How have I not written a review for Vegan by El Zamora yet??? I make sure to go here every time I am in town. The staff is always helpful as well as friendly and kind. They have a nice patio for outdoor dining. Believe it or not my go-to is a side of rice and beans. It's always good! Ordered a bunch of tacos on this last trip bc of its Taco Tuesday, tacos are the way to go! Reminder...everything is vegan! Chicken, Chorizo, Carnitas (mushroom), and Cauliflower. The chicken tacos were everyone's fav. read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Came here excited for a casual vegan Mexican meal. I liked the self check out screen. Quick and easy to use with lots of menu options. Food came out quickly which was nice. Plenty of outdoor seating with cute table and wall decor. A couple tables inside for seating. My California asada burrito was good. Got to say though, the asada was thinly sliced and tough and the fries dominated the experience. Overall I was left underwhelmed. I did have a bite of the asada crunch someone else ordered that was better so maybe I should have gotten the plain asada burrito instead. I may give it another shot with better luck. read more

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Cinco de Mayo falling on Taco Tuesday felt like the perfect excuse to finally check out Vegan by El Zamorano, and it did not disappoint. I ordered the hard shell potato tacos (buy one, get one free!) along with the asada nachos, and everything came out to under $30, which is a great deal for fully vegan comfort food. The place was pretty busy today, so service was adequate but understandably a bit stretched. I'm curious to come back on a more typical day to see how the experience compares. That said, the food definitely made an impression, the flavors were on point, and the salsa was easily a 10/10. Overall, a solid spot for affordable vegan Mexican food, especially if you catch their specials. Looking forward to giving it another try soon. read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great tacos! And they are big tacos, so 3 was more than enough for my husband and I. But we wanted to try most of the flavors so we overdid it and got 4 each lol. The crispy potato taco was by far my favorite, then the asada/chicken. Not a fan of the cauliflower. I'm not sure what was spicy, but something had me sweating- so I'm going to verify next time where the heat came from and avoid that taco. read more

Went back again today The service was super friendly Got the California burrito. It sounded great. Pico guac fries.... what could go wrong? The asada was rubbery and undercooked in some bites and super overcooked and chewy in other parts. It was alright. I've had their asada before so I knew what I was getting into I didn't expect the fries though to be barely cooked. I could taste freezer burn in some bites. It wasn't that good. I could barely taste any pico or guac sadly In either case I ate my whole burrito and I appreciated the chips and salsa that came with my meal Just wish there was more guac more salsa and crispier fries. The fries were so blond the turned into a mashed potato like texture read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - California Burrito - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Asada burrito & asada fries are my go to order !! Always try to stop there when I fly out of SNA airport as it's only 12 mins away. A bit pricey but their asada is truly delicious !! Horchata is tastes homemade & authentic read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Asada Burrito and Asada Fries - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is HANDS DOWN my favorite place to eat. Everything I've gotten from here has been soooo good, even my non-vegan friends have said they're shocked at how amazing everything tastes! The Crunchwrap with Asada is my absolute favorite. I even got catered food for my graduation celebration and it was perfect! Such a good amount of food for the price. Every single employee has treated me with so much kindness I absolutely love coming here and feel so welcomed every time! The inside is on the smaller side but with the outdoor patio seating it's spacious and comfortable! The outdoor patio is so cute, and I love how the whole store is decorated. Definitely a hidden gem of a spot! I come here at least once a week hahahah read more

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My boyfriend and I came here for brunch. Great place, small, mostly outside seating but the food is awesome! The cashier is very helpful and patient. You can also order online. I really recommend you give them a try. We've tried various food on the menu and so far not disappointed. Great flavors! read more

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We need more vegan Mexican taqueria! I ordered 3 tacos. All 3 had the toppings, sauce and flavor of the real meat items. Except for the protein texture which is what differentiates from the others. Fish taco ($5.25) - portobello mushroom Asada taco ($5.25) - soy and wheat Carnitas taco ($5.25) - king oyster mushroom My least favorite was the carnitas because it was very chewy. I prefer soy protein over mushrooms. I also go horchata latte with a shot of espresso. Thankful to this because it kept me up to drive home to San Diego. At first, I thought we drove into the wrong plaza because there was no signage except for on the windows. Look for the end shop next to the pho restaurant. I called in to place my order and it was ready in a heated storage box when I arrived. You get a discount I'd you pay with cash. read more

