The Ultimate Vegan Chain Restaurant Guide
Eating vegan at casual chain restaurants, from Denny’s to BJ’s, doesn’t mean you have to be limited to French fries or salads any longer. Times, they are a changing! Many chain restaurants are keeping up pace with the trends for eating more plant-based, and they now provide tasty, satisfying options for vegan diners. In fact, there are plenty of casual chain restaurants that offer a diverse array of vegan options on their menus. These items range from vegan-friendly burgers and sandwiches to pastas, salads, and wraps. And many restaurants offer you the ability to adjust menu options according to your preferences.
With the rise and popularity of plant-based eating, vegan food options at chain restaurants has expanded. In fact, a 2017 report from GrubHub, the leading take-out service program, found that vegan takeout orders increased by 19% in restaurants from 1,200 cities across the US and London. The Vegetarian Resource Group in 2016 also found that 37% of Americans, regardless of dietary restrictions or preferences, selected plant-based foods when dining out.
Popular restaurant vegan food options include veggie burgers, which are served in restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factory and Denny’s, and the Impossible Burger, a plant-based burger made with heme, an iron-rich compound that gives meat its rich flavor. The Impossible Burger can be found in several restaurants, such as Dave and Buster’s, Islands Fine Burgers and Drinks, Mendocino Farms, and Umami Burger. Plenty of restaurants also offer a variety of vegan-friendly side dishes, such as salads, fruits and vegetables, and potato products such as fries and baked potato. You can ask your server to add extra sides or toppings, or even ask how the food is prepared to ensure that it is vegan-friendly.
The Ultimate Guide for Eating Vegan at Chain Restaurants
This chart lists a variety of popular family casual chain restaurants and corresponding vegan food options on their menus. You can also visit Yelp.com, HappyCow.net or VegGuide.org to explore more local, vegan-friendly dining options in your area. Please notify your food server of your dietary preferences before you order.
Casual Chain Restaurants | Vegan Menu Items |
The Cheesecake Factory | Appetizers
Salads
Sides
Wraps
Burgers
Others:
|
Denny’s | Breakfast
Entrees
Sides
|
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse | Salads
Pizza
Sides
|
TGI Fridays | Appetizers
Sides
Burgers
|
Islands Fine Burgers and Drinks | Fresh Cut Island Fries
Grilled Veggie Tacos (without cheese) Impossible Burger (without cheese and aioli sauce) |
Yard House
|
Salads
Entrees
Sandwiches
Wraps
Burgers
Sides
|
PF Changs | Appetizers
Entrees (you can add tofu to any meal)
|
California Pizza Kitchen | Small Plates + California Flatbreads
Appetizers
Soups
Lunch Salads (Locations Vary)
Lunch Pastas (Locations Vary)
Lunch Pizzas (Locations Vary)
Salads
Power Bowls
Pastas
Pizza
Kids
|
Chili’s | Salads
Sides
Others
|
Romano’s Macaroni Grill | Pasta
Appetizers
Salads
Add Ins
|
Olive Garden | Create your own pasta:
Pasta sauce:
Soups, Salads and Breadsticks
Sides:
|
Umami Burger | Impossible VBQ (vegan BBQ) Burger
Impossible Trufflemaker Burger |
Mendocino Farms | Seasonal Vegan Menu
|
Dave and Buster’s | Salads
Burgers
Others
|
Information from this chart was gathered from restaurant websites and marketing material. This information may change as restaurants change their menu items.
Written by Mireille Najjar, Dietetic Intern and Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN on April 18, 2019.
Photos by Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN