Like it or not, there will probably come a time when you land at a Subway, and when that moment comes, we’re here to help you navigate the menu and figure out what you can get that’s vegan. While it’s not the best place to get a smashing, vegan-friendly sandwich, there are a few lunch variations if you’re famished. Especially if you love veggies.

If you’re looking for a fast-food establishment that has more on the menu for vegans, check out Togo’s (similar to Subway—but waaay better), Chipotle (Tofu Sofritas), Taco Bell (almost everything on their menu can be made vegan—or “fresco” style), Burger King (Impossible Whopper), Carl Jr.’s (Beyond Star Burger), Del Taco (Beyond Burrito & Beyond Tacos), and White Castle (Impossible Sliders).

Vegan Menu Options at Subway

Subs and Wraps

There are not a ton of specialty sandwiches and wraps but at least there’s something! The Veggie Delite has been a staple among vegans and vegetarians for years, and just recently, the Veggie Patty was made completely vegan-friendly!

• Veggie Delite
• Veggie Patty (note: in the US the vegan patty may not be available at all locations)

Vegan Breads at Subway

Unfortunately, many of Subway’s breads are not vegan. Some of the specialty breads include ingredients such as milk, eggs, cheese, or even honey. Luckily, there are still many breads to choose from that are vegan, and some of these are rather exciting!

• Artisan Flatbread
• Hearty Multigrain
• Artisan Italian (white)
• Plain Wrap
• Sourdough
• Spinach Wrap
• Tomato Basil Wrap

Extras

• Guacamole

Salad

• Veggie Delite (tip: add the Veggie Patty to make it more filling)

Sauces

The sauces can really make or break the sandwich and luckily there are quite a few vegan-friendly options at Subway:

• BBQ
• Buffalo (has butter flavor, but not actual butter)
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Oil Blend
• Red Wine Vinegar
• Spicy Brown Mustard
• Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce

Seasonings

• Black Pepper
• Oregano
• Salt & Pepper
• Sub Spice

Snacks

• Musselman’s Apple Sauce
• Lay’s Chips (Classic, Baked Plain, Barbeque, Salt & Vinegar, Lightly Salted, Kettle Original, Kettle Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt, Limon)
• Sun Chips (Original only)

Plant-Based Soups at Subway

Sadly, there used to be both a Black Bean and Mediterranean Vegetable soup option on the menu, but neither are included on the menu at the present moment. It might be worth checking at your local Subway to see if they still offer these savory soups.

Subway Veggies

Regardless of which sandwich, wrap, or salad you decide to get, don’t hesitate to load up on all the veggies:

• Avocado
• Banana Peppers
• Black Olives
• Cucumbers
• Green Peppers
• Jalapenos
• Lettuce (iceberg)
• Pickles
• Red Onion
• Spinach
• Tomato

Beverages

• Coca Cola Fountain Sodas
• Hot Coffee
• Freshly Brewed Iced Tea
• Honest Kids Juice Drinks
• Simply Drinks (apple/orange/lemonade)
• Gatorade
• Bottled Water
• Vitamin Water
• Hubert’s Lemonade

Vegan Subway Meal Ideas

When it comes to making a meal at Subway, it’s pretty simple using the list of vegan options above. You can design your own sandwich, wrap, or salad, and feel free to go rogue with the ingredients available (you don’t need to stick to pre-set subs listed on their menu).

Don’t be afraid to ask for guacamole on your salad, an extra Veggie Patty, or grab a bag of chips and add them to your sandwich. That sort of creativity is key to creating a satisfying meal. Here are some meal ideas to get you started:

• A Veggie Delite salad with extra veggies, beverage, side of bread (toasted), and applesauce. Request a Veggie Patty on the side so you can crumble it up and add it to the top of your salad.
• Large Veggie Delite or Veggie Patty (wrap or sub) with extra veggies of your choice, add a variety of sauces, beverage, and crispy chips.

So don’t lose hope, dear reader. With a little creativity, you can absolutely make these options work! If you need more inspiration, check out this video where we show what a vegan order at Subway looks like. Take a peek!

Gluten-Free Vegan Options at Subway

If you are gluten intolerant, your choices are much more limited. Only the salad option is suitable for you. Unfortunately, their gluten-free bread contains eggs (and is therefore not vegan). Currently, the Veggie Patty does not include gluten (only soy) so you may want to add that to your salad option for a more satiating meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask Subway for Better Vegan Options

While the current sub-options at Subway are currently subpar here in the US, there are many signs that they may be evolving to offer better options in the near future. Subway has been toying with the idea of adding vegan meat to their menu for years, and Subway’s Brazil locations even rolled out an Italian sub with vegan meat and cheese in early 2020. If they start rolling these sorts of options out at all their locations, it will be a true game-changer.

So remember—your voice matters. Keep asking when you visit and let the company know you’d like more vegan options. Use word of mouth, call, email, and message the brand on social media. The more people who request veggie alternatives, the sooner they’ll add those items to their menu.

Have you found any other options to be veganizable? Did you find something amazing that we missed? Let us know by tagging #worldofvegan and sharing your favorite vegan creations at Subway with all of us!

Disclaimer: At the time of this Subway article (last updated in December 2022), the foods mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus and add or take away items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new items that are vegan and not listed or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check.

The post Best Vegan Options at Subway appeared first on World of Vegan.

At least we now have one option for burgers on-the-go across the country—and hopefully, we’ll see even more vegan options in the near future. In fact, check out our vegan fast food guide to see what other options are currently available to you at chain restaurants!

And now, if you’re wondering what you can eat that’s vegan at Burger King, read on.

Burger King Veggie Burger & How to Order The Impossible Whopper Vegan

It’s easy to order the Impossible Whopper vegan—just ask for no mayonnaise! The patty used in the Impossible Whopper is the “Impossible Burger 2.0” made by Impossible Foods—and it’s completely vegan. The buns at Burger King are also vegan! The other Whopper toppings include tomatoes, lettuce, ketchup, pickles, and onion, which are all vegan.

Just note, the vegan whopper is made on the same grill as other meat products, so if this bothers you, it may not be suitable for you. Remember that it has zero impact on animals if it’s cooked on a separate grill, or a shared grill, so this is a personal preference, not an ethical consideration.

Are Burger King Fries Vegan?

Yes! Burger King uses vegetable oil for frying their french fries, so the Burger King fries are vegan! However, they do share a fryer with other non-vegan foods, so if you’re worried about cross-contamination, then skip the fries. Ethically speaking, sharing a fryer with other non-vegan products doesn’t actually impact animals or cause any addition suffering, so ethically speaking, you should be in the clear.

Helpful Hints When Ordering Vegan at Burger King

• Browse the restaurant’s website before ordering. Some locations offer different food options.
• When ordering the Impossible Whopper, request that your plant-based patty be cooked on a meat-free surface. It’s possible that they won’t be able to fulfill your request, but it never hurts to ask nicely! Note: it doesn’t make a difference to animals whether your burger is cooked on a grill with other meat or on a meat-free surface.
• Add a garden side salad full of fresh greens (but no cheese!) to any vegan “burger” for a more satisfying supper. Serve with Ken’s Golden Italian or Balsamic dressing and you’re good to go!

Burger King Vegan Options

There’s no straightforward Burger King vegan menu but we’ve simplified it for you by breaking down the vegan options available for each section of the menu!

Vegan Breakfast Options (available until 10:30 am)

Breakfast is pretty much the best time to buy at Burger King. You can stuff your belly full of French Toast Sticks (accidentally vegan—woo!), heaps of hash browns and throw in an additional order of oatmeal (made with water). Combine with an ice-cold OJ and you’ve got yourself a very vegan breakfast buffet!

Here are all of the Burger King vegan breakfast options:

• French Toast Sticks (accidentally vegan)
• Hash browns
• Oatmeal (made with water)
• Maple Syrup (be warned: it’s not real maple syrup but rather flavored corn syrup)
• Impossible Whopper Burger for Breakfast (no mayo)

Pictured above: the Burger King vegan French Toast Sticks

Vegan Lunch & Dinner Options at Burger King (available after 10:30 am)

For lunch and dinner you can turn to the Impossible Whopper, made vegan by holding the mayo. The Impossible Whopper is surprisingly meat-like and has gotten rave reviews. It can be brilliantly bulked up with a substantial side of fries (they use vegetable oil for frying) or an admittedly sad garden side salad (with no cheese or dressing). Invest in the vegan Whopper on your visit and you can discover what all the hype is all about. Encourage the person with you to try a bite too (bonus points if you record their reaction).

• Impossible Whopper (no mayo)
• Single Impossible King (no cheese)
• Fries (they use vegetable oil for frying)
• Garden side salad (with no cheese)

Note: they used to offer a vegan PB&J Jamwich for kids, but those seem to have been removed from the menu.

Vegan Dessert Options at Burger King

Sadly, Burger King discontinued their only accidentally vegan dessert—the apple pie. It’s no longer sold nationwide, and long-time fans of this sweet hand-held treat are crushed. They have shakes, and soft serve, and cookies, and a Hershey’s Sundae Pie—but sadly none of those are vegan.

Vegan Beverages

Beverages are a quick and simple ordering option, keeping in mind that all of the shakes, soft serve, and sundaes are mostly made with milk. The ICEEs are surprisingly vegan (with only ice and sugar syrup as the main ingredients) if you are searching for a cold, sweet treat. The beverages below are all vegan-friendly.

• Capri Sun Apple Juice
• Coffee
• Dr. Pepper
• Frozen Coke ICEE
• Frozen Fanta Wild Cherry ICEE
• Hot Tea
• Iced Tea (sweetened or unsweetened)
• Minute Maid Orange Juice

How to Order Vegan at Burger King Video (Featuring the Impossible Whopper)

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s NOT Vegan at Burger King?

The onion rings at Burger King are sadly not vegan — they are made with whey (a milk derivative). Also, if you were hoping for a warm breakfast biscuit, puffy pancake, or a fine, flaky croissant, you will be decidedly disappointed. All are made with milk and/or butter with no savory substitute.

Plea for the Onion Ring

Oh, please, Bold Burger King
Give us our crispy onion ring

Without all that dreaded whey
You don’t need it anyway

We would buy them day or night
To a vegan, it’s our right

To have a crunchy, savory treat
Without the dairy or the meat!

Healthier Order Suggestions

If you’re concerned about the high-fat content (coconut and sunflower oil) or soy base of the Impossible Whopper, consider ordering a Whopper Junior with no meat or mayo. Yes, it’s just a bun with lettuce and tomato, but you could also heap some heavenly hash browns in the center accented with a hint of hot sauce.

Although there isn’t a large variety on the main menu of this huge hamburger chain, there seems to be a promise of more plant-based options in the future. As always, the more often we ask, the more these ruling restaurants will become aware of the increasing need for non-meat options.

We hope that Burger King’s “Be Your Way” slogan will spread its branches beyond just the individual Impossible Burger.

