The Ultimate Guide for Vegan Fast Food
Learn how to find the best vegan fast food on the road with The Ultimate Guide for Vegan Fast Food, which includes a variety of popular mainstream fast food, fast casual, and quick service chain restaurants offering vegan fast food options.
Plant-based eating on the road has never been easier! The proof is in the increasing range of vegan options now available at an increasing array of fast food, quick service, and fast casual restaurants across the country. You can bet that these huge, national chains would not be investing in options like veggie-burgers and plant-based bowls if hoards of people weren’t ordering them. In celebration of these new vegan options at fast food restaurants, we put together this Ultimate Guide for Vegan Fast Food at The Plant-Powered Dietitian, which includes a variety of popular mainstream fast food, fast casual, and quick service chain restaurants offering vegan fast food options. You’ll find plenty of vegan meal options to order, including the best fast food breakfast, high protein fast food fare, and low sodium fast food choices in our guide.
The global demand for plant-based foods is rising. Although the majority of the U.S. population may be omnivorous, in the past few years there has been a 600% increase in people identifying as vegans. A report from the research firm GlobalData found that only 1% of US consumers claimed to be vegan in 2014, compared to 6% in 2017. And according to a poll conducted by the Vegan Society, the number of people identifying as vegans in the U.K. has increased by 350%, compared to a decade ago.
What exactly is driving this shift to plant-based eating? Research from the 2017 Nielsen Homescan Panel Protein survey found that 83% of U.S. participants reported improving overall health and nutrition as the top reason to include more plants in their diet, followed by weight management (62%). Statistics from the report also highlight that 14% of U.S. participants choose plant-based diets for concerns about environmental protection. Additionally, the National Restaurant Association’s What’s Hot Culinary 2019 Survey found that 64% of chefs reported plant-based sausages and burgers to be a top food trend in 2019, due to sustainability, appeal to vegetarian and vegan foods, and satisfying flavor and texture.
So, naturally, plant-based fast food is also on the rise. Popular fast food chains have even started to serve targeted vegan menu dishes, including restaurants like El Pollo Loco, Subway, and Chipotle. Choosing meat-free meals can be a simple, fun way to try vegan items at your favorite restaurant chains. Even if you are just interested in eating more plant-based meals during the week, these options provide healthful, sustainable choices for on-the-go eating. Be sure to ask your restaurant server for assistance on food preparation or ingredients used to help enhance your plant-based dining experience. And learn more about making your favorite vegan fast food items at home with this easy guide.
Fast Food Restaurants |
Vegan Menu Items |
Applebees
|
Appetizers:
Salads:
Pasta:
Irresist-A-Bowls:
Handcrafted Burgers:
Sides:
Substitute any meat for impossible patty for any meat/seafood |
Au Bon Pain
|
Soups:
Salads:
Wraps & Sandwiches:
Snacks:
|
Baja Fresh
|
Burritos:
Burrito Bowls & Fajitas:
Tacos:
Sides:
|
Burger King
|
Burgers:
Breakfast:
Sides:
|
Carl’s Jr.
|
Burgers:
Sides:
|
Chick-fil-a
|
Salads:
Sides:
|
Chili’s
|
Sides:
Substitutions:
|
Chipotle Mexican Grill
|
Burritos & Burrito Bowls:
Sides:
|
Del Taco
|
Burritos & Salads:
Sides:
|
Domino’s Pizza
|
Build Your Own With:
|
Dunkin Donuts
|
Breakfast Foods:
Bagels:
Note: Almond Milk, Oat Milk, and Coconut Milk can be used as non-dairy alternatives to milk and cream. |
El Pollo Loco
|
Burritos & Tacos:
Burrito Bowls & Salads:
Sides:
|
KFC
|
Sides:
Desserts:
|
The Habit Burger Grill
|
Burgers:
Salads:
Sides:
|
Johnny Rockets
|
Burgers:
Salads:
Sides:
|
|
Build Your Own Burrito, Bowl, Tacos, or Salad with Vegan Ingredients:
|
Noodles & Company
|
Classic Noodles:
Asian Noodles:
Zoodles and Other Noodles:
Sides:
Note: Meat in dishes can be substituted with seasoned tofu or Impossible chicken |
Panda Express
|
Appetizers:
Mains and Sides:
Sauces:
|
Panera Bread
|
Bakery:
Breakfast:
Bowls:
Sides:
Salads:
Soups:
Sandwiches:
|
Pizza Hut
|
Pizza:
Sides:
Desserts:
|
QDOBA Mexican Eats
|
Signature Eats:
Burrito, Taco, or Salad Bowl with Vegan Ingredients:
Sides:
|
Red Robin
|
Burgers & Salads:
Sides:
|
Starbucks
|
Breakfast:
Bagels & Spreads:
Packaged Snacks:
|
Subway
|
Sandwiches:
Breads & Vegan Patty:
|
Taco Bell
|
Tacos, Burritos & More:
Sides & Desserts:
|
Uno Pizzeria & Grill
|
Salads:
Pizzas:
Sides:
|
World Wrapps
|
Flatbread Wraps:
Nori Wrapps & Bowls:
Kid Wraps:
|
Note: This information is obtained through restaurant websites and marketing materials. It does not include all restaurants with vegan options. Menu items may change after the publication of this guide, so it’s best to doublecheck with restaurant websites and menus prior to ordering food.
Written by Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN with Anna Tobin, dietetic intern
References:
- Plant-based proteins are gaining dollar share among North Americans. FMCG and Retail. FMCG and Retail. September 22, 2017. Nielsen Product Insider. https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2017/plant-based-proteins-are-gaining-dollar-share-among-north-americans.html
- Top Trends in Prepared Foods 2017: Exploring trends in meat, fish and seafood; pasta, noodles and rice; prepared meals; savory deli food; soup; and meat substitutes. Report Buyer. June 2017, 50 pages. Report ID: 4959853. https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4959853/top-trends-in-prepared-foods-2017-exploring-trends-in-meat-fish-and-seafood-pasta-noodles-and-rice-prepared-meals-savory-deli-food-soup-and-meat-substitutes.html
- Vegan Society Poll. Ipsos MORI. May 16 2016. https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/vegan-society-poll
- Kelly L. Markowski, Susan Roxburgh. “If I became a vegan, my family and friends would hate me: Anticipating vegan stigma as a barrier to plant-based diets.” Appetite. Volume 135, 1 April 2019, Pages 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2018.12.040
- Jory Rand. Beyond Meat teams up with big fast-food chains to sell plant-based items. ABC7: Food and Drink. January 3, 2019. https://abc7.com/food/beyond-meat-teams-up-with-fast-food-chains-to-sell-plant-based-items/5007660/
- Rose, Lily. “Chipotle Just Added Vegetarian Bowls New Vegan and Vegetarian Bowls.” March 7, 2019. https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/chipotle-vegan-vegetarian-lifestyle-bowls/030719