10 Ways to Hack Fast-Food Menus: From Taco Bell to Panda Express

Whether you need to eat in a rush, have screaming kids in the backseat, or you’re just having cravings, fast food serves its purpose. In recent years, vegan meat products have been integrated into a number of popular chains—some just for a limited time, but others have become menu mainstays and are still going strong. 

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So, if you’re popping by a drive-thru window in need of something to fill you up, don’t hold up the line scanning the menu—rely on this guide to order with confidence at your favorite fast-food restaurants in the US. 

But first, let’s take a look at what vegan fast food actually is, as well as the benefits of choosing plant-based next time you order a quick feast to-go. 

What is vegan fast food?

For decades, meat and dairy have dominated fast-food menus. With the exception of fries and soda, pretty much everything else has always included animal products. In some places, like McDonald’s, even the fries aren’t vegan.

Burger King

But in 2018, that started to change. Fast-food chains like White Castle teamed up with plant-based meat brands to create new vegan fast-food options—and in 2019, Burger King followed suit. White Castle’s Impossible Slider was ultimately discontinued in 2025, but Burger King’s Impossible Whopper is still available. 

Today’s vegan fast-food items closely resemble their meaty counterparts, only the beefy patties or chicken strips are made with plant-based meat instead of conventional meat. 

But meat alternatives aren’t essential. You can also get options like salad bowls, burritos, or tacos, all of which still count as fast food, but may only include plant-based, whole-food ingredients like beans and other vegetables.

Is vegan fast food healthy?

How healthy your vegan fast-food meal is depends on the ingredients. A burrito bowl packed with beans and vegetables, for example, is always going to be far more nutritious than a burger and fries. But if you’re eating the latter, it’s likely you’re not choosing it for health reasons, and that’s more than ok (not every meal is about health, after all).

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That said, a vegan burger and fries are still likely to be better for you than their animal-based counterpart. Processed meat is linked with a higher risk of heart disease, and it’s been classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization.

On the other hand, research has suggested that plant-based meat is healthier for us and the planet. One review published in 2022 examined 43 studies relating to plant-based foods and concluded that they were better in terms of human health and the environment than their animal-based counterparts. 

Where can you get vegan fast food?

While there is still progress to be made (McDonald’s is seriously lagging behind in terms of plant-based options in the US), the vegan fast-food market is growing. 

According to one report, it could even hit a value of more than $55 billion by 2031. This means it’s easier than ever to find vegan options in the nation’s favorite fast-food chains.

How to order vegan at fast-food restaurants

If you’ve got cravings to satisfy, we’ve rounded up our top hacks for ordering vegan in fast-food outlets everywhere, from Del Taco to Auntie Anne’s Pretzels.

Del Taco

1 Del Taco

In the past, Del Taco partnered with Beyond Meat to create a designated vegetarian and vegan menu. Options included burritos and tacos filled with Beyond Beef crumbles. Unfortunately, these are no longer available—but that doesn’t mean vegans have to go hungry. 

The chain’s Crinkle Cut Fries and Hash Brown Sticks are vegan, and other vegetarian items can be made entirely plant-based with a few modifications. Modify the 8 Layer Veggie Burrito without the cheese and sour cream, and grab the Crunchtada Tostada without the cheese.

Auntie Anne’s

2 Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

Little-known vegan fast-food fact: Auntie Anne’s Original, Cinnamon Sugar, and Sweet Almond pretzels can be veganized by ordering them without the butter. This process takes an extra five minutes, but it’s worth it for a hot, soft mall pretzel.

Burger King

3 Burger King

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner—Burger King has vegan options covered. In the morning, opt for the French Toast Sticks served warm with a side of maple syrup. During the day, quell your burger craving with the Impossible Whopper (ask for no mayo) and a side of fries. For a comprehensive look at BK’s menu, check out our vegan guide to eating plant-based at Burger King.

