{"id":8130,"date":"2021-12-16T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lbccviking.com\/?p=8130"},"modified":"2021-12-16T16:30:36","modified_gmt":"2021-12-16T23:30:36","slug":"treat-yourself-thursday-panchos-vegan-tacos-doesnt-sacrifice-taste-for-plant-based","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/?p=8130","title":{"rendered":"Treat yourself Thursday: Pancho\u2019s Vegan Tacos doesn\u2019t sacrifice taste for plant-based"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Loaded cheesy nachos, massive wet burritos, ceviche and street tacos are some of the mouthwatering menu items at Pancho\u2019s Vegan Tacos, a restaurant that serves traditional Mexican food with a plant-based twist.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pancho\u2019s Vegan Tacos opened their original locations in Las Vegas and expanded the franchise to Long Beach in April. Opening amidst the pandemic presented challenges for the restaurant, according to manager Elysha Rees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was a little hard because right when we opened we couldn&#8217;t dine-in at all. So we were super slammed with a bunch of take-out orders. \u2026 It\u2019s been a little up and down, but for the most part, I think we\u2019ve adjusted alright to all the circumstances,\u201d Rees said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the difficulty of operating during COVID-19, Rees said the community has shown up to support the establishment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt&#8217;s been pretty popular. A lot of people have come in and said that they\u2019ve gone to the Vegas location and that\u2019s how they know about us,\u201d Rees said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The drink menu has traditional fountain drinks and a changing selection of aguas frescas, including horchata, jamaica and a seasonal watermelon flavor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The watermelon agua fresca is incredibly refreshing and delicious. The horchata is made with a non-dairy coconut base. Although it is not as sweet as many traditional horchatas, it still carries the same great flavors of cinnamon and vanilla.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Singles street tacos are available with a variety of different plant-based meat options, including al pastor, carne asada, chorizo, carnitas and \u201cchik-end.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"464\" data-attachment-id=\"8133\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/?attachment_id=8133\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.5&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS Rebel T6i&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1638984284&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;160&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.033333333333333&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?fit=696%2C464&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2.jpg?resize=696%2C464&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?resize=696%2C464&amp;ssl=1 696w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1068%2C712&amp;ssl=1 1068w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?resize=630%2C420&amp;ssl=1 630w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1920%2C1280&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-2-scaled.jpg?w=1392&amp;ssl=1 1392w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><figcaption><em><sub>The street tacos are a popular dish at Pancho&#8217;s Vegan Tacos. The &#8220;chik-end&#8221; and al pastor are two of the meatless protein options on the menu, alongside carnitas and carne asada. (Photo by Veronica Towers)<\/sub><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA lot of people say they haven\u2019t had vegan street tacos because they\u2019re kind of hard to come by,\u201d Rees said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201cchik-end\u201d taco, made with a soy base and topped with onion and cilantro, packs a delectable bite that is almost indistinguishable from a traditional street taco. The al pastor, made with a wheat base, is covered in a sweet chili marinade that is a bit overpowering.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pancho\u2019s offers weekly specials like \u201cNacho Wednesday\u201d and \u201cTostada Thursday\u201d, where menu items are discounted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The classic nachos are a massive serving of corn chips, beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese, avocado and the customer\u2019s choice of meat. The cheese sauce is made in-house with a potato and carrot base, according to Rees.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The carnitas are made with jackfruit and are the most impressive protein option at Pancho&#8217;s. The jackfruit is deliciously tender, perfectly seasoned and replicates the taste of traditional carnitas to a tee.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The carnitas are a great option to pair with the classic nachos. The \u201cmeat\u201d adds to the delicious blend of textures and flavors in the dish.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rees said that the wet burritos are a customer favorite and recommended the asada meat filling. Available with either green or red sauce poured on top (or both), the burrito has beans, rice, pico de gallo and the customer\u2019s choice of meat.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The asada is wheat based and nails the texture of traditional asada. The red sauce has a sweet richness, similar to the taste of Mexican mole. The green sauce packs a much spicier kick.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Customer Eric Chavez visited Pancho\u2019s because he was recommended the spot by his vegan friends. Although he isn\u2019t vegan himself, he was impressed by the wet burrito with carne asada.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe carne asada texture is similar to sausage. The rice and pico de gallo is bussin bussin,\u201d Chavez said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vegetable fillings such as mushroom and cactus are available for those who may not want a meat alternative. The cactus is smoky and nostalgic of a homemade taco.