I have been back four times since my initial review in March 2026, so I need to upgrade to a 5-star review. The last few times I have been in the staff have been so friendly and patient while the people I keep bringing read through the menu and make their choices. Of course, almost everyone gets at least one taco because of the beautiful pitaya-tortillas. The staff is always so kind. I know I will be back soon. Oh yeah! Please bring back the sparkling water. They do have fresh-squeezed orange juice and other tasty drinks, but after a lap around Lake Merritt I prefer to cool down with a sparkling water. Hoping these great vegan offerings will also be at the new San Ramon location!!! read more

I highly recommend coming on a Farmers Market Day! Enjoy the FM then get a delicious lunch, or vice versa. My parents have come here plenty of times and I got to try it for the first time- so of course I had to get a taco plate to try various "proteins" and their rice & beans. Asada is hands down my favorite (and my dad's). They said they make it in house too! Bonus points for places that make their alternative meats. I also got their shrimp and tinga tacos. I didn't realize the shrimp was going to be battered and fried- so that was a bummer for me since I don't like fried food (I'll blame that on not eating meat so not knowing how an actual shrimp taco would be prepared). BUT the shrimp was tasty! Tinga (king oyster mushroom) was shredded so finely, so you couldn't really see the mushroom, but the flavor was there! 3/3 yummy tacos! Rice and beans were super super plain but prepared well. Rico Rico gives plastic bags to tear and squeeze of an avocado green sauce and a red salsa- both delicious. Outdoor seating is nice! read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Taco Plate - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I love Rico Rico Vegano. Off the bat I'll tell you the cauliflower, soyrizo, and fake chicken are my favorite choices here. A hefty burrito bowl and a few pink tortillas to dig into it with, that is plant based Mexcellence. There are exactly zero seats in this establishment, which I'm fine with because most of the time I'm getting RRV off of DoorDash, and the rest of the time I'm taking it to my nearby home anyway. Don't expect to lounge around and soak up the atmosphere in here is what I'm telling you. That's fine. The lake is right there. I'm a somewhat new pescatarian who also seems to be getting more and more lactose intolerant as I age, so I'll happily eat vegan to avoid the perils of cheese and cream. I grew up in a Mexican-American household, and since a typical Mexican restaurant is so meat and dairy centric, I was worried I'd be forever relegated to shrimp and fish burritos sans dairy and porkless nopales forever if I needed a fix. I've come to enjoy RRVs plant based dairy and meat alternatives quite a bit. The cauliflower surprised me. It isn't wearing a cheeky wink wink nudge nudge meat costume, it's just straight up crispy (breaded?) cauliflower. Great in tacos. Now for the Rico Rico MVP, the green sauce. Some variant of the newly trendy (thanks for that Cheeseboard, sincerely, more green sauce is a great thing) but steadfast staple of taquerias and Mexican food grocery aisles forever, I've used leftover packets on anything from ramen to pizza. I'm guessing it's avocado/tomatillo/cilantro/lime based? Whatever it is, I want to buy it by the half gallon. Don't get me wrong, the red sauce is nice, but the green sauce elevates anything it touches. Like most takeout Mexican, service is fast and efficient, but like I mentioned, Rico Rico Vegano is a "both my wife and I worked a full day and are exhausted" staple meal so the service tends to be moot. I bet they're friendly to DoorDash drivers too. If any of this sounds good to you but you wish they served meat and dairy...you're in for a pleasant discovery. Rico Rico Taco is around the corner, they even have seating. Same high quality food, for the carnivorous palate. read more

I'm not vegan and have typically gone to their original place, but someone brought us burritos that were really good and I wanted to try their tacos. Everything was delicious and I'd go here again anytime. read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Bean & cheese taco, chorizo taco, and fresh fruit salad - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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With five stars I would recommend this place. The service, the presentation of dishes, the atmosphere of finding a really wonderful nook that you can enjoy single, or with friends. I really love the tastes of true vegan dishes. read more

Amazing vegan Mexican. I had the Mushroom Veggie Burrito. It was filling and tasty. Friendly service. My friend got the burrito bowl and enjoyed it. The thing is it was a chilly January evening and the only seating was outdoors. The sister location nearby has indoor location. It serves veg and non-veg items. Our server does both veg and non-veg yet regularly eats at the vegan location. Add indoor seating to bump it to 5 stars. read more

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Pink dragon fruit tortillas that make the whole eating experience so much more fun! "Shrimp" that tasted real Great flavors and execution Loved the cauliflower Friendly fast service Outdoor seating only Lots of great vegan flavors to try They also make their own sauces read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I have transitioned to veganism and have been enjoying trying out new vegan spots. I am so grateful that I found this gem because the food was immaculate!!! I ordered two asada tacos and the asada tasted spot on! Had so much flavor! Their tortillas were a vibrant pink color as well. I want to come back and try everything from their menu! They had the nicest souls working too, literally 10/10 read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Taco de Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Best vegan Mexican food you can get on a budget. Everyone working is super kind. And it has pleasant outdoor seating!

