Eating vegan has never been easy. It's really hard to go out to eat anywhere if you're not in the city, even harder if that city isn't Los Angeles and extremely hard when you're the only one in your friend group that doesn't eat meat.
Going out with your friends, they can walk past a McDonald's or Chick-fil-a and just decide "This is where we're eating!" And while you would've loved to have a say in the matter, you also don't wanna be the annoying vegan that's like "we can't eat there cause I'm vegan." So you just deal.
Never fear. Here is how to eat vegan at fast food chains.
1. Chick-fil-A
This one is actually one of my favorite fast food places. If you forget the fact that they're Christian assholes, this is actually a pretty good place to eat on the go if you're vegan. The delicious waffle fries are vegan and they even have a wrap you can eat! It's originally sold as their grilled chicken wrap but if you order it with no chicken, no cheese and no dressing (which none of them are that good anyway) it's vegan! This is pretty impressive because what's left is lettuce, tomato, onion, cabbage, beans, carrots and corn. It has a great variety in there and it's fresh and delicious. They also have plenty of sauces for you to dip your wrap or fries in, ketchup, mustard, BBQ obviously, but also their specialty Polynesian sauce.
2. Taco Bell
I know this is gonna sound shocking, but Taco Bell is actually one of the best fast food places for vegans. In every single one of their tacos or burritos or quesadillas or nachos you can easily sub out the beef/chicken for beans and rice, take out the cheese, sub out sour cream for guacamole and even add potatoes and pico de gallo to it! There is nothing more delicious than a crunchwrap with beans, rice, potatoes, and guac when you're drunk at 2 a.m., or even when you're sober at 2 a.m. Also the cinnamon twist, yes that's right, the cinnamon twist are vegan too!
3. Chipotle
Now obviously, if Taco Bell can do it Chipotle can too. And they can do it better. It's basically the same thing, they have beans, rice, guac, veggies blah blah blah. However, and to me this makes them a step up from Taco Bell if you can afford the extra money Chipotle will cost you, they have a spiced tofu option you can add to whatever you want; they're called the Sofritas. Chipotle is also really nice because one bowl there could last you two or three meals. Another life hack: if you get a veggie item from there, like without any "meat" option, you get the guac for free.
4. Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts
Someone is gonna be mad at me for grouping these places together, I'm sorry. But ya gotta know, these places are quick breakfast or road trip staples. For coffees you can basically get anything except frappuccinos if you get it with soy, almond or even coconut milk. At both, you can get bagels, at Dunkin with peanut butter and jam, and at Starbucks, there are a lot of spread options. They have hazelnut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, jams, and even an avocado spread. Besides that, Starbucks is a bit superior because they serve oatmeal that's cooked with water, and also some snacks or salads you can pick up while you're waiting in line.
5. iHop
Another stop that most of the drunk gals are Wandering to. Obviously, you can get fries or hash browns, and iHop's are extra salty. Beside that, there aren't a whole lot of options, but if you have to eat there, don't be afraid to make some weird requests. You can order the garden omelette without cheese or eggs. What you get is tomatoes, onions, broccoli, mushrooms and avocado. At the very least there is still toast/English muffins with jam, or a salad and fruit bowls. It's still probably not your first option, but it's definitely doable.
6. Panera
This one makes me happy 'cause I love Panera. You can get their teas and smoothies when it comes to drinks. They also serve salads, some bagels with cool spreads, including avocado. On the more exciting side, the bread for their bread bowls is vegan, however their only vegan soup is just watery black beans? You win some, you lose some. My favorite thing on their menu is the , Mediterranean veggie sandwich. You can pick your bread, take out the cheese, it's fairly packed with veggies, but if you get it with the soup it's a very good combination. Don't forget you can also add avocado to it and it comes with chips!
7. Wendy's
This is where we're gonna start to go downhill. Not the best option obviously, because all you can get is fries and a wrap. With the wrap, you get no chicken, cheese or mayo and basically all that's left is lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. Not the best, but still an option if it's your only option.
8. Burger King
It's kinda worse than Wendy's. The fries, yes. You could get a sandwich without meat or cheese and basically eat veggies on a bun? The good news is that the apple pie at Burger King is vegan.
I know I focused on fast food, but at big chain restaurants like Chili's or Olive Garden it's pretty easy to get things vegan. Other sandwich places, like Subway, have veggie sandwiches. McDonald's is pretty much the only one where you can't get anything, not even fries. Which is ridiculous because even the fries and other potatoes at Arby's are cooked separately. Arby's, the ones who slogan is "we have the meats..."
However, now you know that there are places you can go and eat fast food with your friends if you're vegan! You don't have to be the odd one out all the time any longer.
