Vegan Fast Food Find Across The USA
With all the vegan options arriving lately to the fast food chains, it can be confusing to understand what options are available for us, the Vegans in each chain.
So we have taken time to compile an updated list of nation wide fast food chains and restaurants that are serving some delicious vegan options throughout the US. Although Fast food should be eaten moderately it is definitely a convenient option when looking for a quick bite to eat. Using this handy guide, you’ll be able to check what are the ideal spots for a vegan in the US (or even a vegan travelling through) to get something to eat. We’ve compiled some of the best spots for finding vegan fast food in America where you can find great meals, and some of the worst where meals will be slim.
Burgers, Chicken, and Sandwiches
Carl’s Jr
American vegans everywhere were ecstatic when Carl’s Jr added their Beyond Famous Star burger, which featured the widely-loved Beyond Meat patties. This burger joint was one of the first fast food spots in the US to have the Beyond Burger patty (in their Beyond Famous Star burger). It was a huge sigh of relief for vegans across the country, because their previous veggie burgers used to contain milk. Now, Carl’s Jr has a decent selection for vegans from coast to coast.
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- Buns: plain, seeded, flour tortilla
- Beyond Famous Star (ask for no mayo, no cheese)
- Guacamole Thickburger (ask for no Santa Fe sauce, no cheese, change to a seeded or plain bun)
- Fries/waffle fries
- Hash browns
- Pinto Beans
- Cilantro lime rice
- Pinto beans (ask for no cheese)
- Guacamole
- Salads: ask for no cheese, no croutons
- Salad dressing: low fat balsamic
Hardee’s
Since October 2019, Hardee’s has began expanding their menu to include more vegan options. The catch? Currently, these options are only available at select locations. But it might not be all that bad: Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr are owned by the same company, and Carl’s Jr has seen huge success with their version of the Beyond Burger. Earlier in the year, a petition was made by a college student in Wisconsin for Hardee’s to start carrying the well-loved vegan burger. To date, there are over 26,000 signatures.
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- Beyond Breakfast sausage biscuit (Ask for toasted sourdough bread or a tortilla instead of the biscuit, also ask for no egg, no cheese)
- Beyond Thickburger (at select locations, ask for no cheese, no mayo, lettuce bun instead)
- Fries/hash browns
Wendy’s
With all the Beyond Burgers and faux meats coming out, it really seems like Wendy’s is falling behind. Currently, the chain has limited vegan options in America. In Canada, there are select vegetarian burgers called “The Planitful,” just launched in November 2019. However, there is still no word yet on if the patty contains egg (as reported by LiveKindly) or if the burger will be available at all locations.
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- Natural cut fries
- Baked potato with chives (ask for no butter, no sour cream, no cheese)
- Apple slices
- Garden salad (ask for no crutons)
- Salad dressings: light spicy Asian chili vinaigrette, pomegranate vinaigrette, light balsamic vinaigrette
- Veggie sandwich (ask for no mayo)
- The Frywich
McDonald’s
For vegans looking for easy fast food across the US, McDonald’s doesn’t have a huge selection. Most salads can be modified to be vegan and there are a couple of breakfast items available as well, but no faux meats or cheeses. The fries are also not even vegetarian, as beef flavor are added to the production cycle.
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- Fruit and Maple oatmeal (ask for no cream)
- Apple slices
- Baked apple pie
- Southwest salad (ask for no chicken and no cheese)
- Side salad (ask for balsamic vinaigrette)
- Bagels: everything and cinnamon raisin (ask for no butter)
- English muffin (ask for no butter)
Burger King
Even if vegan Americans can’t find much to eat at McDonald’s, they can definitely eat a vegan burger at Burger King. Just earlier this year, the Impossible Whopper was added to the menu. It’s addition has proved to be a huge success, so Canadians will just have to keep their fingers crossed that this item gets added across the border soon.
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- Impossible Whopper (ask for no mayo, no cheese)
- Garden salad (ask for no cheese and balsamic vinaigrette dressing)
- Fries/hash browns
- French toast sticks
KFC
As of late 2019, the vegan options at KFC are slim. KFC recently did a trial run of a vegan fried chicken with Beyond Meat at one Atlanta location. There are also some restaurants that have a vegetarian patty which is accidentally vegan according to their ingredients list. There has been no word yet as to the results of this test, if the vegan options will continue, or if they plan to take vegan meats nation wide. Until then, we’ll probably just have to stick with the side menu.
