Founded by Don and Dolores Dissman, Schlotzsky’s began as a single sandwich shop in Austin, TX in 1971. The inspiration for the original sandwich was a muffuletta, a classic Italian-American sandwich known for its bold flavors and layers of meats, cheeses, and olives. The Dissmans reimagined the concept, focusing on freshly baked sourdough bread and quality ingredients, a move that quickly gained the shop a loyal following.
Since the 1970s, Schlotzsky’s has long been a go-to destination for those craving hearty sandwiches, pizzas, and more. The chain has built its reputation on fresh ingredients and unique flavors, and today it operates over 330 locations across the US.
Despite its traditionally meat- and cheese-heavy offerings, the menu includes customizable options, making it possible to craft a plant-based meal. Trust us: for plant-based options at Schlotzsky’s, customization is key. The chain does offer a vegetarian menu, but each item contains animal-derived ingredients.
Whether you’re stopping by for a quick lunch or grabbing a bite on the go, use this guide to navigate the plant-based options on Schlotzsky’s menu.
Schlotzsky’s
Turn the Fresh Veggie Sandwich into a vegan wrap
Schlotzsky’s is best known for its sandwiches, and while the default offerings are not vegan, you can create a plant-based option with some adjustments to its vegetarian option, The Fresh Veggie Sandwich.
This option features dairy cheese, cucumber, olives, lettuce, onion, tomato, and ranch on a sourdough bun. Order The Fresh Veggie Sandwich without ranch or cheese to start and then swap out the bread and add mustard as a condiment for moisture.
Schlotzsky’s signature sourdough breads and buns are not vegan, as they contain dairy. However, the Hearty Grain Tortilla—available at select locations—is a safe option for those avoiding animal products.
Schlotzsky’s
Swap the meat for extra avocado, and go all in on a salad
Salads are one of the more customizable options at Schlotzsky’s, and customers can remove the meat from any salad and swap it with avocado, which is a solid starting point for plant-based eaters.
Plant-based salad dressings include Italian, Red Wine Vinaigrette, Fat Free Raspberry Vinaigrette, and Balsamic & EVOO (extra virgin olive oil). Be sure to avoid croutons, candied pecans, and breadsticks, as these all contain animal-derived ingredients.
With that in mind, this is how to order the entrée salads plant-based:
- Chicken Greek Salad (main and side): Swap chicken with avocado, remove feta and breadsticks, and choose a vegan dressing to replace the Greek dressing. The side salad version of this already omits the chicken.
- Strawberry-Chicken Salad: Swap chicken with avocado, remove feta, candied pecans, croutons, and garlic breadsticks.
- Chicken Avocado Cobb: Swap chicken with more avocado, remove bacon, feta, eggs, croutons, breadsticks, and replace ranch with vegan dressing. What’s left is tomatoes, cucumbers, and a lot of avocado over mixed field greens and romaine—which would benefit from a drizzle of Balsamic & EVOO.
- Garden Salad (side): Remove the croutons and replace the ranch dressing with a vegan dressing. This leaves you with tomatoes, olives, and cucumbers on a bed of mixed field greens and romaine.
Pro tip: If your Schlotzsky’s location has tortillas, you can make your customized salads into a wrap for a heartier meal.
Schlotzsky’s
Check out the sides for a quick, easy snack
Schlotzsky’s offers a few sides that are vegan-friendly that can be ordered together for a quick meal. The deli chain offers Lay’s Baked Regular potato chips, which are free from animal products. Many of Schlotzsky’s brand-name chips are vegan-friendly too, including jalapeño and regular.
Items to avoid at Schlotzsky’s
Several menu items at Schlotzsky’s cannot be easily customized to be free from animal products. These include:
- Soups: At the time of writing, the soups offered at Schlotzsky’s are not vegan-friendly, as they contain dairy, meat, or other animal-derived ingredients.
- Pizzas, calzones, and flatbreads: Schlotzsky’s pizza dough and flatbread bases contain dairy, and cheese is a significant component of the toppings. Even with modifications, these items cannot be made plant-based.
- Chips: Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Onion, and Cracked Pepper chip flavors all contain dairy ingredients.
- Desserts: All desserts, including cookies, brownies, and cinnamon rolls, are made with dairy and eggs.
Tips for eating vegan at Schlotzsky’s
Ordering vegan at a restaurant without dedicated plant-based options can feel daunting, but preparation and communication can make the process much easier. Here are some tips to keep in mind when ordering at Schlotzsky’s:
- Ask questions: Always verify ingredients with the staff, as recipes and formulations may vary by location. Do not hesitate to ask for allergen information or ingredient lists to confirm whether an item is vegan.
- Check regional menus: Some Schlotzsky’s locations may offer regional variations or limited-time menu items that differ from the standard offerings, including seasonal options.
- Bring your own add-ons: With so many options when it comes to plant-based deli items, consider sneaking in your own vegan cheese slices, meatless deli cuts, and plant-based mayo, which will make your meal at Schlotzsky’s a lot more enjoyable.
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Anna Starostinetskaya is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
