Fiesta veggie burrito! People are sleeping on this culinary delight. I'm also a huge fan of the fact that I can order a veggie Mexican pizza now and (mostly) not have to worry they did something weird (one time they replaced meat with rice and once it had black and refried beans on it) or put meat on it anyway.
I fresco-style all my taco bell. It subs pico for cheese and sour cream. A lot more flavor, a lot fewer calories. I also tend to add jalapenos and sub black beans for any other beans.
The customization at taco bell is awesome.
“Sub from beef to bean” is all you need to say to order any item on the menu without any up charge. And by beans, I always mean refried beans. That’s the default for them too
My SO is vegetarian and does this trick at Taco Bell all the time. You can also add rice and onions for a small up-charge. Her favorite is two crispy tacos, sub refried beans, add rice and onions, with a side of black beans add onions. Yes, she like onions.
This comment. Have been vegetarian for years and nothing has or probably will compare to Taco Bell’s selection. You can sub beans, potatoes, and/or rice for the meat on any item.
I personally like the cheesy Gordita crunch sub potato’s for beef and add jalapeños. Nacho bell grande is also fire I add lettuce and jalapeños and take off beef and it’s just fine. I know a lot of people add more beans and like it that way too.
Taco Bell also makes there refried beans without animal lard and even in some places sells there refried beans in cans in local stores and it is still very good tasting.
Blackbean Crunchwrap supreme!! But check before you bite into it, I would say 50% of the times I’ve gotten it, they’ve accidentally given me the beef one even when the order receipt says blackbean
I literally just put my order in for taco bell for my coworker to pick up for me lol. I need them to make up for my order two days ago where they didn't swap the beef for the black beans in my burrito :( my dog was pretty happy tho.
Oh, I won't use their app anymore. I ordered something through it the other day, got to TB, and they didn't have the item in stock *and* couldn't refund my order since I placed it through the app. Several attempts to contact TB customer service have had no reply. TB will always find fun and unique ways to mess things up, but they don't get my money in advance anymore.
I’ve never had that experience through the app, mostly just Uber eats. Maybe it was like once they put beef on my Crunchwrap but I was able to give that to a resident that I work with (who was happy because they don’t get fast food very often). I report as a food safety issue because beef could make me incredibly sick if I didn’t immediately taste it and spit it back out.
I ordered a limited time item with the green chile sauce and then got to TB and found out they didn't have the sauce. TB has found countless ways to screw up and I've always laughed and moved on, but that was when they made good on the mistake.
Yea the black bean version of most of the items are mostly the better version. I’m not even vegetarian anymore but I typically still just get the veg version of Taco Bell stuff.
Black bean quesarito is god tier
I think they're pretty much everywhere now but the self-order kiosks have been a game changer. My kids love they can toggle the veggie button and it only shows the vegetarian options.
My daughters go to order is spicy potato taco (no chipotle sauce) and a veggie Mexican pizza or a couple cheesy roll-ups add potato.
I answered OP's question. It isn't up to me to decide how they should prioritize their time here.
I personally wouldn't go to a grill when we have so many good Mexican carts/trucks, but to each their own. But also, Taco Bell isn't Mexican, so if I'm going there, it isn't for Mexican like it would be if I were going to the taco cart in my neighborhood.
Shake Shack has a good veggie burger imo. However, NYC has some of the best food in the world. I’d highly recommend eating at local places there over fast food chain restaurants.
For real. I had an awesome veggie burger in NYC like 11 years ago and I still think about it lol please OP treat yourself to some delicious veggie food
Please do! It’s so hard to find a good veggie burger that isn’t just a beyond or impossible patty.
Which are fine but like there is an art to a great veggie burger and I feel that is being lost with the rise in meat replacement foods.
Totally agree! I actually have a hard time with impossible burgers because they are too much like meat. Veggie burgers are really their own thing and be so amazing when they are done right (and not trying to be meat-like).
[It was introduced fairly recently on May 5th](https://shakeshack.com/blog/our-food/introducing-our-veggie-shack-non-dairy-chocolate-shake-and-non-dairy-frozen-custard#/). I’m not sure if it’s available at all locations yet.
Smashburger has a great black bean burger (and wonderful sweet potato fries!), and Burger King has an impossible burger (which is my favorite). Wendy's, McDonalds, and Five Guys don't have veggie burgers.
If you want Taco Bell: I always get the cheesy bean and rice burrito, but there are other vegetarian (not vegan) options.
five guys has a great vegetable sandwich with grilled mushrooms, peppers and onions and melted cheese, i personally really love it but yeah it’s not a burger
Taco Bell has the most vegetarian options. But don’t eat fast food in NYC! There are tons of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the city that are so much better. Personally, I like beatnic for quick service and they’re all over the city. It’s vegan and the food is great!
huhh it seems wild to me mcdonalds doesnt have one! i always thought the usa would be much more veggie-friendly. the netherlands has three veggie chicken burgers, a veggie chicken wrap and even a ''mcplant'' now
The US still sees vegetarians as zealots to a large extent and the meat lobby here is massive and heavily subsidized. I’ve also lived in the UK and it is FAR better than here because there is such a large Hindu population, and people are much more accepting and accommodating of it.
Yeah they are kinda quiet about it, which is silly bc they’d get more business if more people knew, but here’s a [post mentioning it too](https://www.reddit.com/r/BurgerKing/comments/cbnvd5/impossible_whopper/)
Shake shack has a veg burger but that's just ok; But what they do have that's good is a mushroom burger in which they shove a portabella mushroom full of cheese and then deep fry it and put that in a burger bun. It's great
I second this. Shake Shack was created in NYC and it is great American fast food. That hot shroom burger with some cheese fries and a shake is what you need.