Historic Moments in Vegan History

• 2019 – Burger King released the iconic Impossible Whopper featuring a fully vegan Impossible Foods patty. 
• 2021 – On October 11th Burger King tested vegan chicken nuggets made by Impossible Foods in three locations: Des Moines, Iowa, Boston, Massachusetts, and Miami, Florida. 
• 2022 – Burger King launched the Impossible King, a plant-based version of the BK King, and the Impossible Southwest Bacon Whopper. They also trialed the Original Chik’n Sandwich, a plant-based chicken sandwich, at select Cincinnati, OH locations.
• 2023 – No changes yet.

How to Order Vegan at Other Chains

• Find out which Wendy’s menu items are vegan-friendly including sides and salad options.
• McDonald’s has limited options with your best bet being their breakfast menu.
• Taco Bell may have one of the most veg-friendly fast food menus out there!
• For pizza lovers, Dominos has decent options for vegetarian pizzas that can easily be made vegan.
• Check out these easy swaps at El Pollo Loco to make several menu items vegan-friendly!
• Don’t get too excited for Arby’s, their vegan menu is lacking but there are a few things worth ordering!

Have you found any other options to be veganizable? Did you find something amazing that we missed? Send us a message and let us know and tag #worldofvegan and @vegan on Instagram to share your favorite vegan at Burger King creations with all of us!

Disclaimer: At the time of this vegan and vegetarian Burger King article (last updated in 2023), all of the foods mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus, add or take away items, and reformulate menu items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new items that are vegan and not listed above or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check. Good luck!

The post Burger King Vegan Options {Ultimate Ordering Guide} appeared first on World of Vegan.

On January 2, 2019, Carl’s Jr. became the very first national fast food chain restaurant in the U.S. to offer a vegan burger. For that fact alone, we have to give the company major kudos and a lot of credit for getting the ball rolling in feeding the vegan community. Keep it up, Carl’s Jr.! And now, just a few years later, almost every fast food restaurant (except McDonald’s!) has rolled our their own spin on veggie burgers. Exciting times.

Quick Carl’s Jr. Menu Ordering Tips

Place a vegan-friendly order at Carl’s Jr. should be quick because there aren’t many choices any longer. Everyone misses the Beyond Sausage Breakfast Sandwich and now the rice and beans, tortilla chips, and side salad seem to have disappeared. So sad!

If you’ll be ordering a Famous Star Burger, remember to ask for no mayo, meat, egg, or cheese. Add extra lettuce, tomato, sliced onions, pickles, and/or jalapenos instead. More information about Beyond Burgers can be found on their Beyond Meat FAQ page.

• Beyond Famous Star Burger
• Potatoes (Hash rounds, waffle fries, natural cut fries)
• Beverage

Carl’s Jr. Vegan Menu

What’s Vegan at Carl’s Jr.? Here is everything you can order that’s vegan on the menu. For an extra-satisfying burger, feel free to bring your own dairy-free cheese and vegan mayo!

Carl’s Jr. Burger

• The Beyond Famous Star Burger (ask for no mayo or cheese) is a charbroiled Beyond Burger patty with iceberg lettuce, yellow onion, tomato, dill pickles, and special sauce (which does happen to be vegan), all on a pillowy sesame seed bun.

Vegan Sides

• Crisscut Fries (aka waffle fries)
• Guacamole
• Hash Rounds
• Natural Cut Fries

Note: Availability varies for these items: cilantro lime rice, pico de gallo, and pinto beans.

Vegan Breads and Buns

• Corn Tortilla
• Flour Tortilla
• Plain Burger Bun
• Sesame Seed Burger Bun

Sauces

• Hot Sauce
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Sweet and Bold Barbecue

Carl’s Jr. Breakfast Menu

Unfortunately you won’t find much vegan on the Carl’s Jr. breakfast menu. The hash browns are vegan but that’s about it. Go for the options above instead.

Vegan-Friendly Beverages

• Dasani Bottled Water
• Fountain Drinks
• Hot Coffee (reg and decaf)
• Tea (unsweetened and sweetened)
• Simply Orange Juice

NOT Vegan at Carl’s Jr

All of these options contain milk or an animal-based broth, so they are not vegan-friendly.

• Biscuits
• Cotija
• Crema
• Fried Zucchini
• Green Sauce
• Onion Rings

Make Your Meal More Satisfying

Ordering vegan at Carl’s Jr. is easy because you only have a few options (though you can mix and match them to make many different meals) and the fries are a go. If they start offering vegan cheese, we’ll have even more flavor to add to our burgers and burritos and also be able to nosh on some nachos! If you’re searching to personalize your plant-based meal, here are a few suggestions:

• Pile on the Plant-Based Burgers – Carl’s Jr. offers single, double, and triple decker options, so you can fill your belly with as many Beyond burgers as you wish! Yum!
• Choose Your Own Cheese – If you just can’t bear eating a burger without cheese, bring your favorite vegan cheese along with you. Super simple to slip a slice or two between the buns.
• Power Up With Potatoes –  Because all of the potato products (hash rounds and both kinds of fries) are vegan-friendly, add a few for a topping of your side salad or just order one of everything! An easy and delicious way to add some bulk to your meal when out and about!

FAQs

Helpful Hints When Ordering Vegan at Carl’s Jr.

• Browse the Carl’s Jr. online menu before ordering.
• If ordering Carl’s Jr. through a delivery service, make sure you clearly specify any substitutions you would like. Especially concerning cheese and meats. If you’re worried that your request may not be honored (or seen by the server at Carl’s Jr.), it might be a better idea to go there directly to order. 
• Download the Nutrition and Allergen PDF to make sure that you are purchasing a vegan-friendly item. The products offered at Carl’s Jr. do change and the PDFs seem to be updated regularly.
• From past experience, it seems that most (if not all) seasonal drinks or foods are not vegan because of added dairy milk or milk derivatives. Be careful when new and exciting seasonal products are offered at Carl’s Jr. Double check the allergens and ingredients PDF to make sure that the item is vegan before purchasing.

Creating a Kinder and More Accessible Carl’s Jr.

It’s only a matter of time before more vegan options land on the menu. That’s the direction all the big fast food chains are heading, and Carl’s Jr. knows that they can add a few more items that are vegan-friendly, such as vegan cheese. But meanwhile, we can always write to, call, or contact the managers of any location to make our requests. 

How to Order Vegan at Other Chains

Looking for more ways to order vegan at other fast food chains? Check out our Vegan Wendy’s Guide, Arby’s Vegan Menu options, Del Taco Vegan Menu Guide, and how to order vegan at Wienerschnitzel.

Plus, don’t miss our comprehensive Vegan Fast Food Guide to help you navigate the fast food space as a whole!

Have you found any other options to be veganizable? Did you find something amazing that we missed? Let us know by tagging #worldofvegan and sharing your favorite vegan-at-Carls-Jr. creations with all of us!

This article is not sponsored and we are in no way affiliated with Carls Jr. At the time of this article, the foods mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus and add or take away items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new items that are vegan at Carl’s Jr. and not listed or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check.

The post Carl’s Jr. Vegan Menu + How to Order the Beyond Star Veggie Burger appeared first on World of Vegan.

When I got older and I had my own family, my youngest son loved Pizza Hut as much as I did and would always ask for Pizza Hut for his birthday dinner. At that time, I had no idea how much the dairy cheese and pepperoni were hindering our health and causing so much suffering to animals.

I didn’t have to think about how to order vegan at Pizza Hut back then, but now I’m on a mission to fulfill my plant-based pizza cravings! While they don’t have vegan cheese (yet), you can load up your pizza with tasty crusty, a variety of sauces, and all the veggies your heart desires.

Quick Vegan Pizza Ordering Tips

Here’s how to order vegan at Pizza Hut and make your own mouth watering meal:

• Choose a pizza crust (see vegan options below)
• Select a sauce
• Ask for “no cheese” or dairy-free cheese (if you’re in the UK, you’re in luck!)
• Pick your favorite veggie toppings
• Consider a dipping sauce
• Add a side of fries, breadsticks (with no parmesan or seasonings), cinnamon sticks (with no icing), or fried apple pie—maybe all four!

We hope this guide will help you with how to order vegan at Pizza Hut!

Pizza Hut Vegan Options

Vegan Pizza Crusts

You’ll be pleased to find that most of the crusts at Pizza Hut are vegan-friendly! The only one you’ll want to avoid is the stuffed crust (unless you’re lucky enough to be in the UK). Everything else is fair game:

• Hand Tossed
• Original Pan
• Thin & Crispy
• Rectangular Crust

Vegan Crust Flavor

Most crust flavors are not vegan, but the Butter Blend happens to be accidentally vegan! Otherwise, options in this category are limited:

• No Crust Flavor (aka plain)
• Buttery Blend (not the Garlic Buttery Blend—that one contains dairy)

Vegan Pizza Sauces

When it comes to sauce, you have a few options. Go for classic, buffalo, or even bean sauce. The Bean sauce is for their taco pizza, and while that pizza ordered as-is is not vegan, the sauce is!

• Marinara
• Buffalo
• Bean (regional)

Vegan Vegetable Toppings

No veggie is off-limits! Enjoy an abundance of delicious vegetables on your pizza:

• Banana Peppers
• Chopped Garlic
• Green Bell Pepper
• Green Chili Peppers
• Jalapeño Peppers
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms
• Olives (green and black)
• Red Onions
• Roasted Spinach
• Roma Tomatoes
• Saurkraut
• Sweet Pineapple

Vegan Sides

• Breadsticks (order with no parmesan cheese or seasonings)
• Hashbrowns
• Lay’s Potato Chips
• Wing Street Fries

Vegan Dips

• BBQ Drizzle
• Buffalo
• Lemon Pepper (regional)
• Spicy Asian (regional)
• Ketchup

Vegan Desserts

• Apple Pie (regional)
• Cinnamon Sticks (without icing)

Vegan Beverages

• Aquafina Water
• Pepsi Fountain Drinks (both diet and regular)

Vegan-Friendly Salad Dressings

• Light Italian
• Balsamic Viniagrette
• Sun Dried Tomato Basil

Note: These dressings are available if you’re dining in and purchasing the salad bar, but they may be available to add for take out by request.

NOT Vegan at Pizza Hut

Flavored crusts (other than the Buttery Blend, which does not contain butter), any desserts besides the fried apple pie or cinnamon sticks (order without icing), pasta dishes, or garlic knots (contain cheese).