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vegan seafood is also a protein option at Pancho\u2019s. Fish tacos are a popular menu item and can be served either \u201csouth\u201d or \u201cnorth\u201d style.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The south fish tacos have pico de gallo, lettuce and lime garnish. The fish, made by the vegan brand Gardein, is one of the only proteins that are not made in-house.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8139\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/?attachment_id=8139\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-4.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-4\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-4.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-4.jpg?w=696&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8139\"\/><figcaption><em><sub>The &#8220;south&#8221; style fish tacos at Pancho&#8217;s Vegan Tacos are made with Gardein brand fish fillets and topped with pico de gallo, lettuce and a lime wedge on the side. (Photo by Veronica Towers)<\/sub><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fish has a crispy outer layer that is similar to a beer-battered fish filet. The taco is light and satisfying.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ceviche tostada, served with a large scoop of avocado on top, is a refreshing dish that offers the perfect bite of crunchy, savory and zesty. The \u201cfish\u201d has a realistic texture and pairs incredibly well with the squeeze of lime juice.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is also a selection of burgers and hot dogs on the menu made with Beyond and Impossible meat substitutes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rice pudding, ice cream, cookies and tres leches cakes are some of the dessert options at Pancho\u2019s. The tres leches cake is made by local bakery Baked Vegan Sweets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vanilla cake is soaked in a coconut milk mix and topped with whipped cream, fresh berries and a dash of cinnamon. The cake is dense, but nonetheless tasty. The vegan whipped cream is deliciously sweet and the berries give the dessert a hint of tanginess.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Indoor and outdoor seating is available for customers. The interior of the restaurant is colorfully decorated and has works by local artists hung up on the wall, which are available for sale.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8132\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/?attachment_id=8132\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1707,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;6.3&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS Rebel T6i&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1638984005&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;59&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.016666666666667&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-1-scaled.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-1.jpg?resize=346%2C518&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8132\" width=\"346\" height=\"518\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-1-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-1-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-1-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-1-scaled.jpg?w=1707&amp;ssl=1 1707w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-1-scaled.jpg?w=1392&amp;ssl=1 1392w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 100vw, 346px\" \/><figcaption><em><sub>An art piece of a chihuahua in a sweater with a carrot in its mouth at Pancho&#8217;s Vegan Tacos. The dining area has a large selection of paintings from local artists for sale on the walls. (Photo by Veronica Towers)<\/sub><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Owner Sacbe Melling, who lives in Las Vegas and occasionally visits, still wants to prioritize the local community at this franchise.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c(Melling) is super down to showcase their art and let them sell it here. I think that\u2019s a pretty unique thing because he\u2019s down for anything, as long as it&#8217;s community based,\u201d Rees said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Rees, the chefs at Pancho\u2019s have been testing out recipes for vegan tamales and are hoping to offer them to customers in the near future.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pancho\u2019s Vegan Tacos is located at 1837 E 7th St.. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and until 7 p.m. on Sunday. Weekday hours are 3 p.m. &#8211; 7 p.m.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more photos and videos of the dining experience at Pancho\u2019s Vegan Tacos, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lbccvikingnews\/\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Loaded cheesy nachos, massive wet burritos, ceviche and street tacos are some of the mouthwatering menu items at Pancho\u2019s Vegan Tacos, a restaurant that serves traditional Mexican food with a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":8131,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[337,29,68,4300,3363,4241,1349,4119],"class_list":["post-8130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","tag-food","tag-lbcc","tag-long-beach-city-college","tag-panchos-vegan-tacos","tag-samantha-cortes","tag-treat-yourself-thursday","tag-vegan-food","tag-veronica-towers"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3Skgy-278","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lbccviking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Lifestyle_2021_12_06_TYTPanchosTacos_SCortesVTowers-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/85"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8130"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8157,"href":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8130\/revisions\/8157"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbccviking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}