Vegetarian and Vegan Options at Fast Food Chains: A Comprehensive Guide

With the increasing demand for plant-based diets, fast food chains have started expanding their vegetarian and vegan options. From mainstream chains like McDonald's and Burger King to local favorites in Australia, there are plenty of choices for those following a plant-based lifestyle. In this article, we will explore various vegetarian and vegan options available at prominent fast food restaurants and their taste profiles.

McDonald's (And Hungry Jack's in Australia)

McDonald's, a global fast-food giant, offers a plant-based burger called the McPlant, which has not yet been rolled out everywhere. However, in Australia, Hungry Jack's (a local licensee for Burger King) offers several vegan and vegetarian options:

Vegan Whopper Cheese and Rebel Whopper

Hungry Jack's vegan options include the Vegan Whopper Cheese and the Rebel Whopper. The Rebel Whopper, in particular, has been well-received. Despite being a plant-based patty, it has an uncanny flavor profile, making it hard to distinguish from a traditional beef patty. The Vegan Whopper patty, on the other hand, has a taste that is more reminiscent of its ingredients—corn, capsicum, and carrot.

Gr'lld Betty's Burgers

Gr'lld and Betty's Burgers are notable for their commitment to plant-based offerings. Gr'lld serves Impossible burgers and cheeseburgers, which are vegan and vegetarian versions with egg-based mayonnaise. These plant-based patties are so well-crafted that they are nearly indistinguishable from their meaty counterparts.

Betty's Burgers, another major Australian chain, offers a Betty's Classic Plant and a Betty's Classic Vegan hamburger. Despite trying the betty's Classic Vegan burger, the reviewer found it lacking, suggesting that while these options strive to meet expectations, there is room for improvement.

Big Daddy's Burger Bar

In the realm of vegetarian fast food, Big Daddy's Burger Bar stands out with its Meat Wrecker Veggie Burger and Veggie Fajita options. The Meat Wrecker Veggie Burger was particularly praised, providing a satisfying plant-based meal with a robust flavor profile.

Lord of the Fries

For those who prefer their vegan burger without the burger wrapper, Lord of the Fries is a promising choice. Their plant-based burgers are so convincingly meat-like that it takes a closer look at the packaging to realize they are indeed plant-based. They also offer a broader range of vegan options, including onion rings, nuggets, dim sims, tacos, cheese balls, and hot dogs.

Soul Burgers Other Local Trends

Soul Burgers is another exciting player in the vegan fast food market. They offer a diverse menu of plant-based beef, duck, tofu, fish, meatball, and mushroom hamburgers. Additionally, they provide cauliflower bits, bacon fries, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and creative milkshakes made with coconut ice cream. With such a wide range of options, there is something to suit every palate.

Guasman Y Gomez and Mad Méx

Guasman Y Gomez, an Australian Mexican chain, has been a bit slower to adopt plant-based meats, but they do offer options with sautéed vegetables or shredded mushrooms. Their competitor, Mad Méx, has taken the lead by offering a spicy vegan chicken filling that, while not tasting exactly like chicken, is a good substitute. Similarly, Guasman Y Gomez's plant-based mince is nearly impossible to distinguish from traditional meat mince.

Global Presence of Zambero's

Zambero's, an Australian Mexican-style food outlet, has a global presence and offers vegan cheese and vegan sour cream on vegetarian tacos, burritos, nachos, and quesadillas. This makes it a versatile choice for those seeking plant-based options when traveling or living abroad.

In summary, vegetarian and vegan options are increasingly prevalent in fast food chains, and they continue to improve in taste and texture. Whether you are in Australia or seeking out global options, there is a growing variety of plant-based meals to satisfy your cravings while supporting a plant-based lifestyle.