It started with a road trip. Three cities, five days, one plant-based eater with a suitcase full of oat bars and emergency hummus packs.
I wasn’t trying to prove a point. I just wanted to eat something decent while hopping between hotel rooms and freeway exits. But about two chain restaurants in, I realized something: we’re at a moment where fast food and casual chains saythey’re becoming more plant-friendly… but is it really working on the plate?
So I gave myself a challenge: for five days, I’d only eat at recognizable chains and try to order vegan off the regular menu (not the niche “lifestyle bowls” or hackable off-menu orders that require five substitutions and a prayer).
I’d rate what I found based on three things: taste, satisfaction, and emotional toll (because feeling like a burden every time you order gets real, real fast).
Here’s what surprised me.
1. Chipotle: The sofritas are still the gold standard
This one didn’t shock me—Chipotle’s been the dependable crush of many vegans since the sofritas hit the scene. What did surprise me was how satisfying it still is after years of hype.
The tofu is seasoned well (not just “for tofu,” but actuallywell), and the fact that I could add guac, beans, and brown rice without needing a degree in vegan diplomacy was refreshing.
Taste: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Emotional toll: Low. Nobody blinked when I said “no cheese.”
2. Starbucks: A weirdly solid option for breakfast
I’ll admit—I wasn’t expecting much from a coffee chain. But the Impossible Breakfast Sandwich (hold the egg and cheese) is… kind of a win? When I paired it with the sprouted grain bagel and avocado spread, I got a makeshift savory breakfast that didn’t feel like punishment.
Bonus: Iced oat milk shaken espresso with cinnamon = perfection.
Taste: 8/10
Satisfaction: 7/10
Emotional toll: Mildly awkward when I had to explain why I was ordering a sandwich and removing half of it. But baristas were chill.
3. Subway: A game of “choose your own underwhelm”
I used to romanticize Subway in college—the smell, the customization, the drama of choosing sauces. But now? It’s mostly a choose-your-own-adventure of soft bread and cold veggies unless you’re lucky enough to live near one with the plant-based patty (I wasn’t).
What helped: I toasted the sandwich, loaded it with spinach, cucumbers, olives, and banana peppers, and added mustard. It was edible. Barely.
Taste: 5/10
Satisfaction: 4/10
Emotional toll: High. You feel like a kid trying to make a meal out of a salad bar.
4. Panda Express: Big win—but only in select locations
Their Beyond Orange Chicken was shockingly good. Crispy, tangy, just the right amount of nostalgic sticky-sweet. But—and this is important—not every location has it. I learned this the hard way after detouring to one off the highway only to be told “we don’t carry that here.”
When you find it, it’s a vegan miracle. When you don’t, you’re left with white rice and steamed broccoli.
Taste: 9/10 (when available)
Satisfaction: 8/10
Emotional toll: Variable. Prepare for disappointment.
5. Taco Bell: Veganizable… if you do the work
This is where my “no excessive hacks” rule was tested. Taco Bell technically lets you sub beans for beef, remove cheese, remove sour cream… but it’s a process. You have to say “fresco style,” double check the app, and often repeat yourself twice to the person at the register.
But when it works? The Black Bean Crunchwrap, fresco style, with added guac? Solid.
Taste: 7/10
Satisfaction: 7/10
Emotional toll: Medium-high. You feel like that person.
6. Dunkin’: Coffee, yes. Food… meh.
Dunkin’ has oat milk now, which is great for those iced lattes. But the food menu is tricky. They had a Beyond Sausage sandwich—but like Starbucks, you have to order it without egg and cheese, which feels wasteful and awkward.
And the hash browns? Underrated little flavor bombs.
Taste: 6/10
Satisfaction: 5/10
Emotional toll: More than you’d expect from a donut shop.
7. MOD Pizza: Customizable and no weird looks
Here’s a hidden gem. MOD lets you build your own pizza with a vegan crust, red sauce, tons of veggies, and vegan cheese. Real vegan cheese. That actually melts.
It felt like freedom to pile on roasted garlic, jalapeños, mushrooms, and artichokes without having to explain anything.
Taste: 8/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Emotional toll: Zero. You are among friends here.
8. McDonald’s: Not it. Not yet.
Unless you count the fries (which may not even be vegan in all locations depending on the oil used), McDonald’s is still a vegan desert. I ordered apple slices and black coffee just for the experience—and left feeling like I’d time-traveled to 2002.
Taste: 2/10
Satisfaction: 1/10
Emotional toll: Soul-crushing.
9. Blaze Pizza: A nice surprise
Similar to MOD, Blaze offers vegan cheese and spicy vegan chorizo. It’s a build-your-own situation, and staff didn’t bat an eye at my meatless order.
Pro tip: ask them to crisp the edges a bit more—it makes the cheese melt better.
Taste: 8/10
Satisfaction: 8/10
Emotional toll: Minimal. A nice little bright spot.
10. Panera Bread: Tricky, but workable
Panera feels like it should be easy for vegans, but many of the soups and salads are made with dairy or chicken broth. I ended up with the Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich (minus feta) and a Ten Vegetable Soup. Together, not bad.
They’re also one of the few places with decent vegan broth.
Taste: 6.5/10
Satisfaction: 7/10
Emotional toll: You will have to ask for the allergen menu. But once you do, it’s okay.
It’s not just about the food
This little experiment wasn’t just a taste test—it was a window into how far we’ve come (and how far we still have to go). Eating vegan at chain restaurants is more possible than it was a decade ago. But it still requires effort, patience, and sometimes a backup granola bar.
What I noticed most wasn’t just the taste of the food—but how each place made me feel. Did I feel like I was welcomed? Accommodated? Seen? Or was I navigating a minefield of dairy landmines and employee confusion?
As a vegan, you learn quickly: food is only half the equation. The rest is about emotional energy. And if a chain makes it easy—genuinely easy—to eat well and feel good about your choice? That’s the kind of place worth supporting.
And yes, I’ll still keep emergency hummus in my bag. But now, I know where to stop if I forget it.
