In a world where sustainability is the buzzword and conscious choices rule, fast-food restaurants are stepping up. Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha – generations known for their penchant for change and awareness – are witnessing a green revolution on the menus of their favourite fast-food joints.
It’s no secret that what we eat matters for both our health and the planet’s. The good news is that your go-to fast-food fix is no longer confined to meaty indulgence.
So, if you’re part of the generation hungry for change, join us as we explore the delectable world of plant-based offerings, taking the fast-food scene by storm. 🌱🍔✨
20 fast-food restaurants worldwide with plant-based options
McDonald’s
Plant-based options are available at fast-food giant McDonald’s globally. In the US, the McPlant burger is made with a Beyond Meat patty, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard on a sesame seed bun. In the UK, the Veggie Dippers are made with red pepper, rice, sundried tomato pesto, split peas, and more.
Meanwhile, the PLT sandwich in Canada features a Beyond Meat patty and classic toppings.
Burger King
Plant-based options are available at Burger King, including vegetarian Whopper with flame-grilled patty made from vegetables, grains, and other plant-based ingredients. The Impossible Whopper is another option, which features a meatless patty created by Impossible Foods. Additionally, Burger King offers a veggie burger made from vegetables, grains, and cheese.
KFC
KFC offers a few plant-based options for customers who prefer meat-free meals. In some countries, the stores have a vegetarian chicken substitute called Quorn, made from mycoprotein.
The fast-food chain also has a vegan burger called the Imposter Burger, made with a Quorn patty and vegan mayonnaise. Additionally, they offer vegetarian-friendly sides such as corn on the cob, green beans, and coleslaw.
Subway
Subway offers a variety of plant-based options for customers who prefer meat-free meals. You can choose various vegetable toppings and sauces to customise your sandwich or salad.
The stores also offer a Beyond Meatball Marinara sub, which features Beyond Meat meatballs made from plants. Additionally, they have a Veggie Delite sub loaded with fresh vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and peppers. You can also opt for a Veggie Patty sub with a patty made from vegetables and grains.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell has various plant-based options for its customers who prefer meat-free meals. A vegetarian section on their menu includes options like the Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme, the Bean Burrito, and the Veggie Power Bowl.
Additionally, the Mexican chain offers a variety of vegetarian-friendly sides, such as chips and guacamole, black beans and rice, and seasoned fries.
You can customise your meals by removing cheese, sour cream, and other animal products if you want vegan options. Taco Bell has also partnered with Beyond Meat to create a vegetarian-friendly version of their classic Crunchwrap Supreme, which features a Beyond Meat patty.
Domino’s Pizza
Domino’s Pizza offers a few plant-based options for customers who prefer meat-free meals, including a Vegan Margherita pizza made with vegan cheese and tomato sauce.
Additionally, the pizza chain offers a variety of vegetable toppings that you can add to customise your pizza, such as mushrooms, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and spinach.
You can request to remove the cheese or build your pizza with a vegan cheese option. The restos have sides like garlic bread, bread twists, and vegetarian-friendly salads.
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut has a vegan pizza called the Vegan Veggie, which features tomato sauce, vegan cheese, and various vegetable toppings such as mushrooms, peppers, and red onions. The pizza chain also offers a range of vegetable toppings to add to your pizza and customise and create your pizza with a vegan cheese option.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill offers a variety of plant-based options for their customers who prefer meat-free meals.
The Mexican chain has a vegetarian bowl with cilantro-lime rice, black beans, fajita veggies, tomato, corn, and guacamole. Additionally, it offers a vegan bowl that contains sofritas – spicy, shredded tofu seasoned with chipotle peppers and spices.
You can customise your bowl and add plant-based options such as lettuce, pico de gallo, and roasted chilli-corn salsa. Furthermore, Chipotle has vegetarian-friendly sides such as chips and guacamole, chips and salsa, and tortilla chips.
Starbucks
Starbucks offers a few plant-based options for customers who prefer meat-free meals. The coffee chain has various non-dairy milk options, such as soy, almond, and coconut milk, that you can add to your coffee or tea.
Additionally, Starbucks offers a plant-based breakfast sandwich called the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich, made with Impossible Sausage, a plant-based patty created by Impossible Foods, and aged cheddar cheese.
The coffee chain also offers a variety of vegan-friendly snacks, such as the classic and hipster avocado spread, the Everything Bagel & Veggie Sandwich, and a Vegan Chocolate and raspberry Cake. Moreover, Starbucks offers oatmeal and fresh fruit options that are vegetarian-friendly.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts offers a few plant-based options for customers who prefer meat-free meals. They have a Beyond Sausage Breakfast Sandwich, which features a Beyond Meat patty, American cheese, and an egg on an English muffin.
Additionally, its stores offer various non-dairy options, such as almond, oat, and coconut milk, to add to your coffee or tea. Moreover, they offer a veggie egg white sandwich made with egg whites, spinach, red peppers, and onions on a multigrain thin.
Dunkin’ Donuts also has a variety of vegan-friendly baked goods, such as the Beyond Sausage Breakfast sandwich on a vegan bagel, hash browns, and bagels.
