If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That’s largely because it helps wake you up, boosts your energy, and kickstarts your metabolism. But when you’re on the go, finding something vegan to eat in the morning can still be a little tricky. While it’s becoming easier to find plant-based options on fast-food menus, breakfast is one area where chains are still lagging.
That said, things are improving, and they’re expected to keep doing so. In fact, by 2035, market research firm Future Market Insights predicts the vegan fast-food market will grow to nearly $30 billion.
But if you’re in a breakfast rush right now, you don’t have to wait years to find something. There are already a handful of options available, and we’ve rounded them up below—along with some recipes you can bookmark for slower mornings.
@plantpowerfastfood/IG
1 Plant Power Fast Food
We’re starting off strong with Plant Power Fast Food (which was recently named the best vegan fast food restaurant in our Restaurant Awards). If you’re lucky enough to live near one of the chain’s California locations, then you have breakfast options in abundance. There’s everything from vegan egg and cheese muffins to breakfast burritos and bacon-stuffed croissants. On the side, you can also enjoy a serving of hash browns. And to wash it down, there’s cold-pressed juice, iced cold brew, and hot coffee.
Mr. Charlie’s
2 Mr. Charlie’s
Mr. Charlie’s is often dubbed the “vegan McDonald’s,” thanks to its range of Frowny Meals, vegan hamburgers, and chicken sandwiches. So, of course, you can stop by one of the chain’s plant-based locations for a breakfast muffin. The Mr. Muffin features plant-based egg and dairy-free cheese, while the Mr. Muffin Deluxe adds vegan sausage to the mix. Right now, Mr. Charlie’s has four locations in California: Brentwood, Hollywood, San Francisco, and San Diego.
HipCityVeg
3 HipCityVeg
For those in Washington, DC, or Philadelphia, HipCityVeg also has several vegan breakfast options. As well as the classic hashbrowns, you can order options like the Wake and Bac’n sandwich with tempeh bacon, Just Egg, and provolone cheese, and the Breakfast Snack Wrap. To drink, pick from tea, smoothies, and bottled water.
Plnt Burger
4 Plnt Burger
On the East Coast? You might be near a PLNT Burger—which is good news for vegan breakfast on the go. The popular chain offers one standout breakfast option, the Egg Sammy, made with plant-based breakfast sausage, vegan cheddar, and JUST Egg. That said, the full menu is available from 10 am every day—so why not start your day with a Spicy Grilled Chik’n or the Save the Bay Fillet?
Peet’s Coffee
5 Peet’s Coffee
Peet’s Coffee has one of the most substantial vegan breakfast options on this list: the Everything Plant-Based Sandwich. The menu item features a vegan Beyond Meat breakfast sausage, paired with JUST Egg and melted dairy-free cheddar. You can wash it down with a dark roast coffee, Americano, espresso, or one of its herbal teas.
The chain also offers seasonal nondairy options. In March 2026, for example, it introduced several vegan-friendly spring drinks, including an Iced Ube Matcha Latte and a Lavender Vanilla Latte.
Starbucks
6 Starbucks
Starbucks does offer a meatless breakfast sandwich (the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich with Impossible Foods sausage), but because it’s made with eggs and cheese, it isn’t vegan. Cue the violin. That said, vegans aren’t completely without options. Starbucks’ avocado spread is plant-based, as are its bagels. Combine the two, and you’ve got a simple, tasty on-the-go meal. You could also opt for a spicy falafel pocket, filled with smashed falafel, hummus, roasted peppers, pickled onions, and a spicy herb sauce.
For a caffeine boost, the chain serves its usual range of black coffees and teas, and offers several milk alternatives at no extra cost. Like Peet’s Coffee, Starbucks regularly introduces seasonal vegan-friendly drinks, so keep an eye out for iced lattes and festive hot beverages next time you visit.
Burger King
7 Burger King
Why can’t you have a burger for breakfast? Burger King sees no reason why not, which is why, in many locations, it offers its Burgers for Breakfast menu. This is great news for plant-based diners, as it also includes the Impossible Whopper, which can be easily veganized if you remove the mayonnaise. If you arrive at a location that doesn’t offer Burgers for Breakfast, you still have options. In an unexpected twist, the chain’s French Toast Sticks are vegan, and so is the syrup served alongside. If you’re extra hungry, you can also order a side of hash browns. To drink, there’s regular black coffee or orange juice.
McDonald’s
8 McDonald’s
McDonald’s breakfast menu is pretty sparse when it comes to vegan options. But, as well as coffee and juice, you can order a plain English muffin. Unlike Burger King, the chain’s hash browns are not vegan because they contain beef flavoring. Boo. But don’t worry, there are other options beyond a dry English muffin. You can also grab oatmeal (just ask for it to be made with water) and apple slices, too.
9 Jamba
A nutritious, plant-packed smoothie is a great way to start the day, particularly if you don’t have much of an appetite in the mornings. Jamba offers several plant-based smoothie options, including Apple ‘n Greens, Mega Mango, and Greens ‘n Ginger. But if you’re wanting more, go for the oatmeal or ask for one of the smoothie bowl options to be veganized, removing the honey or yogurt.
Dunkin’
10 Dunkin’
Unfortunately, Dunkin’ has yet to offer a vegan doughnut, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely devoid of plant-based breakfast options. Many of its bagels are vegan, and you can load them up with avocado spread if you’re in a pinch. You can also add hash browns on the side. The chain offers several dairy-free milk options, too, so you can make up for the limited food choices by indulging in an iced latte instead.
How to make a vegan breakfast at home
When you’re not in a morning rush, it’s nice to dedicate some time to whipping up a tasty breakfast. For inspiration, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite vegan recipes below, all of which are guaranteed to get you feeling energized and ready for the day.
Lauren Toyota
1 Breakfast Skillet
If you’re craving a hearty breakfast, this skillet of roast potatoes, tofu scramble, hot sauces, and avocados will leave you feeling full and satisfied. It does take a fair amount of prep, and the potatoes will need to be pre-boiled, but the result is more than worth it.
Get the recipe
Hannah Kaminsky
2 Scramble Sandwich
If you can’t buy a breakfast sandwich, make one! With tofu as the main ingredient, this recipe for a simple vegan breakfast scramble sandwich is easy to follow. Plus, you can customize it however you please. Fancy something meaty? Throw in a vegan breakfast sausage, too.
Get the recipe
Bailey Ruskus
3 Breakfast Tacos
Tacos aren’t just for Tuesdays. They’re for every day of the week, and they make a great breakfast option. Again, the main ingredient in this recipe is tofu, alongside sweet potatoes. But for an extra spicy morning kick, it also calls for homemade ranchero sauce.
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Mareya Ibrahim
4 Buckwheat Breakfast Bowl
If you’re after something quick, easy, and nutritious, this buckwheat breakfast bowl will do the trick. All you need is almond milk, buckwheat, dates, and some ground cinnamon (which will also make your kitchen smell delicious). Plus, it’s gluten-free!
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Live Eat Learn
5 Strawberries and Cream Quinoa Porridge
The same bowl of porridge every day can get a little dull after a while. So if your morning dish needs some livening up, this recipe is ideal. It’s deliciously sweet, thanks to the strawberries and maple syrup, but it’s also rich in protein and fiber.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