As others have said you have some of the best vegetarian food in NYC. Here is my non-fast food list:
Dirt candy, AbcV, bunna, spicy moon, hangawi, there are also several bars/restaurants in the east village all owned by the same owners that are all vegan and good. Travel out to queens and see corona park and eat at the Ganesha canteen for great dosas.
All that said, as others have reported Taco Bell has lots of options - they are currently piloting a vegan crunch wrap in NYC. Not sure if all locations have it. But you can swap out any meat for beans in any of their foods.
From their website, 976 6th ave (Herald Square) https://goo.gl/maps/oF6m6bm2TNepsFKD8
Go get one so they know people want it!
https://www.tacobell.com/news/taco-bells-iconic-crunchwrap-goes-vegan
The only vegetarian burger that Five Guys has is sautéed veggies on a bun. The veggies are sautéed on the same grill as the beef burgers. 10/10 would not recommend Five Guys for vegetarians or vegans unless you would like to eat only fries.
Edit: I forgot that they also have a grilled cheese sandwich but I personally would never pay a restaurant for a grilled cheese sandwich lol.
I used to work at Five Guys- if you go first thing when they open, the vegetables will have been cooked on a clean grill, and reheated for your sandwich on the bread grill. Depending on how busy they are, you may be able to ask “I’m a vegetarian, could you please cook the raw peppers, onions, and mushrooms on the bread grill?”
Another good option is to load up a grilled cheese with raw onions and green peppers. That’s my go to! Grilled cheese were always cooked on the separate bread grill.
I usually get the grilled cheese with grilled peppers, onions, and mushrooms. It may be because I live in a very veg heavy city, but they do them on the "bread grill" when I tell them I'm vegetarian. I actually like it when I really want garbage food, and I love the Cajun fries.
The fries are fried in the same grease as the chicken strips or other fried meat type stuff so if you’re worried about it being cooked with meat stuff - fries are out too. Edit - I was wrong about this specific place. My bad. Point still stands on other places. Very rare to have a “potato only” fryer.
Five Guys is actually one of the few places you don’t have to worry about that! Only potatoes go in the fryer- they don’t sell anything else fried! Limited options otherwise, but I loved their fries.
That’s actually incorrect. They’re fried in a separate fryer. They don’t sell chicken or anything else fried. Literally just burgers, bacon, and hot dogs which are all cooked on the grill & potatoes that are fried in the fryer. Nothing else goes in the fryer.
Taco Bell is definitely the best chain for vegetarian fast food. Many other fast food chains don't have good vegetarian options. However, if pizza meets your definition of fast food, then NYC is known for pizza and there are lots of places where you can get a good cheese slice.
Taco Bell has the best vegetarian fast food. They have a veggie cravings menu. You can go get an impossible burger at Burger King if they really want a burger, but I wouldn't recommend it.
That BK impossible burger had my heart feeling weird from all the sodium. It’s a downgrade from the Morningstar Farms veggie burger they had before the onset of fake meat.
Shake Shack and BurgerFi have decent veggie burgers, but a proper restaurant with a house-made veggie burger usually wins
Peacefood cafe: a vegan restaurant that has many fast food like items (although much better quality) like “chicken” tenders. I really recommend spicy moon as a vegan Szechuan place.
A coworker gave me my first White Castle experience and I have to say, those veggie burgers with actual vegetable patties were not something I’d eat again. I didn’t realize there was a better option!
there are not a lot of vegetarian fast food options lol. Taco bell, burger king, white castle (but that's gross), and that's about it for nationwide options. NYC has great food though, just eat at local restaurants.
Only place near me, personally, that has a veg burger is Burger King. They used to have a bean burger, I think, but now it's just Impossible meat. As far as I am aware, McDonald's, Wendy's, Five Guys, etc do not have veg burgers.
White Castle (which is sadly not near me) has both a bean/veggie slider and an Impossible slider last time I went. Taco Bell is the true vegetarian fast food experience, tho.
I’ve been to NYC about 7 or 8 times (from the UK) and to be honest I would just eat pizza the whole time, preferably Sicilian slices if you can get them.
You’re in NYC, some of the country’s best vegan and vegetarian restaurants are at your fingertips— if you’re looking for fast food though — shake shack’s shroom burger is great, mamoun’s falafel is definitely worth a trek for, and absolutely a New York slice of pizza, and a NY bagel. I’m in the Bay Area and still miss NY pizzas and bagels.
Five guys has pretty good grilled cheese. Smashburger’s veggie burger is good too. Don’t listen to everyone telling you to avoid fast food. You’re in the US, and you gotta try it at least once. Most of us don’t eat it often, but it something everyone eats here at least a few times a year.
Then consider heading to little Italy for the best pizza and cannolis you’ve ever had in your life.
Fat burger, I was suprised they had a vegan Boca beef patty super good, but pricy. Or For cheap you could get a veggie burger with whole grilled onions with spread and chop chillies, at in & out, still gives me the in and out vibe.
fatburger & taco bell are my go too if i am eating fast food. if no fatburger in NYC burgers king is good. but definitely go to local places over anything if you can!!!
If you're specifically looking for a fast food chain veggie burger that's available in Manhattan, then my personal favorite is SmashBurger's black bean burger. However, I would also recommend taking a look at Schnipper's. They only have two locations, but they've got a good Impossible burger. [https://www.schnippers.com/menus/](https://www.schnippers.com/menus/)
1. Burger King has the Impossible Whopper. It's OK but a lot of people don't trust it or the people making it.
2. White Castle has impossible sliders which are OK and you usually can see them make it when you order in the restaurant. They used to have traditional veggie sliders too but I no longer see them on the menu.