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Looking for vegan Mexican food? Look no further! This location is tucked away on Harbor Blvd. with friendly staff and outdoor seating only. It's a smaller space but serving great flavorful options! On this particular weekend, they paired with a vegan pastry vendor and were selling vegan conchas out front. Inside, they were selling vegan cookies next to the cash register (in case you have a sweet tooth). They have a small section where they are selling merch like shirts, candles and more. As far as food goes, you can choose between a variety of taco flavors, mix and match them on a taco plate with rice and beans. There's also burritos, nachos, etc. Definitely a must-try if you're in the area and looking to check out a new vegan place! read more

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3.5 stars. I like the vegan tacos here. They're not amazing, but they're definitely good enough to come back if you specifically want vegan tacos. Place is small and quiet. read more

Disgusting, my order was all wrong, and what I did get was like eating straight up salt. (No kidding) No one even was able to eat it. That's not a vegan healthy meal at all. So disappointed. What happened to this place. I should mention it's expensive. A big waste of money read more

Not sure what the fuss and all the hype is about.. Either the folks here have never been outside of the city or clearly never been to another vegan Mexican restaurant. There are plenty of other Mexican food that serves plant-based in surrounding areas, the greater LA and even the South Bay cities. The food is plain, bland, and nothing special. It was ordinary, no flavor, no seasoning, no texture whatsoever. The pieces of mock meat could've been cut smaller, they were largely chopped. The tacos had no character. Not enough onions nor cilantro. No color. Just plain grayish slab of who knows what. The only thing that was okay was their salsa, hot sauce. The price was not worth what they serve you. Pretty expensive for a mediocre plate. The taco portion is okay considering they are bigger than small street tacos, but the burritos were pricey for the size. Upon arrival it also took us a minute to find the place. They only have one sign facing the street. They need another restaurant sign facing the other direction so people won't pass it up. Also, the cashier was friendly but did not understand English. I asked how big were their tacos. She did not know what I was saying as I repeated it many times. She looked confused and kept saying yes. Unfortunately I had to try to explain and measure circles with my fingers the sizes of the tacos from big to small. I even spoke Spanish words for her "grande" or "poquito" and she still did not get it. Very frustrating. She had to call another coworker to translate something as small as a general question. They were friendly, however I will not be returning. Found the place on Yelp, and what I saw online was completely different in person.. and most of all the taste factor was not there at all. We gave it a shot but would try another place in the future. They also have a small outdoor seating. I believe the tiny flower shop right next to the restaurant also belongs to the owner as I saw the same woman come out of the kitchen straight to tend to the flowers right outside. read more

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I noticed this place had some negative reviews but I thought I would give them a try anyway. The food was okay, nothing to write home about. The service when I placed my order online and then in the restaurant to add chips and salsa to my order were also okay. The server lady brought my order out in a tied up bag and I got in the car driving away only to discover I had some missing items. I paid for cashew crema and didn't get it. I also paid for chips and salsa and didn't get the salsa. When I called the restaurant about it, all I got was excuses blaming Grub hub stating that the information didn't reach them. Now I believe the negative reviews. The least this server could have done was apologized and tried to make it right for me. From now on, I'll drive over to Santa Ana for Mexican food from Bandito taqueria despite the fact that this restaurant is closer to me. I feel cheated and won't return. read more

Asada and California burritos are both great. Brought a coworker who's not vegan in and they loved the food. I've seen lackluster customer service at the counter, but I've never encountered it myself. Today, my order was ready in about 3 minutes from the moment I ordered it. I only encountered smiles and politeness. Really stoked this place is still chugging along, and right on my UPS route. Grateful! read more

My friend invited my wife and I for some vegan food and this place hit the spot. Good variety of foods. Good service as well. The two taco plate is a really grand bang for your buck. Stop by if you're in the area for some good vegan food! read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Absolutely enjoyed this place. Didn't try much but both the carne asada burrito and chicken taco were excellent. The salsa had just the right amount of spice that made the taste buds tingle and crave yet for another bite. Highly recommend this place. Would love to try the weekend breakfast burritos. Will keep on my favorite list for future visits. read more

