Viva Vegan is now serving its tacos, nachos and Strawberry Cheezecake from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fridays from an order window at the in-the-works brick and mortar restaurant it will lease at 4601 W. 12th St., on the corner of 12th and Adams streets.

Chef and owner Maria Larios said progress on the renovation of the restaurant, which will seat 40 when complete, has been “slow but steady,” and she hopes to open for business in a month or two. Larios, who came to Little Rock from Los Angeles with partner Keith Shaw to “focus on the things we’re passionate about,” creates her tacos with jackfruit “carnitas” and her Korean barbecue with a meat-textured vegetable protein, served with kimchee. Her nachos (gluten-free) are served with both jackfruit and the Korean barbecue makings.

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Larios has been catering for about a year and also distributes vegan burritos to people living on the streets as the heartland arm of the Burrito Project, which originated in Los Angeles. Larios said she chose her 12th Street location to bring healthy food to the neighborhood where she lives. “Everyone that lives nearby is really excited about it,” and that was important to her, Larios said.

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