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- Corn on the cob (ask for no butter)
- Green beans
- Baked beans
- Potato wedges
- House salad
- Breads: tortilla, round bun, flatbread (all vegan as of 2018)
- Vegetarian patty (used to contain egg and milk, but no longer does)
Popeye’s
Since changing their recipes a few years ago, Popeye’s now has more items that are accidentally vegan. The only downside is that they still have no faux meats, so your meal here will be mostly made out of items on the sides menu. But be warned, some items that may appear vegan are not: corn and green beans are both prepared with dairy.
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- Baguette (ask for no butter)
- Cajun fries
- Cajun rice
- Grits
- Hash browns
- Applesauce
- Sauces and dressings: barbecue, sweet heat, cocktail
Chick-fil-A
Very similar to Popeye’s and KFC, Chick-fil-A is a popular restaurant serving up fried chicken sandwiches and doesn’t have a huge selection for the growing vegan market. Thankfully, most salads can be made vegan by omitting the cheese and chicken. According to the Toronto Vegetarian Association, different Chick-fil-A locations may fry their items in a non-vegan oil. It’s best to call ahead to double check if the location near you is serving vegan fries.
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- Fries, hash browns, waffle fries (depending on location)
- Oatmeal
- Fruit cup
- Applesauce
- Any salad (ask for no cheese, no chicken, light Italian dressing instead
- Superfood side salad (ask for light Italian dressing instead)
- Bagels: sunflower multigrain (ask for no cream cheese, no butter) English muffin
- Waffle potato chips
Jack in the Box
Vegans across the US generally don’t tend to pick Jack in the Box as their first go-to for a snack. But with over two thousand locations from coast to coast, it’s more than likely that at one point or another, you’ll find yourself with a group of friends wondering exactly what you can eat. After all, Jack in the Box is most known for their meat and tacos. Even still, a vegan can build a meal out of items on the sides menu.
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A textbook four-curler. An absolute classic and our Curly Fry of the Week
- Teriyaki rice bowl (ask for extra veggies instead of meat)
- Side salad (ask for low fat vinaigrette instead of ranch dressing)
- Apple slices (ask for no caramel)
- Fries/curly fries
- Hash browns
- Homestyle potatoes
- English muffin (ask for no butter)
Subway
Subway has easily been a go-to for vegans looking for vegan fast food across the US. With the ability to customize every order, it’s no wonder vegans having been coming here for sandwiches filled with lots of veggies and sauces. There are still no faux meats to choose from, but select locations carry a Malibu Garden patty, which is a solid patty with varying crushed vegetables. Meanwhile in the UK, Subway just launched a vegan steak sandwich option.
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- Breads: Italian, Sourdough, roasted garlic, wrap.
- Veggie Delite (ask for no cheese)
- Malibu Garden patty
- Falafel (at select locations)
- Guacamole
- All vegetable toppings
- Sauces: sweet onion, yellow mustard, fat-free Italian dressing, hot sauce, buffalo
Jimmy John’s
There was a huge outcry over social media when Jimmy John’s CEO Jimmy John Liautaud posted a photo online posting next to an elephant he had hunted for sport in April 2019. Not only were vegans across America outraged, but #BoycottJimmyJohns began tending on Twitter. Even with this recent boycott, the Jimmy John’s chain still operates thousands of stores nationwide. Their selection for vegans is still slim, with no faux meats or vegetable patties to pick from.
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- Breads: French bread, lettuce wrap
- All vegetable toppings
- Sauces: avocado spread, Italian vinaigrette, oil and vinegar sauce, oregano-basil, grey-poupon, regular mustard
Arby’s
Vegans on social media were not happy when Arby’s announced in the summer of 2019 that the company would be rolling out “megetables,” otherwise known as meat-based products with the appearance of vegetables. They also stated that they will not be working with companies like Beyond Meat or Impossible food to add faux-meats to their menu. That being said, vegans across the US might not find many appealing options at Arby’s. But if you do find yourself there, you still have some choices. Note: all fried items are in common fryers, meaning there is a risk of contamination with meat.
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- Apple slices
- Side salad (ask for no cheese, no dressing)
- Homestyle fries
- Potato cakes
- Crispy onions
- Sauerkraut
- Sauces and dressings: light Italian, balsamic vinaigrette, marinara sauce, bronco berry sauce, red ranch sauce, smokey q sauce
- French toast sticks (used to contain dairy but the recipe has been changed)
- Breads: harvest wheat, marble rye, mini bun, sourdough breakfast
Breakfast and Coffee
Dunkin’ Donuts
Early in November 2019, the announcement was made that Dunkin’ Donuts would start carrying the Beyond sausage patty in their breakfast sandwiches. The announcement was made by Snoop Dogg, which immediately went viral on social media. It is great to see more places providing inexpensive vegan fast food across the US. This only leaves one question left: will Dunkin’ ever start carrying the delicious vegan donuts that we’ve all been craving on our morning commute?