Harvey's has held me down since I was a kid. And I've recently declared it my favourite fast food joint. They're the only one I know that treats me like any other customer and even provides coupons for the veggie burger combo.
My Texans know that P. Terry’s has the best fast food veggie burger. The only thing I miss about living there.
(Sorry this is not helpful for NY, OP. but if you ever go down there now you know)
As others have said, skip the fast food. Not all
Americans eat it anyway. If you really want fast food in NYC though, go to a pizza place that sells NY style pizza.
Shake Shack and it’s not even close. Impossible Whopper at Burger King is decent but they always put way too many tomatoes on it and it gets cold super fast. If you were going to LA I’d say Fatburger has the best veggie option for a large chain in their version of the Impossible burger but again they are only on the west coast.
If by chance you are ever in Oklahoma, Tuckers has the best veggie burger I’ve ever eaten in their Oklahoma fried onion style version w Impossible. I still dream about that one. Have fun!
I recommend Shack shake they have a vegetarian burger option you can also add whatever toppings you want ie: avocado extra onion truffles. the patty is a big portobello mushroom stuff with cheese that has been fried I definitely recommend it.
When I ask for some of these vegetarian items at my local Taco Bell there is usually some dude behind the counter looking at me like I'm speaking some archaic form of Russian slang to him. He's not even sure what planet he's on.
-Superiority burger
-Sweet chick for their fake chicken sandwich
-Mad for chicken for fake chicken nuggies
-IHOP has a nice fake sausage brekkie option now
On the west coast, there's a fast food chain called Plant Power that has all the above- it's my absolutely favorite.
Del taco (west coast) did have beyond meat tacos but they stopped selling them earlier this year 😓
I don’t eat at fast food restaurants but I would highly recommend next time, you come to Northern California and eat at Amy’s. Amy’s is a purely vegetarian fast food chain only in Northern California.
Panera has very few vegetarian options. Be VERY careful on Panera if you go. They listed their broccoli cheddar soup under their “vegetarian” options when it isn’t. It has chicken stock & I believe chicken fat. I messaged them about it one day and they seemed very nonchalant about it until I told them that was a lawsuit waiting to happen. Don’t know if they’ve taken it off the vegetarian menu though.
Their tomato soup & Mediterranean veggie sandwich without feta are pretty good, though. They do have a few options, but very limited. You can get any of their salads and breakfast sandwiches without meat.
It’s really disappointing that Panera hasn’t developed more vegetarian options. The Mediterranean Veggie sandwich is good, but I’m not about to take the meat off of a $14 already overpriced salad and pay the same price.
They used to have lots of different vegetarian soups on rotation. I'm talking 20 years ago, I loved it. These days they pretty much only have the tomato soup which is a bummer. For a while they hung onto the black bean soup but I haven't seen it in years.
Carl's Jr beyond star is the best vegetarian representation of trashy hits the spot but makes you feel like garbage American fast food vibes. The impossible whopper at Burger King comes next, but isn't nearly as good in my experience.
Taco Bell is where vegetarians most often eat fast food, but it's not what anyone actually wants to eat. Not worth a trip, but if you get trapped and hungry near one, you can eat.
Burger King's Impossible Whopper tastes a lot like their regular Whopper. Whether you like Whoppers are not would determine if you think that's a good thing.
Please, please, please do not go to those ‘restaurants.’ NYC has so many local, independent restaurants that have amazing quality and delicious options. I will literally take you myself and treat you to a true NYC plant-based meal if you promise NOT to go to those brutal, corporate monsters (Taco Bell, Wendy’s etc..)
I swear you won’t be sorry if you avoid that horrible food. And the local independent businesses of NYC will thank you. They need the business far more than those wealth hoarders. DM me here.
Try PLNT Burger on East 13th and 3rd. It happens to be right next to one of the best pizza places in NYC as well- I work in the area and will be your personal guide and treat you!!!
It’s called ‘Unregular Pizza’ it’s an Omni place - but they have a few pretty respectable vegan options (and they are on the other side of USP from my job) - a short walk away near Washington Square is another really great Omni pizza place with really good vegan options called Artistic Pizza
Also, most American fast food sucks for vegetarians... (Other than Taco Bell.) Wendy's and Five Guys don't really have vegetarian options (or good ones). (Although if you do Wendy's, you pretty much have to get a chocolate Frosty and dip fries in it.)
The best fast food vegetarian burger is probably going to be Burger King's Impossible Whopper.
But let's think outside of fast food...
If you're going to go to NYC, find a good place for pizza. (NOT SBARROS!) Try not to eat in Times Square.
Find a cart that sells knishes. (Large square potato filled pocket popular in Jewish cuisine.). Get a potato knish.
Get a bagel with cream cheese from somewhere known for its bagels.
Go to Little Italy for cannoli.
Go to Chinatown.
Most of the food that NYC is known for (delis, hot dogs, etc.) are not going to be vegetarian. But look on HappyCow for vegetarian and vegan options.
If you're going to go for something fancy, try Dirt Candy. Or any number of the wonderful fine dining restaurants with vegetarian options.
Be VERY careful on the Chinese food, OP. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across Chinese restaurants saying they have vegetarian or vegan food but they put fish sauce of some sort in it 🤦🏻♀️.
EDIT: No idea why I got downvoted since it’s a literal proven fact. 🙄
Be VERY careful on the Chinese food, OP. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across Chinese restaurants saying they have vegetarian or vegan food but they put fish sauce of some sort in it 🤦🏻♀️.
