How to Order Vegan at Einstein Bros Bagels

Lucky for us, there are at least fifteen plant-based bagels up for grabs and ready for gobbling up. Even though only traditional cream cheese is on the table, let’s not give up hope. Einstein Bagels has several satisfactory spreads and sauces to supplement your mini meal and even a dessert or two to devour.

If you’ve got your heart set on having breakfast around-and-about, you don’t have to miss out. Aside from the missing dairy-free alternatives (bring-your-own vegan cream cheese!), it’s a pretty good choice for the hole family. Bring on the bagels!

How to Navigate the Einstein Bagels Menu:

Before the bagel selection boggles your brain, here’s an idea of what to expect on the menu. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with choices and disappointed that there’s no vegan cream cheese, it’ll be easier to scroll through this guide and get a good sense of what there is to offer first. Here’s what we suggest:

• Buy a Bagel – Choose a vegan-friendly bagel to fill your belly.
• Select a Spread – Decide on a spread, either fruity, nutty, or savory.
• Think About a Topping – Add on extras, such as greens, veggies, or capers.
• Settle On a Side – Round it off with a bag of chips, fruit cup, or cinnamon twists.

What Can Vegans Eat at Einstein Bros Bagels?

Although their online and in-person menu is rated with these symbols, we’ve heard that they’re often very unreliable. If you are going to place an order, double check this article and their nutrition and allergen guide to make sure it’s vegan or dairy-free. Frustrating, but sadly necessary.

• DF- dairy free
• GF – gluten free
• VG – vegan
• V -vegetarian

Vegan-Friendly Bagel Sandwich & Meal Options

If you’re looking for something a bit more substantial in terms of sustenance, try one of these suggestions. You’ll get a healthy dose of plant-based fiber, fat, and protein.

• Avocado Toast
• Avocado Veg-Out Sandwich (order without Garden Veggie Schmear)
• Vegetarian Chili

Best Vegan Bagel Options

We’re kind of blown away by how many bagels are on this list. It’s nice to know that there are a number of flavors to choose from when you’re feeling famished and far from full. Time to pick your favorite!

Classic Bagels

• Cinnamon Raisin
• Cranberry
• Everything
• Garlic
• Onion
• Plain
• Poppy Seed
• Pumpernickel
• Sesame

Signature Bagels

• Blueberry
• Chocolate Chip
• French Toast
• Pretzel

Note: The chocolate Chip and French Toast do not contain dairy—delightful!

Gourmet Bagels

• Apple Cinnamon

ThinTastic Bagels

• Plain
• Whole Wheat

Vegan Spreads and Sauces

We’re still waiting for Einstein Bagels to bring back its vegan cream cheese but, in the meantime, here’s a list of scrumptious sauces and spreads to slather onto your bread. It’s nice selection of sweet, spicy, and savory.

• Chipotle Salsa
• Hummus
• Peanut Butter
• Peanut Butter and Jam
• Salsa Verde
• Spicy Brown Deli Mustard
• Strawberry Jam

Vegan Toppings

Viva las Veggies! It wouldn’t be uncommon to add all of these veggies to a serving of bagels or bread. Come on, don’t be shy. Go for more greens!

• Arugula
• Avocado
• Capers
• Cucumber
• Lettuce
• Pickles
• Red Onion
• Spinach
• Tomato

Are Einstein Bagels Specialty Breads Vegan?

While the tortillas and ciabatta rolls are not always available at all locations, the potato roll is a menu mainstay and is vegan-friendly. You could fill one up with hummus, avocado, veggies, peanut butter, strawberry jam, or a mixture of all of them (if you’re really wild and wacky).

Vegan Snacks and Desserts

Hooray for us! Einstein Bagels offers three tasty dessert options for those of us with a sweet (or salty) tooth. You can choose from healthy or not-so-healthy. It’s totally up to you.

• Cinnamon Twists
• Cinnamon Twist Poppers
• Fresh Fruit Cup
• Kettle Chips (Sea Salt)

Beverages

• Coffee
• Cold Brew Coffee
• Hot Tea
• Iced Tea

NOT Vegan At Einstein Bagels

All of these items below might sound vegan-friendly, but they all contain dairy. Dash it all!

• Cinnamon Sugar Bagel
• Garden Veggie Schmear (“veggie” as in there are hints of veggies in the dairy-based cheese)
• Granola
• Roasted Tomato Spread (also contains eggs)
• Sauteed Mushrooms
• Twice Baked Hash Browns
• All Sweets and Party Bagels
• Blended Shakes and Smoothies

These items contain honey, which is also not vegan.

• Ancient Grain Bagel
• Power Protein Gourmet Bagel

Are Bagels Vegan?

Happily, we can state that most (but not all) bagels are inherently or accidentally vegan. Like many breads, they are created with a basis of flour, yeast, salt, and, sometimes, sweetener. Added ingredients like dairy (milk or cheese) or eggs are usually used to add a particular flavor or lighter texture.

FAQs About Vegan Options

Helpful Hints When Ordering Vegan at Einstein Bros Bagels

• Browse the Einstein Bros Bagels menu before ordering.
• If ordering Einstein Bagels 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 Einstein Bros Bagels), it might be a better idea to go there directly to order.
• Check out their Nutritional and Allergen Information PDF to make sure that you are purchasing a vegan-friendly item. The menu items offered at Einstein Bros Bagels 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 Einstein Bros Bagels. Double-check the allergens and ingredients to make sure the item is vegan before purchasing.

Historic Vegan Moments in Einstein Bros Bagels History

• January 2019 – Vegan cream cheese was on the menu for a limited time.

Fascinating Facts About Einstein Bagels

• Their bagel bakers arrive before sunrise to start making the first batch of bagels.
• Einstein Bagels is part of the Panera Bread family of businesses.
• You can buy a bag of 6 packaged Einstein Bagels from Amazon Fresh or Walmart.
• Einstein Bagels is not named after the famous scientist who came up with the theory of relativity, but after two fictional founding brothers, Melvin and Elmo.

Creating a Kinder and More Accessible Einstein Bros Bagels Vegan Experience 

Even though Einstein Bagels took their vegan cream cheese off of their menu a couple of years ago, we’re hoping that the demand for more plant-based alternatives will win out. Since there are so few mainstream breakfast chains that offer plant-based alternatives, they could totally take the lead and add at least one cruelty-free menu item, such as dairy-free cream cheese, JUST eggs, or veggie meats. 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 Einstein Bros Bagels vegan menu? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

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

How To Order Vegan Breakfast at Other Fast Food Chains:

• Panera Bread
• Dunkin’ Donuts
• Denny’s
• IHOP
• McDonald’s
• Starbucks

This article is not sponsored and we are in no way affiliated with Einstein Bros Bagels. 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 items that are vegan at Einstein Bagels and not listed or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check.