Vegan Options at Taco Cabana (Updated 2024)

Beginning in 2019 the vegan options at Taco Cabana included Beyond Beef along with two kinds of beans and vegan-friendly tortilla shells (the corn tortillas!). As of 2023, your options have dwindled, unfortunately. 

Mexican fast-casual restaurants tend to be pretty vegan-friendly and Taco Cabana was a bit better but you can still find a couple of options. The Beyond Beef is no longer on the menu and you only have 1 bean, the black beans, that is vegan. 

Here’s everything you can order; including info on cross-contamination:

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Taco Cabana Vegan Options

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Breakfast

• Seasoned Potatoes*

*Potatoes share a fryer with chicken flautas.

Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat is no longer being served at Taco Cabana. A VeggL user let us know they had discontinued it in December 2022. I have contacted them to ask why and will update in the FAQ below when I learn more.

Taco

• Black Bean Taco. Order on Corn Tortillas and NO shredded cheese. Choose your salsas to top it with.

Plate

• 2 Taco Black Bean Plate. Order on Corn Tortillas and with NO cheese. You have the option to choose refried beans, black beans or rice as your sides. DO NOT pick refried beans. It is cooked in animal (bacon) fat. And verify NO cheese is added to anything on your plate. Last, pick your salsas.

Sides

• Mexican Rice
• Black Beans
• Chips* and Guacamole

*Chips and tortilla shell bowl share a fryer with chicken flautas.

Salsa/Extras

• Pico de Gallo
• Salsa Roja
• Salsa De Fuego
• Jalapeno Salsa
• Guacamole
• Onions
• Cilantro
• Sliced Jalapenos
• Lemon / Lime Wedge
• Table Corn Tortilla

Kid’s Meals

Ask if you can add a black bean taco instead of the default options that are not vegan-friendly.

• Kid’s Rice
• Kid’s Black Beans

Family Meals

Comes with grilled onion and bell pepper, rice, guacamole, lettuce & pico de gallo. SUB Corn Tortillas for flour tortillas. Order with NO cheese or sour cream.

• Black Beans

Cross-Contamination

As with basically any restaurant that is not 100% vegan, cross-contamination is possible, if not probable.

Taco Cabana uses a shared common fryer for basically all of their fried menu items including chips, fried bowls, churros and chicken flautas.

The fryer being shared with a meat item like chicken flautas will, without a doubt, be an issue for some vegans. You choose your own level of comfort when ordering. We just want to make you aware of as much info as possible so you can make an informed decision.

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Taco Cabana Vegan FAQ

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Are the Refried Beans at Taco Cabana Vegan?

No. The Refried Beans at Taco Cabana are cooked with animal (bacon) fat and are not vegan.

Instead, go for the black beans which are vegan-friendly.

Taco Cabana used to do Borracho Beans (they don’t currently carry them on the menu) and those were also cooked with bacon fat, just as an FYI.

Is Taco Cabana Beyond Meat Vegan?

Yes. Taco Cabana’s Beyond Meat is the same Beyond Meat that you’ll find at many restaurants and grocery stores. It is vegan.

–> February 2023 Update: We have been notified by a VeggL user that Taco Cabana discontinued Beyond Meat in December 2022. We have contacted them to ask why and will update here if we receive an answer. 

Thank you for helping us out, Grace!

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More Links and Info

• Looking for Taco Cabana’s complete menu? Head over to their Official Website.
• Information for this guide was obtained directly through calling MULTIPLE Taco Cabanas along with referencing their Nutritional Guide.
• Not quite what you were looking for? VeggL has hundreds of vegan guides, including guides for other Mexican fast casual locations like Chipotle and Qdoba.
• Disclaimer: We do everything possible at VeggL to make sure all our Vegan Guides are as up to date as possible, but sometimes menus and menu items can change. VeggL is not responsible for incorrect or outdated information. Always check with your location and server to confirm items are vegan when ordering. If you notice something that needs to be corrected – please let us know!