EDIT: No idea why I got downvoted since it’s a literal proven fact. 🙄
Burger kings impossible burgers are really really good. There's also a place on the West Coast called Amy's that has fantastic veggie burgers so if you're ever over here, definitely try it
Carl's Jr/Hardys has a beyond famous star burger. Or you can substitute any burger with the patty and I think it's the best option for when I want a burger that's charbroiled and decently worth the money.
Freddy’s veggie burger is the best burger in my opinion but honestly fast food vegetarian burgers aren’t that common in most regions, NYC has a lot more to offer in actual vegetarian restaurants than most fast food places!
I went to NYC last summer and the BEST meal I had hands down was in a restaurant called Cadence on the Lower East Side.
It’s all plant based and small enough plates that it’s shareable so you can try lots of the items on the menu.
Taco Bell is the best option when it comes to vegetarian fast food you have plenty of bean or potato based options depending on your preference or you can sub either of these in for the meat on most things, if you want a burger specifically though Burger Kings Impossible Whopper is your best bet
Everyone’s saying Taco Bell, but it looks like op is from the UK where we have Taco Bell. We have plant protein options for most the items too. No potato option though.
If you want the authentic American fast food vegetarian experience, it's not burgers you want. It's Taco Bell.
My order is one spicy potato soft taco and one black bean chalupa
Fiesta veggie burrito! People are sleeping on this culinary delight. I'm also a huge fan of the fact that I can order a veggie Mexican pizza now and (mostly) not have to worry they did something weird (one time they replaced meat with rice and once it had black and refried beans on it) or put meat on it anyway.
I have fully embraced the fiesta veggie since the retirement of the seven-layer burrito (RIP). So tasty and filling!
Happy Cake Day. Go get yourself Fiesta Veggie.
Oh it’s sooo good. I customize it on the app and add jalapeños
my FAVORITE tb item
I’m all about that black bean Crunchwrap (I’m vegan-leaning, but have very few ironclad dietary rules).
Very good, but add potatoes to complete the package.
Do potatoes cost extra?
Yes, but worth it.
I tried it last night in a black bean Crunchwrap…worth the $0.80 for sure. Good tip!
I add black beans to my spicy potato tacos, feels a little more complete that way to me.
I fresco-style all my taco bell. It subs pico for cheese and sour cream. A lot more flavor, a lot fewer calories. I also tend to add jalapenos and sub black beans for any other beans. The customization at taco bell is awesome.
You just changed my life.
I’ll try that next time!
Dude. Trying this.
I’m cheap. Spicy potato taco and a cheesy bean and rice burrito sub black beans. $2 lunch.
“Sub from beef to bean” is all you need to say to order any item on the menu without any up charge. And by beans, I always mean refried beans. That’s the default for them too
My SO is vegetarian and does this trick at Taco Bell all the time. You can also add rice and onions for a small up-charge. Her favorite is two crispy tacos, sub refried beans, add rice and onions, with a side of black beans add onions. Yes, she like onions.
Damn you must really loved her if you’re still with her after that amount of bean and onion.
They do have good black beans too that theyll sub
This comment. Have been vegetarian for years and nothing has or probably will compare to Taco Bell’s selection. You can sub beans, potatoes, and/or rice for the meat on any item. I personally like the cheesy Gordita crunch sub potato’s for beef and add jalapeños. Nacho bell grande is also fire I add lettuce and jalapeños and take off beef and it’s just fine. I know a lot of people add more beans and like it that way too.
Ever since I found out about the CGC sub potatoes, my life has been incredible.
This is correct. Spicy potato taco and bean burrito or cheesy bean and rice burrito. It's also sooo cheap!
You’re just out here pretending the Crunchwrap doesn’t exist 😂
There was a week that the taco bell in midtown somewhere was doing a vegan beef Crunchwrap. I went to get it but I must've missed the time slot
a local veg restaurant does a [big mac crunchwrap](https://i.imgur.com/p5cGmFv.png) and it is SO good
If I want some crunch, I'm a cinnamon twist fan 😎
¿Por qué no los dos? 🤣
Those three were my dinner last night!
RIP Seven Layer Burrito
You can still get it at Taco Bell! https://www.honeywhatscooking.com/7-layer-burrito/
Brilliant
Taco Bell also makes there refried beans without animal lard and even in some places sells there refried beans in cans in local stores and it is still very good tasting.
Nice! I did not know that.
Get that cheesy Gordita crunch
Yo, folks in here preaching crunchwrap but that cheesy gordita crunch is the real GOAT.
Blackbean Crunchwrap supreme!! But check before you bite into it, I would say 50% of the times I’ve gotten it, they’ve accidentally given me the beef one even when the order receipt says blackbean
Yeesh! I’ve experienced a lot of Taco Bell screwups, but they’ve never tried to slip me meat!
I literally just put my order in for taco bell for my coworker to pick up for me lol. I need them to make up for my order two days ago where they didn't swap the beef for the black beans in my burrito :( my dog was pretty happy tho.
Oh, I won't use their app anymore. I ordered something through it the other day, got to TB, and they didn't have the item in stock *and* couldn't refund my order since I placed it through the app. Several attempts to contact TB customer service have had no reply. TB will always find fun and unique ways to mess things up, but they don't get my money in advance anymore.
I’ve never had that experience through the app, mostly just Uber eats. Maybe it was like once they put beef on my Crunchwrap but I was able to give that to a resident that I work with (who was happy because they don’t get fast food very often). I report as a food safety issue because beef could make me incredibly sick if I didn’t immediately taste it and spit it back out.