Add Your Own Toppings

Power up your pizza order with your own toppings! If you’re taking the pizza to go, you can spruce it up with your favorites at home. Here are a few ideas:

• It goes without saying that if you want a cheesy pizza, you need to add your own cheese. Add some vegan cheese shreds or slices of Miyoko’s mozzarella and pop the pizza back in the oven at home. You can broil it briefly to melt the added vegan cheese.
• Although Pizza Hut has a sufficient selection of veggies, your favorite might have missed the menu. Arm yourself with marinated artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, or even grilled asparagus.
• Fresh herbs and baby greens are fantastic for flavor and fundamental vitamins and minerals. If spinach doesn’t do it for you, bring in some sweet basil, spicy arugula, mellow microgreens, curly kale, or opt for oregano.
• Add your favorite vegan meats. Vegan pepperoni is a classic but vegan sausage or even some vegan bacon bits on top would be delish!

FAQ’s

Helpful Hints When Ordering Vegan at Pizza Hut

• Browse the Pizza Hut website before ordering.
• If ordering Pizza Hut online through a delivery service, make sure you clearly specify any substitutions you would like. Especially concerning cheese. If you’re worried that your request may not be honored (or seen by the server at Pizza Hut), it might be a better idea to go there directly to order.
• Check out both the Nutrition Information Calculator and the Food Allergy & Sensitivity Information to make sure that you are purchasing a vegan-friendly item. The products offered at Pizza Hut do change and the information seems to be updated regularly.
• At the time of this article, Pizza Hut is not offering vegan cheese options. Any pizza you purchase must be ordered without cheese to be vegan.
• If there is any kind of salad or salad bar option on the menu, make sure to add it to your meal. It will make your supper so much more satisfying with a punch of plant power and the fiber-y fullness.

Help Create a More Compassionate Pizza Hut

Now that Pizza Hut has trialed Beyond Meat’s Italian Sausage, it’s only a matter of time before vegan cheese is also chosen. That’s the direction all the big fast-food pizza chains are heading, and Pizza Hut will have to step up its game sooner rather than later to stay ahead. But meanwhile, we can always write to, call, or contact the managers of any location to make our requests.

Requesting not only vegan cheese (wouldn’t Miyoko’s be amazing?), but also a few sides other than fries would be fantastic. A side salad, a selection of plant-based dips, or even one dessert would be most welcome.

How to Order Vegan at Other Fast Food Chains

• Papa Murphy’s
• Dominos
• Dunkin’ Donuts
• Papa John’s

Have you found any other options to be veganizable? Did you find something amazing that we missed? Let us know by tagging #worldofvegan and sharing your favorite vegan-at-Pizza-Hut creations with all of us!

This article is not sponsored and we are in no way affiliated with Pizza Hut. At the time of this article, the foods mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus and add or take away items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new items that are vegan at Pizza Hut and not listed or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check.

The post How to Order Vegan at Pizza Hut appeared first on World of Vegan.

At first glance, you may be thinking that there are no plant-based alternatives for any meal. Are the pastas prepared with eggs, the breadsticks brushed with butter, and all of the sauces swimming with sausages?

Good news, dear friend! Not only is it possible, but pretty tasty and mostly plant-based, too! Though the pickings are slim and not exactly spectacular, you will certainly find enough to eat.

When ordering, just remember: SPSB—sauce, pasta, salad, breadsticks—and you’re good to go! If you choose wisely, your dinner is sure to be both filling and delicious.

Vegan Options at Olive Garden

Breadsticks

Olive Garden’s famous breadsticks surprisingly make the cut for vegans! These golden-brown delights are made with simple ingredients like flour, water, yeast, and salt, ensuring a vegan-friendly treat. Enjoy the soft, pillowy texture and garlic-infused goodness without any dairy or animal products.

Minestrone Soup

Olive Garden’s Minestrone Soup is a hearty and satisfying vegan option. Filled with a medley of vegetables, beans, and pasta in a flavorful tomato-based broth, this soup is not only delicious but also free from animal products. Enjoy the warmth and comfort of a classic Italian soup without compromising your vegan lifestyle.

House Salad (order without croutons or dressing; add oil and vinegar)

For a refreshing and vegan-friendly option, Olive Garden’s House Salad can be customized to meet your plant-based preferences. Simply skip the croutons and traditional dressing, opting instead for a drizzle of oil and vinegar. Packed with crisp lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and other fresh veggies, this customized salad provides a delightful and healthy vegan alternative.

Vegan Pasta at Olive Garden

Indulge in a delectable array of vegan pasta options at Olive Garden, where plant-based choices meet Italian flavors. From the delicate strands of Angel Hair to the ribbon-like Fettuccine, the tubular Rigatoni, the charming Small Shells, to the classic Spaghetti, there is pasta for every preference.

Just a note of caution: while Olive Garden’s gluten-free Rotini may seem like a safe choice, it contains eggs, so opt for one of the other delightful vegan options to fully enjoy your pasta experience.

Vegan Pasta Options:

• Angel Hair
• Fettuccine
• Rigatoni
• Small Shells
• Spaghetti

Please note: the gluten-free Rotini contains eggs!

Vegan Sides at Olive Garden

While the vegan side options at Olive Garden may not scream excitement, they certainly offer a simple and reliable addition to your dining experience. Embrace the straightforward goodness of healthy steamed broccoli, or the unassuming charm of grapes for a touch of sweetness.

• Steamed Broccoli
• Grapes

Dairy-Free Sauces at Olive Garden

Enhance your Olive Garden dining experience with an array of dairy-free sauces that elevate the flavors of your dishes. Whether you’re craving the robust taste of Marinara, the simplicity of Tomato, or the richness of Olive Oil and Vinegar, Olive Garden has your vegan sauce cravings covered.

• Marinara
• Tomato
• Olive Oil
• Vinegar

Vegan-Friendly Beverages

Quench your thirst with a selection of refreshing vegan beverages at Olive Garden, carefully curated to complement your plant-based choices.

• Fountain Drinks
• Lemonades
• Flavored Iced Teas
• Brewed Tea/Iced Tea
• Coffee

NOTE: Olive Garden also offers an assortment of alcoholic beverages, but the options differ from one location to the next and also from state to state. Please double-check your options on Barnivore.com and in our vegan beer, wine, and liquor guide.

Plant-Based Kids Meal

• Pasta With Tomato Sauce – Fettuccine, shells, or spaghetti with a side (steamed broccoli, fries, grapes, or extra pasta) and a drink. Substitute tomato for marinara sauce, if you wish.

Savvy Vegan Suggestions (Bring Your Own!)

Pack on the Protein

Be bold and bring your own beans, vegan meatballs, or plant-based protein with you. Cook a portion beforehand and bag it up to have with your pasta meal—our Veggie Meatball recipe would be perfect!

Come Ready With Your Own Vegan Dressing

If you don’t vibe with olive oil and vinegar, bring your own dressing (like our creamy dill dressing, vegan french dressing, or Asian-Inspired Dressing) to dribble on your salad. Sadly, the house dressing is not vegan at Olive Garden. 

Add Some Vegan Cheese

Choose your favorite plant-based cheese to carry into the restaurant. Our Guide to Vegan Cheese is a huge help if you can’t decide.

BYO Vegan Dessert

Much like The Cheesecake Factory, Chili’s, and TGI Friday’s, Olive Garden has yet to make any of their desserts vegan, aside from the raspberry sauce. If everyone else is planning on diving into dessert, definitely sneak in a snack for yourself. Try our No-Bake Caramel Squares and Super-Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies—they’re small, so delicious, and easy to stash in your pocket!

Frequently Asked Questions

This article is not sponsored and we are in no way affiliated with Olive Garden. At the time of this article, the foods mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus and add or take away items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new items that are vegan and not listed or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check. 

The post Olive Garden Vegan Menu Options appeared first on World of Vegan.

Whether it’s a super small, hole-in-the-wall Starbucks or the biggest, baddest Starbucks your eyes have ever encountered, you’ll need a game plan. The options can be overwhelming at first (no matter which location you visit), so this guide will be your best friend.

With our Starbucks vegan handbook, it’s possible you’ll discover delightful hot and cold drinks you’ve never heard of and learn tips and tricks that will get you the best beverages and the tastiest snacks, all without dairy or animal products. Let’s get started!

For more ways to order vegan at coffee shops check out our Peet’s Coffee Vegan Guide (awesome vegan options including a veggie breakfast sandwich), Dunkin Donuts, Einstein Bros Bagels, Krispy Kreme, McDonald’s, and Panera Bread.

How To Order Dairy Free at Starbucks

Did you know that you can order (almost) anything at Starbucks vegan? Here’s how to hack the Starbucks menu so you can ace your next road trip and order like a vegan boss when visiting the biggest coffeehouse chain in the world. 

When you follow the steps below, you can order all your favorite beverages in a way that’s animal friendly, kinder to our planet, healthier for your body, and still tastes great. It’s a win-win-win. So why not make your next Starbucks order vegan? 

Step One: Plant-Based Milk Swap

Just ask your barista to replace dairy milk with soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk or oat milk.

Step Two: Leave Out the Animal Products

If ordering food, request no cheese, no egg, and (of course) no meat.

Step Three: Say No to Beverage Boosts

For beverages, hold the following non-vegan ingredients:

• Caramel Drizzle (caramel syrup is vegan)
• Cinnamon Dulce Topping (contains butter)
• Java Chips (in certain Frappuccinos)
• Protein Powder (in smoothies)
• Pumpkin Spice Sauce
• Whipped Cream

It’s as easy as that! You can always just ask your barista to make your drink vegan (without dairy, honey, or other animal products), but the steps above will give you an idea about what to look out for. 

Starbucks Vegan Drinks

The beverage list for Starbucks is impressive, so we’ll try to break it up into easy-to-find sections for you. Whether you’re searching for hot coffees, iced teas, creamy lattes, zesty lemonades, or vegan Starbucks frappuccinos, we’ll help you find what you’re longing for. Just keep reading!

Hot Coffees

For either hot or iced coffee beverages, ask for a plant-based milk (almond, coconut, oat, or soy) and cane sugar to be used, if you want a creamy or sweet addition. You may wish to take notes or order online before you go to because there are just so many choices to consider.

• Americano – Espresso topped with hot water.
• Brewed Coffees – Blonde Roast, Decaf Pike Place, Pike Place, or Veranda Blend
• Café Latte
• Caffe Mocha – Ask for no whipped cream.
• Cappuccino
• Caramel Macchiato – Substitute caramel syrup for caramel sauce.
• Cinnamon Dolce Latte – Ask for no whipped cream or cinnamon dolce topping
• Espresso
• Espresso Macchiato
• Flat White
• Peppermint Mocha Latte – Order with no whipped cream or dark chocolate curls.
• Starbucks Reserve Latte
• Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte

Iced Coffees

• Iced Coffee
• Cold Brew
• Iced Caffe Americano – ice, water, brewed espresso
• Espresso or Shaken Espresso Iced
• Iced Caffe Latte
• Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte – Ask for no whipped cream or cinnamon dolce topping.
• Blonde Vanilla Latte Iced
• Iced Caramel Macchiato – Ask to substitute caramel syrup for caramel sauce.
• Caffe Mocha Iced – Order with no whipped cream.
• Iced Peppermint Mocha – Request no whipped cream or dark chocolate curls.

