23 Delicious Vegetarian Fast Food Options for 2025
Vegetarian fast food seems contradictory, yet it does exist! In fact, many options have been compared to their meat-based partners and were found to be pretty much similar in fat, calories, sugar and carbohydrates according to The Times. Some even say that the meat-free tastes even better than the original. If you're a vegetarian who supports animal rights yet you just need that quick, oily flavor, get your favorite delivery app ready to order these treats.
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- Must-Try Vegetarian Fast Food Mains
- Vegetarian Fast Food Sides and Desserts
- Vegetarian Fast Food FAQs
Must-Try Vegetarian Fast Food Mains
Before getting to our list, it's important to remember that most fast food restaurants use the same grill for their meat products and vegetarian-friendly items, so cross-contamination is likely if not inevitable. If your dietary choices are allergen-related, make sure to mention that when ordering — and maybe try to avoid the locations with the fewest vegetarian fast food menu items. Another good thing to note is that menus often change for the better! Keep an eye on your favorite fast food chains for updates to their meat-free offerings.
1. Taco Bell: Black Bean Chalupa Supreme
This Mexican fast-food chain is found all across the country — and even in other parts of the globe. For vegetarian fast food, this is the place you want to be. It's one of the very few restaurants that have had their menus certified by the American Vegetarian Association. When you're looking for veggie high protein meals, the Black Bean Chalupa Supreme will fill your stomach and satisfy your soul.
2. Qdoba: Fajita Vegan Bowl
Another one of the fast-food chains that serves vegetarian Mexican food — which naturally lends itself to the veggie diet — Qdoba also has a non-meat main option. Enjoy a Fajita Vegan Bowl for some splendid lunch ideas for adults who prefer their bowls meatless. Their menu is actually jam-packed with well-crafted vegetarian-friendly cuisine.
3. Burger King: Impossible Whopper
Primarily a burger joint, Burger King has a few more options for vegetarian fast food than other chains. The only truly vegetarian main meal option right now is the Impossible Whopper, and it's worth a taste. Their partner, Impossible Foods, knows how to make some delicious vegetarian alternatives and some even say that the Impossible Whopper is better than the original because it's more succulent.
4. Dunkin' Donuts: Egg & Cheese Sandwich
Since discontinuing their Beyond Meat breakfast sandwiches and vegetarian breakfast wraps, Dunkin' has a few options for vegetarian fast food breakfasts. You can still get a simple egg and cheese sandwich on any type of bread — the sourdough might be the most scrumptious, but a bagel might be the most filling. Besides, you can't go wrong with a well-made bagel!
5. Au Bon Pain: Caprese Sandwich
Found in a variety of quick-stop locations such as airports and hospitals, Au Bon Pain might have a French name, but they have foods from a multitude of cultural backgrounds. To find food for your veggie diet more easily, they label their menus with a green circle encompassing a letter “V.” The Caprese Sandwich is a tasty choice with a stomach-filling finish.
6. White Castle: Impossible Slider
Now, this may seem like a repeat, since it's the same partner as Burger King's Impossible Whopper, but the sliders do actually taste different. They're lighter, being somewhat smaller than a Whopper. If you're craving something akin to a burger but want to stick to your vegetarian lifestyle, White Castle is the way to go.
7. In-N-Out: Grilled Cheese
While this California-based chain also has very few options for the local vegetarian, there are at least a few choices beyond their delicious fries. You can get a grilled cheese sandwich, for instance, with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and sauce on a superbly delectable bun. It may not be on the menu, but In-N-Out is notorious for having secret menus.
8. Domino's Pizza: 5-Cheese Mac & Cheese
Despite the name, Domino's offers more than just pizza (though there are plenty of vegetarian pies, too). Unique to most of the other chains on this list, Domino's makes it possible to build your own meal in a variety of categories, from pizza to pasta. The 5-Cheese macaroni and cheese dish, for example, is baked to a delightful crisp on top.
9. Whataburger: Cobb Salad
This well-known Texas-based establishment has more variety of vegetarian main dishes and sides than other burger-centric joints. Vegetarian fast food is easy to find with Whataburger. There are light dinner ideas like the Cobb Salad with no chicken (you might have to request it without chicken specifically) and then there are vegetarian fast food breakfast items like the Potato Taquito with Cheese.
10. Panera Bread: Margherita Flatbread Pizza
While this company began as a bakery, it offers a splendidly diverse selection of offerings for every palate. Vegetarian fast food, if you can consider this sit-down style chain truly a fast food restaurant, is easy to find here. Just watch out for choice overload! The Margherita Flatbread Pizza is only one of over a dozen options for those who don't eat meat.
11. Starbucks: Spinach, Feta & Egg White Wrap
Known for its extravagant java choices (and an ideal space for remote workers), this fast food chain was originally a morning location. Now, diners come and go at all hours of the day because they have a pretty good selection of premade sandwiches and wraps, baked treats, small bites and even protein boxes. A good vegetarian fast food breakfast option includes the spinach, feta and egg white wrap, which is surprisingly delightful. Though in some locations (like London) they sell scrumptious caramel-infused waffle cookies — a snack food with panache!
Vegetarian Fast Food Sides and Desserts
12. Dairy Queen: Blizzard
When you're heading to the dessert department, ice cream is naturally the top of the list. This purveyor of sweets does serve some dinner options, but the main item is ice cream (or a vegan product similar enough to ice cream that we don't notice the difference). A Blizzard of your flavor choosing is a vegetarian fast food treat!
