Best Vegan Fast Food Options
The options for vegan dining have gone into the stratosphere over the last decade — enough so that innovative vegan restaurants have gone outside the previously explored realm of fine dining and into the fast-food industry.
For vegans, that means some scrumptious options, from burgers to chicken sandwiches to sides and appetizers that fill you up while keeping your heart healthy.
Here's a look at the 10 best fast-food vegan items on the menu at our favorite vegan fast-food restaurants — with the rule that we picked just one item from each of the restaurants we used for the list.
10. Sloppy Toppy (Slutty Vegan)
What makes this vegan fast-food option so delish: Slutty Vegan specializes in over-the-top vegan burger options that you will probably have a hard time choosing between — we went with the Sloppy Toppy because of the combination of jalapenos, cheese and caramelized onions that we know blend perfectly for the taste buds. Combine that with a vegan Hawaiian bun, and you are really getting to something special.
We stayed away from some of the messier, piled-on options for burgers that are on the Slutty Vegan menu, but if you add guacamole, you have the Super Slut version of this burger on the menu. Remember, there are levels to this vegan burger game.
9. BBQ Noodle (Loving Hut)
What makes this vegan fast-food option so delish: Loving Hut is unique in that it's one of the few vegan fast-food Asian spots available. But it also has a wide variety of menu items that include their version of pho as well as this crazy-delicious BBQ Noodle dish that includes roasted peanut and aulac sauce — the vegan version of the traditional fish sauce.
The BBQ Noodle dish is actually one of four rice noodle menu options from Loving Hut in addition to the Lemongrass Noodle, Tofu Noodle Stir Fry and Spring Roll Noodle. It would be hard, with multiple visits, not to eventually try them all.
RELATED: 15 Keto Fast-Food Items That Taste Delicious for Your Family
8. Japanese Katsu Sliders (Veggie Grill)
What makes this vegan fast-food option so delish: Veggie Grill scores points for taking a shot at its own version of sliders, a fast-food staple that we don't see on many vegan fast-food menus.
The restaurant scores double points for taking what we know of sliders in a new direction, with this mouth-watering version topped with pickled veggies, aioli and the chef's kiss of steamed bao buns. Please note that this item is listed on the "starters" portion of the menu, so feel free to order multiple servings.
What a time to be alive.
7. Mushroom Asada Bowl (Mas Veggies Vegan Taqueria)
What makes this vegan fast-food option so delish: Maybe we've just been watching HBO's "The Last of Us" too much, but the mushroom option sounds pretty tasty right about now. Mas Veggies Vegan Taqueria has both the Mushroom Asada Bowl option along with the Mushroom Asada Taco option. (To be honest: We picked the bowl in this case because you'll get more food.)
The marinated mushrooms are melt-in-your-mouth good, while the guacamole toppings, along with pickled radishes and cabbage, make this a familiar treat for those of us who are dedicated to our local hometown taco stands.
6. DogPile Fries & Tots 50/50 (Monty's Good Burger)
What makes this vegan fast-food option so delish: It was a surprise to see so many different vegan options for chili-cheese fries or chili-cheese tots spread out among the different vegan fast-food restaurants we looked at, but this version from Monty's Good Burger topped the list.
While we picked the DogPile Fries & Tots, please note that this is actually just one of seven(!) different options you can order that are a variation of shoestring fries or tater tots — or combined in a 50/50 option — topped with cheese and vegan hamburger patties. In the case of the DogPile style, you're also going to get ranch, onion aioli and house spread.
5. Mushroom BBQ Bacon Burger (PLNT Burger)
What makes this vegan fast-food option so delish: One of the more decadent options to make this list, we can't help but see the influence of nationwide burger chains like Red Robin on the Mushroom BBQ Bacon Burger from PLNT Burger. It's also worth pointing out that you can't really call yourself a legit fast-food burger operation unless you have some sort of BBQ burger option. In this case, you'll be getting the PLNT-made BBQ sauce on there as well.
Potato buns are another fast-food staple — ever been to Wendy's? — and the caramelized onions with crispy onion petals are a truly divine touch.
4. Spicy Buffalo Chikn (Project Pollo)
What makes this vegan fast-food option so delish: The Spicy Buffalo Chikn sandwich makes us question why most fast-food restaurants that serve actual chicken sandwiches haven't come up with something that sounds this good. Even though it's a pretty basic approach, Project Pollo's combo of vegan chicken tossed in spicy garlic buffalo and ranch makes our mouths water.
We gave the Spicy Buffalo Chikn just the slight nod as our choice over Project Pollo's version of the hot chicken sandwich — the Nashville Hot Chikn — which is topped with coleslaw, crunchy dill pickles and comeback sauce, which looks and tastes a lot like the signature Chick-Fil-A sauce.
RELATED: 30 Best Fried Chicken Sandwich Chains in the U.S., Ranked
3. Spicy Kraut Brat (Next Level Burger)
What makes this vegan fast-food option so delish: Nothing says summertime to us like a good ol' bratwurst, so it's great that one of these vegan fast-food restaurants has taken on the challenge of creating that type of experience for its vegan diners.
Next Level Burger actually went the extra mile and has four different options for its plant-based bratwurst creation — the BeerChz Brat, Fire Brat, Chile Cheese Brat and our pick, the Spicy Kraut Brat.
We picked the Spicy Kraut Brat because it's the closest to what we think of for a trip to the ballpark, with the classic touches of sauerkraut, Dijon mustard, onions and the next-level addition of pepperoncinis lining the back wall of the bun.
If you're a baseball stadium and you want to level up, reach out to Next Level Burger about getting this fast-food vegan option on your ballpark menu.
2. Glazed and Confused (Native Foods)
What makes this vegan fast-food option so delish: If you've ever been to a state fair, you know that sandwiches created with glazed donuts serving as the buns are nothing new. But what is new is seeing a fresh option for this fast-food delicacy on a vegan menu.
There's nothing not to love about the way Native Foods has put together the Glazed and Confused (great name) donut sandwich, but the thing that draws us in is the thought of those candied jalapenos topped on the plant-based chicken.
Another thought: When you do roll the dice at a state fair with a donut cheeseburger or donut chicken sandwich, one of the drawbacks is the massive amount of grease, which is sure to be cut down on with the plant-based option.
You won't be able to get cotton candy or dippin' dots afterward, but you also won't have to be at a state fair to grab this deliciousness. So, take the good with the bad.
1. Bistro Bella (HipCity Veg)
What makes this vegan fast-food option so delish: The Bistro Bella sandwich combines perhaps the most diverse and delicious vegan-vegetarian staple, the portobello mushroom, with a mind-blowing mix of artichoke, olive tapenade and arugula as its toppings.
While we're all about the herb Dijon glaze, we would love just as much to try some different spread options on the Bistro Bella. Maybe an aioli or a pesto would work just as well? Regardless, this sandwich exists, and it's awesome.
RELATED: 10 Best Vegan Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.