Already Vegan Iced Coffee Options

• Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
• Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso
• Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Vegan Holiday Starbucks Drinks

While these are only available seasonally, many of them are already made vegan!

• Oleato Gingerbread Oatmilk Latte
• Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
• Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
• Chestnut Praline Latte – Ask for non-dairy milk and no whipped cream

Hot Teas

If you like your tea with milk and sweetener, ask for a plant-based milk (almond, coconut, oat, or soy) and cane sugar to be used.

• Chai
• Earl Grey
• Emperor’s Clouds & Mist
• Jade Citrus Mint
• Royal English Breakfast

Hot Tea Lattes

Request non-dairy milk to be used in these lattes.

• London Fog Tea Latte
• Matcha Tea Latte
• Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte

Iced Teas

For all of these iced teas options, you may wish to choose the cane sugar as a sweetener and/or a non-dairy milk of your choice. Finally, bottled teas (like Teavana Black or Green) are sometimes offered (depending on location) because they’re a good to-go option.

• Iced Teas – Black, Green, London Fog, Matcha, Passion Tango, and Peach Green
• Cold Tea Lattes – London Fog and Matcha
• Iced Tea Lemonades – Black, Green, Matcha, Passion Tango, Peach Green

Caffeine-Free Hot Teas and Beverages

• Cinnamon Dolce Crème – Substitute with non-dairy milk and ask for no whipped cream or cinnamon dolce topping.
• Hot Apple Juice – Request steamed.
• Hot Chocolate – Ask for a plant-based milk and no whipped cream.
• Mint Majesty Tea – Herbal tea
• Peach Tranquility Tea – Herbal tea
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate – Order with your choice of non-dairy milk and no whipped cream or dark chocolate curls.
• Vanilla Creme – Choose a non-dairy milk and ask for no whipped cream.

Caffeine-Free Iced Teas

• Iced Teas – Passion Tango
• Iced Tea Lemonades – Passion Tango

Fruity Beverages

• Lemonades – Kiwi Starfruit, Mango Dragonfruit, Strawberry Acai, and Plain Lemon
• Fruity Drinks – Kiwi Starfruit, Mango Dragonfruit, and Strawberry Acai

Vegan Starbucks Frappuccinos

For every one of these creamy, dreamy frappuccinos, remember to ask for non-dairy milk and no whipped cream (until they start offering an oat or coconut whipped cream).

• Mocha Frappuccino
• Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino
• Strawberry Creme Frappuccino
• Matcha Creme Frappuccino

Specialty Vegan Starbucks Drinks

These specialty blends and refreshers are all the rage and also caffeine-free. They’re colorful, super fun, and downright delicious if you’re vegan or not. It’s time to give one (or all of them!) a try!

• Dragon Drink (mango dragonfruit and coconut milk)
• Golden Ginger (coconut milk with ginger, pineapple, and turmeric)
• Pink Drink (strawberry acai and coconut milk)
• Star Drink (kiwi starfruit and coconut milk)
• Strawberry Lemonade Blended (ice, lemonade, creme frappuccino syrup, and strawberry puree)
• Very Berry Hibiscus (blackberry flavor with hibiscus, sweet ginger, and lemongrass)
• Violet Drink (very berry hibiscus refresher with coconut milk and ice)

Starbucks Vegan Food Options

This popular cafe also has a wide selection of vegan choices, and approximately 60 million people visiting Starbucks every single week, it’s wonderful to know that much of their menu can easily be made plant-based to accommodate vegans and health-conscious consumers. Cheers to that!

At the moment, you can order food items such as:

• Bagels – Cinnamon Raisin, Everything, Plain, and Sprouted Grain (add avocado spread or Justin’s nut butter)
• Chickpea Bites & Avocado Protein Box
• Oatmeal – Rolled & Steel Cut Plain (with brown sugar, dried fruit, and nuts) or Blueberry (with nut medley, blueberries, and agave nectar). Request non-dairy milk on the side if you’d like extra liquid.
• Strawberry Overnight Grains – Includes oatmeal (in coconut milk), cooked steal cut oats, red quinoa, and chia seeds with coconut shavings, strawberries, and toasted almonds.

Vegan Snack Foods

There are tons of tasty choices for Starbucks vegan snacks. At least half of the sweet and salty snack selections are vegan-friendly and dairy-free. Just take a quick peek at the back of those pre-made packages and skim the list for milk, egg, or meat ingredients. You’re likely to be pleasantly surprised with their vegan offerings—chips, cookies, and candies, oh my!

Here is a sound sampling of some of the treats on display:

• Avocado Spread
• Bananas
• Hippeas White Cheddar Chickpea Puffs
• Justin’s Nut Butters (Classic Almond or Hazelnut Butter)
• Kettle Potato Chips (salt and vinegar, simply salted, sweet potato)
• Peter Rabbit Organic Fruit Pouches
• Squirrel Brand Mixed Nuts
• Starbucks BBQ Potato Chips
• That’s It Fruit Bars

NOT Vegan at Starbucks

These items at Starbucks contain dairy and cannot be made vegan:

• Caramel Brûlée
• Caramel Drizzle/Sauce
• Chai Latte (Chai syrup used in the latte contains honey, but the chai tea that comes in a teabag is vegan-friendly.)
• Cinnamon Dolce Topping
• Creams: Irish Cold Foam, Salted Caramel, and Vanilla Sweet
• Dark Chocolate Curls
• Frappuccino Chips
• Light Frappuccinos
• Pumpkin Spice Sauce
• Sauces: White Chocolate Mocha, Caramel Drizzle/Sauce (caramel syrup is vegan), Dark Caramel Sauce, Pistachio Sauce, Caramel Brulee Sauce
• White Chocolate Mocha 

Vegan Starbucks FAQ’s

Make Your Own Homemade Vegan Drinks and Desserts

If you’re frustrated with the lack of luscious vegan desserts and wonderfully warm (or cool and creamy!) drinks, we know just the thing to tide you over. Take just a few minutes to make one or two of these deliciously decadent recipes, settle into your favorite comfy chair, and enjoy in your own environment. Set the speakers to some soothing jazz sounds and enjoy the peaceful ambiance!

• Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Vegan Hot Cocoa
• Vegan Peppermint Mocha
• Cozy Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate
• Best Oatmeal Cookies
• Spiced Vegan Hot Chocolate
• Super Easy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

For a shortcut, make a pot of coffee and add these delicious Vegan Coffee Creamers!

Creating a Kinder and More Accessible Starbucks Vegan Experience

Although this semi-cozy, high-end cafe does not yet have a specific vegan Starbucks menu to order from (we hope someday!), we can still keep our fingers crossed that our passionate vegan pleas will be heard. Since there are so few vegan-friendly coffee or sweet craving choices on the fast food front, let’s hope that they will continue to step up their Starbucks dairy free drinks and add at least one vegan bakery item soon. Wouldn’t it be a dream to be able to order a vegan cappuccino, vegan latte, or a vegan frappuccino without any fuss or extra charges?  In the meantime, we can always write to, call, or contact the managers of any location to make our requests.

This video was a collaboration with Vince Lia. You can watch our next video about how to order vegan at Chipotle and check out his plant-based recipes, inspiring videos, vegan shirts and more at VinceLia.com. 

What would be your most wished for food items on a vegan menu at Starbucks ? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

This article is not sponsored and we are in no way affiliated with Starbucks. At the time of this article, the menu items mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus and add or take away items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new Starbucks vegan options that are not listed or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check.

The post The Ultimate Vegan Starbucks Drinks & Food Guide appeared first on World of Vegan.

On the other hand, if your first instinct is to positively pass by this burger place, you may want to reconsider. Though far from healthy and having only a few plant-based products, it’s got much better options than either McDonald’s, Burger King, or Subway for vegan versions of beef-based sandwiches.

Our Top Picks

Ordering vegan at White Castle is simple because you only have a two burger options and a couple of potato choices. Let’s cross our fingers that they start offering vegan cheese at ALL locations and not just in two states. If you’re unsure how to plan your plant-based, fast food meal, here are a few suggestions:

• Basic Breakfast Ideas – Order two crispy slices of wheat toast with jelly (or jam) and include an order (or two!) of golden hash brown nibblers. Dunk into sweet Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup and add an apple or orange juice on the side. You may want to grab a steaming cup of hot coffee or tea, too.
• Burgers All the Way – Your best bet is to choose either (or both!) the Impossible Slider (with no cheese) or the Veggie Slider (with no ranch) and add on an order of crispy fries. If you’re extra hungry, double your burger and fries and also include some appetizing onion rings (if you’re lucky enough to be in the correct state). Since vegan cheese is only currently offered in NY and NJ, consider bringing some vegan slices of your own if you’re not in these states!
• Sustain Yourself With Snacks – When you’re on the go and just slightly snack-y, strive to keep it simple. Buy a side order of fries with a selection of dipping sauces, a Crave Cooler (or other sweet liquid treat), or even better, a serving or two of applesauce. No need to overthink it.

Vegan Options at White Castle

While you certainly don’t have to be a knight or lady-in-waiting to wander into White Castle, all customers are not afforded the luxury of a myriad of menu items. Are you ready to find out which White Castle vegan options are open to passionate plant-based eaters like us? Here’s what you can expect!

Vegan Bread and Buns

• Signature Square Hamburger Bun
• Wheat Toast

Vegan White Castle Sliders

You’re in luck! Although not fully vegan, these White Caste sliders can be veganized and enjoyed by all plant-based people. For the items below, ask for no mayo, meat, egg, or dairy cheese. Add extra lettuce, tomato, onions, and/or pickles. Both are served on a dairy-free slider bun.

• Impossible Slider (ask for no dairy cheese)
• Veggie Slider (Dr. Praeger’s veggie patty, order without ranch)

Vegan Sauces & Condiments

• Barbecue
• Everything Sauce
• Fat Free Honey Mustard
• Grape Jelly
• Horseradish Sauce
• Hot Sauce
• Ketchup
• Lemon Juice
• Marinara Sauce
• Mrs. Butterworth’s Syrup
• Mustard (all)
• Seafood Cocktail Sauce
• Strawberry Jam

Vegan-Friendly Toppings

• Fire Roasted Onions
• Hamburger Onions
• Pickles

Vegan Sides

• French Fries
• Hash Brown Nibblers
• Mott’s Applesauce
• Onion Rings (not the ones in NY or NJ, which have milk in them)

Note: Fried Pickles and Sweet Potato Waffles Fries are two items that are only available for limited times and at limited locations. If you’re craving either one, make sure to ask. You might get lucky!