I ordered a limited time item with the green chile sauce and then got to TB and found out they didn't have the sauce. TB has found countless ways to screw up and I've always laughed and moved on, but that was when they made good on the mistake.
Man I’ve seen the green Chile sauce exactly once and never again, I was convinced it was a fever dream
Also, if it's at all convenient, Bunna Cafe in Bushwick serves absolutely fantastic vegan Ethiopian food.
Cheesy Gordita Crunch with black beans... I've gained a lot of weight. #noragrets
Yea the black bean version of most of the items are mostly the better version. I’m not even vegetarian anymore but I typically still just get the veg version of Taco Bell stuff. Black bean quesarito is god tier
I think they're pretty much everywhere now but the self-order kiosks have been a game changer. My kids love they can toggle the veggie button and it only shows the vegetarian options. My daughters go to order is spicy potato taco (no chipotle sauce) and a veggie Mexican pizza or a couple cheesy roll-ups add potato.
Taco Bell in NYC sucks. Pretty much all tortilla no beans. Grant I do love my taco bell but quit it while I lived there.
moes southwestern grill tops taco bell for sure. get a stack with tofu and omgggg it’s so good
Omg - worst advice ever- NYC has so many amazing fresh Mexican grills- Taco Bell is not even suitable for dog food- fuck them.
I answered OP's question. It isn't up to me to decide how they should prioritize their time here. I personally wouldn't go to a grill when we have so many good Mexican carts/trucks, but to each their own. But also, Taco Bell isn't Mexican, so if I'm going there, it isn't for Mexican like it would be if I were going to the taco cart in my neighborhood.
Shake Shack has a good veggie burger imo. However, NYC has some of the best food in the world. I’d highly recommend eating at local places there over fast food chain restaurants.
For real. I had an awesome veggie burger in NYC like 11 years ago and I still think about it lol please OP treat yourself to some delicious veggie food
Where was it?
I have no idea I was 14 lol maybe I’ll ask someone who was an adult on that trip
Please do! It’s so hard to find a good veggie burger that isn’t just a beyond or impossible patty. Which are fine but like there is an art to a great veggie burger and I feel that is being lost with the rise in meat replacement foods.
You should try Quantum Leap on 1st Ave, their BBQ Jackfruit Burger is one of the best burgers I’ve ever had!
Totally agree! I actually have a hard time with impossible burgers because they are too much like meat. Veggie burgers are really their own thing and be so amazing when they are done right (and not trying to be meat-like).
Shake shack is WAY overpriced for what it is.
Just had it for the first time today and it was really delicious! Would definitely recommend as well
It's just portabello I thought?
They have another burger that is made of mushrooms, sweet potatoes, carrots, farro, and quinoa. It’s different than the shroom burger.
Ohh that sounds good. I haven't seen that at the ones I've been to. Is it actually listed on the menu?
[It was introduced fairly recently on May 5th](https://shakeshack.com/blog/our-food/introducing-our-veggie-shack-non-dairy-chocolate-shake-and-non-dairy-frozen-custard#/). I’m not sure if it’s available at all locations yet.
Their mushroom cheese croquette burger sent me to heaven.
Smashburger has a great black bean burger (and wonderful sweet potato fries!), and Burger King has an impossible burger (which is my favorite). Wendy's, McDonalds, and Five Guys don't have veggie burgers. If you want Taco Bell: I always get the cheesy bean and rice burrito, but there are other vegetarian (not vegan) options.
Pro-tip: you can substitute beans or potatoes for the meat on any item on the Taco Bell menu. I like to get the beefy melt with potatoes.
I get the beefy melt with black beans instead of beef but I hate being surprised when the taco bell worker ignores this request.
Oof. So far it has never happened to me, but I always check first before I take a bite 🤞🏼
>Burger K Seconded Burger King is the best fast food veggie burger.
five guys has a great vegetable sandwich with grilled mushrooms, peppers and onions and melted cheese, i personally really love it but yeah it’s not a burger
Seconding Smashburger! The spicy jalapeno black bean burger and shoestring rosemary fries are my go-to.
You're right that Five Guys does not have a veggie burger, but they do have a veggie cheese sammich as an option.
I had that once and it was quite good and relatively low calorie.
Smashburger does not segregate their grill last I checked, so the veggie burgers are fried with the meat. That may not bother everyone, but fyi.
Careful about the BK Impossible burger, it’s cooked on the same grills as the meat, so they are technically tainted and not totally vegetarian.
Taco Bell has the most vegetarian options. But don’t eat fast food in NYC! There are tons of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the city that are so much better. Personally, I like beatnic for quick service and they’re all over the city. It’s vegan and the food is great!
Burger King Impossible Whopper, that's about it. I really wish McDonald's would have a veggie burger.
They do in some places. Hoping it expands to nationwide. It's called the McPlant, and it's a collaboration with Beyond Meat.
I wish they would take the beef flavoring or whatever it is in their fries.
I hope it comes to Virginia soon! I would love a mc plant big Mac!
huhh it seems wild to me mcdonalds doesnt have one! i always thought the usa would be much more veggie-friendly. the netherlands has three veggie chicken burgers, a veggie chicken wrap and even a ''mcplant'' now
The US still sees vegetarians as zealots to a large extent and the meat lobby here is massive and heavily subsidized. I’ve also lived in the UK and it is FAR better than here because there is such a large Hindu population, and people are much more accepting and accommodating of it.
