After two weeks of drive-thrus and dollar menus, I can tell you exactly which chains are worth your time and which ones think iceberg lettuce counts as a meal.
Let me be honest with you. I spent the last two weeks eating almost exclusively from fast food drive-thrus. My partner started giving me concerned looks around day four. But someone had to do this research, and I figured it might as well be me.
Here's the thing about fast food and veganism in 2024: it's gotten weirdly good at some places and stayed stubbornly terrible at others. The gap between the best and worst options is massive. Some chains have clearly invested in making plant-based customers feel welcome.
Others seem to think removing the beef patty and charging the same price counts as accommodation. I visited eight major chains, ordered every vegan option I could find, and ranked them based on taste, variety, and whether I'd actually go back. Let's get into it.
1) Taco Bell: The undisputed champion
Taco Bell has been quietly dominating the vegan fast food game for years. The "Veggie Mode" on their app lets you swap beans for meat and remove dairy with a single tap. It's genuinely thoughtful design.
The Crunchwrap Supreme with black beans, no sour cream, no cheese, and add potatoes is legitimately delicious. The Bean and Rice Burrito is a solid budget option at around two dollars. And the Cinnamon Twists are accidentally vegan, which feels like a small gift.
What sets Taco Bell apart is customization. Almost anything on the menu can become vegan with a few modifications. The staff rarely seems confused by the requests. It's clear they've trained for this.
2) Burger King: The Impossible standard
The Impossible Whopper put plant-based fast food on the map back in 2019. It's still one of the best options out there, assuming you order it without mayo and ask them to cook it on a separate surface if cross-contamination concerns you.
The patty itself tastes remarkably close to beef. The char-grilled flavor comes through, and the texture holds up under all those toppings. It feels like eating an actual burger, not a compromise.
The downside? Beyond the Whopper, options are limited. You're looking at fries, a garden side salad, and maybe some apple slices. But if you want one really satisfying vegan burger, this is your spot.
3) Carl's Jr./Hardee's: Underrated contender
Carl's Jr. surprised me. Their Beyond Famous Star with Cheese can be ordered vegan by skipping the cheese and mayo. The Beyond patty is thick, well-seasoned, and doesn't fall apart after two bites.
The CrissCut Fries are vegan and genuinely addictive. Something about that waffle shape holds seasoning better than regular fries. I found myself ordering extra.
The menu isn't huge for plant-based eaters, but what they do, they do well. The portions feel generous, and the overall experience doesn't scream "afterthought." Worth a stop if you're near one.
4) Del Taco: Taco Bell's scrappy cousin
Del Taco introduced Beyond Meat tacos a few years back, and they've stuck with the program. The Beyond Avocado Taco is flavorful and filling. Their beans are vegan by default, which makes customization easy.
The Crinkle Cut Fries are solid, and you can load them up with guacamole for a decent snack. The menu feels less polished than Taco Bell's vegan options, but there's enough variety to build a real meal.
My main complaint? Consistency varies by location. One Del Taco nailed my order perfectly. Another seemed genuinely confused by "no cheese, no sour cream." Your mileage may vary.
5) Chipotle: Reliable but not technically fast food
I'm including Chipotle because people always ask about it. The Sofritas are well-spiced and satisfying. You can build a massive bowl with rice, beans, fajita veggies, corn salsa, guacamole, and lettuce.
The problem is price. A fully loaded vegan bowl runs close to twelve dollars in most cities. At that point, you're paying sit-down restaurant prices for counter service. It's good food, but the value proposition gets shaky.
Still, if you need something relatively healthy and customizable, Chipotle delivers. Just don't expect drive-thru convenience or drive-thru prices.
6) Subway: Depends entirely on your location
Subway is wildly inconsistent. Some locations have the Veggie Delite with fresh vegetables and decent bread. Others look like they haven't restocked produce since last Tuesday.
The bread situation is also complicated. Some varieties contain dairy or honey. You'll need to ask or check their allergen menu online before ordering. It's more homework than fast food should require.
When Subway works, it works fine. A footlong Veggie Delite with mustard, oil, vinegar, and all the vegetables is a reasonable meal. But "fine" and "reasonable" aren't exactly ringing endorsements.
7) McDonald's: A disappointment with fries
McDonald's vegan options in the US are embarrassingly limited. You're looking at apple slices, a side salad without chicken, and... that's basically it. The fries contain beef flavoring, which still catches people off guard.
Other countries have McPlant burgers and veggie wraps. America gets fruit. It's a strange choice for the world's largest fast food chain. They clearly have the resources to do better.
I ordered a side salad with balsamic vinaigrette and felt genuinely sad eating it in my car. McDonald's, you can do better. Please do better.
8) Chick-fil-A: Don't bother
I went to Chick-fil-A knowing it would be rough. I didn't expect it to be this rough. Your vegan options are: waffle fries cooked in canola oil, a fruit cup, and a side salad with no chicken and no cheese.
That's it. Three sides. No entree. No sandwich. Nothing that resembles a meal unless you're combining multiple side orders and pretending that counts.
The waffle fries are good, I'll admit. But I can't rank a chain highly when their entire vegan menu fits on a Post-it note. If your friends suggest Chick-fil-A, suggest literally anywhere else.
Final thoughts
The fast food landscape for vegans has improved dramatically over the past five years. Chains like Taco Bell and Burger King have proven that plant-based options can be profitable and popular. Others are clearly still figuring it out.
My advice? Know your options before you pull into the drive-thru. Most chains have allergen menus online that make vegan ordering much easier. A little research saves a lot of frustration.
The bigger picture here is encouraging. Plant-based food sales continue growing, and fast food chains are paying attention. Competition breeds innovation. The more we show up and order these options, the more options we'll get.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to eat something green that didn't come through a window.
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