Vegan-Friendly Beverages

• Bottled Water
• Coca-Cola Fountain Drinks
• Crave Coolers (Coke or Fanta Wild Cherry)
• Hot Coffee (with no milk or cream)
• Hot Tea (with no milk or cream)
• Iced Sweet Tea
• Monster Energy Drinks (note: some are not vegan, including Java Monster)
• Orange and Apple Juice
• Powerade (Mountain Berry Blast and Fruit Punch)
• Vitamin Waters

NOT Vegan at White Castle

All of these options contain milk or an animal-based derived ingredients, so they are not vegan-friendly.

• All Desserts
• Hot Chocolate (contains dairy milk)
• Onion Chips/Rings (these seem to vary from state to state, so check before ordering)
• Smoothies (both flavors contain dairy yogurt)
• Waffles
• Zesty Zing Sauce (contains eggs)

Helpful Hints When Ordering Vegan at White Castle

• Browse the White Castle menu before ordering.
• If ordering White Castle through a delivery service, make sure you clearly specify any substitutions you would like. Especially concerning cheese and meats. If you’re worried that your request may not be honored (or seen by the server at White Castle), it might be a better idea to go there directly to order. 
• Download the Nutrition Information PDF and Ingredient List PDF to make sure that you are purchasing a vegan-friendly item. The menu items offered at White Castle do change and the PDFs seem to be updated regularly.
• From past experience, it seems that most (if not all) seasonal drinks or foods are not vegan because of added dairy milk or milk derivatives. Be careful when new and exciting seasonal products are offered at White Castle. Double check the allergens and ingredients page to make sure that the item is vegan before purchasing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Creating a Kinder and More Accessible White Castle

It’s only a matter of time before more vegan options land on the menu. That’s the direction all the big fast food chains are heading, and White Castle knows that they can add a few more items that are vegan-friendly, such as vegan cheese. But meanwhile, we can always write to, call, or contact the managers of any location to make our requests. 

How To Order Vegan At Other Fast Food Chains

• The Ultimate Vegan Fast Food Guide
• Wendy’s
• Del Taco
• Wienerschnitzel
• Denny’s
• Burger King
• McDonald’s
• Subway

Have you found any other options to be veganizable? Did you find something amazing that we missed? Let us know by tagging #worldofvegan and sharing your favorite vegan-at-White-Castle creations with all of us!

This vegan at White Castle fast food article is not sponsored and we are in no way affiliated with White Castle. At the time of this article, the foods mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus and add or take away items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new items that are vegan at White Castle and not listed or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check.

The post How to Order Vegan at White Castle (Ultimate Guide) appeared first on World of Vegan.

As a vegan at Chipotle, you can get a giant burrito loaded with rice, beans, lettuce, guacamole, tomatoes, onion, corn, salsa, and even Chipotle’s special tofu sofritas. Not in the mood for a burrito? You can order a line of tacos, a burrito bowl, or a fully-loaded salad. Pair your main dish with a side of chips and guac (it’s vegan!) and you’ve got yourself a hearty meal that is so filling there’s a good chance you won’t be able to finish it. Wrap your leftovers in foil and your order can last for a whole extra meal!

It’s Easy Being Vegan at Chipotle

We love that there is less stress when ordering vegan at this mainstream Mexican-inspired grill because everything is made fresh at each location, and as long as you maneuver around the meat and choose to be cheese-less, you’re pretty safe.

Did you know that Chipotle only uses 53 ingredients in all of the meals they make? That’s pretty incredible! I counted 44 of the 53 ingredients to be vegan and only 9 were not. The non-vegan ingredients at Chipotle include beef, Monterey jack cheese, cheese cultures, chicken, cultured cream, honey, milk, pork and white cheddar. The short ingredient list is impressive and makes it easy to order almost anything on their menu made vegan.

How to Order Vegan at Chipotle

Here is the simplest way to order a vegan meal at Chipotle:

1. Choose a base: Burrito, Burrito Bowl, Salad, or Tacos
2. Pick all your toppings (see list below)
3. Decide if you’d like to add sides like chips, guac or both.
4. Choose a delightful drink, if you desire!

Burritos

Chipotle’s burritos are made with a large, soft, warmed flour tortilla filled with any ingredient toppings you’d like (such as your choice of rice, beans, veggies, tofu, salsa, lettuce, and guacamole.)

Burrito Bowls

These are essentially burritos without the tortilla served up in a bowl. People may choose burrito bowls because they prefer eating with a fork or looking for a healthier, gluten-free, or lower-carb option.

Tacos

You can order single tacos or a full 3-taco meal served up in soft flour tortillas or crispy corn tortilla taco shells. Fill your tacos with all the vegan fixins (such as your choice of rice, beans, veggies, tofu, salsa, lettuce, and guacamole.)

Salads

Chipotle salads are similar to Burrito Bowls except they’re on a bed of romaine lettuce instead of rice. You can load up all the toppings you’d like (such as beans, fajita veggies, sofritas tofu, corn, tomatoes, and salsa). In 2020 Chipotle rolled out a new option for salad lovers—their “Supergreens Lettuce Blend” which includes baby kale and baby spinach for a more diverse and nutrient-rich salad base. You can special-request this super greens mix instead of romaine in your salad.

Vegan Options at Chipotle

Vegan Toppings & Sides (all listed are vegan-friendly)

• Black Beans
• Pinto Beans
• Cilantro Lime White Rice
• Brown Rice
• Fajita Vegetables (sauteed bell peppers and onion)
• Sofritas (braised tofu with poblano and chipotle peppers)
• Guacamole
• Romaine Lettuce
• Supergreens Lettuce Blend
• Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa
• Fresh Tomato Salsa
• Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa
• Tomatillo Green Chili Salsa
• Tortilla Chips

Vegetarian Kids Meals

You can easily veganize Chipotle’s kids meals by choosing the vegan options (rice, beans, etc.)

• Any item listed above
• The B-Y-O tacos with either crispy corn tortilla shells or the soft flour tortilla rounds

Vegan Drinks at Chipotle

There are many vegan drink offerings at Chipotle that are accidentally vegan, including (but not limited to):

• Water
• Sparkling water
• Lemonade
• Nantucket Nectars (all flavors)
• IZZE fizzy drinks (all flavors)
• Assorted sodas

If you’d like to see if the beer is vegan, check out our vegan alcohol guide and consult Barnivore’s vegan beer directory.

What Happened to the Vegan Chorizo at Chipotle?

Following the 2014 introduction of sofritas (Chipotle’s first vegan protein option), a brand new menu item was introduced. In January, 2022 Chipotle launched a new spicy vegan chorizo made using pea protein (similar to the Beyond Burger), ancho chile and Chipotle peppers, tomato paste, garlic, smoked paprika, and extra virgin olive oil.

Sadly, the item is now off the menu, and we’re uncertain if it will return.

This is a nice reminder of how impactful it can be to support these new vegan options at mainstream restaurants and fast food restaurants. 

Helpful Hints When Ordering at Chipotle

• Browse the restaurant’s website before ordering. They have a very helpful nutrition calculator which allows you to not only see what is vegan (designated with a V+ in a green circle), but also which items contain gluten, soy, sulfites, or dairy.
• Gluten-sensitive customers should avoid the flour tortillas, which contain wheat gluten. The corn tortillas are free of wheat.
• Sulfite sensitive people should avoid the flour tortillas and the sofritas.
• Be careful—the delicious Smoked Chipotle Salad Dressing is not vegan. Honey is one of the main ingredients, so instead switch to a savory salsa for your salad.
• Consider ordering a large Lifestyle Bowl (available in Keto, Whole30, Paleo, Vegan, and Vegetarian) and save yourself a lot of hassle when you’re hungry! The vegan version includes brown rice, black beans, sofritas, tomato salsa, corn salsa, and romaine lettuce. All set to go and no decisions are required!

How to Order Vegan at Other Fast Food Chains

Don’t miss our vegan fast food guide where you can see how to eat vegan at many mainstream restaurant chains and fast food spots. For example:

• How to Order Vegan at McDonald’s
• Order Vegan at Taco Bell
• Vegan at Dominos

Have you found any other options to be veganizable? Did you find something amazing that we missed? Send us a message and let us know and tag #worldofvegan and @vegan on Instagram to share your favorite vegan at Chipotle creations with all of us!

Disclaimer: At the time of this article, all of the foods mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus, add or take away items, and reformulate menu items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new items that are vegan and not listed above or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check. Good luck!

The post Vegan at Chipotle: Ultimate Menu Guide appeared first on World of Vegan.

Although we were surprised to discover any options at all, it’s always a disappointment when the menu items are so measly. With more and more vegan-friendly, fast food updates happening on a weekly basis, it’s incredible that some restaurants are still resistant to real, plant-based offerings.

A question we hear on a regular basis is, “Are the fries vegan?” The answer, in this case, is a firm and final no. Why not? Keep reading and we’ll explain.

How to Navigate the Buffalo Wild Wings Menu

In order to keep things simple, let’s just start with the basics. If you follow our lead, you can leave this restaurant without being too ravenous. Here’s what we suggest:

• Beverage – Luckily, it’s pretty easy to find something dairy-free to quench your thirst.
• Appetizer – Choose from a boat of everything pretzel knots or carrots and celery sticks with guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, or sauce of your choice. Take a chance on asking for the Asian Zing Cauliflower to be baked instead of fried and you’ve got yourself another appealing appetizer!
• Main Meal – Consider the black bean burger or grilled chicken wrap (or order of buffalitos) without the chicken, cheese, or sour cream and served on a challah bun. You’ll come away with grilled tortillas with pico de gallo and sauce or seasoning. Ask for additional veggies to bulk it up.
• Side Dish – Garden salad or white rice will help to round out your meal with a bit more fiber and fullness.
• Dessert – Mandarin oranges are a sweet, satisfying option.

NOTE: Keep in mind that all fried foods are not vegan-friendly. Make sure to swap out the fries for a different side.

Vegan Buffalo Wild Wings Options

With both “buffalo” and “wings” in the restaurant’s title, you can pretty much guarantee that the menu offerings will be very low or pretty much no. But, before we give up altogether, there are still some options on the menu that are vegan-friendly. Here’s what’s available:

• Carrots
• Celery Sticks
• Everything Pretzel Knots (no beer cheese or honey mustard)
• Garden Side Salad (no cheese or croutons)
• Guacamole
• Mandarin Oranges
• Southwest Black Bean Burger (no cheese or ranch)
• White Rice (only available at Hawaii locations)

Vegan-Friendly Side Sauces and Seasonings

While the wings might win some people over, we’re more interested in the Buffalo Wild Wings vegan sauces and seasonings. If there’s only a few ways to fill up on food, we need to favor the flavor factor. Here are the vegan options:

• Avocado Smash
• Blazin’ Knockout Sauce
• Carribean Jerk Sauce
• Dry Rubs (all are vegan-friendly except buffalo)
• Hot Sauce (not mild or medium, which contain egg for some reason)
• Jammin’ Jalapeno
• Ketchup
• Mango Habanero Sauce
• Marinara
• Mustard
• Nashville Hot
• Pico de Gallo
• Salsa
• Sweet BBQ Sauce
• Teriyaki Sauce
• Wild Sauce
• Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette

Beverages

All of the typical fountain drinks are vegan. Here’s what they offer:

• Aquafina Water
• Black Cherry Limeade
• Bubbly Sparkling Water
• Coffee
• Fresh Brewed Lipton Ice Tea
• Izze Sparkling Juice
• Passionfruit Mojito
• Pepsi Fountain Drinks
• Strawberry Lemonade
• Sweet Tea
• Tropicana Lemonade & Pink Lemonade

NOTE: Buffalo Wild Wings also serves alcoholic beverages and spirits. Please check our guide to vegan alcohol and Barnivore to find out which options are vegan-friendly.