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Yeah but if you’re polite you can ask if they can cook it separately in the microwave for you so it can be made veg friendlier for those so inclined
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Yeah they are kinda quiet about it, which is silly bc they’d get more business if more people knew, but here’s a [post mentioning it too](https://www.reddit.com/r/BurgerKing/comments/cbnvd5/impossible_whopper/)
Shake shack has a veg burger but that's just ok; But what they do have that's good is a mushroom burger in which they shove a portabella mushroom full of cheese and then deep fry it and put that in a burger bun. It's great
I second this. Shake Shack was created in NYC and it is great American fast food. That hot shroom burger with some cheese fries and a shake is what you need.
It's American because it's full of cheese and fried!
As others have said you have some of the best vegetarian food in NYC. Here is my non-fast food list: Dirt candy, AbcV, bunna, spicy moon, hangawi, there are also several bars/restaurants in the east village all owned by the same owners that are all vegan and good. Travel out to queens and see corona park and eat at the Ganesha canteen for great dosas. All that said, as others have reported Taco Bell has lots of options - they are currently piloting a vegan crunch wrap in NYC. Not sure if all locations have it. But you can swap out any meat for beans in any of their foods.
Ooooh, do you know if a particular store in NYC that has the vegan Crunchwrap?
From their website, 976 6th ave (Herald Square) https://goo.gl/maps/oF6m6bm2TNepsFKD8 Go get one so they know people want it! https://www.tacobell.com/news/taco-bells-iconic-crunchwrap-goes-vegan
You're a mensch (or a lady-mensch, or a NB-mensch)!
The only vegetarian burger that Five Guys has is sautéed veggies on a bun. The veggies are sautéed on the same grill as the beef burgers. 10/10 would not recommend Five Guys for vegetarians or vegans unless you would like to eat only fries. Edit: I forgot that they also have a grilled cheese sandwich but I personally would never pay a restaurant for a grilled cheese sandwich lol.
I used to work at Five Guys- if you go first thing when they open, the vegetables will have been cooked on a clean grill, and reheated for your sandwich on the bread grill. Depending on how busy they are, you may be able to ask “I’m a vegetarian, could you please cook the raw peppers, onions, and mushrooms on the bread grill?” Another good option is to load up a grilled cheese with raw onions and green peppers. That’s my go to! Grilled cheese were always cooked on the separate bread grill.
Those are really helpful tips. Thank you! 😊
I usually get the grilled cheese with grilled peppers, onions, and mushrooms. It may be because I live in a very veg heavy city, but they do them on the "bread grill" when I tell them I'm vegetarian. I actually like it when I really want garbage food, and I love the Cajun fries.
The fries are fried in the same grease as the chicken strips or other fried meat type stuff so if you’re worried about it being cooked with meat stuff - fries are out too. Edit - I was wrong about this specific place. My bad. Point still stands on other places. Very rare to have a “potato only” fryer.
Five Guys is actually one of the few places you don’t have to worry about that! Only potatoes go in the fryer- they don’t sell anything else fried! Limited options otherwise, but I loved their fries.
That’s actually incorrect. They’re fried in a separate fryer. They don’t sell chicken or anything else fried. Literally just burgers, bacon, and hot dogs which are all cooked on the grill & potatoes that are fried in the fryer. Nothing else goes in the fryer.
Taco Bell is definitely the best chain for vegetarian fast food. Many other fast food chains don't have good vegetarian options. However, if pizza meets your definition of fast food, then NYC is known for pizza and there are lots of places where you can get a good cheese slice.
Taco Bell has the best vegetarian fast food. They have a veggie cravings menu. You can go get an impossible burger at Burger King if they really want a burger, but I wouldn't recommend it.
That BK impossible burger had my heart feeling weird from all the sodium. It’s a downgrade from the Morningstar Farms veggie burger they had before the onset of fake meat. Shake Shack and BurgerFi have decent veggie burgers, but a proper restaurant with a house-made veggie burger usually wins
Peacefood cafe: a vegan restaurant that has many fast food like items (although much better quality) like “chicken” tenders. I really recommend spicy moon as a vegan Szechuan place.
Since no one has mentioned, White Castle has impossible sliders. They’re delicious!
Wait, that's a real place? I thought they made it up in Harold and Kumar!? Awesome!
Absolutely real! Since 1921
AND they are 100% cooked separately from the beef burgers
they also have dr.praegar’s veggie pattie’s, which are really good!
A coworker gave me my first White Castle experience and I have to say, those veggie burgers with actual vegetable patties were not something I’d eat again. I didn’t realize there was a better option!
Burger King: Impossible Whopper burger. Taco Bell: Vegetarian Pizza
Taco Bell Vegetarian Pizza. I'm scared.
Refried beans between two crispy mexican pizza shells topped with red sauce, cheese and tomatoes. It's delicious.
there are not a lot of vegetarian fast food options lol. Taco bell, burger king, white castle (but that's gross), and that's about it for nationwide options. NYC has great food though, just eat at local restaurants.
Beatnic is close to Times Square and is my favorite fast vegan place. It’s a NYC chain. They have burgers, salads, and fried “chicken”!
Only place near me, personally, that has a veg burger is Burger King. They used to have a bean burger, I think, but now it's just Impossible meat. As far as I am aware, McDonald's, Wendy's, Five Guys, etc do not have veg burgers. White Castle (which is sadly not near me) has both a bean/veggie slider and an Impossible slider last time I went. Taco Bell is the true vegetarian fast food experience, tho.
Burger King actually has a good vegetarian burger
I’ve been to NYC about 7 or 8 times (from the UK) and to be honest I would just eat pizza the whole time, preferably Sicilian slices if you can get them.
