Vegan
American
Take-out
Mexican
Catering
Pop-up offering vegan Mexican street food for take-out and catering. Operates from a ghost kitchen but accepts walk-ups as well as online orders. No seating. Based here as of 2021 but check its webpage for changes. Makes a few kinds of flavored mock meats from wheat gluten and other plant-based ingredients which are also for sale via webpage. Relocated from
230 W Ave 26, Ste 239. Open Mon-Fri 12:00pm-10:00pm, Sat 12:00pm-8:00pm, Sun 12:00pm-7:00pm.
51 Reviews
First Review by AxlRosa
AaronE39
Points +46
Best Vegan 🌱 Torta - Edit
The Birria torta was amazing 🤤🤤
Read moreGuest
Brooklynbomb
Points +72
Another fave! - Edit
I feel so lucky to have great vegan Mexican food in my neighborhood- used to drive out to Van Nuys to get El Cocinero before I knew this place was open. I’ve been ordering the gluten-free tamales (dig both the green and red) and the Plato con birria and barbacoa (also both gf), which is DELISH with their handmade corn tortillas. Hubs gets the burrito w asada every time, and since I just found out the carnitas are gf too imma swoop on that next time! I didn’t see that listed on the menu as gf but I asked them tonight, and confirmed that the gf options are soy.😄
Read moreGuest
SeitanicVegan
Points +27
Best Street Tacos - Edit
From tacos to burritos to tortas. Cena Vegan is full of flavor. You won't be disappointed. My go to tacos.. Add a refreshing watermelon Agua fresca and let the smile reign from ear to ear
Read morePros: Trio Taco. Al Pastor, Carnitas, Birria, HUGE Tortas! You'll be full!, Watermelon Agua Fresca, Horchata, Jamaica 👌
Cons: I haven't seen them on York Blvd😒
Guest
TaoOfBalance
Points +380
The Best Vegan Mexican - Edit
More than just comfort food and great employees, I’ve been coming to Cena Vegan for 5 years now and love it every time
Read morePros: All vegan, Authentic flavors
Cons: Not open 24 hours lol
Guest
Tiny714
Points +111
Not a fave - Edit
Cena Vega came highly recommended - maybe too highly. We ordered the carnitas burrito, the al pastor burrito, chips and guacamole, and a barbacoa taco. The carnitas burrito had no flavor or texture. I took a few bites and wrapped it back up. Coming from a gold star member of the clean-plate club, this is absolutely unprecedented! The guacamole had all the unappealing characteristics of the pre-made grocery store variety. Should we be upset that it was such a tiny portion for $5? I definitely didn’t want more of it. The one-note al pastor tasted only of strong cloves. The taco’s corn tortilla was tasty and had a great texture; the filling, however, was strange/mushy and didn’t come with the pickled onions pictured on the website. Unfortunately, the great salsa will not be enough to bring us back for a return visit.
Read morePros: Easy ordering, Prompt preparation, Good salsa & tortillas
Cons: Lack of flavor, Lack of texture, Bad aftertaste
Guest
KaceyCastaneda
Points +410
Delicious vegan mexican - Edit
We got take out from their kitchen location. Delicious food, large portions and good prices. We ate here last year on vacation and couldn't wait to come back!
Read morePros: All vegan
Cons: Only take out or street vendor
Guest
Shogun
Points +78
Great Mexican food! - Edit
I haven't eaten their food in person but often order their frozen "meats" online and have them shipped to my house. The pollo asado and carne asada are delicious! The taste and texture and very meat-like and have fooled a lot of my friends and family members. We always have a pouch or two in the freezer for those times when we don't want to make dinner or have some tortillas we need to eat up. Looking forward to trying their food in person!
Read morePros: Delicious good, Convenient to order online
Cons: None
Guest
MikeStevens
Points +55
Mind blowing - Edit
Everything was meaty and full of flavor. The taste was fresh and authentic. These brought back memories of eating tacos with my friends.
Read moreGuest
AmberK
Points +18
🗣Listen Linda !!! - Edit
🌮 💣 (I had to look twice to make sure it wasn’t real asada meat)
Read moreSalsa Hot 🥵 very hot (mouth still on 🔥)
🌯 🆗 (I might have to try it again when my mouth isn’t burning)
Pros: Taste like real asada , Food was still hot when I picked it up , Great 1st takeout vegan meal
Cons: I should have ordered more tacos!
Guest
Kbjamjam
Points +179
The best vegan Mexican food hands down - Edit
Everything about Cena Vegan is amazing and I don’t think you could honestly find anything bad about the food. I’ve taken a ton of people here including meat eaters and almost everyone I know says this is one of if not the best Mexican food they’ve ever had. If they are open do yourself a favor and go! I could eat here everyday.
Read moreGf options!
Guest
ArianLobon
Points +23
Seitan- delicious and affordable! - Edit
I am obsessed with buying their frozen meat to use in breakfast burritos through the week!
Read morePros: Delicious, Convenient, Frozen + prepared plant based meat
Cons: No gluten free options, No sit down, Opens at 5 pm
Guest
Christal_Perez
Points +35
favorite place ever ❤️ - Edit
Hands down best vegan meat substitute and best vegan tacos 😭 tastes like authentic Mexican tacos.
Read morePros: All vegan
Guest
josandkill
Points +765
Best Mexican food in LA ! - Edit
Would drive 45 minutes every Friday for this ! love Cena vegan first vegan tacos I ever had. Took my non vegan family here and they loved it.
