PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Taco Loco: a review by a Vegetarian.
by gwen Thursday, Jun. 16, 2005 at 5:25 PM

Taco Loco might be the best Mexican restaurant in town (according to several local awards), but it is not vegetarian friendly.

I used to adore Taco Loco when it was located on E. Carson Street. I got incredible service, good food, and they understood me when I said, "I'm a vegetarian."

A few months ago, they moved up 26th, near Mary street. The food still remains good to my non-vegetarian friends, and they love the new space with plentiful parking. I looked forward to going to the new location, hoping for the same benefits.

However, when I ordered my cheese burrito (I am not even vegan), I discovered that my burrito was full of chicken. Now, chicken makes me very sick, so this was very disturbing to find -- if it were red meat, I'd only be slightly sick!

I gave them the benefit of the doubt, and returned to the restaurant with some Mexican loving friends. This time I very carefully asked, "Is there meat in this? The last time I was here, I was served chicken and I'm a vegetarian." I was told there was not, and that they would be very careful this time. Once again, I was served chicken.

I even returned a third time just last week, hoping that I just happened to be hit by bad luck twice.... and again I was served chicken. And now I have found this thread about how they put chicken stock in their green sauce.

Taco Loco may be the best Mexican restaurant in town... for non-vegetarians. However, us non-meat eaters will have to suffice with the plethora of other Mexican establishments in town. My personal favorite is Mad Mex -- it may not be authentic mexican, but they have never once served me meat!

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chicken...
by anon Sunday, Jun. 19, 2005 at 10:09 AM

Also, even if you order a vegetarian dish many times the cooks will use chicken broth to make the food under the mentality of "they don't know, so nobody is getting hurt".

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Chicken stock
by Kristy Tuesday, Jan. 09, 2007 at 7:04 AM

You would be surprised how many places use chicken stock in seemingly vegetarian dishes. It isn't just Taco Loco! Most vegetarians consume some sort of meat on a regular basis without their knowledge!

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mexican restaurants
by sloan Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007 at 4:24 AM

I am vegan and I used to be a huge fan of mad mex because of the options (tofu sour cream, etc.) that they have, but I rarely go now. I always order a vegetarian item and have them make it vegan by subbing veggie cheese and tofu sour cream. The last three times I have gone, I have had one piece of chicken in each dish, usually tucked away in the middle of the burrito. I think it is a sick joke that they play on vegans and vegetarians, to see if they will accidentally eat it. In any case, I don't think you should give up on taco loco, obviously they weren't trying to trick you. I haven't had a problem there... yet.

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