Don't like vegan food? This place will for sure change your mind. The food is super fresh and flavorful. I almost ordered one of everything on the menu. I purchased the "Asada" burrito bowl and taco, jackfruit pozole, and an "al pastor" taco. This place is turning out tasty comfort food. Vegan food doesn't have to be boring. I can't wait to hear your thoughts. read more

El Cocinero - Pozole - Mexican Near Me - Van Nuys CA, California

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Best vegan Mexican food!! 10/10 every time! Favs: El Pastor is my favorite plant based meat option. Also, love the jackfruit birria and the pozole. read more

Damn good! My friend traveled from Lake Elsinor and I from Orange just to have this food. An hour and twenty minute drive, we waited in a long line (proving it's legit) and they were efficient and quick. But the food, my goodness, it was fantastic. I had them once at a vegan fair and have been thinking about them ever since. My only request is to open another location closer so I can go more frequently! Haha Thank you for bringing such great food to us! read more

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number one vegan mexican food in los angeles. honestly, might be the best in california. it is amazing to have unbelievable beautiful, delicious, homemade, authentic food for everyone, vegan or not. they are changing the world for the better and taking care of everyone's hunger while keeping health in mind. and of course, they are a voice for the voiceless, helping animals stay in our hearts and off our plates. must try, but i promise you will be addicted. love, love, love!! read more

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They did finally get bags which is great. Would write 5 stars if they bring the mushrooms back on the menu.

Sooo yummy! The restaurant itself is very lowkey and has a few tables you can eat at. The service was fast and our food came out quickly. I LOVED the burrito I got (I forgot the name but it's the one with multiple proteins) it was so yummy and I'll probably go back for that alone. My partner got the quesadilla which neither of us really loved - I feel like there is better vegan cheese for quesadillas out there. That being said they do use cashew cheese for the nachos so maybe that would've been more our speed. We also tried the jackfruit birria tacos. Now, as a disclaimer, I'm not a huge jackfruit person so I wasn't in love with them - something about jackfruit I just can't vibe with 100% but if you like jackfruit def get them!! The consommé was delicious though and we used it for the burrito. read more

Messed up my order 3 times. First time I gave them the benefit of the doubt and didn't bother. Second time, the app shows "add items" and the other shows "remove items" which makes no sense to a user. Drove 1 hour + to pick up the wrong order. Took the blame for messing up one order but the other item they wouldn't replace because it would be a waste of food? But don't mind tossing away the first item? Make it make sense. Horrible customer service. Waste of time for people to wait in line and pay money towards a business that doesn't care about being responsible for pleasing their customers. read more

I went to El Cocinero for the first time last week but it won't be the last. I tried three different tacos and they were all delicious. (chick'n, asada and al pastor). The portion sizes are good. Prices are reasonable as was the wait. I'll definitely be back! read more

This place is consistently fuckin consistent!!! My hubby and I I are so grateful we found a delicious spot that we never have to question if it's going to taste different. They don't skimp on the serving sizes either and it's worth every penny! Our favs so far are the Carne nacho fries, Carne and Pastor tacos. SO GOOD! read more

El Cocinero - This is a mix of Carne and Pastor tacos with no extra toppings. - Mexican Near Me - Van Nuys CA, California

I always recommend this place if you're looking for vegan options in the San Fernando Valley! It's my go-to place for nachos and horchata! Their burritos are good too! My typical go-to dish is the birria tacos dorados! However, I do warn omnivore friends that the regular tacos do not taste the same! It's definitely a whole in the wall type of place! I usually pick up and eat somewhere else! read more

Three words-Oh My God. These is the best vegan mexican food so far in Los Angeles. We ordered Al's three meat burrito and torta al pastor. We were floored how good they were. It was soooooooo gooood! We will be coming here all the time! read more

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Really good even if your not Vegan. Had the Al Pastor and Carne burritos and they did not disappoint. Threw me off a bit so I had to make sure I was eating Vegan. I'll be back to eat the other items soon. read more

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I ordered the birria tacos with consomé and they were just ok, honestly I was not crazy about them, they still don't have tables available to dine in so by the time I ate my tacos (10 min after I got the food) the consomé was already cold, so that was a bummer! I also ordered Al pastor taco and the tortillas were already cold too. If they know people are not going to be able to eat their food right away since they don't have any seating al least they should give you your food hot! The taco Al pastor was ok, a bit too sweet, but the salsas helped, my husband got the burrito Al pastor and he also thought it was sweet, but at least he liked his burrito way more that the birria tacos I ordered. We'll still give it another try if we are in the area again and maybe order something else and hopefully by that time they have tables to dine in. read more

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This place could be so much better but some of there food is still pretty good. The birria with consume is very very good. There are two main issues tho. 1. No seating. It's very inconvenient and you see people sitting in their cars to eat. It makes no sense. 2. You can't try the proteins. So you just have to pick one. I listened to them and got the carne asada but didn't like it at all. I basically took all of it out the burrito with a fork. I understand that it might be annoying to have customers try samples but in a place like this it is necessary. read more