13. Burger King: Motts Applesauce
The Motts company knows how to make a healthy and sweet applesauce excellent for quenching a less-creamy sweet tooth desire. Motts is not only healthy but this is a type of vegetarian fast food item, too. Children also tend to be a fan of this item – so if you're on the road and unable to get to the grocery store, you can also find your Motts at a Burger King along the way!
14. Five Guys: Cajun Style Fries
While this burger joint doesn't have many vegetarian fast food main meals, their fries and milkshakes are the best parts of their meals anyway. The cajun style fries have a little added spice for a glorious taste on fries that are already a lovely texture and size. Note: Avoid this chain if you have a Peanut Allergy because everything is fried in 100% peanut oil here.
15. Taco Bell: Cinnamon Twists
You could spend all night eating at this location and fill your gullet with every vegetarian fast food item on the menu – and there are a lot, so you would be quite full – or you could simply snack on a delectable sweet pastry that few deny enjoying: cinnamon twists.
16. Sonic: Cheese Tots
Who doesn't love some good Tater Tots covered in melted cheese? Vegetarian-friendly and soul saving, these are a superb side dish worthy of your money – and maybe some love.
17. Whataburger: Hash Brown Sticks
Generally a breakfast item, hash browns are made with potatoes – a vegetable, so they are automatically permitted on the vegetarian diet (even when fried). Hash brown sticks are a fascinating version of this classic morning treat.
18. McDonald's: Baked Apple Pie
Over the years, McDonald's has put effort into the evolution of their menu to support a variety of diets and target audiences. As a dessert item that is simple and hits the spot, even for vegetarians, the Baked Apple Pie is a classic treat.
19. Qdoba: Guacamole & Chips
Mexican food once again saves the day! When it comes to vegetarian fast food, a Mexican establishment is more likely to have a wide variety of options than an American-style cuisine restaurant. The hand-crafted guacamole and chips at Qdoba is a side dish all the more worth devouring.
20. Dunkin' Donuts: Munchkins
A classic morning dessert (aka pastry) are the infamous Munchkins doughnut hole-style concoctions from Dunkin'. You know your morning meetings run on the sugar infused in these little balls of love – and you don't have to worry about breaking from your vegetarian ways to consume them!
21. Panda Express: Spring Rolls
While this is more of a fast-casual dining establishment, it has a number of vegetarian fast food menu items, since Asian food authentically does not always include meat. In fact, the spring rolls are actually vegan – a step beyond vegetarian! If you're looking for a meal option, you could always try fare involving tofu.
22. Arby's: Jalepeño Bites
Arby's is known for its meat products, certainly, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a night out with your friends! For a spicy snack to awaken your tongue, hit up the Jalepeño Bites.
23. Chick-fil-A: Kale Crunch Side
For a restaurant with the terms “Chicken” and “Filet” mashed into its title, Chick-fil-A has a surprising amount of vegetarian fast food menu items in both the mains and sides categories. When you're looking for something healthy, the Kale Crunch side dish will hit the spot.
Vegetarian Fast Food FAQs
Which fast food chain has the most vegetarian options?
As for truly fast food locations that reach far and wide and include a drive-through most of the time, the best vegetarian fast food option would appear to be Taco Bell. Since Mexican food tends to have more vegetable-based recipes to begin with, it's easier to find a variety of satisfying main meals and side dishes for a vegetarian diet.
Meanwhile, if you consider a small restaurant chain like Panera Bread “fast food”, this is another excellent location with plenty of options for vegetarians. The pizza was listed above, but there are soups, salads, sandwiches and side dishes galore to satisfy herbivore stomachs and taste-buds alike.
Does Wendy's have anything vegetarian?
The short answer is: Yes. However, all of the options at Wendy's for vegetarians are side dishes, though some locations make large versions of certain salads. The most filling option is probably the baked potato with sour cream and chives (just don't get it topped with bacon). For something a little salty-sweet, you could always get a large box of fries and a large Frosty – apparently many people enjoy dipping their fries in the Frosty ice cream. There are also delectable biscuits and apple bits, among other side dishes that lack meat. On their breakfast menu they have some French Toast sticks, which are vegetarian-friendly.
Is KFC good for vegetarians?
There are a few options available to vegetarians at KFC. Whether or not that means it is “good” for vegetarians is subjective – certainly they don't have as many options as they used to, in the 1990s they created the Beyond Fried Chicken Nuggets, due to their partnership with the Beyond Meat company. The Beyond Meat products have been discontinued, at least for now, so your best bet will be side dishes such as green beans, mac and cheese or corn on the cob.
Do McDonald's have a vegetarian menu?
McDonald's has a few vegetarian fast food recipes on its menu in America, though it has many more options in nations around the globe. In India there are many more vegetarian burger options than on the American menu. There are more options on the dessert and breakfast menus in American McDonald's for vegetarians to enjoy, such as egg and cheese McMuffins, hash browns and McFlurrys. Less than a decade ago, they still sold fruit and yogurt parfaits, but recently those were discontinued. They do still sell small bags of apple slices as a side dish, often as a replacement for fries in Happy Meals so that there are some healthy snacks for kids.
Whether you're searching for the best vegetarian fast food or simply vegetarian fast food menu items to satisfy both your hunger and your soul, you can certainly find a little of both on this list. If you're lucky, you might pass on your travels some new vegetarian fast food options 2024 and beyond that are specific to your diet – places such as Native Foods, Next Level Burger and Veggie Grill which are Vegetarian fast food chain examples that are continuing to grow.
For even more fun vegetarian ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
