Finding vegan fast food options used to mean ordering a side salad and french fries. That's changed. Most major chains now carry at least one intentionally plant-based item, and many more can be modified to be fully vegan. But "plant-based" on a menu doesn't always mean vegan — and some of the traps are genuinely surprising.
This guide covers what's actually vegan at eight major chains, which modifications to ask for, and the hidden animal ingredients that trip people up.
Burger King
Best vegan order: Impossible Whopper with no mayo. The Impossible patty itself is vegan — soy-based protein with no animal derivatives. The default Whopper build includes mayo, which contains eggs. Ask for no mayo and you get the flame-grilled patty, tomato, lettuce, pickles, onion, and ketchup on a sesame bun.
Watch out: The bun is vegan but the patty is cooked on the same broiler as beef patties. If cross-contamination is a concern for you, ask them to microwave it instead. Also, the Impossible patty is not available at every location.
Other options: French fries (cooked in vegetable oil, not shared with animal products), Garden Side Salad with Italian dressing, and the Dutch Apple Pie.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell is one of the most vegan-adaptable chains in fast food.
Best vegan order: Bean Burrito, fresco style. "Fresco style" replaces cheese and sour cream with pico de gallo. The refried beans at Taco Bell are vegan — they're made without lard, which is unusual for fast food refried beans.
Other solid options: Potato Soft Taco (sub beans for beef, fresco style), Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme (fresco style, no nacho cheese), and Cinnamon Twists.
Ordering tip: Use the Taco Bell app to customize — it's easier to remove multiple ingredients than explaining modifications at the counter.
Chipotle
Best vegan order: Sofritas Bowl — seasoned, crumbled, braised tofu with rice, black beans, fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa, corn salsa, and guacamole. A full sofritas bowl has about 17g of protein. Add a side of chips and you have a filling, entirely vegan meal.
Watch out: The flour tortillas are vegan. The queso is not. The chipotle honey vinaigrette dressing contains honey. Stick with the salsa-based dressings.
Subway
Best vegan order: Veggie Delite on Italian bread with all the vegetables and mustard or oil and vinegar. Italian bread is vegan at Subway. The 9-Grain Wheat and Hearty Multigrain contain honey and dairy, respectively.
Other options: Veggie Patty sub at locations that carry it (availability varies). Load up on romaine, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, cucumbers, olives, and banana peppers.
Watch out: The standard breads vary in ingredients by region. If you're strict about it, Italian and Sourdough are the safest bets. Avoid all cheese sauces — the Sweet Onion sauce is vegan, but Chipotle Southwest and Ranch are not.
Del Taco
Best vegan order: Beyond Tacos — Del Taco uses Beyond Meat crumbles in a crunchy shell with lettuce, tomato, and cheddar. Ask for no cheese to make it vegan. The Beyond Meat is cooked separately from animal proteins.
Other options: Bean and cheese burrito with no cheese (their beans are vegan), Crinkle Cut Fries, and the Hashbrown Sticks.
Starbucks
Starbucks isn't a meal destination, but it covers vegan snacks and drinks well.
Best vegan drink: Any espresso drink with oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk. The oat milk (Oatly) is the closest in texture to dairy. Avoid the standard vanilla syrup alternatives if they're labeled as sauces — some sauces contain dairy.
Best vegan food: Plain or Everything Bagel (vegan at most locations — check for honey in your region). The Impossible Breakfast Sandwich is not vegan — it includes cheese and egg.
Watch out: Whipped cream is dairy. Java Chips contain dairy. Caramel Drizzle contains dairy. White Mocha sauce contains dairy. Always specify "no whip" on any drink.
Panda Express
Panda Express is one of the hardest major chains for vegans.
Best vegan order: Super Greens side and Chow Mein. That's about it. The Eggplant Tofu entree uses tofu but is cooked with a sauce that may contain oyster sauce depending on location. White Steamed Rice is safe.
Avoid: Nearly all protein entrees contain animal products. Orange Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, and Beijing Beef are all out. The Cream Cheese Rangoon contains dairy and crab.
Hidden Non-Vegan Traps
This is where it gets tricky. Some items that look obviously vegan are not.
McDonald's French Fries. In the United States, McDonald's fries are flavored with "natural beef flavor" that contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk. They're not vegan and they're not dairy-free. This is specific to US locations — McDonald's fries in the UK, Canada, and Australia are cooked in vegetable oil without beef flavoring.
Bread with milk, eggs, or honey. Many fast food buns contain whey, casein, eggs, or honey. Burger King's sesame seed bun is vegan, but McDonald's and Wendy's buns contain dairy ingredients. Always check if you're ordering a custom build.
Refried beans with lard. Most traditional refried beans use pork lard. Taco Bell and Chipotle use vegan beans, but many independent Mexican restaurants do not. Always ask.
"Veggie" items with hidden dairy. Veggie burgers at sit-down chains frequently contain cheese, egg binders, or are cooked in butter. "Veggie" on a menu does not mean vegan.
How to Ask the Right Questions
When you're at a chain that isn't on this list, three questions cover most hidden ingredients:
- "Are the beans made with lard?" Covers Mexican and Tex-Mex items.
- "Is the bread made with milk, eggs, or honey?" Covers sandwiches and burgers.
- "What oil are the fries cooked in, and is it shared with animal products?" Covers cross-contamination and hidden beef tallow.
For full meal planning beyond restaurants, see our vegan meal ideas guide. If you're eating out with broader dietary goals in mind, check our healthy eating out options breakdown.
Order Vegan with Confidence
Tired of guessing which fast food items are actually vegan? DinePick scans menus and flags hidden animal products so you can order with confidence — join the waitlist to try it first.