What’s Not Vegan at Buffalo Wild Wings?

We’ll sum in it in five simple words: If it’s fried, forget it. Such a huge bummer (and that’s us being patient and polite about it)! Nothing is spared for our sensitive minds and stomachs.

All fried foods; including fries, tots, chips, wedges, pickles, onion rings, etc. are not vegan-friendly. Not only are they cross-contaminated in shared fryers, but they also use beef fat for frying all of their foods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Helpful Hints When Ordering Vegan at Buffalo Wild Wings

• Browse the Buffalo Wild Wings menu before ordering.
• If ordering Buffalo Wild Wings online or through a delivery service, make sure you clearly specify any substitutions you would like. If you’re worried that your request may not be honored (or seen by the server at Buffalo Wild Wings), it might be a better idea to go there directly to order.
• Check out their Nutrition Guide and Allergen & Preparation page to make sure that you are purchasing a vegan-friendly item. The menu items offered at Buffalo Wild Wings don’t seem to change very often, but you may want to double check before you visit.
• Be careful when new and exciting seasonal products are offered at Buffalo Wild Wings. Double-check the allergens and ingredients to make sure the item is vegan before purchasing.

Creating a Kinder and More Accessible Buffalo Wild Wings 

Although we might give a thumbs-down to Buffalo Wild Wings for their lack of vegan-friendly food, we’ll still keep hoping! While it’s not the healthiest vegan fast food option, people with plant-based preferences might want to visit with their friends sometimes. It would be worthwhile to join in with other restaurants in making cruelty-free menu changes. In the meantime, we can always write to, call, or contact the managers of any location to make our requests.

What are your favorite items on the Buffalo Wild Wings vegan menu? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

How to Order Vegan at Other Fast Food Chains

• KFC
• Five Guys
• Applebee’s
• Chili’s Bar & Grill
• TGI Friday’s

Have you found any other Buffalo Wild Wings options to be veganizable? Did you find something amazing that we missed? Let us know by tagging #worldofvegan and sharing your favorite vegan-at-buffalo-wild-wings creations with all of us!

At the time of this article, the foods mentioned above are vegan. Restaurants regularly update their menus and add or take away items, so please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new items that are vegan at Buffalo Wild Wings and not listed or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check.

The post How To Order Vegan at Buffalo Wild Wings appeared first on World of Vegan.

When not only meat, but also animal broth and eggs are in the menu offerings, ordering can get a little tricky. When you’re hangry or, even worse, raveganous (our new word for a ravenous vegan), making a conscious choice can be even more challenging. What can you do to satisfy your starved stomach?

First, take a deep breath. Second, read through this list and take our advice. Lastly, thank the people at Panda Express for offering an increasingly delicious array of plant-based provisions—finally! Scroll a little further and then order your food, my friend!

How to Navigate the Menu at Panda Express

Luckily, the options for ordering vegan at Panda Express are not as scarily scarce as they once were. Back in the day, there was chicken broth or eggs in nearly every menu except for white rice. But no longer! This Chinese kitchen restaurant started adding more fantastic plant-based meat options, and here are some solid suggestions on how to order as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Except for sides and beverages, there is pretty much only one option in each category on the menu. So, make it easy on yourself by ordering these items:

• Appetizer: Vegetable Spring Rolls
• Entree: Eggplant Tofu (available at select locations)
• Vegetable: Super Greens
• Side: Choose a rice or noodle bowl (or both, if you’re really hungry)
• Sauces: Any and all!
• Beverage: Your choice
• Dessert: Fortune Cookie

Panda Express Vegan options

Entrees

• Eggplant Tofu (browned tofu, eggplant, and red bell peppers in a spicy sauce; only available at some locations)
• Chow Mein (stir-fried noodles with cabbage, onions, and celery)
• Chow Fun (available at select locations)

Appetizers

• Vegetable Spring Rolls (cabbage, celery, carrots, green onions, and Chinese noodles in a wonton wrapper)

NOTE: At some locations, you can add mushrooms, green beans, tofu, or vegetable protein to the spring rolls. The wrappers do not contain eggs.

Sides

• Super Greens (steamed broccoli, kale and cabbage)
• Brown Steamed Rice
• White Steamed Rice

Sauces

• Chili Sauce
• Hot Mustard
• Plum Sauce
• Potsticker Sauce
• Soy Sauce
• Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Teriyaki Sauce

Dessert

• Fortune Cookie

Vegan-Friendly Beverages

• Barq’s Root Beer
• Black Tea
• Fountain Drinks (Coca-Cola Brands)
• Fuze Teas (Lemon and Raspberry)
• Glaceau Vitaminwaters
• Gold Peak Teas
• Hi-C Fruit Punch
• Minute Maid Lemonades
• Powerade
• Seagrams’ Ginger Ale
• Sweet Tea

What’s Not Vegan at Panda Express?

• Hot and Sour Soup – contains eggs
• Fried Rice – contains eggs
• Chocolate Chip Cookies – contains eggs, milk, and butter

NOTE: Most of the foods that are available at Panda Express contain wheat and soy. If you are sensitive or allergic to either of these elements, you might want to avoid visiting this fast food restaurant for now.

Vegan Orange Chicken at Panda Express (Limited Release)

The very limited options for vegans at Panda Express turned a corner with the launch of vegan orange chicken! Beyond the Original Orange Chicken was available at all locations starting September 7, 2022— but it was only available for a limited time.

When Panda Express first tested their vegan orange chicken at a few locations, they sold out before most hungry herbivores had a chance to give it a try. We’re eagerly waiting for them to catch up with the plant-based demand! It’s made with Beyond Meat’s Beyond Chicken Tenders and looked and tasted very similar to the Original Orange Chicken.

Does Panda Express Use Chicken Broth in Their Menu Items?

Nope! Thanks to years of campaigning from organizations like PETA and Vegan Outreach, Panda Express has not used chicken broth in their dishes since February 2021.

Are the Noodles at Panda Express Vegan?

Yes! The noodles contain no eggs or other animal products. But, be aware that all of the vegan-friendly food options are cooked in the same wok as foods that contain meat. Panda Express has mentioned that they wipe the woks out well between uses, but they do share the same surface. If you are not comfortable with the possible cross-contamination, it might be best to avoid this fast food restaurant all together.

Helpful Hints When Ordering Vegan at Panda Express

• Browse the Panda Express menu before ordering.
• If ordering Panda Express online or through a delivery service, make sure you clearly specify any substitutions you would like. Especially concerning sauces and meats. If you’re worried that your request may not be honored (or seen by the server at Panda Express), it might be a better idea to go there directly to order.
• Check out the Nutrition and Allergen Information page to make sure that you are purchasing a vegan-friendly item. The menu items offered at Panda Express do change and the informational charts seem to be updated regularly.
• Be careful when new and exciting seasonal products are offered at Panda Express. Double check the allergens and ingredients PDFs to make sure the item is vegan before purchasing.

Creating a Kinder and More Accessible Panda Express

Panda Express is yet another great example that when we ask; companies listen. Vegetarians and vegans have been asking for vegan options on the menu for this quick-stop, Chinese takeout restaurant for over a decade. And finally we have them. Your voice matters, so we hope this inspires you to use your voice to make a difference!

You can always write to, call, or contact the managers of any location to make our requests.

What are your favorite items on the new vegan menu at Panda Express? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

How to Order Vegan at Other Fast Food Chains

We have a whole series of vegan fast food guides to help you find the best options at each location. Take a peek if you’re in need of a quick vegan meal on a road trip or with fast food-loving friends!

• P.F. Chang’s
• Noodles & Co.
• Applebee’s
• California Pizza Kitchen
• Olive Garden
• Panera Bread
• Chipotle
• Long John Silver’s
• IHOP
• Domino’s Pizza
• Ultimate Vegan Fast Food Guide

Have you found any other options to be veganizable? Did you find something amazing that we missed? Let us know by tagging #worldofvegan and sharing your favorite vegan-at-Panda-Express creations with all of us!

This article is not sponsored and we are in no way affiliated with Panda Express. At the time of this article, the foods mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus and add or take away items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new items that are vegan at Panda Express and not listed or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check.

The post How To Order Vegan at Panda Express appeared first on World of Vegan.

In February, 2023, Chick-Fil-A announced that a “Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich” was being tested in Denver, Charleston, South Carolina, and the Greensboro-Triad region in North Carolina.

This marks the chain’s first-ever plant-based sandwich, and is in response to the demand for a plant-based sandwich item on their menu. However, it does contain milk and eggs which makes it off the table for vegans, but it is a step towards adding more meatless options to this chicken-heavy chain’s menu.

This guide will show you the ins and outs of how to eat carefully (and cruelty-free) with a minimum amount of fuss. Below you’ll find all of the Chick-Fil-A vegan and vegetarians options on the menu, as well as the Chick-Fil-A allergen menu.

Although this is far from our favorite choice for a quick snack on-the-go, you may find a few choices to meet your needs if there’s nothing else around. Healthy choices may include a fruit cup, juice, and a small salad, while a veganized veggie wrap with fries or chips may fulfill any fast food cravings.

We’ll have to see which restaurant will be the first to have a fully vegan chicken option that actually stays on the menu. Will it be KFC, Chick-Fil-A, or somewhere else entirely? Until then, be sure to check out our vegan chicken guide which not only includes suggestions on which brands are best, but also lots of delicious recipes and tips.

The big question is: Are you going to take a chance on Chick-Fil-A? Let us know in the comments below!

What’s Vegan at Chick-Fil-A?

Chick-Fil-A Vegan Menu Options

Without any substitutions or requests, these are the only menu items that are vegan right off the bat. But, don’t despair! Keep reading for our suggestions on veganizing a selection of salads and making a veggie wrap Chick Fil A vegan-friendly. At least you can count on the crispy potatoes and fresh fruit cup!

Vegan Breakfast Options

• Buddy Fruits Applesauce
• Coffee or Juice
• Fruit Cup
• Hashbrowns
• Plain English Muffin

Vegan Lunch or Dinner Options

• Choice of Beverage
• Kale Crunch Side – kale and green cabbage, roasted almonds, and a dijon mustard viniagrette
• Waffle Chips
• Waffle Potato Fries

Add a vegan-ized salad (see below) and you’re good to go!

