We tried Del Taco's meatless Beyond Taco - and it revealed why vegan substitutes are sweeping fast food

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Del Taco serves two tacos made with Beyond Meat products: the Beyond Taco, which simply substitutes ground beef for plant-based proteins, and the vegan, cheese-free Beyond Avocado Taco.

Del Taco serves two tacos made with Beyond Meat products: the Beyond Taco, which simply substitutes ground beef for plant-based proteins, and the vegan, cheese-free Beyond Avocado Taco.
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Both tacos look like they could fit in among Del Taco's fast-food fare. Neither is aiming to be a gourmet Tex-Mex product — just a standard taco sans meat.

Both tacos look like they could fit in among Del Taco's fast-food fare. Neither is aiming to be a gourmet Tex-Mex product — just a standard taco sans meat.
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Frankly, if we didn't know that the Beyond Taco uses a mixture of plant-based ingredients instead of beef, we would not have even noticed that difference.

Frankly, if we didn't know that the Beyond Taco uses a mixture of plant-based ingredients instead of beef, we would not have even noticed that difference.

While it can be difficult to capture the texture of a steak or burger, Beyond Meat handily imitates the goopy yet granular mouthfeel of taco meat.

While it can be difficult to capture the texture of a steak or burger, Beyond Meat handily imitates the goopy yet granular mouthfeel of taco meat.
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In terms of flavor, it hits all the important benchmarks, capturing the spice and mix of crunch and mush that have won fast-food hardshell tacos a legion of fans.

In terms of flavor, it hits all the important benchmarks, capturing the spice and mix of crunch and mush that have won fast-food hardshell tacos a legion of fans.

The Beyond Taco, in particular, captures the classic Del Taco flavor with the mellow — almost bland — cheesy topping.

The Beyond Taco, in particular, captures the classic Del Taco flavor with the mellow — almost bland — cheesy topping.
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The Beyond Taco is a perfect representation of where meat substitutes are going in 2019. They aren't an upscale replacement toppling fast-food infrastructure in favor of gourmet, vegan options.

The Beyond Taco is a perfect representation of where meat substitutes are going in 2019. They aren't an upscale replacement toppling fast-food infrastructure in favor of  gourmet, vegan options.

Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are providing meat substitutes that infiltrate the existing fast-food ecosystem. And, the Beyond Taco succeeds in being a fast-food taco — nothing less, nothing more.

Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are providing meat substitutes that infiltrate the existing fast-food ecosystem. And, the Beyond Taco succeeds in being a fast-food taco — nothing less, nothing more.
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