January can feel gloomy, but there are plenty of reasons to feel hopeful right now. For starters, a new report suggests we can all stop panicking about the state of the plant-based market; it’s not collapsing, it’s resetting. If you need a little optimism, you can read more about that here.
It’s also awards season, and the Oscar nominees have just been announced, giving us plenty to discuss while we wait for the dresses, speeches, and memes from the main event.
And of course, as always, there’s vegan news. This week, Taco Bell has a new veganizable mini taco salad, Trader Joe’s has a plant-based dupe of a steakhouse classic, and Emirates has revealed it’s already planning its vegan options for 2027.
Let’s dive in.
Taco Bell’s new Mini Taco Salad is affordable and easy to make vegan. | Taco Bell
Taco Bell has a $2.49 veganizable mini taco salad
Taco Bell has launched a new value menu, and one of the options is surprisingly easy to make vegan with just a couple swaps. As it comes, the Mini Taco Salad includes seasoned beef, Chipotle sauce, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, refried beans, and a crispy tortilla bowl.
To make it plant-based, simply ask to swap the beef for beans or potatoes and order it Fresco-style (which means replacing the dairy ingredients with pico de gallo). The best part? It’s a quick, easy lunch that’ll cost you less than $2.50.
Trader Joe’s Onion Flower is a vegan version of the popular Bloomin’ Onion at Outback Steakhouse.
Trader Joe’s debuts vegan ‘Bloomin’ Onion’
If you’ve been to Outback Steakhouse, you might be familiar with one of its most popular appetizers: the Bloomin’ Onion. For the uninitiated, it’s essentially a large, battered, deep-fried onion designed to “bloom” like a flower.
Unfortunately for plant-based diners, Outback’s version isn’t vegan, as it’s fried in beef tallow. But thanks to Trader Joe’s, you can now buy a frozen version of the beloved menu item (called Onion Flowers), and this one is completely plant-based.
Plus, it takes just 15 minutes to heat up, and it will only set you back $5.49.
Beyond and Juicy Marbles are delivering premium vegan steaks to customers’ doors.
Both Juicy Marbles and Beyond are offering deliveries of premium plant steak
If you find yourself craving steak on the regular, Beyond may have a solution. The brand is currently offering deliveries of its premium Beyond Steak Filet, each packing 28 grams of plant-based protein. You do have to buy a pack of 10, but at $89.55 for the bundle, that works out to less than $10 per steak—cheaper than a restaurant meal.
The filets are sold out at the time of writing, but Juicy Marbles also offers multipack deliveries of its highly sought-after vegan meat products, including its Thick-Cut Filet steaks.
Emirates’ new vegan menu will focus less on vegan meats and more on whole-food ingredients. | Emirates
Emirates has a new vegan menu for 2027
Booked a flight on Emirates for 2027? Good news: The airline is ahead of the game and is already looking ahead to its in-flight menu for next year. According to the company, it is planning to introduce new creative meals that revolve around whole food ingredients and will move away from plant-based meats. “Our focus now is on legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and seasonal vegetables as the heroes of the plate,” said Doxis Bekris, Emirates’ Vice President of Food and Beverage Design.
Plant Power Fast Food is celebrating its 10th anniversary with new menu items.
Plant Power Fast Food unveils limited-time Crunchwrap and breakfast burrito for anniversary
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Plant Power Fast Food is adding two exciting new items to its menu. First up is the limited-edition Munchwrap Xtreme—a clear nod to Taco Bell’s best-selling Crunchwrap. According to the chain, its version is “even tastier” than the original.
The brand is also launching a new potato-stuffed breakfast burrito to mark the milestone. Is it just us, or are you suddenly feeling really hungry too?
Crust Vegan Bakery has built a loyal fanbase thanks to its pastries and for speaking out against injustice.
Philadelphia fan-favorite bakery opens in new location with café and coffee program
Philadelphia’s beloved vegan bakery, Crust Vegan Bakery, has moved to a larger location in East Falls. The new space includes an expanded café area and a dedicated coffee program.
While the bakery is best known for its sweet treats—like Pop-Tarts and pastries—it also has a loyal following because founder Meagan Benz isn’t afraid to use her business as a platform to speak out against injustice. Crust supports community-based causes, animal sanctuaries, and doesn’t shy away from addressing or donating to larger global issues either.
Benz hopes the new space will become a community hub for like-minded individuals. “I would love for it to be known as a space that has lots of events hosted for the queer community of Philly, as well as for people of color,” Benz told Technical.ly. “I want it to be inherently known that Crust is the place that has everyone’s back, as long as there’s no hate involved.”
San Diego’s Dreamboat and sister restaurant Vulture are closing next month. | Dreamboat
Vulture and Dreamboat are closing in San Diego
Vulture and Dreamboat, two side-by-side vegan concepts in San Diego, only opened last year, but unfortunately, we’re already saying goodbye. Like many vegan restaurants right now, the businesses cited rising operating costs and a challenging economy as key reasons for the early closure.
“This chapter is ending far sooner than we ever imagined, and we are deeply grateful for the time, energy, and love these spaces were given,” reads an Instagram post. “However brief, they burned brightly, and we are proud of what they contributed to our city’s dining culture.”
The restaurant will close on February 8, but will be open for business until then.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
