Velvet Taco: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Velvet Taco marks vegetarian items with a “V” right on its menu, so you don’t have to interrogate the counter staff before you order. That puts it ahead of most taco chains when it comes to vegetarians. The catch is that a “V” only means meat-free, not dairy-free, so a handful of those marked tacos still aren’t vegan.

What to order at Velvet Taco

Start with the Beer Battered Cauliflower Taco, the Fried Paneer Taco, or the Nashville Hot Tofu Taco. Each one is built around a real protein instead of a pile of vegetables stuffed into a shell. Add the Seasonal Veggie Bowl if you want something heartier, and round out the order with guac, ranchero salsa, or elote on the side. The guac and ranchero salsa are both vegan as served, no changes needed.

What to watch out for at Velvet Taco

Queso blanco shows up in the cauliflower taco, the paneer taco, the elote, and the veggie bowl, which keeps all of them vegetarian but not vegan. The Nashville Hot Tofu Taco only goes vegan if you ask for no ranch crema on top. Don’t assume the Red Curry Coconut Queso is a safe substitute either. It sounds plant-based, but Velvet Taco discloses trace shellfish in the recipe. If you’re vegan, skip the Kid’s Tots too, since they fry in shared oil with other menu items.