Looked up must try vegan spots in Oakland and Rico Rico was frequently mentioned! Visited on a Sunday around 2pm and it was not too busy. The store is pretty small so no indoor seating and limited outdoor seating. We got orange juice and the 3 taco combo (camaron, tinga, and carne asada) with horchata. I loved the hot pink tortillas - very instagrammable. The carne asada and tinga bases were a bit salty but the camaron taco was delicious. Very flavorful. It was an $2 upcharge but worth it! I appreciated the spicy sauce provided on the side. The coconut horchata was also tasty! It had the perfect amount of sweetness. I wouldn't be able to tell it's vegan unless someone told me. Orange juice tasted very fresh! Great vegan spot to check out in Oakland. Although some of the tacos were a little salty, I would come back and get a burrito with camaron base! read more

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Needless to say the presentation is beautiful. The beautiful pink tortilla is delicious and holds the beautiful moist flavors very well. This is a must try for plant based folks I enjoyed all of the tacos in the following order of most to least: Alpastor, Tinga, Camaron. Alpastor was lovely especially with the touch of pineapple, flavorful & refreshing. Tinga was flavorful & appreciated the crema because the marinade/ sauce the mushrooms were in may have been a bit over powering, I was getting a really strong cumin flavor. Delicious, but maybe just slightly less cumin for more balance Cameron was great if you like the texture of vegan shrimp. The breading around the shrimp was beyond perfection, but I personally just am not the biggest fan of the shrimp itself. This was probably the hardest taco to eat because the portions are generous, however its hard to hold and get a bite with everything on it. The avocado sauce given along side the tacos is legit and top tier!!! Its so creamy and refreshing & paired nicely with all of the tacos. Parking is tight so I just be wary of that. Overall I'm excited to come again and try additional menu items! read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Taco de Camaron, Taco de Tinga , Taco de Alpastor - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Food: I love Rico Rico Vegano. I have patronized this business several times. I have always been impressed. This time I had the 3 taco combo with rice and beans. All 3 tacos were coliflor (cauliflower) - that is my favorite so far, though I intend to further explore based on recommendations from other reviews. Service: The employees are always pleasant and , efficient, welcoming me upon my entrance and taking my order quickly. The line has never had more than two people in front of me. Ambiance: The ambiance is great. I love the open kitchen. The only downer is that there is only outdoor seating, which is quite limited. Knowing that, I always get my order to go. read more

Rico Rico Vegano - 3 taco combination - cauliflower tacos - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Trying to cut down/out meat from my diet, so decided to give this place a try. Had the cauliflower taco, which was well prepared with fresh ingredients. Definitely a return spot for me. read more

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I was excited to try this restaurant because of the amazing reviews, but unfortunately, I did not enjoy the food and was disappointed that I spent my money here. I visited this restaurant on a weekday evening and they were busy. This is definitely a hot restaurant right now, and seeing all of the people waiting for their food excited me because it made me believe that the food would be phenomenal (it was not). There's no indoor seating but they have 2-3 tables outside so you can probably sit outside if you're a party of two or three, but this is definitely more of a takeaway restaurant. I ordered quite a lot of food and it was all ready in 15 minutes so they are very quick, and although I was happy in the moment, I should've known then that the food wouldn't be good. In total, I ordered a multitude of combo plates including tacos de alpastor, tacos de camarón, tacos de carne asada, tacos de coliflor, tacos de tinga, a quesadilla de harina with soyrizo, flautas, rice, beans, esquites, and horchata. My total came out to $150. The horchata was delicious. The flautas de pollo and tacos de carne asada were okay. The quesadilla de harina with soyrizo was truly disgusting; the vegan cheese that they use is horrible, avoid avoid avoid. Everything else was just bad. I took a bite of every other taco and tossed them. My family didn't enjoy the food either. I don't recommend this restaurant and I definitely won't be back. read more