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If I could give zero stars, I would. I've never in my life been treated with such disrespect, hostility, and outright cruelty--especially while 36 weeks pregnant. I placed a to-go order at this restaurant, unaware that they don't allow takeout customers to sit and eat. When I arrived, the staff was immediately rude and dismissive, but told me I could stay if I ordered a drink--which I did. While waiting and sipping my drink, I began to feel lightheaded (again, very pregnant), so I took a few bites of the tacos I had just purchased. That's when the owner, David stormed out and berated me in front of other customers. I calmly explained I was feeling unwell due to the heat (it was nearly 90°F outside), and he actually had the nerve to say: "Your pregnancy is no excuse. You can eat in your car." This was while the indoor dining area was almost completely EMPTY. I apologized, told him I'd finish my drink and leave--but that wasn't enough. He returned moments later, aggressively got in my face, reached for my plate, and said he had "watched me scarf down my food" and would now be escorting me out. He actually got in my personal space and tried to grab my plate of food- I was shocked. Then came the final blow: he told me I was being trespassed. Absolutely outrageous. I left feeling shaken, disrespected, and on the verge of tears. I can't stress enough how inappropriate, unprofessional, and needlessly cruel this entire experience was. Avoid this place at all costs--especially if you value being treated like a human being. I didn't get to finish my food and now it tastes terrible because it's cold read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Apparently the man that berated me is the owner, David - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Omg im so full!! It was so good! This place was on our list for a while and glad we finally tried it. We ordered the asada nachos and taco plate, el pastor and papa. Rice and beans were bomb!! The horchata id put it on my top 3 best vegan horchatas I've had. I love the traditional Mexican vibe of the place and great friendly staff! read more

During our visit, ordering directly from staff or their Point of Sale (POS) system wasn't an option. Instead, we were required to scan a QR code posted on a sign in front of the register and place our order through a website. This while a staff member stood by, watching the whole time, not assisting, just standing there getting paid to watch I guess. The web site nearly worked on my phone, but at the final step, it dropped the main dish selections and only retained the drinks. Navigating the site wasn't intuitive, and I had no interest in trying again (and likely failing again). We chose to take our business elsewhere, and just 2miles away is a better option. The main courses here aren't cheap. One would expect that kind of pricing to support a functioning POS system or properly trained staff to handle worders. If the expectation is for customers to handle the ordering themselves via the web site, then the pricing should reflect a self-service model and the site should work! I don't enjoy criticizing a vegan establishment it looked clean and might be fine otherwise, but ordering is a basic part of the business. Once that's sorted, maybe I'll be able to review the food next time but to get to that step, they have to be able to take an order, do basic business stuff. read more

Oh wait...we went back tonight and I see you now do have a table that is sort of accessible for some wheelchairs. I'm in a power wheelchair and sat on the right side, but I sat half on the table and half off. I just had to put my treat there to actually comfortably eat. Getting longer extension, please, and it would be perfect read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Sort of wheelchair accessible table - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I love this spot! Located off harbor in a little plaza I have never driven to but always drive past! So like, a hole in the wall! Overall I loved the service it was quick and friendly, the food is spot on, I love their potato tacos! Their drinks are also good , plenty of parking and good aguas frescas! read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Piña water - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is amazing! I've been a customer since they were doing pop up's in the parking lot of their old location. The food here is absolutely delicious! They have nailed their vegan proteins to a tee. The Al pastor torta is my go to, and the asada fries are my guilty pleasure. The service is good, you order up front and they bring you your food. I've brought non vegans and they enjoy the food as well. My favorite vegan Mexican food! read more

Cute little strip mall taqueria with a charming outdoor patio. It was chilly so we sat at one of the two inside tables after ordering at the counter. We got 4 tacos total, 2 on a taco plate (with twice and beans) and 2 separately. We got asada, chicken, potato, and fish. Also, an order of chips and guac. Our favorite was the fish taco which was a super crispy battered portobello mushroom. The guac was just ok, but it helped add some flavor to the tacos (along with the accompanying salsa). The rice and beans were a flavorful way to round out the meal. read more

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This place is great. Used to be my lunch spot 2-3 days/week but they're no longer open for lunch. Wish I could give them a better rating but their hours are garbage read more

Their breakfast burritos are amazing. Highly recommend the California burrito on weekdays and the breakfast burrito on weekends.

My fiancé and I really wanted to love this spot, but it was just meh. We're plant based taco/burrito junkies and make them weekly at home, so our bar is high. We ordered 3 vegan tacos (1 asada, 2 pastor - $4.99 each) and an asada burrito ($17.99). While the handmade tortillas were a highlight, the tacos lacked presentation--little to no cilantro or onion--and the asada chunks were huge, making each bite overwhelming. The burrito was decent, but again, the meat cuts were too bulky. The salsa was (best part) Parking was easy, but the place had no signage, which made it hard to spot after a 35-minute drive while starving! Shoutout to the kind cashier who brought in a translator--she was warm and helpful. Unfortunately, we won't be returning or recommending until there are improvements in food quality and presentation. read more

