10 Best Vegan Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

These vegan fast-food chains offer a healthier meal fix for patrons.

Plant-based options have really taken off over the past decade. Most standard chains now have bonafide vegan dishes (i.e., not just tofu and wheatgrass) on the menu to rival anything that meat and dairy have to offer.

Vegan fast-food chains are also “sprouting” up around the U.S., and while they are not in every state, they soon will be. Here are the best ones so far.

Veggie Grill

Maruko X. / Yelp

Locations: California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York

Bottom line: Founded in 2006, Veggie Grill is the largest, 100 percent plant-based restaurant company in the U.S. It has expanded fairly quickly and has its eyes on the national stage.

As it is a fast-food chain, burgers, sandwiches, fries and salads are standard fare, but the chain’s buffalo wings, wraps, and mac and cheese are also standouts — so much so that the restaurant’s customer base is now about 70 percent non-vegetarians.

Native Foods

Sanaz S. / Yelp

Locations: California, Oregon, Colorado and Illinois

Bottom line: Native Foods is quickly making its way up the ranks as a vegan fast-food chain to be reckoned with. Patrons love the high-quality ingredients, friendly service and delicious eats.

Favorites on Native Foods‘ menu are the restaurant’s signature double burgers like its Poppin’ Jalapeño Burger (with plant-based cheddar, jalapeño pimento cheese and pickled jalapeños), Orange Cauliflower and Lavender Lemonade.

HipCityVeg

Nina W. / Yelp

Locations: Pennsylvania and Washington D.C.

Bottom line: We get it — you miss the occasional Philly cheesesteak. HipCityVeg delivers a pretty close approximation that’s been known to please many a palate of non-vegan patrons.

And not all vegan fast-food establishments have breakfast items, but this one does. While it has a limited morning menu, it hits all the marks with its yummy breakfast sandwiches.

READ: 15 Most Popular Breakfast Foods in America

Monty’s Good Burger

Jae R. / Yelp

Locations: Southern California

Bottom line: Monte’s Good Burger was established in 2018, and although it is only in Southern California at this time, it sold over 2 million Impossible meat burgers. If it expands, the sky appears to be the limit.

Monte’s has a very limited menu — other items include shakes, tater tots, chicken sandwiches and a kale salad. It may not be wide-ranging, but what it does, it does really well.

Its Echo Park location also features a pet adoption drive on the last Sunday of every month.

Mas Veggies Vegan Taqueria

Locations: Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts and New York

Bottom line: Más Veggies Vegan Taqueria is owned by Veggie Grill, which means, if you order from Más Veggies Vegan online, you can pick up your food at any Veggie Grill location. (How great is that?)

Patrons rave about the size of the tacos and that the chain’s chips and salsa taste fresh and house-made. If you want Mexican fare without all the lard, Más Veggies Vegan Taqueria offers considerably solid options for plant-based folks.

READ: New York City’s 10 Best Michelin Star Restaurants, Ranked

Next Level Burger

Alyssa C. / Yelp

Locations: Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, Texas and New York

Bottom line: Next Level Burger is, according to patrons, a step above other vegan chains. The Maverick Burger (made with Beyond meat) and the Spicy Stack’d Chik’n Burger are almost too big to tackle, and the Yukon gold tater tots are a not-so-guilty pleasure.

Reviewers have stated that Next Level Burger can be pricey but that it’s indeed worth it.

PLNT Burger

Massiel G. / Yelp

Locations: Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. (inside Whole Foods Markets)

Bottom line: Missing chili dogs? PLNT Burger’s got you.

The fast-food chain’s satisfying vegan options taste very much like the real deal. Burgers are as greasy, fatty and salty as you may remember from your meat-eating days. The oat milk milkshakes are as decadent as dairy but far healthier.

What’s more, PLNT Burger locations are 100 percent IKC Kosher and Halal, and all dietary restrictions are honored.

Slutty Vegan

Daniel B. / Yelp

Locations: Georgia, Alabama and New York

Bottom line: This Black-owned, fast-food chain aims to bring delicious vegan comfort-food options to the African American community and has a fan in none other than Snoop Dogg.

Burgers are made with Impossible meat and are gooey like the real thing. Slutty Vegan’s One Night Stand burger is a huge hit with patrons who wait up to 45 minutes in line to get it.

Project Pollo

Yelp

Bottom line: Texas

Bottom line: It’s nice to have a vegan fast-fast food chain that focuses largely on planted-based chicken — or as Project Pollo calls it “chickenless chicken.”

Comfort-style food is the name of the game at Project Pollo, and it, too, is a frequent destination for non-vegans. Its Nashville Hot Chikn and Buffalo Spicy Chikn sandwich are favorites among patrons, who wash them down with a creamy, oat-based milkshake.

Loving Hut

Amira M. / Yelp

Locations: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington

Bottom line: Loving Hut is the only Asian vegan entry on the list and features Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese dishes. It also has the most number of locations (200) and is not only found in the U.S. but worldwide.

Enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans alike, Loving Hut patrons report the food is all fresh, well-prepared and spiced to your liking. Be prepared to take some home — the portions are huge.