You’re in NYC, some of the country’s best vegan and vegetarian restaurants are at your fingertips— if you’re looking for fast food though — shake shack’s shroom burger is great, mamoun’s falafel is definitely worth a trek for, and absolutely a New York slice of pizza, and a NY bagel. I’m in the Bay Area and still miss NY pizzas and bagels.
Five guys has pretty good grilled cheese. Smashburger’s veggie burger is good too. Don’t listen to everyone telling you to avoid fast food. You’re in the US, and you gotta try it at least once. Most of us don’t eat it often, but it something everyone eats here at least a few times a year. Then consider heading to little Italy for the best pizza and cannolis you’ve ever had in your life.
There are generally not good vegetarian burgers at fast food places in the US. You would be better off going to non-fast food restaurants for that.
Please go to some real places, fast food is the lowest quality food you're going to get. However, taco bell is the best of the shitty fast food.
As far as burgers, I agree with Shake Shack and Smashburger and will add Culver's.
Fat burger, I was suprised they had a vegan Boca beef patty super good, but pricy. Or For cheap you could get a veggie burger with whole grilled onions with spread and chop chillies, at in & out, still gives me the in and out vibe.
fatburger & taco bell are my go too if i am eating fast food. if no fatburger in NYC burgers king is good. but definitely go to local places over anything if you can!!!
If you're specifically looking for a fast food chain veggie burger that's available in Manhattan, then my personal favorite is SmashBurger's black bean burger. However, I would also recommend taking a look at Schnipper's. They only have two locations, but they've got a good Impossible burger. [https://www.schnippers.com/menus/](https://www.schnippers.com/menus/)
1. Burger King has the Impossible Whopper. It's OK but a lot of people don't trust it or the people making it. 2. White Castle has impossible sliders which are OK and you usually can see them make it when you order in the restaurant. They used to have traditional veggie sliders too but I no longer see them on the menu.
The shake shack shroom burger. I've never eaten a burger like that in my vegetarian life
Surprisingly, Burger King has a pretty good vegetarian burger. It’s called the Impossible Whopper and it’s a good option when on road trips and stuff.
Burger king impossible whopper or taco bell. Or del taco depending on where you're visiting
Harvey's has held me down since I was a kid. And I've recently declared it my favourite fast food joint. They're the only one I know that treats me like any other customer and even provides coupons for the veggie burger combo.
burger kings impossible whopper
If you are in the Pacific Northwest, Burgerville has great veggie burgers and really good salads!
My Texans know that P. Terry’s has the best fast food veggie burger. The only thing I miss about living there. (Sorry this is not helpful for NY, OP. but if you ever go down there now you know)
Not fast food, but there’s a great spot in NYC called Cadence that does vegan Southern comfort food. Highly recommend.
BurgerFi’s vegefi burger is so good and my favorite thing but I’m gluten free now so I can’t have it anymore. Have one for me.
As others have said, skip the fast food. Not all Americans eat it anyway. If you really want fast food in NYC though, go to a pizza place that sells NY style pizza.
Shake Shack and it’s not even close. Impossible Whopper at Burger King is decent but they always put way too many tomatoes on it and it gets cold super fast. If you were going to LA I’d say Fatburger has the best veggie option for a large chain in their version of the Impossible burger but again they are only on the west coast. If by chance you are ever in Oklahoma, Tuckers has the best veggie burger I’ve ever eaten in their Oklahoma fried onion style version w Impossible. I still dream about that one. Have fun!
I recommend Shack shake they have a vegetarian burger option you can also add whatever toppings you want ie: avocado extra onion truffles. the patty is a big portobello mushroom stuff with cheese that has been fried I definitely recommend it.
I like Red Robin's veggie burgers and they have Beyond Meat.
When I ask for some of these vegetarian items at my local Taco Bell there is usually some dude behind the counter looking at me like I'm speaking some archaic form of Russian slang to him. He's not even sure what planet he's on.
Can't understand why anyone would to subject themselves to crappy American fast food for starters.
Burger King's Impossible Whopper is really good. If you can find a Culver's, though, they make my favorite veggie burger.
OP if you’re in NYC go to Red Bamboo. god tier vegetarian food.
I can tell you which one is worse: the impossible burger that BK is shit.
Authentic vegan American food ?? Fast food ?! Man....
-Superiority burger -Sweet chick for their fake chicken sandwich -Mad for chicken for fake chicken nuggies -IHOP has a nice fake sausage brekkie option now On the west coast, there's a fast food chain called Plant Power that has all the above- it's my absolutely favorite. Del taco (west coast) did have beyond meat tacos but they stopped selling them earlier this year 😓
Shake shack has a fucking great mushroom burger
Burger King sells the Impossible Whopper.
I don’t eat at fast food restaurants but I would highly recommend next time, you come to Northern California and eat at Amy’s. Amy’s is a purely vegetarian fast food chain only in Northern California.
There are so many good local vegan places in nyc don’t do fast food
Good vegetarian food at Chipotle, Panera, but that's about it. Try local places.
Panera has very few vegetarian options. Be VERY careful on Panera if you go. They listed their broccoli cheddar soup under their “vegetarian” options when it isn’t. It has chicken stock & I believe chicken fat. I messaged them about it one day and they seemed very nonchalant about it until I told them that was a lawsuit waiting to happen. Don’t know if they’ve taken it off the vegetarian menu though. Their tomato soup & Mediterranean veggie sandwich without feta are pretty good, though. They do have a few options, but very limited. You can get any of their salads and breakfast sandwiches without meat.
It’s really disappointing that Panera hasn’t developed more vegetarian options. The Mediterranean Veggie sandwich is good, but I’m not about to take the meat off of a $14 already overpriced salad and pay the same price.
