Chaia - Bethesda

Almost everything on the menu contains milk. They do offer a vegan option for every item, which is a great start. However, I've learned that this only applies to individual items, not the entire order. For instance, the Hibiscus tea I ordered came with honey. I decided to discard it rather than interrupt the lively staff on a Saturday night. I later reached out to them through their website, but after a few days without a response, I called and spoke with one of the employees. Shortly after, the manager, Juan, returned my call. He was very friendly and promised to make it clearer that the tea is not vegan. I appreciate his openness to constructive criticism, so I'm giving them an extra star for his helpfulness. The food was quite good, though a bit pricey, and the portions were on the smaller side. This is an update to my previous review from April 27, 2022.

I have the black enchiladas (with vegan cheese) and they were nice! my friend, who is vegetarian, has a taco trio and loved it. I wish they had some vegan with standard tacos with lenses/bottom. I will be back to try a veganized taco trio

This restaurant is very vegan-friendly, with most items being customizable to be vegan, and those that aren't are clearly marked. I typically order the Taco Trio and the Braided Mushrooms. The beautifully presented green cabbage tacos are also excellent. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, making it a great spot for groups.

This experience is a promising beginning for a vegan taco restaurant. However, they need to enhance their vegan protein options, as the meal was quite heavy on starches and fats. It's on the verge of being really excellent. Updated from the previous review on November 21, 2021.

This is my fav taco place in the whole area, and I am so happy they opened a third location here in Bethesda near the theater and in the heart of downtown shopping! All your favorite tacos from the other locations are here, with my favorite being braised mushrooms or smoky collards. Their menu also has nachos and quesadillas. Many items can be made vegan, so just ask, as they use dairy cheese otherwise. I love ordering the taco trio, because there is no way I would eat just one. My favorite part of their tacos, aside from the handmade tortillas, is they are bursting with fillings, not just a smattering. You will be very happy! So good! So generously filled! They have 1 cookie offering right now, and it is vegan and gluten free. It is very compact (small), but the flavor is strongly satisfyingly cinnamon-y delicious!