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Okay, this place is MOM & me approved! Even if you are not a vegan, I recommend you give this place a try. Finding a good vegan restaurant that provides a variety of flavorful food (aside from simply soy everything) is rare. This place deserves the recognition for taste, variety, healthy, vegan food options! We ordered the three tacos special (which comes with the option of either soup or drink). $18.00 My mom said she really enjoyed her tacos and everything was bright and flavorful. She ordered the: Carne Asada, Coliflor, and Hongo tacos. I ordered the: Camaron, Coliflor, and Tinga tacos. Of my three, I'd rank the tacos as follows: #1 Taco de Camaron! It was so tasty. It's made with Konjac shrimp. It's a vegan alternative to shrimp made from konjac powder, a plant-based ingredient derived from the konjac root. It's designed to mimic the taste, texture, and appearance of real shrimp - and it did not disappoint. #2 Taco de Tinga. This had a perfectly prepared spicy shredded king oyster with toppings. It was well cooked and not too chewy. #3 Taco de Coliflor. This included one crispy fried cauliflower with additional toppings. It was indeed tasty, but compared to the other to tacos I felt this one was not as unique and offering, and had the most expected flavor of the three. **Soyrizo Burrito OMG!!! This burrito had me questioning whether I ordered food from the right location. It was packed with so much flavor both my mother and I thought we were eating real meat. I went back the next day to order it again for someone else who swore it was a real meat burrito! Hands-down, this was unbelievably tasty and my new go to for a vegan fix. Oh, and my Jamaica was perfect. My only critique about this place, is that the seating is limited to a few tables outside. So if you want to enjoy your meal, it's mainly for takeaway. Excellent food options, great service, and a cute little spot not too far from the lake. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Taco de Camaron, Taco de Coliflor, and Taco de Tinga - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

This is a small joint with no indoor seating and perhaps three table outside. Ordering is counter service. Food is great! Typically vegan restaurants will use soy substitutes for all meat options. While Rico Rico also uses soy for most meat options, it also uses jackfruit and seitan as other protein options which I love. There's a variety of flavors and their guacamole is definitely worth trying. If you're vegan it's worth driving to Oakland for this gem of a place. read more

We tried Rico Rico and Rico Rico vegano in the same night. My fiance (who eats seafood) enjoyed both spots but for a vegetarian, I felt like this was so flavorful and had plenty of choices. They serve the same avocado salsa at both locations which is delicious! Rico Rico vegano is a much smaller place and lacks indoor seating which felt like the only con of this place. The food and service were delicious so the pros definitely outweigh the con. read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Taco de Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

So good! Get three tacos and pick what goes in them at random. They are all good, and you have to go back to try all the flavors. Mushrooms? Yes! Vegan pollo? Yes! Staff are friendly and fast, and it's got tables and chairs outside so it's perfect on a warm day. read more

wow! vegan or not, this is GREAT food. We ordered the carne asada taco, shrimp taco and flautas de papa (potato). This was so yummy. They have outdoor seating only but this is a must-try for anyone with health conscious needs or wants. The customer service is amazing! My brother misunderstood and wanted an actual shrimp taco and they offered to place a call and order from their sister restaurant 200 ft away... so sweet! Will be coming back even though i have no dietary restrictions. small but mighty feel near the lake merritt area of oakland. read more

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Vegan burrito spot with all the vegan meat you can choose from. I'm not a vegan but my sister is and this is one of her go to spots. I was a little apprehensive being a non vegan but let me tell you... this burrito was BOMB. I ordered the soyrizo burrito that included soy chorizo, rice, beans, cheese, crema, onion, cilantro, avocado sauce, and salsa. My sister ordered the asada kids burrito that is suppose to come with "choice of plant base protein, rice, bean, cheese, and crema" but unfortunately was missing the asada... whomp whomp I also ordered a side of chips and guacamole which were a very decent size and the packaging was impressive for the chips. Very travel friendly. My burrito was large enough for two servings and my sister's kid burrito was the perfect size to enjoy now. Overall, Rico Rico's was super impressive and I'd come back any day. read more

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We are not vegans but we enjoy having vegan days from time to time. We had three tacos with beans and rice. Idk what they put in their beans but they are freaking magical. We also enjoyed chips and guac in that guacamole is delicious. The three tacos we had were the mushroom, cauliflower and the alpastor (made with hibiscus?!) they were SO GOOD! If all vegan food could be good I wouldn't need meat and dairy. Super delicious!! read more

