You can eat vegan at almost every big US chain, but at some of them a full meal takes more ordering skill than others. Chipotle and Taco Bell are the easiest. Burger chains usually mean fries plus a modified sandwich. Pizza chains mean a cheeseless pizza, because none of them sell vegan cheese in the US.
The best vegan order at 15 chains
| Chain | Best vegan order | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | Big Mac bun with extra veg, ketchup and mustard; baked apple pie | Fries and hash browns contain milk (beef flavor). Oatmeal has cream. |
| In-N-Out | "Veggie burger" with no spread, plus fries | The spread contains egg. Shakes are dairy. |
| Burger King | Impossible Whopper with no mayo, fries, French toast sticks at breakfast | The mayo. The Impossible patty is cooked on the shared broiler unless you ask. |
| Wendy's | Plain baked potato with salsa, natural-cut fries, a salad with no meat, cheese or croutons | The Frosty, the chili and most dressings. |
| Taco Bell | Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme with no sour cream or nacho cheese, plus guac and potatoes | Nacho cheese, chipotle and creamy sauces. Order "fresco style". |
| Chipotle | Sofritas bowl with rice, beans, salsa and guacamole | The chipotle-honey vinaigrette and the quesadilla. |
| Subway | Veggie Delite on a vegan-friendly bread with oil, vinegar or mustard | No vegan patty or filling on the current US menu. Cookies aren't vegan. |
| Starbucks | Any drink with oat, soy, almond or coconut milk and a classic syrup | Whipped cream, caramel drizzle, chai (contains honey) and Frappuccino chips. |
| Dunkin' | Plain or everything bagel with avocado, hash browns, coffee with oat milk | No vegan doughnuts in the US. |
| Panera | Mediterranean Veggie sandwich without feta, black bean soup in a sourdough bread bowl | Most smoothies use Greek yogurt. |
| Domino's | Crunchy Thin Crust with tomato sauce and vegetables, no cheese | Only the thin crust is vegan in the US. |
| Pizza Hut | Thin 'N Crispy or Hand-Tossed with marinara and vegetables, no cheese | No vegan cheese in the US. Breadsticks need no parmesan. |
| Chick-fil-A | Waffle fries, hash browns, Kale Crunch side, fruit cup | No vegan main. The seasoning on most breaded items contains dairy. |
| Panda Express | Eggplant Tofu with chow mein or steamed rice, Super Greens | Fried rice contains egg. Eggplant Tofu isn't at every location. |
| Five Guys | Five Guys Style or Cajun fries | The bun contains egg and milk, so there's no vegan sandwich. |
Chains without a link here are ones we haven't written full guides for yet. The orders above come from the sources at the end of the page.
Which fast-food fries are vegan?
Fries are the vegan staple at a burger chain, but not every chain's fries pass.
| Chain | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald's (US) | Not vegan | Natural beef flavor, which contains milk. |
| McDonald's (UK and Ireland) | Vegan | Different recipe, approved by the Vegetarian Society. |
| Burger King | Vegan | |
| Wendy's | Vegan | Natural-cut, skin-on fries. |
| In-N-Out | Vegan | Cooked in 100% sunflower oil. |
| Chick-fil-A | Vegan | Waffle fries cooked in canola oil. |
| Five Guys | Vegan | Cooked in peanut oil. |
| Pizza Hut | Vegan | Where fries are on the menu. |
How to order vegan at any chain
- Start with the sides. Fries, hash browns, baked potatoes, fruit and rice are usually vegan and give you a base.
- Remove, then add. Ask for no cheese, no mayo and no creamy sauce, then add the free vegetables and mustard, ketchup or salsa.
- Use the app. Custom orders are easier in a chain's app, where you can see every topping and sauce.
- Ask about the fryer and grill. Most chains share them. If cross-contact matters to you, ask before you order.
- Check limited-time items. Plant-based specials often disappear after a few months, and new items sometimes contain dairy even when they sound vegan.
Every page in this guide
FAQ
Which fast-food chain is best for vegans?
Chipotle and Taco Bell. Chipotle has a vegan filling (Sofritas) on its regular menu, and Taco Bell lets you swap beans for meat and order almost anything 'fresco style' to remove dairy.
Are McDonald's fries vegan?
Not in the US. They're cooked with a natural beef flavor that contains milk. UK and Irish McDonald's fries are vegan.
Which fast-food fries are vegan?
In the US, fries at Burger King, Wendy's, Chick-fil-A (waffle fries), Five Guys and In-N-Out contain no animal ingredients. McDonald's fries and hash browns don't qualify.
Does any US fast-food chain have vegan cheese?
None of the big burger or pizza chains currently offer vegan cheese in the US. Domino's and Pizza Hut sell it in some other countries.
What about cross-contact?
Most chains cook vegan items on shared grills and in shared fryers. We note it where a chain says so. If that matters to you, ask the staff.
More guides
Sources and how we checked
We reviewed the sources below in Oct 2026.
- VegNews: How to eat vegan at McDonald's (November 2025)
- VegNews: Vegan guide to Burger King (September 2025)
- VegNews: Vegan guide to Wendy's (September 2025)
- VegNews: Vegan Taco Bell guide (September 2025)
- VegNews: How to make Chipotle vegan (December 2025)
- VegNews: Vegan guide to Subway
- VegNews: How to order vegan at Starbucks (April 2026)
- VegNews: Vegan guide to Dunkin' (February 2026)
- VegNews: Vegan guide to Panera (December 2025)
- VegNews: How to order Domino's vegan (March 2026)
- VegNews: Vegan guide to Pizza Hut (April 2026)
- VegNews: How to order vegan at Chick-fil-A (March 2026)
- VegNews: How to eat vegan at Panda Express (October 2025)
- PETA: Vegan options at Five Guys (April 2025)
- World of Vegan: How to order vegan at In-N-Out
Spotted a recipe change? Tell us and we'll re-check.