The vegan motion has reached a essential tipping level. Living proof: the abundance of vegan choices in fast-food eating places. That field has been checked. However now, we’re ushering within the period of all-vegan fast-food chains. It’s not simply Subsequent Degree Veggie Grill anymore. Plant-based drive-thrus and fast-casual eateries slinging vegan beefy burgers and fries are cropping up throughout the nation, and we’re right here for it. In actual fact, we’re so excited, we’ve gathered all our favorites beneath.
What’s vegan quick meals?
Quick-food menu staples like fries (except they’re cooked in beef fats), soda, hash browns (once more, test for beef fats), and burger buns are sometimes vegan by default. Which means that, for years, vegans have been heading to fast-food chains and getting inventive with the menu. (Order a beef burger with out the meat, and cargo it up with salad, sauce, and fries—you get the concept.)
Monty’s Good Burger
However now, as fast-food chains have began embracing plant-based meat choices, it’s getting simpler than ever to get pleasure from quick meals with out the animals. There’s the simply veganized Not possible Whopper at Burger King, for instance.
Does McDonald’s have any vegan choices?
Whereas locations just like the UK have the McPlant burger, McDonald’s remains to be severely lagging behind on vegan choices within the US (for now, anyway). However that mentioned, it’s nonetheless potential to order vegan meals from the nation’s hottest fast-food joint. In the event you’re hungry and don’t have any different choices accessible, we’ve put collectively this information to consuming vegan at McDonald’s.
McDonald’s UK
However in case you’re near any of those vegan fast-food chains beneath (significantly plant-based McDonald’s copycat Mr. Charlie’s), the reality is, you received’t want the golden arches.
The perfect vegan fast-food chains within the US
Earlier than you cruise by means of the drive-thru of your nearest mainstream chain, test to see if certainly one of these vegan fast-food areas (listed in no specific order) is close by. You received’t be dissatisfied.
Mr.Charlie’s
1 Mr.Charlie’s
A number of areas
Mr. Charlie’s is the vegan McDonald’s-lovers dream. With areas in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, CA (plus a global outpost simply exterior of Sydney, Australia), it affords its personal variations of most of the fast-food big’s classics, solely this time, they’re made sans animal merchandise. Strive the Mr. Chuck, which comes with two vegan patties, three burger buns, cheese, pickles, onions, and particular sauce. Or, if Joyful Meals was your factor, attempt the chain’s “Frowny Meals.” However not like the identify suggests, they’ll truly depart you feeling content material and happy.
Subsequent Degree Veggie Grill
2Subsequent Degree Veggie Grill
Varied areas
Based in 2006 in Irvine, CA, this nationwide vegan chain was frying up plant-based hen wings means earlier than it was a factor. In actual fact, Veggie Grill predates the buffalo cauliflower development. In 2024, the chain entered a brand new period when it was acquired by Subsequent Degree Burger—and thus, Subsequent Degree Veggie Grill was born. Right now, followers can nonetheless get pleasure from traditional menu gadgets reminiscent of mac and cheese, the Sante Fe Chik’n sandwich, and candy potato fries alongside new improvements together with Past steak filet, pan-seared salmon, chili cheese fries, moist burritos, salads, bowls, and extra.
Slutty Vegan
3 Slutty Vegan
Varied areas
Founder Pinky Cole Hayes has established an empire within the larger Atlanta space together with her Slutty Vegan idea. The menu of burgers, fries, and hen sandwiches is certain to boost an eyebrow—each for the names and the over-the-top nature of every merchandise. The absolutely loaded Sloppy Toppy and Philly cheesesteak-inspired Hollywood Hooker are simply two examples of what you’ll discover right here. Count on juices to be working down your forearm and the corners of your mouth to be dotted with Slut Sauce by the top of your meal.
Slutty Vegan at present operates areas throughout Atlanta, GA, however residents of Birmingham, AL; Baltimore, MD; Brooklyn, NY; and Brandon, FL also can cease by an outpost for a style of the cult-favorite restaurant.
Plant Energy Quick Meals
4 Plant Energy Quick Meals
California and Las Vegas, NV
Generally known as “Plant Energy” by locals, Plant Energy Quick Meals launched in San Diego and made its means north. It now has 9 areas stretching from San Diego to Sacramento, some overtaking former non-vegan drive-thrus, and even Las Vegas. Count on a streamlined menu of vegan burgers, fried hen sandwiches, nuggets, fries, and some entrée salads and wraps for these in quest of recent choices on the go. Professional tip: don’t miss the chain’s limited-time specials or dessert choices (assume milkshakes, Blizzard dupes, cheesecake, and gentle serve).
HipCityVeg
5 HipCityVeg
Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA
Get your vegan fast-food repair from morning to nighttime at this East Coast vegan chain. The menu at HipCityVeg affords numerous classics reminiscent of handholds, fries, and shakes. Protein choices vary from plant-based patties to crispy hen to tempeh. When searching the menu, give the chick’n sandwich part some thought—this place does vegan hen proper.
PLNT Burger
6 PLNT Burger
Varied areas
Searching for Prime Chef high quality meals at a fast-casual worth? Take a look at PLNT Burger subsequent time you’re on the East Coast. The vegan fast-food chain was based by chef Spike Mendelsohn—an alum of the Bravo hit culinary competitors present, Prime Chef. Count on vegan patties gussied up with savory mushroom bacon, caramelized onions, and different flavor-bomb toppings. Complement your handhold with thick candy potato fries, a PLNT chili bowl, and a scrumptious chocolate chip cookie or an indulgent ice cream shake.
Monty’s Good Burger
7 Monty’s Good Burger
Los Angeles, CA
Joaquin Phoenix followers, preserve your eyes off your telephone whereas ready in line at Monty’s Good Burger—the vegan Academy Award winner has repeatedly been seen on the Koreatown location of this micro-chain with associate and actress Rooney Mara. Positioned because the vegan In-N-Out, Monty’s menu affords a streamlined choice of single and double Not possible burgers, hen sandwiches, sizzling canine, fries, tots, milkshakes, and a kale Caesar salad.
Native Meals
8 Native Meals
Palm Springs, CA and Glendale, CO
Native Meals initially leaned extra towards wholesome bowls, salads, and sandwiches, however since its founder chef Tanya Petrovna bought the restaurant in 2012, the menu has steadily swapped out a lot of the greens, grains, and beans for stacked burgers and one-off fast-food specialty gadgets.
Patrons can nonetheless discover a few of Petrovna’s unique creations within the type of the Taco Salad or Tornado Wrap, however these on the lookout for a extra savory spin can go for candy potato fries, buffalo hen tenders, and a BBQ Brisket Burger.
In recent times, Native Meals has shuttered a number of outposts throughout the nation, however in the present day, residents of Palm Springs, CA and Glendale, CO can nonetheless get pleasure from this vegan micro-chain. Native tip: get dessert. The peanut butter parfait and oatmeal cream pie have outlasted the sweeping menu revisions and are the cherry on prime of your vegan meal.
Jerrell’s Betr Brgr
9Jerrell’s Betr Brgr
New York, NY & Hoboken, NJ
Jerrell’s Betr Brgr may be a micro-chain, however it’s already accrued a cult-following. This late-night vegan burger joint makes sustainability a precedence, so you possibly can be ok with serving to the planet anytime you grub on certainly one of its menu gadgets. Jerrell’s streamlined menu options Not possible burgers, waffle fries (plus a loaded choice for once you’re further hungry), soft-serve, and shakes. We are saying get certainly one of every for the final word late-night meal.
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Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews in addition to a author and runner residing in Orange County, CA.
