The popularity of vegan and vegetarian fast-food items has grown quickly as more people look for meat-free choices. Plant-based burgers, wraps, sandwiches and other alternatives have been launched by major chains including McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, Subway, and Greggs as well as Pret A Manger.
But not all the meat free products have been successful. Some have won praise for their taste and texture, and some have not lived up to the expectations of many customers due to their weak flavor, price or lack of availability. Some of the most impressive vegan and vegetarian fast food around the world and some of the ones that fell flat are disclosed here.
Meat-free fast-food fixes
More and more people are choosing vegetarian and vegan meals, and as a result, restaurants are introducing a growing number of vegan and meat-free fast food options out there. Big chains, including McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and Taco Bell, have been releasing various selections of meat-free options over the past few years—with varied success.
So, from the popular vegan sausage roll to a completely meat-free meatball, we rank the plant-based and vegetarian options available across the globe, from best to worst.
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Vegan Carne Asada, Taco Bell, USA
Plant-based alternatives have truly made significant strides, with a few of them now appearing so incredibly realistic that they genuinely make you question whether it’s real meat. Taco Bell has introduced their new Vegan Carne Asada, which debuted last October.
This innovative dish features a delightful combination of Beyond Meat pieces that chefs marinated in their unique steak spice blend, which they then blended with creamy jalapeño sauce and cheese, all tucked into a flavorful quesadilla or soft taco. Reviewers have shared overwhelmingly positive feedback so far, with many claiming that the taste and resemblance to the traditional flesh dish are almost unnerving.
Vegan Sausage Roll, Greggs, UK
Not many vegan fast-food choices have received as much attention as Greggs' Vegan Sausage Roll, especially after UK TV host Piers Morgan furiously lambasted the food item on 'Good Morning Britain.'
The TV host, who had previously expressed his rage about the menu option on Twitter, took a bite of the sausage roll during the TV program and pretended to throw up. However, Greggs managed to turn things around when its creation, the 'Vegan Sausage Roll,' which launched in Veganuary 2019, helped the company post £1bn ($1.3bn) in its very first 80-year history.
Veggie Full Bowl, Chipotle, USA
- Unveiled for Veganuary 2023, the Veggie Full Bowl at Chipotle combines black beans, white rice, grilled fajita vegetables, guacamole and salsa.
- This winning combination has been a hit with fans who are delighted by how filling it is and how many toppings go along with it. You can also make it entirely vegan if you don't add sour cream and cheese.
Beyond Meatball Marinara, Subway, USA and Canada
The Meatball Marinara enjoys such huge popularity that it has become a classic on Subway's menu - it therefore came as quite a welcome release to meat-free meatball lovers when the fast food chain chose to introduce a Beyond Meat version of their iconic sandwich at 685 stores across the US and Canada in September 2019.
With vegan meatballs lathered in Subway's special marinara sauce, vegetarians can easily transform the sandwich into a vegan delight by forgoing the cheese and opting for an Italian or 9-grain wheat roll instead. All in all, it's a quite popular offering, and many customers have given much praise to the tasty, delicious sauce and the convincing meatball texture.
Beyond Sausage Sandwich, Dunkin', USA
While maybe best known for its doughnuts, one US fast food chain introduced a savoury vegetarian alternative for breakfast by launching the Beyond Sausage Sandwich back in 2019.
The company produces the "sausage" using proteins derived from pea, mung bean, rice, and sunflower, and serves it in an English muffin alongside an American cheese slice and egg. So far, the sandwich has received largely positive reviews, with one article referring to it as 'shockingly close to the real thing.'
Unfortunately, however, the chain has discontinued these items in thousands of restaurants and they are only available at some hundreds of Midwestern locations.
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Spicy Bean Burger, Burger King, UK and Ireland
While we had to wait for faux meats at Burger King, vegetarians could enjoy their options in the shape of the Spicy Bean Burger. This product entered the UK and Ireland in 2002 and Morningstar Farms specifically crafted it for the fast-food giant using the recipe, serving it with fresh lettuce, ripe tomato, and light mayo on a sesame seed bun.
As people actively make petitions for its return, it is clear that many enjoyed this tasty burger for a significant period.
Meatless Meatball Hot Wrap, Pret A Manger, UK and USA
A vegetarian & vegan sandwich mainstay, it boasts extensive plant-based options some of its 42 U.S. branches even feature fully veggie locations under the Veggie Pret moniker. Among its top-sellers, the Meatless Meatball Hot Wrap uses pea-protein-based, Swedish-style 'meatballs', red tapenade, red onions, and chipotle ketchup.
A substantial and hearty choice, though some have complained about its $5.50 price tag—it costs £4.25 ($5.50) at most U.K. locations, too.
McPlant, McDonald's
Despite the worldwide fast food giant having offered vegetarian options for a long while before this, the plant-based patties in their previous dishes contained what you'd usually expect vegetables instead of faux meat.
Therefore, when a vegan version of their Big Mac finally hit stores across the globe in January 2022, many veggies and vegans were very pleased. It initially launched across the UK, Ireland, and more locations, including markets such as Denmark, Sweden, and Austria.
The burger then debuted in US stores on February 14th, but people didn't receive it very well, as many found the Beyond Meat patty to be quite bland.
FAQs
1. What are vegan and vegetarian fast-food items?
These are fast-food meals made without meat. Vegan options also avoid animal products such as eggs, dairy and cheese.
2. Which vegan fast-food item became popular in the UK?
Greggs' Vegan Sausage Roll became one of the UK's most talked-about plant-based fast-food products.
3. Is the McPlant burger vegan?
The McPlant has been offered as a plant-based burger, but its exact vegan status can vary by market and preparation.
4. Which fast-food chains offer plant-based meals?
Chains such as McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Subway, Pret A Manger and Greggs have offered vegan or vegetarian choices in different markets.
5. Why do some vegan fast-food items get poor reviews?
Common complaints include bland flavour, unusual texture, high prices, limited availability and a taste that does not closely match the traditional meat version.
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