Visited on a Saturday around 2:00pm with a friend. There were a few groups waiting for food and one waiting to order but team moves quickly so wait times were pretty short maybe 5-10min. Seating is all outdoors, there were about 7-8 tables we grabbed one to eat there most people were doing takeout. Food: Chips and Salsa - comes with a generous bag of chips and a red and green salsa, chips were medium thickness, nice and crunchy with no greasiness, red salsa was spicy but not crazy hot, green was a bit more mild with more cilantro and herb notes both very tasty, would recommend adding to your order Al Pastor Taco - saucey, the stewed hibiscus was savory in an almost mole like sauce, topped with grilled pineapple which added sweetness, guacamole which was creamy and rich, onions and cilantro, good overall wish there was something to added a little more texural contrast ate a bit soft, an extra tortilla would have helped as well Tinga - really good, the king oyster mushrooms had a great shredded meat texture and was flavorful, the lettuce and cabbage added a fresh crunchiness, cream and queso added creaminess, salsa provided a little heat, well balanced would definitely order again Service was good, quick and efficient order at the register, team brought out food to our table when it was ready which was a nice touch. Overall really enjoyed rico rico vegan, impressed by all the options to choose from, all the dishes had great flavor. Would definitely give this spot a try if you're looking for great vegan Mexican. read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Left: Al Pastor Taco, Center: Tinga Taco, Right: Chips and Salsa - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I have to say this has to be the best vegan Mexican food I've tried so far in the Bay Area. The service is great, they never get my order wrong even though it seems they're always busy. Sucks that it's far from home because I would be there almost everyday! I keep daydreaming about their tacos. The location is easy to access but also kinda hidden since it's small. You can eat at the restaurant since they have a few tables outside. They're on DoorDash so you can even try them that way if you prefer. read more

I'm not a vegan, but I choose not to eat meat very often. Whenever I crave tacos, I always go to Rico Vegano for my fix. I'm not sure if it's because I rarely eat meat, but I genuinely believe their tacos taste just like steak. In my opinion, this place has the best non-meat tacos I've ever had. read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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Good staff and the food is very flavorful. Food is on point every time I eat. Best vegan Mexican food hands down. I definitely recommend this place to everyone. read more

I eat here all the time and it's freaking amazing. The lady who often answers the phone is so nice. Their burritos so huge! I highly recommend the carne asada with camaron! You can mix 'em! read more

Rico Rico Vegano - So delicious! - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

My go to spot in the neighborhood when I'm craving Mexican. Sometimes I prefer this place over Rico Rico (non-vegan). I love the chorizo vegan option- it's so similar to the real thing. They use pink tortillas which makes it cute. Well presented and they have great portions which makes it worth the price. It's near lake Merritt so my favorite thing to do is pick up the order to-go and have a quick picnic by the water. Staff are also very friendly. read more

It was our first visit. We had the burrito bowls. Excellent food. Will definitely be back.

Rico Rico Vegano opened in Holy Land's vacated space. No inside seating nor decor. Outside seating 5ish tables. Order, pay at counter, food brought to table outside. Offerings: quesadillas, salads, sopes, burritos, plates, wraps, appetizers, aqua fresca, mex. Drinks, juices, kids' menu... Bites: tinga/al pastor tacos @4.75 -pinkish huge corn tortillas filled with plenty of veggies, flavas, not much vegan "meats". -al pastor, small shreds of marinated hisbiscus, accompanied by onions, cilantro, guacamole, pineapple had lotsa hot spiciness. -tinga had sauteed pieces of oyster mushroom mixed with queso, lettuce, onions, spicy salsa. 4.5 stars: both needed more vegan "meats". Very yummy nonetheless..vegan eats not textually similar. Actual plants used. YMMV. read more

