Modern organic Mexican in a fast casual setting

I didn't know that healthy Mexican food existed until I found Tocaya Organica.  While there is no shortage of taco shops in San Diego, Tocaya offers something most of the others do not.  They make their salads, tacos, bowls and burritos with high quality natural sustainable ingredients.  They offer a variety of menu options including vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. I've been several times now and everyone I've dined with has enjoyed their food and appreciated the atmosphere.    Located in the heart of San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, Tocaya Organica caters to tourists and locals alike.  The Gaslamp location has an amazing 40-foot living wall with succulents that serve as the restaurants main centerpiece.  

The Tocaya Salad is one of their most popular dishes and one of my favorites.  It includes shredded romaine and butter lettuce with whole black beans, diced tomatoes, diced red onion, sliced jalapeños, tortilla strips, chopped cilantro, sliced avocado and served with a spicy cilantro-lime vinaigrette.  The salad can be ordered spicy, gluten free or vegan. If that's not enough for you, they recommend adding achiote chicken & queso manchego.  

They have a variety of mouthwatering tacos that truly hit the spot.  All of their tacos start gluten free and vegan and you choose what to add.  The Cali tacos are just simple avocado and onion salsa tacos, but when you add the achiote chicken that brings it to a whole new level of deliciousness.  I love the Barrio tacos with roasted tomato salsa, avocado, diced red onion and cilantro. I order mine with carne molida and jalapeño jack cheese.  

You order the sides separately and they are big enough for two people to share.  My sister is a vegetarian and loved all the options.  We got the Diablo Cauliflower which is roasted and tossed in a spicy buffalo sauce.  We also ordered the Street Corn which was excellent, but spicy.  It comes with cotija cheese and chipotle powder. I haven't come across too many spicy foods in San Diego, but this one was almost too spicy to eat.  We wound up ordering the gluten free and vegan Cilantro Lime Rice just to cool off.

And if that wasn't already enough, they have a variety of teas, waters and frescas.  On a recent visit, our party of three ordered the Coconut Ginger Green Tea, the Watermelon Limeade and the Cucumber Mint Limeade.  All excellent and refreshing.  I'm not sure about their other locations, but the Gaslamp Quarter location also serves margaritas.  They don't have a full bar, but they do have a limited variety of tequilas to make margaritas.