Less than a 5-minute drive from Valley College and nestled beside the 101 freeway and caddy corner to the sit-down restaurant Hugo’s on Coldwater Canyon and Riverside Drive is Hugo’s Tacos, a taco stand serving a modern and healthy spin on Mexican classics on a student budget.

Hugo’s Tacos is more than just the run-of-the-mill taco stand. It places an emphasis on gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options and has many choices with more than 15 menu items.

The stand not only serves classic filling options, but also other alternatives such as soy chorizo and grilled veggies. Most restaurants up the price for vegan and vegetarian substitutions, but Hugo’s Tacos’ animal- friendly choices are affordable at $2.59 per taco.

The taco stand inspires customers to try different types of tacos, starting with the shell. There are two options for the taco shell: crispy or soft corn. The tacos are served with onions, cilantro, a choice of salsa and a filling that includes chicken, soy chorizo, mixed veggies, steak, grilled fish or one of two pork fillings: carnitas or al pastor—pork with Indian spices. The better option, juicier and with more flavor, is the carnitas.

The next big decision is which salsa to choose. For a balance of sweet and spicy, go with the honey chipotle salsa. This one is the go-to for many diners. The honey chipotle salsa is on the milder side of the seven salsas available. Another great option is the salsa negra for a smoky and spicy taste.

Hugo’s Tacos also serves breakfast options such as breakfast burritos, quesadillas and bowls. The breakfast burrito is served with eggs, onions, cilantro, organic Spanish rice, organic white beans, breakfast salsa, Oaxaca cheese and a choice of a filling. It will satisfy any appetite and can easily be shared by two people. The breakfast salsa is on the mild side, so for those who like a kick, make sure to add some hot sauce. The eggs and the cheese pair well with the organic beans and rice, filling an empty stomach to start the day.

For dessert, the frozato is a sweet treat. The frozato, served in a cup or cone, is a non-dairy soft-serve option for $2.53 with a flavor choice of chocolate, vanilla or a swirl. The softserve yogurt will have one believing they are eating classic ice cream even though it is a gluten-free recipe. This is a perfect treat for a warm night.

Hugo’s Tacos uses its social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, to reward its followers with deals, often announcing a secret word for customers to give the cashier when purchasing food to receive a discount. Some items have included half-price burritos at nighttime or $3 breakfast burritos for the earlier diners.

Hugo’s Tacos is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and has two locations: Studio City and Glendale. The local taco stand is at 4749 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City.