More Chick-Fil-A Vegan Options and Add-ons

To add extra oomph and a dollop of deliciousness onto your plate, give these sauces, toppings, and dressings a try. You’re pretty safe with beverages, just keep away from the liquid treats (which all contain dairy). Don’t settle on just one choice, go crazy and add as many as you like!

Chick Fil A Vegan Sauces:

• Barbecue
• Chili Lime
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Polynesian
• Sweet and Spicy Sriracha

Note: Is the trademark Chick Fil A sauce vegan? Unfortunately, this sauce contains eggs. Let’s hope that a vegan Chick Fil A sauce is in the works!

Dairy-Free Dressings:

• Chili Lime Vinaigrette
• Light Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Light Italian
• Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Sandwich Toppings:

• Lettuce
• Pickles
• Tomato

Vegetarian Salad Toppings:

• Chili Lime Pepitas
• Crispy Bell Peppers
• Saltines

Drinks & Beverages:

• Chick-Fil-A Lemonade (regular and diet) – a must try, it’s actually homemade!
• Dasani Water
• Fountain Drinks (Coca-Cola products)
• Fresh Brewed Ice Tea (sweetened and unsweetened)
• Honest Kids Apple Juice
• Hot Coffee
• Simply Orange Juice
• Sunjoy (all varieties)

Veganized Menu Items

Vegan options at Chick Fil A are on the low side, so here are a few variations that we feel are worthwhile. If you are vegetarian, Chick Fil A will have more for you to choose from and less to leave out, such as cheese, eggs, or dressings. Luckily the Chick Fil A allergy menu can help with figuring out what’s suitable for your dietary needs. Here are some suggestions for choosing from the Chick Fil A menu, vegan style with a twist.

Cobb Salad – Ask for no ranch dressing, no chicken, no cheese, no bacon, no eggs. Substitute with a vegan-friendly dressing.

Market Salad – Leave out the chicken and cheese.

Grilled Cool Wrap – Make the Chick Fil A veggie wrap vegan by requesting no meat, cheese, and dressing. You’ll be left with a flax wrap filled with lettuce, cabbage, and carrots. Swap for a vegan vinaigrette. Not too bad a choice for a Chick Fil A vegan wrap.

Side Salad – Ask for no cheese.

Spicy Southwest Salad – Request no creamy dressing, no chicken, no cheese and add a vegan-friendly dressing.

Can You Customize Chick-Fil-A Menu Items?

We recently contacted Chick-Fil-A after a helpful follower mentioned that this company would no longer allow customers to customize wraps or other meals at any location. Lucky for us, someone from the corporate branch got back to us with this answer:

As of Jun. 12, 2023, Chick-fil-A is introducing an enhanced ordering experience, giving customers more choices to tailor their meals and create new flavor creations. You can customize your meal in the Chick-fil-A® App using the tap-to-add and tap-to-remove features when you order.

– Lizzie M. of Chick-Fil-A Cares

So, friends, it looks like we can still veganize the salads and wraps. Yay!

How to Use the Chick-Fil-A Allergen Menu

Check out the Chick Fil A Allergen Menu page to make sure that you are purchasing a vegan-friendly item. The menu items offered at Chick-Fil-A don’t seem to change very often, but you may want to double check before you visit.

• Browse the Chick-Fil-A menu before ordering. You can also print out the vegan option menu here.
• If ordering Chick-Fil-A online or through a delivery service, make sure you clearly specify any substitutions you would like. If you’re worried that your request may not be honored (or seen by the server at Chick-Fil-A), it might be a better idea to go there directly to order.
• Be careful when new and exciting seasonal products are offered at Chick-Fil-A. Double-check the allergens and ingredients to make sure the item is vegan before purchasing.

NOT Vegan at Chick-Fil-A

Besides the obvious meat and cheese menu items, here are additional foods that are not plant-based or vegan-friendly. If you find out more, let us know!

• Biscuits – Contains both eggs and milk.
• Buns and Brioche Rolls – Both have honey and dairy as ingredients.
• Chick-Fil-A Signature Sauce – Contains eggs.
• Dressings – Except for those noted above, these dressings are not vegan: Garden Herb Ranch, Honey Mustard, Zesty Buffalo, Honey-Roasted BBQ, Avocado Lime Ranch, Creamy Salsa, and Fat-Free Honey Mustard.
• Greek Yogurt Parfait – Uses dairy yogurt, not plant-based yogurt.
• Harvest Nut Granola – Has honey as an ingredient.
• Treats – None of the treats, including the Frozen Lemonade, are vegan. They all contain dairy.

Awesome Vegan Fast Food Sandwich Chains in the U.S.

If you find figuring out vegan-friendly options at other fast food chains frustrating, here is a luscious list of burger and sandwich shops that are fully vegan. Downright delicious and seriously stress-free. Let us know if you come across other 100% vegan eateries in your area!

100% Vegan Burger and Sandwich Shops

• Plant Power Fast Food

Make Your Own Homemade Vegan Chicken Dishes

• Vegan Chicken and Dumpling Soup
• Best Vegan Chicken Recipes
• Fried Oyster Mushrooms (aka Vegan Fried Chicken)

Historic Vegan Moments in Chick-Fil-A History

• 2021 – Chick-Fil-A creates a page on their website specifically noting all of the vegan options on their menu, which sadly does not include any plant-based chicken options…yet.
• 2023 – Chick-Fil-A trials a Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich (that was vegetarian but not vegan) in select locations.

Fascinating Facts About Chick-Fil-A

• This restaurant was named Dwarf House when it was first established in Hapeville, GA in 1946. The transition to the name Chick-Fil-A occurred in 1967.
• All locations are closed on Sundays so that employees can “rest and worship if they choose.”
• First 100 Campout is a term that describes the first 100 people who arrive at a brand new location and receive Chick-Fil-A completely free for an entire year.
• There is a Hawaiian-style Chick-Fil-A called ‘Truett’s Luau’ and is located in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Creating a Kinder and More Accessible Chick-Fil-A Vegan Experience 

Although Chick-Fil-A have not yet included any dairy-free alternatives or vegan fried chicken options to their menu, we can still hope that our hungry vegan bellies will be heard. Since there are so few plant-based chicken choices on the fast food front, let’s hope that they get their act together and add at least one menu item soon. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have vegan-friendly nuggets, chicken sandwiches, or even a single vegan dessert or dairy-free mac and cheese?  In the meantime, we can always write to, call, or contact the managers of any location to make our requests.

What would be your most wished for lunch menu items on a Chick-Fil-A vegan menu? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Have you found any other Chick-Fil-A menu vegetarian options to be veganizable? Did you find something amazing that we missed? Let us know by tagging #worldofvegan and sharing your favorite vegan-at-chick-fil-a creations with all of us!

How To Order Vegan Lunch at Other Fast Food Chains

• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Burger King
• Carl’s Jr.
• Five Guys
• In-N-Out Burger
• KFC
• McDonald’s
• Popeyes
• Wendy’s
• White Castle

This article is not sponsored and we are in no way affiliated with Chick-Fil-A. At the time of this article, the menu items mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus and add or take away items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new Chick Fil A vegan options that are not listed or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check.

This Chick Fil A vegan guide was written by Gina House and edited by Michelle Cehn. Please note that this article may contain affiliate links which means shopping through them really helps to support World of Vegan! 

The post Chick-Fil-A Vegan Options and Allergen Menu appeared first on World of Vegan.

What can a vegan possibly eat at McDonald’s? Do you need to resort to the bruised apple under the seat or to the vegan protein bar that you bought last year?

We’ll be taking you through everything you can eat that’s vegan at McDonald’s, as well as what to avoid.

All of the vegan options listed are also plant-based, vegetarian, dairy-free, and cholesterol-free. Read on to see where you can find the new McPlant Vegan McDonald’s Burger, and also get a glimpse of other more exciting vegan specials available abroad. Unfortunately, the current vegan options at McDonald’s in the USA are quite disappointing—but that should be changing soon! 

Vegan Choices at McDonald’s: A Limited Selection

Regrettably, the list of vegan-friendly options available at McDonald’s is quite limited compared to many other restaurants that offer more extensive plant-based menus. While we’ll explore all the available vegan choices below, it’s important to note that several items you might have assumed were suitable are, unfortunately, not vegan.

What is Not Vegan at McDonald’s (in the US)?

The following popular menu items at McDonalds contain animal products and are not suitable for vegans.

• French Fries at McDonald’s in the US are not vegan-friendly because they contain “Natural Beef Flavor,” which is derived from wheat and milk, and they are fried in beef fat. Try making sweet potato fries, polenta fries, tofu fries, or zucchini fries instead!
• Hash Browns on McDonald’s menu in the US are not suitable for vegans as they contain milk and are also fried in beef fat. These homemade hash brown waffles are so much betteranyway!
• Donut Sticks at McDonald’s are not vegan due to the presence of milk in both the sticks and the accompanying sauce. Explore our vegan donut guide for plant-based options.
• Shakes at McDonald’s are not vegan-friendly since they contain milk. Make your own vegan milkshake instead!
• McDonald’s Fruit Smoothies are not considered vegan as they contain yogurt. Make your own vegan smoothie with these recipes!
• Chocolate Chip Cookies on the McDonald’s menu are not suitable for vegans as they contain both egg and milk. However, you can make your own vegan chocolate chip cookies in a snap, or order some from an online vegan bakery!

Vegan Options at McDonald’s (USA)

There aren’t any plant-based meat options at most U.S. McDonald’s locations yet, but there have been hints that they may offer a plant-based burger in the near future. And if the fast-growing vegan options at other fast-food restaurants are a sign, it’s only a matter of time for McDonald’s to follow suit. Cross your fingers!

We’ve seen the new vegan options explode in popularity at fast-food giants like Burger King, Carl’s Jr., Taco Bell, Del Taco, and more. So McDonald’s…what are you waiting for?

For now, here’s what you can order from the McDonald’s vegan menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks—and how you can get creative with these very limited options.

Vegan McDonald’s Breakfast Options

• Fruit and Maple Oatmeal (ask to be made with water and without milk or cream)
• Apple Slices
• English Muffin (plain)

100% Vegan Breads

• English muffin
• Flour tortilla
• Artisan Roll

Vegetables

• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Pickles

Salads Suitable for Vegans (and How to Order Them)

• Southwest Salad (without cheese or Southwest dressing)
• Premium Bacon Ranch Salad (without cheese, bacon or Ranch dressing)
• Side Salad (without cheese or dressing)

Vegan Newman’s Own Dressings

• Balsamic and White Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Raspberry Walnut and Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Classic Oil & Vinegar
• Zesty Italian
• Sesame Ginger
• Citrus Splash

Plant-Based Dipping Sauces and Condiments

• Spicy buffalo
• Barbecue Sauce
• Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Maple Syrup

Vegan Snacks at McDonald’s

• Apple slices
• Baked apple pie (yes, it’s accidentally vegan!)

