The Best Fast Food Restaurants To Eat At If You Are Vegan

Veganism isn't just a passing trend. In fact, plant-based foods with no trace of animal products are only growing in popularity. For some, veganism is an ethical choice, while others choose the lifestyle for its health benefits. From initiatives like Meatless Mondays to Veganuary, folks are finding plenty of reasons to try out vegan foods. This lifestyle used to have a much higher barrier of entry, as there were practically no restaurants that offered vegan fare, especially in the fast food space. Fortunately, these chains are becoming increasingly aware of customers' dietary preferences and restrictions, and you can now confidently walk into most establishments knowing that there will be at least a few vegan items to choose from.

Let's examine some fast food options for those who are vegan (or for those who are just in the mood for something plant-based). At the end, we'll touch on the methodology we used in determining our list of the best fast food vegan options available today.

Slutty Vegan is another vegan fast food option that's rapidly gaining popularity. With 12 branches across the U.S., its availability is still limited, though it has locations in Georgia, New York, Alabama, and Texas. In 2023, Mashed interviewed the chain's founder, Pinky Cole, about her plants to dominate the plant-based industry. What began in her kitchen as a way to make food for local customers on Instagram has grown into a huge vegan fast food spot with franchises popping up all over.

Each item's name is amusingly on-brand, with options like a "One Night Stand" (a plant-based burger with vegan bacon and cheese) and a "Hollywood Hooker" (a vegan chopped Philly with jalapeños, bell peppers, onions, and vegan provolone). Dessert options include sweet potato pie and vegan ice cream so you can finish your vegan meal with a sweet treat. Slutty Vegan offers catering, and customers can even rent out its food truck, so you can bring vegan fast food to your event in style.

While it's great to see vegan chains growing in popularity, their limited accessibility means you may have to seek out vegan options at non-vegan fast food chains. QDOBA, as just one example, has several vegan options to choose from. The restaurant prepares everything in-house by hand, and it has also pledged to avoid certain controversial ingredients like MSG and artificial colors.

The chain implements several sustainable practices, like growing its produce and rice in the U.S. While QDOBA definitely serves animal products, it claims to partner with suppliers who care about quality, food ethics, and animal welfare. Its packaging also uses compostable bowls and brown paper bags made from 100% recycled materials.

If you'd like to make a standard menu item vegan, the restaurant can swap out its beef for a plant-based alternative. If you're looking for a ready-made vegan item, opt for the Impossible Taco Salad or Impossible Fajita Burrito or Bowl. Try adding some guacamole and sautéed fajita vegetables for an extra dose of nutrients and a more filling meal. (If you're still wondering what to get, we've ranked QDOBA's menu items from worst to best.)

Not only does Mellow Mushroom have a cute name, but it's also pretty widely available across the U.S. The chain itself isn't vegan, but a lot of its customers are, so the restaurant makes ordering a breeze with a helpful vegan symbol next to all of its vegan-friendly dishes. Its website even features a "Vegan" page where all of these items are gathered. (Mellow Mushroom also offers an extended beverage menu that features a selection of cocktails, mocktails, and beer.)

The restaurant's vegan options include two salads, two sandwiches, soft pretzels, and several specialty pizzas. For the latter option, you can ask for dairy-free cheese so that you don't have to suffer the indignity of a cheese-free pizza. If you do order vegan, Mellow Mushroom leaves off the parmesan and garlic butter that it typically puts on its pizzas, so if you want to partake of those in particular, be sure to mention it. Mellow Mushroom also allows customers to add plant-based tempeh protein to any order.

Burger Kings are everywhere, so if you're vegan, it's worth your while to know what on the chain's menu will fit your dietary needs. The fast food giant introduced its Impossible Whopper in 2019, and indeed, this is likely the staple order for many vegans. That said, it's crucial that you remember to order it without mayo and don't add any cheese, as neither of those are vegan options at Burger King. Also worth noting is that Burger King's fries are vegan, as they're cooked in oil that doesn't come into contact with any animal products.

While Burger King's vegan options are pretty limited, at least in the U.S. (the chain has implemented more vegan options offshore), you can at least grab a burger and fries — a takeout staple if there ever was one. And, of course, nothing is stopping you from replicating its classic Impossible Whopper at home.

Chipotle is a solid option for vegans craving fast food. The brand focuses on providing customers with fresh food and proudly claims that its menu only uses 53 ingredients. Similarly, its food doesn't include any hormones, preservatives, or artificial flavors or colors, and the company claims to be the first national restaurant brand to only use responsibly raised meat.

For those who have adopted a vegan lifestyle, however, using any animal products is a no-go. Chipotle understands this and has a page on its website dedicated to menu items that will fit different dietary needs. Its tofu-based sofritas are completely vegan, as are its tortillas, vegetables, rice, beans, salsas, chips, and guacamole, so you can go wild mixing and matching ingredients to complete your meal.

While some items on Chipotle's menu are decidedly not vegan-friendly — such as any of its meats, as well as its shredded Monterey Jack cheese, queso, sour cream, and chipotle-honey vinaigrette — there are plenty of vegan options to add to your burrito. If you've got some time on your hands, however, you can make a vegan version of carnitas pulled pork at home using jackfruit.

As we've seen, there's no shortage of burger spots that offer vegan options, so it's nice to see some variety. Thanks to Blaze Pizza, vegan diners can get their pizza fix. Unlike more mainstream pizza chains, Blaze doesn't ask its vegan customers to order their pizza without cheese. While that's still definitely an option, it arguably negates the whole point of pizza. Blaze Pizza offers the option of dairy-free cheese, so you don't have to compromise on the gooey slice you've been daydreaming about.

Blaze Pizza, while not a vegan restaurant, also has your back when it comes to vegan meat. The restaurant offers plant-based spicy chorizo, which contains zero animal products or gluten. It's packed with flavor, so even non-vegans may enjoy it. Once you've added your vegan cheese and chorizo, you can go wild with your toppings. Artichokes, olives, tomatoes, garlic, basil, mushrooms, pineapple, onion, spinach, and various peppers are all available for you to customize your ideal pizza. The brand is steadily growing in popularity and has locations nationwide, so if there isn't one near you yet, that may eventually change.