• 4
• Decent Veg Mexican Food

I was in Tijuana for the Vegetarian Cuisine & Arts Festival. This border city has very few vegan/vegetarian options, but over the past few years, several new veg/veg-friendly restaurants and stores have been added. El Lugar is one of two vegetarian restaurants in Tijuana, and although both are just vegetarian, they have plenty of vegan options. The restaurant has been around for years, and I was finally able to try this place for lunch. When I walked in, I first noticed the colorful and lively decor. I didn't think the fake plants in the restaurant were necessary, and that gave the restaurant a bit of a cheaper feel. The owner of the restaurant was very helpful, and she came over to help us to translate the menu which is in Spanish. I ended up ordering a fresh glass of orange juice and a gluten and beans dish. The corn chips that were put on our table were crisp and tasty, but I didn't care for the salsa, which I thought lacked flavor and was merely spicy hot. The freshly squeezed orange juice was delicious, and obviously had been squeezed to order. The gluten and beans dish was decent, but certainly doesn't compare to the quality of many other veg restaurants I have been to in other countries. I feel that the sauce on this dish could have had taken little more of a direction and had a stronger flavor. I haven't had what I feel are many excellent meals during my trips to Tijuana, but if you are searching for a veg option in Tijuana, El Lugar should do the trick for you. I plan to try this restaurant again in the future to explore other menu items.