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- Beyond Breakfast sandwich (ask for no egg, no cheese)
- Coffee: hot coffee, lattes, iced coffees, and macchiatos can all be made with almond milk (ask for no whipped cream)
- Bagels: plain, blueberry, garlic, salt, onion & sesame seed bagels (ask for no butter)
- Multigrain oatmeal topped with dry fruit
- Hash browns
- English muffin
- French roll
- Pretzel twist
- Coolatta (strawberry, blue raspberry)
- Teas (hot or iced in blueberry, raspberry, Earl Grey, green, peach, and sweet)
Starbucks
One of the best things about Starbucks is that the menu is very easily customizable. Not only are there three different types on non dairy milk (soy, almond, and coconut), but they have many vegan snacks to pick from as well. Their menu is huge and always changing with the seasons, so it’s always best to call ahead to see what’s new in store. While most items can have the appearance of being vegan by changing the milk to a non dairy milk, that isn’t always the case. The Cloud Macchiato drink has egg, the famous pumpkin spice latte has dairy in the flavouring base, caramel drizzle has dairy, java chips have milk, and the cinnamon dolce topping contains butter. Nevertheless, almost every drink can be made vegan as long as these considerations are taken into account. Vegans looking for fast food across the US can still get their sweet coffee fix.
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- Hot or iced coffee (ask for soy, almond, or coconut milk)
- Lattes or cappuccinos (ask for soy, almond, or coconut milk)
- Smoothies (ask for no protein powder)
- Flavoured sweetener syrups: vanilla, hazelnut, caramel
- Specialty drinks and frappuccinos (ask for no Java chips, no cream base, non dairy milk)
- Sprouted grain bagel
- Lentil and vegetable power bowl
- Blueberry oatmeal/classic oatmeal (ask for no milk)
- Fruit salad/dried fruits
- Mixed nuts
- Macadamia oat cookies
Pizza
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut truly is a classic when it comes to fast pizza. Unfortunately, there has been no news yet as to when or if there will be vegan cheeses or faux meats added to Pizza Hut’s menu. Earlier this year, one location of Pizza Hut tested out a vegan meat. Ideally, this could mean that vegan meats could be added nation wide at some point. But until then, there are still lots of veggies that can be added, and pizzas can be requested without cheese.
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- Wingstreet fries
- Dough: thin crust, hand tossed crust
- Sauce: marinara, premium crushed tomato, buffalo
- All veggie toppings/pineapple
- Cinnamon sticks (ask for no icing)
Domino’s
Much similar to Pizza Hut, Domino’s has no vegan cheeses or meats. Their options for crusts are also a lot smaller than those at Pizza Hut. Any pizza can be ordered without cheese to make it vegan.
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- Dough: Thin crust
- All vegetable toppings and pineapple
- Sauces: robust inspired tomato, garlic, barbecue, hot buffalo, Italian
Little Caesars
Little Caesars is best known for their five-dollar hot and ready pizzas. Fast and cheap are staples for fast food. In terms of vegan fast food across the US, Little Caesars is one of the only pizza spot with faux meats. For instance, they were the first company to offer a plant based sausage after a partnership with Impossible Foods. The chain also has a lot of vegetable toppings, ideal for a any vegan pizza. But there is still no dairy free cheese (yet).
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- Regular crust
- Marinara sauce
- All vegetable toppings and pineapple
- Impossible Sausage
- Crazy bread (ask for no parmesan)
Papa John’s
In early 2019, Papa John’s in the UK announced they would be adding vegan cheesy potato wedges to their menu. In other words, every vegans dream. Sadly, these aren’t available in the States yet. On the contrary, vegans across America will have to wait to see these options added to their local Papa John’s. But not all hope is lost: pizzas are still customizable and can be ordered with lots of veggie toppings.
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- Crusts: regular dough, pan dough, pan oil
- Sauces: pizza sauce, pan sauce, barbecue sauce, garlic dipping sauce, buffalo dipping sauce, crushed red pepper sauce
- All vegetable toppings and pineapple
- Potato wedges
- Breadsticks (ask for no butter)
Tacos and Burritos
Taco Bell
Taco Bell has been a haven for vegans in US for many years. Items can be made vegan by changing beef for beans, omitting cheese and sour cream, and by adding rice. There are many different types of veggies to choose from. By being able to customize your order, Taco Bell has made an incredibly inclusive and accessible menu. Over all, this is a great spot to find vegan fast food across the US.
