Finding vegan options at the big chains isn’t as hard as it used to be. Oat milk is a staple at Starbucks, and it no longer charges extra for a dairy-free alternative. The Impossible Whopper is holding steady at Burger King, and bean-forward burritos and bowls at Taco Bell and Chipotle make grab-and-go possible without a scavenger hunt.
Yet for all the progress, many American chains still lag behind their counterparts abroad, where plant-based mains have turned from novelty into standard fare. Burger King has opened entirely meatless locations in Europe (albeit temporary ones); McDonald’s keeps the McPlant in regular rotation in the UK and Ireland; and KFC UK sells a standing vegan burger—none of which has a true US equivalent.
McDonald’s UK
But even as sales fluctuate, plant-based eating is mainstream in the US. The Plant Based Foods Association reports that plant-based food sales generated $7.9 billion in the US in 2025, with 60 percent of households buying into the category.
The Vegetarian Resource Group’s 2026 polling puts identification at two percent vegetarian and three percent vegan—small shares, but persistent, and large enough to matter at a drive-thru window. Yet major chains still lag way, way behind.
Below are the worst chains for vegan food right now—measured by whether a customer can order a substantive vegan entrée without major modifications.
Arby’s
1Arby’s has the meats, not the veggie options
The brand’s slogan says the quiet part out loud. Arby’s offers no plant-based meat entrée in the US, and even “accidentally vegan” options come with caveats about shared fryers. Dessert turnovers and a garden salad exist, but for anyone seeking a proper sandwich, it is a hard pass.
Jersey Mikes
2 Jersey Mike’s offers vegetables in a sandwich and not much else
Jersey Mike’s technically caters to vegans, but the options are seriously slim. You can order The Veggie on white bread with a few sauces and no cheese, which is basically just a vegetable sandwich. Add a bag of Lay’s potato chips on the side. We told you: slim.
Jimmy John’s
3 Jimmy John’s sandwiches are also underwhelming for vegans
Jimmy John’s is similar to Jersey Mike’s in several ways: it specializes in sandwiches and has limited vegan options. Once again, you can customize your own sandwich with sauces and vegetable toppings, and then add vegan-friendly potato chips on the side. But, honestly, it’s hard to get excited.
Raising Cane’s
4 Raising Cane’s has fries. And that’s about it.
Chicken chain Raising Cane’s is growing fast. In 2025, it even overtook KFC to become the third-largest chicken chain in the US. And just like the Colonel, more on him in a moment, it has very few vegan options to speak of. In fact, if you find yourself at Raising Cane’s, you’ll probably have to make do with crinkle-cut fries and a soda.
KFC
5KFC’s Beyond Fried Chicken is long gone
KFC briefly tested Beyond Fried Chicken and drew headlines, but the item is not a permanent national fixture. Today, a vegan order typically consists of fries, corn, or a side salad. We hope that one day it will follow KFC UK’s lead and offer a dedicated Vegan Burger on its menu.
Domino’s
6Domino’s has vegan pizza, but you have to skip the cheese
Domino’s publishes a vegan- and vegetarian-ordering page in the US, but the advice boils down to skipping the cheese entirely. There is no national vegan cheese or plant-based meat topping, and sauces and crusts vary by region. Ask for a pizza without cheese, and you are technically accommodated—but that is a modification, not an offering. However, demand for dairy-free cheese is growing, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals even purchased stock in Domino’s to encourage the fast-food giant to roll out vegan cheese nationwide.
Canva
7Even McDonald’s fries aren’t vegan
For a brief moment, it seemed vegan options at McDonald’s were improving. The fast-food giant trialed the McPlant at 600 restaurants in summer 2022, but it wasn’t to last. Today, if you stop at the Golden Arches during a road trip, your choices are extremely limited. McDonald’s doesn’t even have vegan fries in the US. Yes, seriously. You can, however, order an Apple Pie and a coffee. Phew.
Wendy’s
8Wendy’s vegan options are lackluster
If you were hoping Wendy’s might deliver where the Golden Arches failed, it does, kind of, but not with a substantial plant-based main. Instead, you can have fries, fries, and more fries. Oh, and some fruit. Beyond that, there isn’t much. If you’re really desperate, you could ask for a burger with only the bun and toppings or maybe order a salad with all the animal products removed.
Pizza Hut
9Pizza Hut’s Beyond Meat partnership is now confined to the history books
Pizza Hut partnered with Beyond Meat for a limited run years ago, but the chain still does not carry vegan cheese nationally. Its own site suggests ordering vegetable pies without cheese for a “vegan-friendly option.” By contrast, Pizza Hut UK lists Violife vegan cheese and a clearly labeled vegan range.
Krispy Kreme
10Krispy Kreme’s vegan doughnuts are non-existent in the US
For a morning run, doughnuts remain off-limits. The company’s US nutrition page is explicit: “The only animal by-products used in our doughnuts are eggs (whites and yolks) and dairy products (including milk, butter, yogurt, whey, nonfat milk and nonfat whey).” Until the US menu adds a vegan doughnut (Krispy Kreme has offered vegan items in select international markets), coffee is the only reliable order.
Chick-fil-A
11Chick-fil-A has waffle fries. The end.
Chick-fil-A does offer a Southwest Veggie Wrap, but it’s topped with dairy cheese, so it’s not vegan. Waffle fries or a kale salad remain the default vegan pick. And while the limited-time meatless cauliflower sandwich was promising, it was not suitable for vegans as it contained dairy. Even so, the sandwich disappeared after its limited run.
In-N-Out
12In-N-Out’s veggie burger isn’t really a burger
The cult burger chain still treats “veggie burger” as code for a bun filled with condiments and produce. The fries are cooked in vegetable oil, but there is no vegan patty, no dairy-free spreads, and no formal vegan entrée.
Sonic Drive-In
13Sonic Drive-In fails to offer a plant-based main
Sonic’s own allergen guide is blunt about limitations and cross-contact (and it offers no vegan main). As the document states, “we cannot eliminate the risk of cross-contact or guarantee that any item is free of any allergen and no items are certified gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan.” Tots, pretzel twists (without butter), and fries exist, and you can create your own sandwich with the vegetable selection, but that’s about it.
Dunkin’
14Nope, no vegan doughnuts at Dunkin’
Dunkin’ may have dropped “Donuts” from its name, but let’s be honest: doughnuts are still the main attraction. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for vegan options, the chain isn’t the place to go, at least in the US. While Dunkin’ UK offers several vegan doughnuts, US customers have far fewer choices. With the Beyond Breakfast Sandwich now phased out, you’ll have to stick with items such as bagels, avocado toast, and English muffins, which, as any doughnut lover knows, are no substitute for the real thing.
Unsplash
15Even Five Guys’ buns are made with milk and eggs
This burger classic still has no vegan entrée. The standard bun is made with milk and eggs, which means even the “veggie sandwich” default is not vegan unless you turn it into a lettuce-wrapped pile of grilled vegetables—an accommodation, not a menu item. Fries are cooked in peanut oil and can round out a snack, but there is no inherently vegan main on offer.
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Subscribe