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons offers a few plant-based options for customers who prefer meat-free meals. It has a Beyond Meat Breakfast Sandwich featuring a Beyond Meat patty, lettuce, tomato, and cheese on a biscuit or an English muffin.
Additionally, the coffee chain offers various non-dairy milk options, such as almond, soy, and oat milk, that you can add to your coffee or tea.
Moreover, Tim Hortons has a variety of vegan-friendly baked goods such as the Everything bagel, the Plain bagel, and the Hash Brown.
A&W
A&W offers several plant-based options for their customers. Its restaurants have a Beyond Meat burger, a plant-based patty with lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and mayo on a sesame seed bun.
The fast-food chain also has a Beyond Meat sausage breakfast sandwich and Beyond Meat sausage and veggie breakfast wrap available during breakfast hours.
In addition, A&W offers a Vegan Buddy burger with lettuce, tomato, and ketchup on a vegan bun. The stores also have sweet potato fries and onion rings that are vegetarian-friendly.
Carl’s Jr
Carl’s Jr offers several plant-based options for their customers. The burger chain has a Beyond Famous Star burger, a plant-based patty with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, special sauce, and American cheese on a sesame seed bun. Its stores also offer a Beyond BBQ Cheeseburger, a plant-based patty with BBQ sauce, onion rings, and American cheese on a sesame seed bun.
In addition to this, the restaurants have a Beyond Sausage Burrito that comes with plant-based sausage, scrambled eggs, shredded cheese, hash browns, and salsa wrapped in a flour tortilla, plus a Beyond Sausage Egg and Cheese Biscuit available during breakfast hours.
White Castle
White Castle offers a plant-based burger called the Impossible Slider, made with Impossible Foods’ plant-based meat substitute. Like the classic White Castle slider, it’s served on a bun with pickles, onions, and ketchup. The burger chain also offers a side of applesauce that is plant-based and vegan-friendly.
Panera Bread
Panera Bread offers several plant-based options for customers who prefer meat-free meals. Its stores have a variety of vegetarian-friendly salads, soups, and sandwiches. One of the most popular plant-based options at Panera Bread is the Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich, which features hummus, feta cheese, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and a tangy red pepper sauce.
Panera Bread has a Mediterranean Grain Bowl loaded with quinoa, brown rice, hummus, tomatoes, cucumbers, and more. Additionally, its restaurants offer a variety of vegetarian soups, such as the Vegetarian Autumn Squash Soup and the Ten Vegetable Soup.
Shake Shack
Shake Shack offers a few plant-based options for customers who prefer meat-free meals, including a vegetarian option called the ‘Shroom Burger, a fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce on a bun.
The burger chain also offers a vegan option called the Veggie Shack, a burger comprising a patty made from black beans, brown rice and roasted beets, topped with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, vegan mustard, and vegan mayo on a bun. Additionally, it offers crinkle-cut fries and sweet potato fries that are vegan-friendly.
Papa John’s
Papa John’s offers several plant-based options for customers who prefer meat-free meals. It has the Garden Fresh Pizza, loaded with vegetables such as onions, green peppers, mushrooms, black olives, and tomatoes.
Additionally, it offers a create-your-own pizza option where you can choose your toppings and plant-based toppings such as banana peppers, jalapenos and pineapple.
You can also request to remove cheese or build your pizza with a vegan cheese option. Moreover, the restaurant has sides such as garlic knots, breadsticks, and vegetarian-friendly salads.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s has a few plant-based options for customers who prefer meat-free meals. The Spicy Black Bean Burger features a black bean patty, spicy chipotle sauce, lettuce, tomato, and onion on a bun.
The fast-food chain also offers a Grilled Avocado BLT sandwich, which includes grilled avocado, tomato, lettuce, applewood smoked bacon, and a buttermilk ranch sauce on a bun.
In addition, Wendy’s has a variety of vegetarian-friendly sides such as fries, baked potatoes, and salads that can be customised with plant-based toppings like avocado and salsa.
Cold Rock
Cold Rock Ice Creamery, an Australia-based ice cream shop, now offers 100 per cent plant-based ice creams with two new flavours – Dark Chocolate and Cinnamon Donut. The two new flavours are said to be creamy; even ice cream addicts would never know the difference.
Aside from the plant-based ice creams, the brand also introduced its first 100 per cent plant-based ice cream cake, the Do or Donut. It comprises the brand’s signature style with two layers and extra mix-ins.
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme Australia has unveiled a new range of vegan doughnuts exclusively available at its stores and 7-Eleven in response to increased demand from the vegan community.
The range includes two flavours – the Fudge Brownie Bliss and the Apple Custard Crumble – and both will be a permanent addition to the brand’s product lineup.
Final Thoughts
From golden arches to flame-grilled classics, food meccas are welcoming a new era of dining with a lineup of plant-based options that don’t just cater to taste buds but also make a positive impact on the environment.
However, plant-based options vary by location, so it’s best to check with the branch in your area to see which ones are available.
