Meet Itza (eet-suh). Here at District Taco, we’ve been working hard on some new menu items to bring even more delicious Mexican food to your plates. One of these dishes is Itza,a veggie-based meat alternative for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike!
While our vegetarian customers have always enjoyed our guacamole, grilled veggies, pinto and black beans as healthy and nutritious menu items, we wanted to offer more. Seeing how popular meat alternatives have gotten over the past decade, we figured it was about time to expand our culinary horizons and dove headfirst into finding the best possible meat substitute for our customers.
Inspired by traditional Latin American carne molida, or ground beef, we wanted to figure out a way to bring that dish’s unique flavors to District Taco’s veggie-loving fans. After doing some research and plenty of taste tests, we settled on a veggie-based protein that is meat-free and soy-free. Combined with onions, tomatoes, and a fresh blend of spices, Itza tastes so good you’ll have to try it to believe it. Wrap it up in your tacos, mix it into your salads, or load it on top of your nachos for some bold new flavors!
Our Marketing Associate, Meg Kavanagh, was part of the team who helped fine-tune Itza’s taste and texture. A vegetarian for the past few years, Meg can’t wait for Itza to be on the menu!
“Having been a meat eater in the past, I grew up with ground beef as the main taco filling in my family dinners,” she said. “Knowing what that ground beef tastes like, I think Itza is a great option for meat eaters and non-meat eaters alike.”
Packed with 13 grams of protein, Itza is a healthy, sustainable option for everyone to enjoy. If you’re looking to cut down on your intake of red meat, get some more fiber in your diet, or simply switch it up and try something new, you’ll love Itza! Our corporate employees were in and out of the kitchen all day to try the new option and everyone is hooked!
I also love how it’s soy-free,” Meg continued. “We’re always looking to be customizable and accommodating to those with allergies and dietary restrictions, and we’re conscious about how difficult it can be for many people to find something they can eat on the menu when going out. We chose to go soy-free to accommodate as many people as possible, and we could not be more excited with our decision.”
As for the name, our CEO and co-founder Osiris Hoil was inspired by the ancient Mayan city, Chichen Itza.
“I grew up not too far from there, so it always reminds me of my Yucatán roots,” he said. “Carne molida is a dish my mother would always make. I’m excited to bring a vegetarian version of it to District Taco.”
Head on over to District Taco to check out our new menu and try Itza today at all of our locations!
We can't believe our new menu and offerings are finally here to share with our DT familia! Always looking to be customizable but different, we are excited to bring Itza to the table and highlight a new twist on a traditional favorite for the non-meat eaters! What a change this makes to our Mexican Catering as well! We know change is hard, so if you have questions about our new offerings, don't hesitate to ask! Follow along with our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages for all the new & exciting updates coming our way!