The Blind Burro (San Diego, CA)

It is becoming delightfully common to happen upon vegan staff at very non-vegan restaurants. Through the kindness of my server, Emily, I found my way through the menu modifications at The Blind Burro.

This is the kind of space a vegan would probably not find themselves at alone. A gathering corner a quick jaunt from Petco Park, this is the kind of restaurant your onmi friends will suggest meeting at because they like it. But don’t worry, you’ll like it well enough too.

The only vegan as-is items are the Guacamoles—Tradicional and Especial—I went Especial ($12). Mashed avocado binds chunks of roasted sweet potato, corn, and rajas with house made plantain chips (shared fryer). I scraped some of the salt from Caramelized Pineapple Margherita ($12) to season it.

Pinto beans and rice are prepared with animals, leaving the Veggie Tacos ($14) and Power Bowl ($13) as the substantial entrees. Over two corn tortillas, a generous plop of boiled or fried cauliflower comes drizzled in a fruity chipotle-orange BBQ sauce over kale salad, avocado, and matchstick radishes. I asked for all the hot sauces and received a rainbow of actually spicy house-made pepper slurries.

The Power Bowl is filled with scoops of quiona and kale salad under avocado (subbed for goat cheese) and benefited from what ended up being my favorite dish—a side of Mole Black Beans that came with the tacos. The spiced, and slightly sweet beans, smothered the blatantly healthy ingredient under better tasting but just as healthy sauce.

The Blind Burro offers an extensive printed allergen list—highlighting what dishes independently have nuts, egg, soy, and dairy—although deciphering it requires detailed reading while hungry… Which made our friendly server indispensable in creating our pleasant evening in a very non-vegan establishment.