Read morePros: Good prices , Great food , Large portions
Cons: Its LA so parking
Guest
Setman85
Points +126
Amazing food! Must go! - Edit
I went to this restaurant at Smorgasburg (which is a lot of fun!)
Read moreThe quality of the food is excellent, they have really good beans and rice as well, and they also have many gluten-free options. Their sauces are incredible and the tortillas are homemade
Guest
Passittowill
Points +3460
Nacho Boat - Edit
Don’t need to say much else haha. Incredible nachos, I could eat those all day!
Read morePros: All vegan, Friendly, Taste
Guest
mymagicjourney
Points +737
The BEST burritos EVER - Edit
Cena is one of my favorite spots. The food is INCREDIBLE. I’ve never been disappointed by anything. It’s so delicious that I’m willing to drive in Friday night LA traffic (If you know you know). My mom doesn’t like fake meats but she LOVES the al pastor tacos and burrito. There’s usually a line but it moves relatively quickly (trust me it’s worth the wait).
Read moreGuest
dancingvegan
Points +854
Absurdly Awesome! - Edit
I went to VegFest in the O.C. held in Costa Mesa recently representing HappyCow at our 20th birthday celebration!
Read moreAs I was walking to the entrance, I saw lots of food trucks, and knowing they were all vegan, I almost started drooling!! hahaha.
I picked Cena Vegan and am I glad I did (although I am sure all the food there was fabulous)! I got fully loaded nachos that not only made my taste buds dance, but they were pleasing to the eye! It took me two days to finish all of it, so the serving was very large. I have never had vegan carne asada and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it tasted.
I SO want to follow them wherever their truck goes... I mean literally drive behind them, but for now I will follow them on their social media sites!! Haha! The food is THAT good!!
Pros: Friendly, Quick, Delectably tasty!
Guest
vegancow13
Points +15
CENA IS THE BEST - Edit
Cena is delicious. I’m traveling this summer and where I’m going there will be no access to Cena. I’m very sad, I’m not sure what to do without it. :(
Read morePros: Amazing fresh tortillas , Fake meat tastes so real, Great side selection of add-ons
Cons: There are no bad things about cena
Guest
hakajawawa
Points +44
Awesome vegan tacos! - Edit
I had a trio of tacos: pollo asada, carne asada, and al pastor. I enjoyed all three, the corn tortillas, guac and salsa made them perfect. They were a little salty for my liking (but I eat a primarily no added salt diet so most fast food is salty to me).
Read morePros: Amazing flavor, Quality ingredients
Guest
TinaCheong
Points +485
All my friends love this - Edit
Whether it’s at an event or it’s a stand alone food truck of the night, the line for this place is always long but for a good reason. I’ve come here several times with my omnivore friends and they all love this place. Every dish is packed with flavor and as most would tell me “you can’t even tell it’s vegan”.
Read morePros: Delicious flavoring , Good pricing
Cons: Line can be very long so be prepared to wait
Guest
sdriscoll
Points +55
Worth the Wait - Edit
I had to wait in line forever at a vegan food event to get this but it was definitely worth it. Best vegan nachos and burritos I've ever had. My meat-eating friend thought they had accidentally given us meat until I told them they only serve vegan food. We got the nachos and whatever they said the two most popular burritos were. We ended up having a ton of leftover food. The nachos were the best so if you're only getting one thing get that, it's big enough for a meal.
Read moreGuest
xmrfigx
Points +933
The BEST! - Edit
I have tried many different Vegan Mexican food vendors and restaurants and by FAR, Cena Vegan has the best flavor and texture! Now, jackfruit tacos are amazing and I’ve also had carnitas flavored vegan meat made from yuba, but if you want authentic taste and texture of carne asada or pollo asado, Cena Vegan is it. I find them at Smorgasburg LA every Sunday from 11am-4pm. Their burritos are my favorite. My wife loves their nachos and for $15/lb you can take home some of their “meats” to make your own culinary creations at home!
Read morePros: GREAT Flavor, Fast service, You can buy in bulk to take home
Cons: You have to find them (no restaurant)
Guest
Chia
Points +3635
Vegan Nachos - Edit
I've seen Cena Vegan stalls at different veg-related events in the Southern California area. A few weeks ago I bought an order of their loaded vegan nachos. Comes with your choice of flavored faux meat on top and some kind of vegan cheese (appears to be their own made). Added 2 scoops guacamole on top. Tasted yummy. Cost 12 bucks.
Read morePros: tasty
Cons: not cheap
Guest
AxlRosa
Points +18
Legit Vegan Tacos - Edit
There aren't many places I feel are worth waiting in line for but this place is like an amusement ride for your tastebuds, so it's worth the wait. Plus the line moves fast so it's not like you'll wait until you're starving.
Read moreYou can order from the menu plus you can buy the plant based meat substitute by the pound, if you want to add to your own recipes at home!
They make the taco tortillas fresh when you order and they're almost as good as the ones my abuelita makes! Almost. ;)
The employees are always pleasant and make great recommendations on what to try if you're not sure. It's a small but delicious menu and I'll go out of my way to get food from them.
I have to say, Cena Vegan is the most legit Mexican food I've had since going vegan in '99.
Pros: authentic flavor, super friendly employees, great value
Cons: lines, limited venues , crowded salsa bar & pick up
Guest
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