Is Tacos al Pastor Vegetarian? (Spoiler: It’s Pork)

“Al pastor” means “shepherd style,” and the name refers to pork cooked on a vertical spit. The corn tortilla is vegan, but the filling is not. Here is what is in the taco, and the vegetarian swaps.

Key Takeaways

• Tacos al pastor are not vegetarian: the filling is marinated pork.
• The corn tortilla, onion, cilantro and pineapple are all plant-based.
• The pork is the only non-veg part, but it is the main event.
• Mushroom or jackfruit “al pastor” is the plant-based version with the same marinade.

TL;DR: Tacos al pastor are not vegetarian: “al pastor” means the filling is marinated pork, cooked on a vertical spit. The corn tortilla is vegan; the pork is the problem.

What “al pastor” means

Al pastor (“shepherd style”) is a Mexican adaptation of shawarma: pork marinated in a chili-and-pineapple blend, stacked and roasted on a vertical spit, then sliced into corn tortillas with onion, cilantro and pineapple.

• Tortilla (corn): vegan.
• Pork: not vegetarian.
• Toppings (onion, cilantro, pineapple, salsa): vegetarian.

Vegetarian taco swaps

If you want the al-pastor experience without the pork, order instead:

• Tacos de nopales (cactus) or rajas (poblano strips)
• Mushroom or jackfruit “al pastor”: a popular vegan take with the same marinade
• Bean tacos

The bottom line

• Vegetarian? No: choose nopales, rajas, mushroom or bean tacos.
• Vegan? Same, minus any cheese or crema.

See our Tacos al Pastor dish guide for the full breakdown.

Check before you eat. The Verify Veg app scans a barcode or reads an ingredient list from a photo and flags ingredients against your diet (vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, Jain and more). Download on the App Store - Android is coming soon.

Written by Samir Narain, founder of Verify Veg. Verify Veg helps people check packaged food against their diet by scanning barcodes and reading ingredient lists from photos.

Note: Verify Veg provides ingredient-based compatibility checks, not certification. Recipes and preparations vary by restaurant, region and cook, so always confirm with the restaurant, brand or vendor.