What Are The Vegan Options At California Tortilla? (Updated Guide)

  • By: Daniel B.
  • Date: September 22, 2022
  • Time to read: 6 min.

What’s great about burritos is how you can modify them to your preference. As a result, you could simply select plant-based components and tasty vegan salsa for a tasty burrito munch.

California Tortilla delivers authentic, award-winning, made-to-order trademark quesadillas, burritos, and salads that are rooted in Mexican cuisine but include inventive flavor profiles and modification options.

Fortunately, California Tortilla is a vegan-friendly restaurant. They can cater to your vegan plate from their appetizers, main dishes, and desserts to their beverages. 

Read on, vegan folks, and see what California Tortilla offers you. 

California Tortilla – Brief Background

California Tortilla is a Mexican fast-food restaurant brand that values authenticity and quality. California Tortilla originated in Potomac, Maryland, and also its trademark, made-to-order food is entirely created in-house from never-frozen and fresh ingredients, delivering the highest quality menu offered at every one of its more than 40 locations.

California Tortilla, commonly called Cal Tort, is an American casual dining Mexican-style restaurant company founded in August 1995 in Bethesda, Maryland, by key stakeholders Pam Felix and Alan Cohen. The cuisine at the restaurant is comparable to those of rivals such as Baja Fresh and Chipotle Mexican Grill. In both 2009 and 2010, fans of Washingtonian magazine picked California Tortilla for serving incredible burritos. Readers of the Washington City Paper named it Best Fast Casual in 2019.

California Tortilla operates 38 restaurant locations in eight states: Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania,  New Jersey, Connecticut, South Carolina, and Kansas, as well as in the District of Columbia. Several airport outlets are marketed as Burrito Elito. The restaurant’s headquarters are in Potomac, Maryland.

Vegan Options At California Tortilla

It doesn’t need to be hard eating vegan at California Tortilla. This fast-food chain is one of the most vegan-friendly, and most of its menu does not include animal and animal-based products. One of the best things about California Tortilla is that you can personalize your burrito and select every vegan ingredient you like. 

We compiled the list of vegan dishes based on their allergen menu. See the complete list of vegan options at California tortillas. 

Beans And Rice

  • Black Beans
  • Mexican Rice

Entrees

  • Veggie Fajita Platter – Order it with no cheese or sour cream. 

Salads

  • Mexican Garden Salad – Have it without any cheese.

Salad Dressing

  • Freshly Made Salsa
  • Fresh Pico De Gallo
  • Low-Fat Caribbean Mango Dressing
  • Lite Olive Oil Vinaigrette
  • Spicy Sunset Sauce

Burritos

  • Veggie Burrito with Guacamole without 
  • Black Bean and Cheese Burrito without Sour Cream or Cheese
  • Thai Chicken Burrito without the Chicken
  • Caribbean Jerk Burrito without the Chicken
  • Spinach Burrito without Sour Cream or Cheese
  • Fajita Burrito without Sour Cream and Chicken
  • Spicy Sunset Salsa Chicken Burrito without the Chicken

Tacos And Tortillas

  • Soft Flour Tortillas
  • White Corn Chips
  • Hard Corn Taco Shells
  • Soft Flour Taco Shells
  • Corn Tortilla Strips

Vegetables

  • Spinach
  • Farm Fresh Veggies
  • Fajita Veggies
  • Romaine Lettuce
  • Salad Greens
  • Iceberg Lettuce
  • Breakfast Potatoes
  • Cabbage Slaw

Sides

  • Chips and Salsa
  • Chips and Guacamole
  • Mexican Rice
  • Black Beans
  • Rice & Beans

Salsa And Dips

  • Mango Salsa
  • Fresh Pico De Gallo
  • Guacamole

Drinks

  • Bottled Water
  • Bottled Drinks
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • All fountain sodas
  • Domestic Beer

Is California Tofu Vegan?

Yes. The tofu from California Tortilla is GMO-free, organic, kosher,  gluten-free, and, most importantly, vegan. Goldman says that even meat lovers who tried the meal said they would love to order it rather than meat.

Does California Tortilla Have A Gluten-Free Menu?