Vegan-Friendly Drinks at McDonald’s

• Soda
• Hot coffee (without milk or cream)
• Iced coffee (without milk or cream)
• Orange juice
• Apple juice
• Iced tea (without milk or cream)
• Slushies

When Will the Vegan McDonald’s Burger (McPlant) Be Available in the USA?

After decades of offering zero options catered toward vegans, McDonald’s has finally turned a corner with the international launch of the new vegan McPlant Burger! This is essentially a vegan BigMac. They are doing a slow-but-steady rollout of the McPlant burger, and have thus far tested the McPlant burger in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, and the U.K. It’s gotten rave reviews and is now starting to be tested in select U.S. McDonald’s locations.

According to a meat industry news outlet, the plant-based McPlant burger tests have exceeded expectations, and McDonald’s is expected to continue rolling out the McPlant burger in the US in 2022.

“Sales of the plant-based burger are well above expectations. Consumers should expect a broader rollout of the McDonald’s McPlant in 2022 following a successful trial of the plant-based burger in eight select U.S. cities, BTIG analyst Peter Saleh predicted.

‘Our conversations indicated the McPlant test performed exceptionally well in its handful of locations, with very limited operational challenges.'”

How to Make Meals From The McDonald’s Vegan Menu

McDonald’s Vegan Breakfast Ideas

• Fruit and Maple Oatmeal (made with water, no cream), a coffee (without milk or cream), and a side of apple slices.
• A toasted English muffin with margarine*, jelly*, or maple syrup* with a side of apple slices and an orange or apple juice. *(Some restaurants may have these available in the morning or during the day. Ask the cashier when ordering.)
• Baked apple pie alone or along with either idea above
• If you’d like a vegan McDonald’s coffee, you’ll just need to order it black, without milk or cream.

Vegan Lunch and Dinner Ideas

• Southwest Salad (with no cheese or Southwest dressing), dressing, beverage
• Premium Bacon Salad (with no cheese, bacon or Ranch dressing), dressing, beverage
• Southwest Wrap—order the Southwest Salad (no cheese or Southwest dressing), a flour tortilla (or two!), dressing, beverage. Ask for the flour tortilla(s) on the side and assemble your own veggie wrap by filling the tortilla with salad and topping with a dressing.
• Veggie Artisan Roll Sandwich—ask for any of the burgers or sandwiches without the meat, cheese, and mayo. Ask for extra lettuce, tomato, and pickles. Request a dipping sauce (like bbq, mustard or spicy buffalo), if desired, and a beverage.
• Basic Side Salad and a Wrap or Sandwich combo

McDonald’s Vegan Snack Ideas

• Apple slices
• Apple Pie
• Any of the breakfast, lunch, dinner ideas
• Apple or orange juice
• Coffees or teas (without milk or cream)

Bring Your Own Extras and Add-Ons

If you’re able to keep some of these in your car, pocket, or purse, you’ll improve your chance of having a satisfying meal when visiting McDonald’s. They’re also perfect snacks on their own!

• Packets of nut butter (to top a toasted English muffin, tortilla or artisan roll)
• Hummus (to top a toasted English muffin, tortilla or artisan roll)
• Avocado (to top a toasted English muffin, tortilla or artisan roll)
• Packages of nuts (add to salad or oatmeal bowl)
• Fresh fruit (add to salad or oatmeal bowl)
• Dried fruit (add to salad or oatmeal bowl)
• Individual container of plant-based milk (to add to coffee or tea to drink alongside a meal, or to add to the oatmeal bowl)
• Reusable cutlery, especially a knife (to cut the avocado or spread nut butter)

Are McDonald’s Fries Vegan?

Sadly, NO. Even the french fries at McDonald’s aren’t vegan—at least not in the United States. Some other countries (such as Canada) do have vegan fries, but if you’re in the US, pass on the fries.

Generally, when vegans swing by burger joints, we can sigh and say, “Well, at least the fries are vegan.” That this is not the case at McDonald’s is a travesty we may never get over.

Are McDonald’s Apple Pies Vegan?

Yes, sweet friends! The McDonald’s apple pies are vegan! They are what we call “accidentally vegan.” McDonald’s certainly didn’t design them for specifically vegans, but they don’t happen to include any animal products! No meat, no eggs, no milk, no butter, and no dairy whatsoever.

Another question many ask—are the McDonald’s apple pies made with real apples? Yes, in fact they are! They also contain apple powder (for deeper flavor), wheat flour (sorry, gluten-free friends), brown sugar, cinnamon, apple powder, palm oil (I know, not the best), salt, and high-fructose corn syrup.

What about the sugar? Is the sugar in these Apple Pies vegan? It’s not made with vegan-certified sugar, but we still consider it vegan (in the same way that vegetables are considered vegan even if they’re grown in cow manure). If you’d like to learn more about the vegan status of sugar, read our “Is sugar vegan?” article.

What do the McDonald’s apple pie nutrition facts look like? While I doubt many of you are swinging by McD’s for a healthy treat, you may be curious about the nutrition profile. McDonald’s apple pies contain 230 calories each, 2 grams of plant-based protein, 11 grams of fat, and 33 grams of carbs. There we have it! Imperfectly and accidentally vegan apple pies at McDonald’s.

Vegan Dishes at Other McDonald’s Locations (Outside the USA)

• Vegetable Deluxe Sandwich (UK)
• Spicy Veggie Wrap or Meal (UK)
• Muffin with Jam Meal (UK, includes english muffin, jam, black coffee, and a package of apples and grapes)
• Big Vegan (Germany)
• Vegan Vegetable Nuggets (Norway)
• Falafel Nuggets (Sweden)
• McVegan (Finland)
• El Veggo (Finland)
• McAloo Tikki (India)

HISTORIC NEWS: Vegan McPlant Burger Launches at Select McDonald’s Locations!

What is the McPlant Burger Patty Made From?

The new McPlant is made with a Beyond Meat burger patty that has actually been certified vegan by the UK’s Vegetarian Society. Not only is the McPlant burger completely vegan, but McDonald’s has also made the decision to cook the vegan patties on a separate grill from their other meat and dairy items. While cooking vegan items on a grill that’s not exclusively vegan is acceptable to many (but not all) vegans, it’s still a very nice gesture that we certainly appreciate.

What is on the McPlant Burger, you ask?

The standard fixin’s that come on a McPlant burger—besides the Beyond Meat patty—include vegan sandwich sauce, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, and the much anticipated McDonald’s vegan cheese! According to McDonald’s, they tested dozens of vegan cheese brands from many different countries before setting on coconut oil-based cheese slices made in collaboration with an Irish company called Kerry. The vegan cheese slices look just like a classic orange slice of American cheese—and many people have said they tastes nearly identical!

It’s only a matter of time before the McPlant burger is available at every McDonald’s location, just as the Burger Kind Impossible Whopper and Carl’s Jr. Beyond Famous Star burgers have become a staple on every menu. The list of McPlant locations is quickly growing and we eagerly await the McPlant burger USA rollout!

McDonald’s McPlant Burger Taste Test Video (from a London location):

When Will There Be Vegan McDonald’s Nuggets?

Once the vegan McDonald’s burger is a permanent fixture on the vegan McDonald’s menu worldwide, the obvious next step are vegan nuggets. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time, but we haven’t heard any rumors about vegan McDonald’s nuggets yet. Considering the success of the McPlant burger, it would be very surprising if McDonald’s isn’t already working on some secret vegan nugget magic behind the scenes.

Find More Vegan-Friendly Fast Food Options

We know how it goes, sometimes you land at a McDonald’s and have to make it work. However if you’re able to convince your friends to swing by another eatery, fast food chain, or heck—even a gas station instead, you’ll likely have far better luck getting a filling meal. Here are some of the best fast food options for vegans.

Fast Food Chains With Vegan Burgers

Knowing that there are various vegan options at mainstream burger chains makes it much easier when traveling or hanging out with friends. These are tried and true chains which offer more than one choice for a meal. We promise you won’t leave hungry!

• Burger King (Impossible Whopper)
• Carl Jr.’s (Beyond Star Burger)
• White Castle (Impossible Sliders)

Restaurant Chains With the Best Vegan Options

Looking for the best filling fast food meals for vegans? The following fast food restaurants have the biggest selections of meal options for vegans.

• Chipotle – Chipotle offers a world of vegan options, including Sofritas tofu, beans, fajita veggies, and fresh salsas. Customize your bowl, burrito, or tacos for a satisfying plant-based meal.
• Taco Bell – Taco Bell’s dedicated vegan menu features favorites like the Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme and Bean Burrito. You can also swap meat for beans in various menu items for a delicious vegan twist.
• Del Taco – Del Taco’s Beyond Avocado Taco, made with Beyond Meat, avocado, and veggies, is a vegan favorite. Create your custom vegan burritos and tacos with bean substitutions and a variety of plant-based toppings and sauces.

Vegetarian and Vegan Fast Food Restaurants

Here are some up and coming chains that offer fantastic fast food, including mouth-watering veggie burgers, golden fries and scrumptious shakes!

• Veggie Grill (several locations in Northern and Southern California)
• Amy’s Drive-Thru (Rohnert Park, CA—more locations coming soon!)
• Burger Patch (Sacramento, CA)
• VeganBurg (Singapore and United States)

How to Order Vegan at Other Chains

Don’t miss our comprehensive vegan fast food guide that breaks down what you can get at all the major fast food chains, such as:

• Chick-Fil-A – It’s nearly impossible to satisfy your hunger at Chick-fil-A as a vegan. You’re looking at bland salads without the fixings and waffle potato fries. They also provide vegan-friendly sauces like BBQ, Polynesian, and Sriracha.
• Wendy’s Vegan Options – Wendy’s is another tough spot for vegans, but our guide shows you how to piece together side dishes.
• Dominos – You can hack the Domino’s menu to create a vegan pizza with vegetable toppings and other altered options. But if you’re stuck here for pizza night, consider bringing your own vegan cheese.
• Starbucks – Starbucks caters to vegans with dairy-free milk alternatives like almond, soy, and coconut milk. You can customize your coffee, tea, or cold brew with these options, and they have also offered occasional vegan food items like the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich.
• Arby’s – While Arby’s doesn’t have an extensive vegan menu, they do offer a Crispy Vegan Wrap made with plant-based Beyond Meat. It’s a flavorful choice for those looking for a meatless option at Arby’s.

Have you found any other options to be veganizable? Did you find something amazing that we missed? Send us a message and let us know and tag #worldofvegan and @vegan on Instagram to share your favorite vegan at McDonald’s creations with all of us!

At the time of this vegan McDonalds article, all of the foods mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus, add or take away items, and reformulate menu items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new items that are vegan and not listed above or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check. Good luck!

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