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

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

• Del Taco debuted the meatless Beyond Taco in April, in partnership with meat-substitute company Beyond Meat. 
• Business Insider taste-tested the Beyond Taco soon after it hit menus nationwide. 
• Del Taco’s Beyond Taco is a delightful fast-food taco — nothing less, nothing more.

Vegan meat substitutes are sweeping the fast-food industry. 

Burger King is rolling out the Impossible Whopper across America. Chains including Tim Hortons and Little Caesars have recently announced deals with Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. And, Del Taco is celebrating its recent debut of the Beyond Taco as one of its most successful new menu item launches. 

Read more: Del Taco’s vegan Beyond Meat taco is on track to become one of the chain’s most successful new menu item launches ever

"Since launching 11 days ago, we are very encouraged by increases in both check and traffic, as this new product platform is bringing in many new or lapsed users and appealing to regular Del Taco guests, who are all eager to sample our Beyond Taco offerings," CEO John Cappasola told investors earlier in May.

Business Insider had the chance to taste-test the Beyond Taco soon after it hit menus at Del Taco locations across the US. 

Here is how the vegan taco tastes:

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.

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

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.

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

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.

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

• These retailers could be worst hit by the trade war with China
• We compared some of the most popular menu items at Pizza Hut and Domino’s — and though both offer tasty options, Domino’s wins for one key reason
• 3 factors are driving the plant-based ‘meat’ revolution as analysts predict companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods could explode into a $140 billion industry

SEE ALSO: Evidence is mounting that fast-food chains from Chick-fil-A to McDonald’s will be forced to add vegan menu items — or face the consequences

Source: Business Insider – ktaylor@businessinsider.com (Kate Taylor)