I Tried Vegan Cuban Food for the First Time. This Is What I Thought.

I Tried Vegan Cuban Food for the First Time. This Is What I Thought.

  • Sarah Von Alt
  • Sarah Von Alt

Last weekend, I finally got my chance to test out the only vegan Cuban restaurant in the United States: Equelecua Café. The restaurant, which opened about a year and a half ago, serves up plant-based versions of classic Cuban recipes like arroz con pollo (rice with chicken) and ropa vieja (shredded beef).

Arroz con Pollo

Tucked away in Inglewood near the Los Angeles airport, the restaurant is a little out of the way for many, and its location is far removed from the trendy vegan eateries in Santa Monica and West Hollywood. Nonetheless, I was thrilled to finally check it out. The menu boasts a variety of vegan meats, including beef, chicken, shrimp, codfish, and chicken wings (these were my favorite part!).

Fire Agave Alitas

They even serve up vegan pork on their beloved Cuban sandwich, which is loaded with Swiss cheese, pickles, Vegenaise, and whole-grain Dijon on a roll (and then the panini press works its magic).

Cuban Sandwich

Other menu standouts included the nachos al cubano, picadillo, tamal cubano (which was stuffed with a vegan chicken fricassee in soft corn masa), and papas rellenas.

Nachos a lo Cubano con Camarones al Ajillo

While I was particularly fond of the fire agave alitas (wings), everything that I tried (which included several bites from my friends’ plates) was divine and loaded with some unfamiliar flavors. I was also really impressed by their tostones, made with fried and salted unripe plantains.

In short, this unassuming little place is truly amazing. Here’s a small sampling of the praise the restaurant has received on Yelp:

“100% vegan authentic Cuban food, a short drive from LAX. The food here is nothing short of incredible, with a wide variety of veganized Cuban classics as well as interesting fusion dishes and desserts.” —Alyssa F.

“I’ve eaten at quite a few Cuban restaurants and this place is my favorite! Everything is so full of flavor, and as an avid meat eater, I forgot I was eating vegan shrimp and beef!” —Stephanie A.

“Comida Cubana vegana, say whaaaat?!!! All Cubanos know that the Cuban food culture revolves around meats (pork, pork, pork). So for me to find a VEGAN CUBAN restaurant was truly a jackpot.” —Tigra C.

It’s truly amazing to live in a time when we can enjoy all of our favorite flavors without harming animals. With the wide variety of mouthwatering vegan options already available at restaurants around the world, there’s never been a better time to ditch cruel animal products.

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