Plant-based street taco on organic corn tortilla with onions and cilantro.
The street taco is the foundational unit of Mexican street food culture, originating from the taquero tradition of central and northern Mexico where small corn tortillas are loaded with a single protein and minimal garnish — white onion, cilantro, salsa. As plant-based proteins entered the mainstream in the late 2010s, Beyond Meat became the most common substitute in Americanized Mexican restaurants seeking to offer a vegan taco that mimics the texture and bite of seasoned ground beef or chopped carne asada. The format itself is authentic; the protein is a modern swap.