If you’re anything like me, you avoid fast food restaurants like the plague. After all, their menus are saturated with low-grade meats and dairy products so processed they’re barely recognizable. Yuck! While preparing a tasty dish from your vegan meal plan is ideal for maintaining a healthy diet, sometimes hunger strikes when you least expect it. Yep, we’ve all been there. At the mall, stuck in traffic, on a road trip, you name it! It may come as a surprise to you, but many popular chain restaurants you bypass every day have vegan fast food options that make eating on the fly possible once again.
In typical Well Vegan form, we have taken the guesswork out of adopting and sticking to a vegan meal plan. Without further adieu, here’s our handy guide to vegan fast food options.
Ultimate Guide to Vegan Fast Food Options
Arby’s |
The baked potato (hold the butter) and a garden salad or side salad with Italian dressing are vegan. |
Carl’s Jr. |
The French fries, CrissCut fries, and side salad with low fat balsamic dressing (excluding cheese, croutons, and house dressing) are vegan. (Source) |
Chipotle |
The braised tofu Sofritas is a hearty vegan option you can add to your bowl or salad. The black beans, rice, salsa, guacamole, and veggies are all vegan, too. |
Papa John’s |
The pizza sauce and pizza dough are vegan. Order a pie with no cheese, extra sauce and loaded with veggie toppings. |
Subway |
A Veggie Delight on Italian bread is vegan. Try adding mustard or oil and vinegar in place of cheese and mayo. |
Taco Bell |
Cinnamon twists and chips and guacamole are vegan, as is the salsa. Other vegan menu items include the Fresco Bean Burrito, the Veggie Cantina Bowl without dressing, the Bean Burrito without cheese, and the Seven Layer Burrito without cheese or sour cream. |
Wendy’s |
The baked potato (plain) and the Deluxe Garden Salad (no cheese) with red Italian dressing are vegan. |
Source: peta.org
Disclaimer: This list was accurate at the time of publication, but restaurants change their menu items and ingredients constantly. Please double check with the restaurant to make sure an item is vegan before ordering.
The next time you’re on the go and need a healthy and cruelty-free bite to eat, rest assured that vegan fast food options do exist! If you just started your vegan meal plan and are still getting your bearings, it might be a good idea to print this list and keep it as a cheat sheet to reference when you’re at the drive-thru. While the vast majority of fast food restaurants don’t cater to a vegan diet, the good news is that they are typically pretty accommodating if you make a special request. Tip: While we made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this list, it’s never a bad idea to double check with the cashier to confirm that what you’re ordering is vegan.
Kate Kasbee
We relied on peta.org as a source for this list. At the time of publishing, the information was accurate. Thanks for the tip, we're updating the post now.
Clementine
You guys are so stupid. I ordered the thick burger and it turned out to not be vegan.