100% blown away by these vegan tacos!! Came on Taco Tuesday (2 tacos for $7.00) and we had the Al Pastor, Carnitas, Fish (battered portobello mushroom) and Crispy Potato. So much flavor! Also ordered chips and guacamole to snack on. We will def be back for Taco Tuesday and to also try other items on their menu. This casual taqueria has a pretty decent sized outdoor patio with shaded seating. There are just a few seats inside the taqueria. Parking is easy. Quick & friendly service. read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - two tacos in a styrofoam container - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Absolutely blown away by the vegan tacos at Vegan by El Zamorano! Came by for Taco Tuesday (2 tacos for $7.00), and we tried the Al Pastor, Carnitas, Fish (battered portobello mushroom), and Crispy Potato tacos. Each one was packed with incredible flavor! We also got chips and guac to snack on, and everything was so fresh. The taqueria has a good-sized outdoor patio with shaded seating, perfect for relaxing. There are just a few seats inside, but parking was super easy. The service was quick and friendly. We'll definitely be back for Taco Tuesday and to explore more of their menu! read more

The fish burrito and carne asada fries are my favorite! Delicious. The people working are kind too, even when there's only one or two people working. The outdoor area is charming, the tables are beautiful and they had fresh flowers out :) read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Fish Burrito and Asada Fries - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Amazing. Vegan classic breakfast burrito was godly omg flavorful & delish & the salsa was good too can't wait to come back and try everything else. The vegan bacon tasted so real. Also kinda cute inside pretty homey read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I am SO HAPPY this place exists. We mostly cook at home so getting food from a restaurant is a treat and this has become kind of our go to spot. Tacos, always on point. Burritos, that's my main right there. I go Cali but I've had all of them and they're all really good portions of tasty food. Service is quick dining in or taking out. They keep the kitchen super clean. Just a please to be able to spend money someplace like this, I will always be a customer. read more

I have loved Vegan by El Zamorano since it was a pop up! I love getting the tacos, each with a different protein. The quesadilla is great too. Easy parking and outdoor seating is available. This is a great place to go for vegans and non vegans! read more

Was looking for a vegan restaurant and this happened to be in the area! Super filling! Also ordered a champurado which was super delicious on this windy day!!! Would come back again, I haven't had a torta in awhile!!! read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Asada nachos - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Ambience is ok, they receive a lot of criticism for their to-go and in store seating situation which is understandable on their end because it's a small space. Their customer service is alright but slow and not very welcoming. Their prices are crazy high for marinated soy or vegetables, which is why I wish they would offer more discounts or specials, maybe even consider an affordable "family meal deal" option. They do have amazing salsa, tortillas/chips, and their own cheese they make. Their rice and beans taste authentic, asada nachos are a great portion, tacos Tuesday is the best deal, asada burrito with cheese is a bit pricey at $21 and the most worth it, their seasonal chile relleno burrito. Overall recommend but there is definitely room for improvement. read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Chile relleno burrito - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Food was really good. Had the California Burrito and wife had the combo plate. All the food is vegan and tasted good and fresh. I thought the service was mid. While it is fast casual, the counter person was apathetic and quite unfriendly. Overall would go back for the food and not expect much from service. read more

Highly recommend for food and their catering service. I've been to the restaurant a few times and the food has been consistently great. Because of that I had them cater a 60 person event. I did the taco cart package and it was fantastic. Great communication from setting it up and all the questions I had, showed up on time, food was delicious, and extras were packed up for us afterwards. I would use their services again read more

I tried the California burrito and the asada taco. Both were delicious and well portioned. The meat tasted authentic and very flavorful. When I got there I ordered and my order took less than 10 minutes. I wanted to order for pickup but ordering in the restaurant did not take too long. Definitely a must try! read more

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Immediately upon entering we were told we needed to use the online menu system to order, despite the fact that there was no one else in the establishment. My hubby tried to order on his phone but it kept dropping his items. Sensing his frustration, I asked the lady standing by the register if we could just order from her and she said no. At that point it just got too frustrating so we left. This was our first and likely last experience with this place. It's too bad as the menu looked good but who knows? Likely the food would not be able to overcome the frustrating service! read more

Hit and miss with flavors. There are some that I love, there are some that are not my fave. However, it's definitely a nice spot to check out. Whether you're vegan or not (I'm not) it's a nice ma and pa spot that feels very homey and inviting. It's very very small inside but there is a patio connected that is colorful and has plenty of room to dine in. Cauliflower was my fave and I got the plate with side of rice and beans. read more

Vegan By El Zamorano - Vegan Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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