion creme, and cilantro in a corn tortilla. It’s definitely a very unique take on a vegetarian taco.
Looking for quick and healthy tacos? You can find Fave Tacos on the go at the Farmer’s Markets in Hillcrest and North Park.
The two tacos I had to try were the roasted cauliflower and caramelized zucchini with charred sweet corn & roasted bell pepper. You can mix and match your own taco toppings, but I opted for tangy napa cabbage & brussel sprout slaw, feta cheese, cilantro lime yogurt crema, and homemade spicy salsa verde.
I had the pleasure of experiencing Galaxy Taco during the Taco Throwdown for Common Theory’s Fourth Anniversary party back in June. This bright green jewel yam taco was soo good, I had two! Green tortilla with coal roasted yams, salsa arbol, arugula, pickled onions, and crispy cheese.
While Carnita’s Snack Shack is serious about their pork products, they also have some yummy cauliflower tacos!
These healthy cauliflower tacos are topped with red cabbage, radish, tomatillo avocado salsa, and chipotle crema. And they pair perfectly with a round of margaritas!
Zucchini, cauliflower, and potatoes OH MY! So which tacos are you most excited to try? I have to tell you, out of all the tacos listed above, my favorite by far was Sam’s mashed potato taco from Not Not Tacos! Drop a comment and tell me which one you’re going to try first!
San Diego Food Girl 
Oh my god I had vegetarian tacos at pokis off 10th street in downtown and they were amazing! My girlfriend got a burrito
LikeLike
I love burritos! Thanks for the tip!
LikeLike