Vegan Fast Food & Restaurant Guides
Don't get stuck eating side salads. We review 11 major fast food and restaurant chains so you know exactly how to order a satisfying, filling vegan meal anywhere.
Each guide covers the best dishes, the secret-menu order hacks (Fresco Style at Taco Bell, Sofritas + free guac at Chipotle, Thin Crust at Domino's), and the cross-contamination realities you should know before you order.
Easiest US chains for vegans: Taco Bell, Chipotle, Burger King, Starbucks. Hardest: McDonald's (US fries contain beef flavoring). Most surprising: Olive Garden — bottomless breadsticks are fully vegan.
Vegan at Chipotle
Chipotle is an incredible option for a filling, high-protein plant-based meal on the go. Almost everything besides the meat, cheese, and sour cream is naturally vegan.
Mexican / Tex-Mex · US, Canada, UK
Vegan at Burger King
Burger King became a pioneer in fast-food vegan options by teaming up with Impossible Foods early on, making plant-based burgers highly accessible.
American QSR · US, Canada, UK, Europe
Vegan at Starbucks
Starbucks is incredibly easy to navigate as a vegan. With multiple dairy alternatives and several plant-based snacks, it is a safe haven for breakfast and coffee.
Coffeehouse · Worldwide
Vegan at Panda Express
Panda Express significantly improved its vegan menu in recent years by removing chicken broth from their base ingredients, opening up multiple plant-based combinations.
American Chinese · US, Canada, Mexico
Vegan at McDonald's
In the US, McDonald's is notoriously difficult for vegans due to beef flavoring in the fries. However, there are a few safe menu hacks available, and international McDonald's locations have massive plant-based menus.
American QSR · Worldwide (varies by country)
Vegan at Subway
Subway offers a customizable "build-your-own" model, making it a reliable fast-food choice for obtaining a fully customizable vegan sandwich loaded with fresh veggies.
Sandwich · Worldwide (varies by country)
Vegan at Wendy's
Wendy's options are largely side items, but they have one massive advantage over McDonald's: their famous fries are fully vegan.
American QSR · US, Canada
Vegan at Domino's
Domino's is surprisingly accommodating if you know exactly how to order. While there's no vegan cheese in the US yet, their signature crust can be easily modified.
Pizza · Worldwide (varies by country)
Vegan at Panera Bread
Panera offers several hearty, health-focused vegan options. They frequently rotate their menu, but there are always solid plant-based soups and salads available.
Bakery / Café · US, Canada
Vegan at Olive Garden
You might assume an Italian chain is loaded with dairy and eggs, but Olive Garden actually has an iconic, infinitely refillable vegan meal available.
Italian-American casual · US, Canada
Vegan at Taco Bell
Taco Bell is one of the most vegan-friendly fast food chains in the US. The "Fresco Style" modifier replaces dairy with diced tomatoes on any item, and beans, rice, tortillas, and potatoes are all naturally plant-based.
Mexican-inspired QSR · US, Canada, UK, Spain