I came across this spot as I was searching for a vegan spot in the Valley. It was Tuesday and National Taco day. I decide to take my mom with me. We went ahead order three tacos asada, al pastor and chicharron also got a asada burrito bowl and al pastor quesadilla. My mom love the tacos she said it was very flavorful specially the chicharron one. As for me my Al pastor quesadilla hit the spot. It was savory and the cheesy part of it was far my favorite. Definitely going back and I am going for the nachos. read more

El Cocinero - 3 tacos asada, Al pastor and chicharon - Mexican Near Me - Van Nuys CA, California

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Food is amazing !! I'm not even Vegan and I choose to go all the way over here to eat tacos. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because it's the second time I place an order they make the nachos and they sit there while they make fresh French fries for my asada fries. This time around I said something to the girl about how my nachos had been sitting there and they were going to be soggy and she said she didn't think so. As soon as we got into the car to eat they were definitely soggy . I will be coming back but as much as I love nachos will not be ordering them to avoid this happening. Other than that good is great! The cabeza and chicharrón are my favorite ! read more

AMAZING! Definitely the BEST vegan tacos I have eaten... safe to say, EVER! I love the hole-in-the-wall store and the authentic experience. The restaurant is all vegan so I am never worried about accidentally getting meat in my food. The service is very fast as well! I did not get to experience the seating indoors due to covid, but if/when that resumes, I am sure this would be a great experience! Ample parking and I have never had to wait more than 20 minutes to place my order. Highly highly highly recommend! read more

It saddens me to write this review because El Cocinero was one of my favorite vegan restaurants. I order tacos and super nachos. The tacos were good but the tortillas were tough. The nachos barely had any beans and carnitas. It was mostly chips and a ton of jalapeños. I was very disappointed. read more

Vegans always have a common phrase "You can't tell the difference", and time and time again you can tell it's vegan. Put this place, has dumbfounded me with its glorious flavor. I can eat this day in and day out! Every time I take a bite of their burrito I think that is some bomb al pastor but then I relives it's just pulled jack fruit. This place is a must for vegan, non-vegans, anyone who has taste in delicious food. read more

Awesome food. Definitely going to recommend this place. The staff is very helpful with assisting you with the food ordering process. Good food, matter of fact great vegan Mexican food read more

Food is super delicious I absolutely would recommend this place!!! Staff is already friendly. Most people take their orders to go but they do have a few tables where you can sit down and eat. It's a nice little spot. read more

Excellent vegan mexican food! Well worth the wait and can't beat the value for 100% vegan in the 818. So glad I checked this place out and that it's in my area. Will definitely become a regular as I am trying to go 100% plant based finally after hovering around 70% for the last year or so. Start with the tacos and try the different "meats" to find your favorite(s). The refried beans are dank, so I'm def going for the burrito next visit. El Cocinero is truly a gem and what we need more of. Animal agriculture is wildly unsustainable, so thank you for helping out and making it taste great! read more

El Cocinero - Wall art - Mexican Near Me - Van Nuys CA, California

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tldr: amazing food, huge portions, and super clean, comforting interior. i can't wait to come here again and again. *** location/parking: at around ~2:30pm on a friday we waited less than 15 minutes to order and get our food. super easy parking. there was no indoor (or outdoor) dining mid-march 2022. food: huge portions -- my partner and i had so much left over! such a steal at ~$15 per person. the asada papas were filling and sooo delicious. i could eat it all day. we also got a jackfruit carnitas burrito, which was pretty good. my partner really liked it, but i personally wish the carnitas had more texture. next time, i'll try the al pastor or "chikin." we loved the horchata! service: everyone was sweet and super fast. they take cash and apple pay as well as card. tip: be sure to specify that you need utensils or napkins, or else you won't get them! :) read more

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Have you ever walked into an establishment and felt an embrace of love? This is literally how you feel walking in - even in line to order food there's love. You can't go wrong with any of their food. The quesadillas are fire with asada, mushroom suadero, chicharon, or al pastor. I always get a quesadilla and an Al's special burrito(three meats)! The burrito has the dankest rice and delicious chipotle sauce - I get it with Asada, Mushroom Suadero, and Al Pastor! Everything Is Vegan read more

El Cocinero - Quesadillas, Al's special burritos, Al Pastor Tacos, Flan, Horchata - Mexican Near Me - Van Nuys CA, California

I've gone several times. Their burritos are huge. I'm a pretty big eater, but I can make 2 or 3 meals out of one of them. I also like their flan dessert and horchata drink. I'll be back to try more things on their menu. read more

I had a taco of each option and the flan. They were good for being vegan and the flan was okay too, a bit grainy but there's only so much flavor they can add to it - not their fault, i think. I'd eat there again if an emergency craving happens, but I'd stick to a couple of the meat options. read more

Legit vegan Mexican food!! Flavors are authentic! Portions are healthy. Staff is friendly. Workers are super efficient. Price is right! My favorite... Burrito with jackfruit and chicharrons. *Add the cheese sauce. Do you like spicy? Get the habanero sauce on the side. Flan is pretty amazing. Aqua Fresca's are yummy too. The line moves quickly, so don't get discouraged. You will be happy! Trust read more