The best thing about California Tortilla is the variety of gluten-free alternatives available. The gluten-free menu at California Tortilla is becoming a top contender among gluten-intolerant individuals. It’s uncommon to find gluten-free Mexican cuisine; however, California Tortilla has done an amazing job of providing one.

This prominent Mexican business has an exceptionally wide menu, with practically any Mexican meal available. They have built up a substantial and devoted consumer base in the territories where they are present.

How To Order Vegan At California Tortilla

It’s becoming simpler to locate vegan choices, and California Tortilla will be no exception. Menu options, on the other hand, vary from place to place. Here are some helpful guidelines when placing a vegan meal at California Tortilla.

Examine The Menu And Search For Vegan Items

One of the easiest methods in ordering vegan in California Tortilla would be to read over the list to check if any products are clearly labeled vegan. They are usually denoted with the letter “V.”

Ask For More Information

There are instances when restaurants and food franchises will offer vegan dishes that are not clearly labeled on the menu. In those circumstances, staff may be familiar with these things and can assist you in placing an order.

Ask About Nutritional Information

California Tortilla usually has nutritional information and can present it to customers upon request. Aside from determining the number of calories and the macronutrient split, it will also display the components needed to produce the food. You can identify vegan foods by reviewing the list of ingredients. You might also be free to do this by visiting California Tortilla’s official site.

Ask For Some Modifications In Your Order

If you’re not seeing any vegan options on the menu, ask the staff at California Tortilla whether they can do any alterations to turn your orders vegan. Some restaurants today offer plant-based meat substitutes or may take out non-vegan ingredients to create a meal vegan-friendly.

Inquire About The Cooking Process

This is a difficult thing to ask, but it is necessary to do so to receive vegan meals. Check whether the kitchen prepares vegan and non-vegan cuisine separately. Ask the staff to consider an exception and prepare your dish separately if they don’t.

If the establishment refuses your request, your only option is to find another restaurant serving vegan meals.

Other Mexican Restaurants That Have Vegan Options

Mexican food is undeniably wonderful and has long been a mainstay of our culinary culture. However, not many cafes are vegan; like California Tortilla only provides just several vegan-friendly items that may be customized.

So, to assist you, we researched some of the greatest vegan Mexican cuisine franchises in the United States.

  • Belenty’s Love Mexican Vegan Restaurant – Granbury, TX
  • Doomie’s NextMex – Los Angeles, CA
  • El Cantaro – Monterey, CA
  • El Cocinero Restaurant – Van Nuys, CA
  • El Borracho – Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA
  • Gracias Madre – West Hollywood, CA
  • Leonor’s Vegetarian Mexican Restaurant – North Hollywood and Studio City, CA
  • Luna Verde Vegan Mexican Restaurant – Bradley Beach, NJ
  • Panchos Vegan Tacos Tropicana – Las Vegas, NV
  • Madre Tierra Restaurant Bar – Upland, CA
  • Mamicon’s Vegan Mexican Restaurant – Northridge, CA
  • Más Veggies Vegan Taqueria – Los Angeles and Pasadena, CA
  • Nissi Vegan Méxican Cuisine LLC. Vegmex – Austin, TX
  • Phatties Vegan Mexican Restaurant – Escondido, CA
  • Olga’s Naturally Vegan Mexican Restaurant – Los Angeles, CA
  • Quesadilla La Reina Del Sur – Chicago, IL
  • Sugar Taco – Los Angeles, CA

If you’re looking for vegan Mexican cuisine, you can always explore these restaurant chains anywhere in the United States or nearby nations. While California Tortilla’s menu is worth a chance, these vegan places will undoubtedly satisfy your concerns.

The Bottomline

If you are craving some Mexican cuisine, California Tortilla can be one of your vegan havens and they do provide excellent vegan choices. Others may be tweaked, making it suitable for people looking for vegan food. But don’t forget to eat in moderation.

There still are, however, numerous vegan Mexican cafes to pick from for worry-free dining. You should consider the restaurants listed above since they serve delicious and nutritious vegan Mexican cuisine that you won’t be able to resist.

So, visit the California Tortilla’s website to see if there are any outlets in your region. Menu options may differ depending on the area. Before making an order, don’t forget to verify the location to see whether the dish contains any allergies or if it matches your nutritional needs and limitations.