Chipotle

4 Chipotle Mexican Grill

There are countless build-your-own options with Chipotle’s offerings! You can customize your own bowl, burrito, salad, or tacos with a plethora of vegan ingredients—including beans, lettuce, cilantro-lime rice, veggie fajitas, and fan-favorite Sofritas—the chain’s signature spicy braised tofu. When in doubt, rely on Chipotle, and keep our vegan guide to Chipotle handy when you open your mobile ordering app.

Bareburger

5 Bareburger

This chain has seriously stepped up its vegan game in recent years. What began as a partnership with Impossible Foods sprouted into a fully developed vegan menu—complete with vegan cheese and plant-based buns. Bareburger’s extensive menu features whole-food vegan burgers; Beyond Sausage heroes, an Impossible Chopped Cheese, meatless chicken nuggets, falafel bowls, and more. 

Dog Haus

6 Dog Haus

Best known for their hot dogs, Dog Haus offers a selection of plant-based fast-food favorites. Choose between an Impossible Burger (hold the cheese and secret sauce), Impossible Brat, and Impossible Slider (ask for no mayo and skip the cheese). When ordered on a French roll or lettuce-wrapped, these options are perfectly vegan-friendly. The chain also carries Impossible Nuggets for hungry kiddos. Dog Haus’ tots, sweet potato fries, and regular fries are also fair game. 

Taco Bell

7 Taco Bell

Like its competitor Del Taco, this fast-food Mexican chain was early to jump on the vegan bandwagon. Taco Bell has previously launched a vegan Crunchwrap and vegan Nacho Fries, but only for a limited time. Today, the chain offers a fairly extensive vegetarian menu that is easily veganizable, just remember to use a few modifications.

Replace the cheese, ranch sauce, sour cream, and essentially any dairy-based condiment on most vegetarian items—ask for fresh pico de gallo and extra beans in place of these ingredients. Add potatoes to customize other favorites including the Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme, Veggie Bowl, and simple Beans and Rice bowl. No matter what you order, grab a side of accidentally vegan Cinnamon Twists for dessert. When in doubt, read our guide to ordering vegan at Taco Bell.

Shake Shack

8 Shake Shack

This fan-favorite chain has seriously upped their vegan offerings. For lunch, order the Veggie Shack sans cheese, crispy onions, or the signature Shack Sauce—be sure to ask for a lettuce wrap or gluten-free bun, as the potato roll is not vegan-friendly. Pair with a side of fries for a satiating meal. 

Fatburger

9Fatburger

In 2017, Fatburger put the Impossible Burger on its menu. Since then, the chain’s vegan offerings have only expanded. Order the classic Impossible Burger without mayonnaise and be sure to request dairy-free cheese (a rare option in mainstream chains). For dessert, choose between chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and Maui Banana shakes, all made with Craig’s Vegan Ice Cream.

Subway

10Subway

If you’re in search of a 12-inch sub or filling salad in a pinch, Subway has you covered. The chain’s plethora of toppings (think red onions, jalapeños, avocado, bell peppers, spinach, red wine vinegar, and beyond) make customization easy. Load up a salad with your favorite fixings. For something a little more filling, Subway’s Veggie Delite and Veggie Patty subs will satisfy your hunger. Check out our vegan guide to Subway for more ordering tips. 

Panda Express

11Panda Express

Like a few of the chains on this list, Panda Express likes to flirt with veganism. The restaurant chain has previously partnered with Beyond Meat to launch Beyond the Original Orange Chicken, a vegan take on Panda’s famous orange chicken. The restaurant first launched this vegan option in 2021, and since then, it’s disappeared from the menu multiple times … only to return when we least expect it.

At the time of writing, Panda does not offer the coveted vegan meat. But plant-based diners can still get their fill of chow mein, steamed white or brown rice, and super greens. Some locations even carry Eggplant Tofu, a delicious dish of browned tofu, eggplant, red bell peppers, and sweet and spicy sauce. Get the lowdown on ordering vegan at Panda Express with our complete guide.