So delicious, so impressed. Huge portions. I got the burrito bowl with two meats (al pastor & carne guisada), tortilla on the side, habanero salsa add on. I also got a few complementary baby tubs of their spicy salsa. Total ~$14. The carne guisada is was a new meat option and is made with onions and bell peppers which I loved. Not sure if this is a temporary offering, but I highly recommend it. The al pastor was so so good too with really great texture; savory and slightly sweet with little chunks of pineapple. The rice tasted very good too. The salsas were not that spicy for me (as one with an average Korean spice/heat tolerance). I'm glad I got the burrito bowl instead of a burrito so that I can save leftovers for later. I felt the price was very reasonable for the quality and amount of food you get. Next time I want to try the super nachos and birria. read more

El Cocinero - 2 meats - al pastor & carne guisada. Don't forget to ask for a tortilla on the side! - Mexican Near Me - Van Nuys CA, California

Excellent food for vegan mexican food. It tastes delicious. And the prep work is clean read more

Wonderful vegan tacos! Eager to come back and try everything else, especially the pozole.

This is a great concept because being a Hispanic vegan is hard but this place makes it so easy and delicious. I have bought for my family from here and they cannot tell the difference. Their plates are so delicious and they are very big portions. I'm so glad I discovered this place. read more

best mexican food i've ever had in my lifeee omg i tried the quesabirria tacos, carne asada fries, and flan :) their vegan meats are so full of flavor (1000x better than eating animals) i wish they had locations in the bay because there are literally no good mexican places up here :/ they're either gentrified or don't have nearly half the flavor as this place does --that's honestly all taquerias (vegan/non vegan) up here the inside looks like a legit taqueria and it's really clean. the customer service is amazing. the workers are so sweet, friendly, and get everything right. they double check that everything's correct as they give it to you :) i just finished my leftovers right now and i'm so sad akdjsn i need more!! if i could doordash it to the bay and pay $100+ for delivery i would because i love their carne asada fries that much. i will be stopping by here at least two times every time i visit LA. thank you for making amazing food and please consider opening some locations up here! read more

El Cocinero - flan - Mexican Near Me - Van Nuys CA, California

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Wrong order but still 5 stars! My boyfriend hates onions, so he asked for no onions and they still put them on:/ but regardless of that they still definitely deserve 5 stars. When it comes to tacos in general, these are beyond amazing. The amount they put in and the quality is great. So, now put in the fact of them being vegan into the equation??? Damnnnnn - these blew me out of the way. The Chicharrones tasted so much like the real thing. You can't go wrong with any of the "meat" options. Regardless if you're vegan/vegetarian or not, these are some of the best tacos in LA and they definitely need to be on your list to check out read more

El Cocinero - Added onions when asked for none - Mexican Near Me - Van Nuys CA, California

After I finished eating here I had to ask myself if I'm vegan now. I was totally not expecting anything plant based to be so yummy! Will make them a go to spot every time I visit Cali read more

El Cocinero - Chicken tacos - Mexican Near Me - Van Nuys CA, California

One star, not for their food but for the service. Cashier "swore" I said nachos. Girl at the front said "I have to take his word". I PLAINLY SAID SOPES. They had the nerve to tell me to get back in line and pay for sopes! It was clearly their fault and they're asking me to pay the nachos on their mistake? I used to come to this place at least once a week. I've spent almost $600 at this place since I started going a year ago (I looked at my bank records) They lost 2 regular customers today on a $14 dollar error on their fault. Good job read more

Great vegan spot for Mexican fast food! Even your non-vegan pals will enjoy. Service is typically pretty quick and there are a few tables/chairs for indoor dining. read more

used to order eveyday online...first time stopped at the actual place to check out the vibe..asked the guy taking orders if they would consider adding greens, i.e. salad, to the menu - heard a flat "NO." asked "why not?" - answer "that's not Mexican cuisine, we want to keep it Mexican" - defuq? you're racist against plants? unless your staff learns the meaning of health and exhibits basic consideration towards people that invest in your business, i will think twice if my money is worth the return on investment in bigotry... read more

The food here is reliably delicious! They have a lot of gluten-free options as well, which I really appreciate. People who work here are pretty nice, and I never regret eating food from here. read more

Always good. Always a consideration when the "what do you guys feel like for dinner?" question gets asked.

Today was my first time visiting El Cocinero. I stumbled across this place on yelp while searching for vegan restaurants. I was very amazed by the clear pictures on their website, of the menu. As seen in the pictures I ordered the 5 tacos (I got all 5 different meat options) and the Asada burrito. I was full after eating the tacos and had leftovers. The order was completed so quickly in just 5 minutes!! No wait time!! I'm very happy with this place. the food taste AMAZING and it cost me $37. A little pricey but extremely worth it because the portion that they provide is VERY generous and filling. 10/10 recommend. read more

El Cocinero - 5 Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Van Nuys CA, California

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