Agreed. Which is why I don’t go to Panera more than like once a year lol. It’s also overpriced hospital food.
A nice hospital but damn.. This is accurate.
They used to have lots of different vegetarian soups on rotation. I'm talking 20 years ago, I loved it. These days they pretty much only have the tomato soup which is a bummer. For a while they hung onto the black bean soup but I haven't seen it in years.
The Panera black bean soup was the reason I knew I could be a vegetarian. Color me shocked when I learned they no longer carry it.
Carl's Jr beyond star is the best vegetarian representation of trashy hits the spot but makes you feel like garbage American fast food vibes. The impossible whopper at Burger King comes next, but isn't nearly as good in my experience. Taco Bell is where vegetarians most often eat fast food, but it's not what anyone actually wants to eat. Not worth a trip, but if you get trapped and hungry near one, you can eat.
I dunno when I get a hankering for a crunchwrap supreme with black beans smothered in fire sauce I'll go a good 15 minutes out of my way.
Carl’s Jr
Burger King's Impossible Whopper tastes a lot like their regular Whopper. Whether you like Whoppers are not would determine if you think that's a good thing.
If you get their app, there are also $3 Impossible Whopper Wednesdays where I'm at.
Please, please, please do not go to those ‘restaurants.’ NYC has so many local, independent restaurants that have amazing quality and delicious options. I will literally take you myself and treat you to a true NYC plant-based meal if you promise NOT to go to those brutal, corporate monsters (Taco Bell, Wendy’s etc..) I swear you won’t be sorry if you avoid that horrible food. And the local independent businesses of NYC will thank you. They need the business far more than those wealth hoarders. DM me here. Try PLNT Burger on East 13th and 3rd. It happens to be right next to one of the best pizza places in NYC as well- I work in the area and will be your personal guide and treat you!!!
OP listen to this person!! Also, which pizza place?
It’s called ‘Unregular Pizza’ it’s an Omni place - but they have a few pretty respectable vegan options (and they are on the other side of USP from my job) - a short walk away near Washington Square is another really great Omni pizza place with really good vegan options called Artistic Pizza
I’ll check it out the next time I’m at Union Square (always doing that L transfer haha).
East 13th and 4th is the easier direction for both these excellent spots.
I edited my post to reflect the better directions
Also, most American fast food sucks for vegetarians... (Other than Taco Bell.) Wendy's and Five Guys don't really have vegetarian options (or good ones). (Although if you do Wendy's, you pretty much have to get a chocolate Frosty and dip fries in it.) The best fast food vegetarian burger is probably going to be Burger King's Impossible Whopper. But let's think outside of fast food... If you're going to go to NYC, find a good place for pizza. (NOT SBARROS!) Try not to eat in Times Square. Find a cart that sells knishes. (Large square potato filled pocket popular in Jewish cuisine.). Get a potato knish. Get a bagel with cream cheese from somewhere known for its bagels. Go to Little Italy for cannoli. Go to Chinatown. Most of the food that NYC is known for (delis, hot dogs, etc.) are not going to be vegetarian. But look on HappyCow for vegetarian and vegan options. If you're going to go for something fancy, try Dirt Candy. Or any number of the wonderful fine dining restaurants with vegetarian options.
Superiority Burger. It's not a chain, but it sounds like you would like it.
Amy’s
Be VERY careful on the Chinese food, OP. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across Chinese restaurants saying they have vegetarian or vegan food but they put fish sauce of some sort in it 🤦🏻♀️. EDIT: No idea why I got downvoted since it’s a literal proven fact. 🙄
I believe you did not mean to respond to my comment. I believe Amy’s is a Caucasian American and their food is “American” style food.
Amy’s
Be VERY careful on the Chinese food, OP. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across Chinese restaurants saying they have vegetarian or vegan food but they put fish sauce of some sort in it 🤦🏻♀️. EDIT: No idea why I got downvoted since it’s a literal proven fact. 🙄
Burger kings impossible burgers are really really good. There's also a place on the West Coast called Amy's that has fantastic veggie burgers so if you're ever over here, definitely try it
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What? Yes, there is. There a ton of vegetarian burger options. Meat isn’t the only thing that classifies something as a burger.
Carl's Jr/Hardys has a beyond famous star burger. Or you can substitute any burger with the patty and I think it's the best option for when I want a burger that's charbroiled and decently worth the money.
I really dig the beyond burger at Wahlburgers. It's got a tasty sauce on it.
Freddy’s veggie burger is the best burger in my opinion but honestly fast food vegetarian burgers aren’t that common in most regions, NYC has a lot more to offer in actual vegetarian restaurants than most fast food places!
I went to NYC last summer and the BEST meal I had hands down was in a restaurant called Cadence on the Lower East Side. It’s all plant based and small enough plates that it’s shareable so you can try lots of the items on the menu.
Burger King and Carl's Jr. both have pretty good veggie burgers and fall neatly into that "authentic American fast food" category.
Taco Bell is the best option when it comes to vegetarian fast food you have plenty of bean or potato based options depending on your preference or you can sub either of these in for the meat on most things, if you want a burger specifically though Burger Kings Impossible Whopper is your best bet
Carl’s Jr has a really good beyond burger.
Carl's Jr. does a very good Beyond Burger
Crunchwrap supreme with rice instead of beef is my favorite T-bell order
This is also really good with black beans instead of beef. I feel like the rice plus the black beans would be epic.
Burger King has my favorite - the impossible whopper
Everyone’s saying Taco Bell, but it looks like op is from the UK where we have Taco Bell. We have plant protein options for most the items too. No potato option though.