The San Fernando Valley is home to dozens of Mexican restaurants and a plethora of Mexican cuisines. Classic burritos, tacos and enchiladas are piled high with meats, cheeses and sour cream. This is not exactly ideal for someone who’s vegan.

Located at 6265 Sepulveda Blvd, El Cocinero Restaurant is the first vegan restaurant in the Valley. The permanent location opened in 2017.

The restaurant serves delicious vegan food which tastes extremely authentic. El Cocinero’s meals are scrumptious and nutrient packed; some of my personal favorites are the burritos, loaded fries and horchatas. Although items on the menu taste like they have real meat inside, they truly are vegan. This gives the dishes a satisfying taste and a new, healthy perspective.

The founder of El Cocinero, Alex Vargas, became vegan nine years ago. When creating the beloved vegan cuisine people taste today, Vargas took inspiration from traditional Mexican flavors.

Once he had enough dishes to create a menu, he opened a food truck, which he ran for several years before officially settling in Van Nuys. Many of his friends were perplexed when tasting his food, not knowing it was vegan. Most of the “meats” are actually pristine and delicious soybean or jackfruit.

The nuanced flavors are outstanding, and the menu gives a wide variety of options to vegans and non-vegans alike.

Items are more costly than non-vegan options at other restaurants, but El Cocinero is well worth the buck.

Although I am not typically a fan of vegan food, the restaurant opened me up to a world of new flavors.

In the three years the restaurant has been open, it’s become extremely popular. This is not only because of its vegan options, but also because it serves authentic Mexican food, unlike Taco Bell and other fast food chains that claim they serve Mexican food.

Overall, my experience with El Cocinero has been a game changer. The vegan Mexican cuisine blew me away, and knowing that the restaurant is near campus only adds to the long list of reasons why it’s worth a visit.

For those interested in trying it out for themselves, the restaurant can be found at 6265 Sepulveda Blvd., Unit 12, Van Nuys, CA 91411.