Rico Rico Vegano - L. Tinga taco (4.75), R. al pastor taco (4.75) - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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This place is so good that I went twice in one week AND didn't take ANY pictures. I told my sister that I had been craving a burrito like from our pre vegan days. She mentioned that her and my brother in law found this spot and really enjoyed their meal. San Diego has a few vegan Mexican spots but it tastes nothing like the spots in LA and now recently, like Oakland. Ordering online is super easy and my preferred way to place an order. I ordered: -Asada Burrito + Camaron with refried beans - Absolutely delicious and decent sized burrito. The shrimps are big! -Flautas - Says there is chikn inside, might be minced or maybe we just didn't get much in that order. Very flavorful otherwise, especially with the sauce on top. -Asada Quesadilla - comes with a side of pico, lettuce, and sour cream. Delicious. V cheese melts just fine and it's a big quesadilla. -Coconut Horchata - really good, not too sweet. I just need more Cinnamon in there and lot of it. It's a small restaurant inside but it's beautiful The seating is outdoors and the parking is limited but the food, although pricey (honestly it's on par with take out vegan food). I am loyal to El Cocinero in Van Nuys but this absolutely hits the spot! read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Ha! Found a picture! Carne Asada Burrito with Camaron! - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Note to self, you absolutely love the burrito bowl with Pollo! So good. There are a few tables outside, but this is mostly takeout. read more

Cute shop with excellent staff and friendly service. They were super nice here and the food was excellent. Loved the thin chips and guac, coconut horchata and we had the carne asada and pollo, both were delicious. The tinga was good but a bit too sour for me although the mushrooms were tasty. The veggie taco was decent and mostly rice and beans. Definitely plan to return. read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

As a non-vegetarian/vegan this place changed my outlook on plant-based food. Simply one of the best tacos i've had in general! Service is quick, with outdoor dining, simply a nice atmosphere. I want to highlight the "Carne Asada" tacos, these are my favorite and I can't recommend enough that newcomers try these out. This has become one of my go-to spots and I recommend everyone come and see how great vegan food can be! read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Taco de Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Love supporting this delicious Vegan spot! I love the "carnitas", very throughly spiced, though it's a bit tough on the chew. The soy-chorizo and vegan cheese, I'm not as much of, as the favors are TOO strong for me. I highly recommend the fun taco mix and the hongo burrito is to die for, just go less vegan cheese tho. read more

* Shop is very aesthetic and clean * Carne asada burrito was amazing! I would stop by again for that alone. The carne asada is really savory. * The burritos are a fair size - the plates looked large as well. * Coconut Horchata was also very delicious - really rich and creamy and the coconut isn't too overpowering. * Service was quick but I came when it was pretty slow. * Tinga burrito unfortunately missed the mark and wasn't quite my cup of tea due to the flavor of the Tinga itself * Seating is very limited. read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Coconut Horchata - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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Rico Rico Vegano came highly recomomended by a friend and boy howdy was she right. I brought 2 vegan friends from out of town and we were all blown away by the how delicious the food tasted, how beautiful the food looked and how friendly all of the staff were. We were so happy to sit outside to enjoy our meal on this sunny Saturday. We had the 2 taco combo with cauliflower and nopales tacos, a burrito, and my masa quesadilla with cauliflower was one of the best things I've eaten in ages. The colorful vegetables and the bright tortilla and the cauliflower florets fried just perfectly. We were so fully and so happy. We will definitely be back. read more

Rico Rico Vegano - 2 taco combo and one cauliflower taco - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Yummy Mexican vegan food! The quesadilla was perfect w the sour cream and the chicken is DEFINITELY the way to go! read more

Rico Rico Vegano - Taco de Alpastor Taco de Carne Asada, taco de Pollo Burrito de Asada Quesadilla De Masa de pollo Agua de sandía Agua de horchata - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Let me start by saying that if I was only reviewing the food, it would be a solid 5 stars. Unfortunately, the only sitting area is outside with the wafts of cigarette and marijuana smoke - no fault of the restaurant, but not ideal. The food itself was exceptional. We tried the cauliflower burrito and tacos (soy chorizo and calabacita) with beans and rice. The beans and rice alone were exceptionally tasty. The staff was friendly and helpful. Great food for take-out. Wish they had a larger location with indoor seating. However, as I mentioned, their vegan food - especially the burrito - put others to shame. Rico Rico Vegano proved that it is not that hard to make a good vegan burrito. read more

Hands down, best Vegan Taqueria in the Bay Area as of now. I went there Today, and got the three Taco Sampler(Vegan Tacos of Carne Asada, Chorizo, and Pastor) with a side of rice and beans and all the food was really good. The service was good too, staff were really nice and the ambiance of the restaurant is small but the area was really nice and clean read more

Rico Rico Vegano - 3 Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

The best vegan tacos I've had!! And the cheese they use is good...I usually omit cuz most vegan cheese is gross imo. But I love whatever they use. Service is fast & excellent. Always visit when I'm in town. Also - there are a few tables for outside seating. read more