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- All soft/hard shells, as well as tortillas
- Ask for beans instead of beef in a custom burrito
- Spicy tostada (ask for no cheese, no creamy chipotle sauce)
- Most popular items can be made vegan by asking for it Fresco Style: Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme, the Black Bean Quesarito, and the 7-Layer Burrito
- Veggie power bowl (ask for no cheese, no sour cream)
- Potatoes, plain rice
- Fries
- Cinnamon twists
Del Taco
Unlike Taco Bell, Del Taco has gone the extra mile to make vegans feel included by adding Beyond Meat beef crumble to their menus. This means that vegans have even more options to choose from. Nearly all items on their menu can be made vegan by omitting cheese, and swapping the animal meat for Beyond Meat.
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- Beyond avocado taco (ask for no cheese)
- The Del Taco (ask for beans/Beyond Meat instead of animal meat, no cheese)
- Epic Beyond Cali Burrito (ask for no sour cream)
- Beyond 8 Layer Burrito (ask for no sour cream or cheese)
- 8 Layer Veggie Burrito (ask nor no cheese, no sour cream)
- CrunchTada Tostada (ask for no cheese)
- Signature taco salad (ask for no cheese)
- Hash brown sticks
- Crinkle cut fries
Chipotle
Just like Taco Bell and Del Taco, Chipotle is a great spot for vegans because of all the customizable options. Not only that, but the sofritas (shredded tofu braised in chillies and a spice blend) are well loved by both vegans and meat-eaters alike. If you’re looking for a healthier option for vegan fast food in the US, you can’t go wrong with a brown rice bowl loaded with tofu and fresh veggies. And mostly importantly: guacamole.
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- Corn and flour tortillas
- Cilantro lime rice
- Blank and pinto beans
- Fajita vegetables
- Sofritas
- All salsas
- Guacamole
- Chips
- All vegetable toppings
Desserts and Sweets
Dairy Queen
Most people would believe that at first glance, Dairy Queen wouldn’t have many options for vegan in the US. However, that isn’t the case. Dairy Queen has lots of vegan slushies and juices to offer. But in terms of all the vegan fast food in the US, the options at Dairy Queen are relatively small.
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- Fries
- Pretzel sticks (ask for no queso)
- Side salad (with the following dressings: Marzetti balsamic vinaigrette, Marzetti fat free California French style, or Marzetti light Italian
- Smoothies: mango pineapple light, OrangeBerry Xtreme light, pomegranate berry blast, strawberry banana light, strawberry light, sunshine orange light, TripleBerry light, Tropi-Colada light, papaya paradise light
- Mitsy slushes: cherry, grape, lemon lime, blue raspberry, strawberry kiwi
- Starkiss bar
Baskin-Robbins
In the summer of 2019, Baskin-Robbins astonished Americans by bringing in two vegan flavours of ice cream. Although these aren’t the only vegan items available: Baskin-Robbins has been serving slushies and dairy free sorbet for years. That being said, it is always good to see new vegan ice creams being added to the fast food market.
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- Non-dairy chocolate extreme
- Non-dairy chocolate chip cookie dough
- Non-dairy chocolate coffee caramel chunk
- Daiquiri ice
- Watermelon splash ice
- Horchata ice (seasonal, select locations)
- Raspberry sorbet (seasonal, select locations)
- Slushies: strawberry citrus fruit blast, wild mango fruit blast
- Sugar cone
- Toppings: Reese’s Peanut Butter Sauce, chocolate syrup (not to be confused with hot fudge), maraschino cherries, chopped almonds
Sonic Drive-In
Similar to many other fast food giants across the States, the only vegan options currently available at Sonic are primarily the side orders. But just like at Dairy Queen, Americans would love to see a vegan option for a milkshake, or even a veggie burger. At any rate, you could always make your own “burger,” with veggies loaded on a bun. Ideally though, one day we’ll see amazing non dairy summer drinks for vegans to enjoy while having vegan fast food across the US.
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- Fries
- Tater tots
- Sweet potato tater tots
- Onion rings
- Breads: bagel, Philly roll (at select locations), tortilla, ciabatta bun, poppy seed bun
- Toppings: grilled onions, grilled red & green bell peppers, pickles, jalapeno, onion, tomato, lettuce
We hope you enjoyed our guide to vegan fast food across the US!
If you have any suggestions or additions we would love to hear from you!
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Are looking for more vegan options? Check out our list of the top finds at chains across the UK. Going north? Check out the best fast food spots Canada has to offer. Or if you’re heading abroad, take a look at our Top Tips for Vegan Travel.