Yes, Arby’s Has Vegan Options—But the Chain Could Do Better

Vegan fast-food options have increased substantially over the past decade. Burger King’s Impossible Whopper is a menu staple. Fatburger offers vegan milkshakes to compliment its plant-based cheeseburger. And chains like Panda Express and KFC have collaborated with Beyond Meat to launch limited-time offerings. 

RELATED: KFC’s Beyond Fried Chicken Is Long Gone, But You Can Still Eat Vegan in a Pinch

But, it’s still likely that you’ll consider ordering a quick, cheap meal at a chain where the animal-free choices aren’t obvious—like Arby’s, the meat-centric chain from Ohio. As it turns out, Arby’s vegan options are pretty decent when you’re in a pinch.

Does Arby’s have vegan options?

Arby’s is best known for its meaty sandwiches and, despite the existence of some fantastic plant-based deli meats, not a single one of them is vegan. It’s not entirely surprising that a chain that once launched a 100-percent meat-based sandwich whose slogan is “Arby’s, We Have The Meats!” wouldn’t have much in the way of plant-based meat. 

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It feels as if the fast-food chain is actively resisting embracing plant-based meat, as other fast-food chains have. Back in 2019, after a rumor circulated the web that Arby’s may add the Impossible Burger to its menu, former president Rob Lynch took to the media to say, “It won’t happen on my watch.” The chain then debuted a fake marketing campaign about its new “meat-based vegetables” to show what a hardcore anti-vegan restaurant it is. Let’s also not forget its 2015 “vegetarian hotline” number that promoted its new bacon. 

But, despite all of this, the chain does actually have a few plant-based options to hold you over until your next meal.

How to eat vegan at Arby’s

So, what’s vegan at Arby’s? We’re here to answer your pressing questions like: are Arby’s fries vegan? Are the fruit turnovers really vegan? From fries to sides, here’s what to order when you need a meat-free meal.

Arby’s

1 Curly fries

Potatoes are the saving grace at most fast-food establishments and Arby’s curly fries are no exception. These crispy fries are seasoned with onion powder, garlic powder, and salt—no beef seasoning here. Pair it with any of the vegan-friendly sauces listed below.

Arby’s

2 Crinkle fries

Arby’s happens to have a lot of vegan-friendly, potato-based ingredients and we’re not mad about it. The pillowy crinkle fries are free from all animal ingredients, so you can order without fear that the fries contain milk. 

Arby’s

3Hash browns (aka Potato Cakes)

Find yourself at Arby’s craving breakfast? Potato cakes are Arby’s take on the classic fast-food hash brown. This breakfast staple isn’t always vegan, especially at fast-food chains, but these Potato Cakes are free of animal ingredients. 

Arby’s

4 Apple and cherry turnovers

For many people, no meal is complete without dessert. Thankfully, you don’t have to skip all of the sweets at Arby’s. Much like McDonald’s apple pie, Arby’s turnovers are “accidentally” vegan. Their flaky exteriors are made with vegetable shortening instead of butter. They’re currently available in two flavors—apple and cherry—that are both made with real fruit.

Some vegans might avoid the turnovers because the shortening is made with palm oil, an ingredient that’s connected to deforestation and habitat loss for many endangered animals, like orangutans. The decision ultimately falls to the individual.

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5 Vegan bread

Arby’s may be known for sandwiches, but there are no vegan sandwich options. In theory, you could choose one bread options below and ask for it with lettuce, tomato, sauerkraut, and other vegetables that the restaurant has available, but it’s not exactly a substantial meal. 

• Marble Rye Bread
• Sourdough Breakfast Bread

Arby’s

6 Drinks

Arby’s may not have dairy-free milkshakes, but at least it has vegan drinks. Soda may not be a health food, but most of it is vegan. Arby’s has coffee for the early birds and night owls, orange juice, soda, and more:

• Barq’s Root Beer
• Coca-Cola
• Coca-Cola Zero Sugar
• Diet Coke
• Dr Pepper
• Diet Dr Pepper
• Fanta Orange
• Hi-C Flashin’ Fruit Punch
• Classic Lemonade
• Strawberry Lemonade
• Mello Yello
• Minute Maid Zero Sugar Lemonade
• Powerade 
• Simply Orange Juice
• Sprite

Arby’s

7 Vegan sauces

Food would be too boring without sauce. Arby’s gets that and many of their sauces are vegan by default. Its signature sauce, Arby’s Sauce, is essentially the chain’s version of barbecue sauce. It’s made from a base of tomato sauce, vinegar, and spices. 

Here’s the full list of vegan sauces at Arby’s:

• Arby’s Sauce
• Bronco Berry Sauce
• Ketchup
• Marinara

When you consider that Burger King, KFC, Del Taco, Taco Bell, Chipotle, and so many other fast-food chains have launched or trialed vegan meat, Arby’s isn’t doing all that it could with its vegan menu. In fact, its ad campaigns make it feel like the chain is actively dragging its feet. But when it comes down to it, Arby’s accidentally vegan options will keep you full enough until your next meal.