Everyone in Long Beach probably already knows about the tofu tacos and mushroom tacos at Coco Reno’s. Those who don’t are bound to sound about as ignorant as someone who can’t find the Pacific Ocean. But the restaurant’s vegetarian taco salad is a different story, an equally tasty meal that sometimes goes unnoticed. In fact, my first 100 visits to the tiny Mexican eatery consisted exclusively of two soft tofu tacos—I was always full and always happy. With such a satisfying handheld meal, I never needed to venture from my good ol’ standby. Then I decided to order the vegetarian taco salad. Since that fateful day, tacos have been a thing of the past. The salad is a huge plate served with black or refried beans, six or so long strips of grilled tofu and a mountain of lettuce that buries the other ingredients. It’s all piled into a crispy shell with two generous scoops of delicious guacamole to tie everything together. The best part about the taco salad is the guessing game that comes with it: Sometimes the shell is a deep bowl with the food resting inside; other times it’s flat with the food sitting atop and partially to the side. But one thing is consistent about the taco salad: It’s as good as this kind of dish gets.

COCO RENO’S 3400 E BROADWAY | LONG BEACH 90803 | 562.438.9381

Tags: coco reno's, Long Beach, SIDES, taco salad