Opinion How to eat vegan at fast food chains in Australia

With so many plant-based meals and snacks available in cafés and food chains across the country, you’re never far from your next bite on the go.

Vegan food is so in demand these days that it feels like every other day, a new fast-food option explodes onto the scene. It can even be hard to keep up sometimes!

To help you keep track of all the convenient options near you, I’ve put together a handy list of all the plant-based fast food options I’ve tried and enjoyed so far. 

I’d suggest bookmarking this list to refer back to when you’re out and about, in need of some urgent sustenance, and mind-blanking on what’s around – that’s what I do and it’s gotten me out of many a peckish pinch!

Here are some of the most popular plant-based offerings that are currently available at chains found all around Australia:

Bakers Delight: A reliable selection of vegan-friendly sweets including fruit danishes, iced buns, fruit and jam logs, and scrolls. Some stores have vegan-friendly savoury offerings too.

Boost Juice: A dedicated vegan range including the Mango & Co, Lychee Lovin’ Berry, Power Plant Protein, and Bananas for Choc. They can also make pretty much any of their juices and smoothies dairy-free – just ask 😊

Burger Urge: While there are four delicious meat-free burgers on the menu, note The Mediterranean is the only one that automatically comes vegan. Zero Clucks, Zero Clucks Diablo and Not a Cheeseburger all require a simple sub of vegan cheese for the dairy, and a hold on some of the sauces. And luckily, they have a decent range of vegan-friendly sauces to choose from here.

Beyond the obvious fries and sweet potato fries, there are onion rings and cauliflower bites to enjoy too! And to finish it off, enjoy a proper dairy-free milkshake in strawberry, chocolate or vanilla with a coconut-based ice cream.

Cold Rock: The coconut-based Cinnamon Donut and Dark Chocolate ice cream flavours are both vegan, and there are plenty of vegan-friendly mix-ins too, including: Oreos, Lotus Biscoff Biscuits, crushed waffle cones, 100s & 1000s, a variety of fresh fruit, and peanut butter. Cold Rock’s cookie dough tubs and the Do or Do-Nut ice cream cake (layered with dark chocolate, cinnamon donut ice cream, Biscoff, and Oreos) are also 100% plant-based!

The Cheesecake Shop: Try their Vegan Chocolate Cake, Vegan Strawberry Choc Cake, Vegan Choc Almond Fudge, Vegan Salted Caramel Slice, and Plant-Based Ultimate Fudge. 

Crust: Try the Vegan Peri Peri (not) Chicken Bites, BBQ (not) Chicken Bites, Vegan Peri Peri (not) Chicken pizza, Vegan Shepherd’s Lie pizza, Vegan Smokey Pulled Jackfruit pizza, or Vegan (not) Beef Royale pizza. (Just note you do need to specify the ‘vegan’ versions of each of these menu items, as the ones listed as ‘plant-based’ on the menu are topped with dairy cheese.)

Daniel’s Donuts: An assortment of vegan donut flavours, including cinnamon, cream and jam, custard, and original glaze. Some stores also have vegan pies, pasties, sausage rolls, and iced drinks.

Domino’s: Two fully vegan pizzas: The Vegan Spicy Veg Supreme and the Vegan Margherita. They also have heaps of toppings perfect for building the ultimate plant-based pizza from scratch – including Impossible’s plant-based beef mince at most locations. Lastly but certainly not least, finish off your order with a Vegan Cheesy Garlic Bread. 

Ferguson Plarre’s Bakehouse: A tasty selection of plant-based vegan pies, pasties, and sausage rolls, as well as some vegan cupcakes and celebration cakes.

Grill’d: Try the Vegan Garden Goodness, Vegan Impossible Garden Goodness (the difference being that this one has a ‘meaty’ Impossible patty rather than veggie-based patty), Vegan Simply Grill’d, Vegan Impossible Simply Grill’d or Vegan Zesty Mexi. These burgers all come with melty vegan cheese and mayo, and all the chip varieties and tomato relish are veg-friendly too.  

Guzman y Gomez: Ol’ reliable Mexican cuisine to the rescue! Swap out the cheese for vegan chimi mayo on any vegetarian menu item. 

Hungry Jack’s: The Vegan Whopper Cheese, hash browns, and chips are great on-the-go options. If ordering another option labeled as plant-based (like the Plant-Based Whopper, Plant-Based Whopper Cheese, or Plant-Based Angry Whopper), just make sure you check and ask to remove any dairy cheese and mayo to make it fully vegan.

Krispy Kreme: The Apple Custard Crumble, Original Glazed, Traditional Cinnamon, Kookies n’ Kreme, and Strawberry Jam Doughnut are all confirmed to be vegan-friendly. If you were trying to mind your sugar intake, Godspeed. 

La Porchetta: A whole vegan section on the menu, including dishes like garlic bread (with an option to add vegan cheese, yum!), minestrone, eggplant chips, salads, arancini, wedges, seasonal veggies, pizzas, and pastas.

Lord of the Fries: From fried mac & cheese balls to shoestring fries to pickle-laden Beyond sausage hotdogs, this 100% plant-based burger chain has got all your fast food cravings sorted. 

Mad Mex: Burritos, nachos, quesadillas, grande melts, and tacos with several vegan protein options, including the 100% Plant-Based Mexicali Mince filling, and Veggie Veracruz filling. You can also switch out the cheese for vegan cheese – and just remember to customise your order to remove any sour cream. 

McDonald’s: Yep, believe it or not, if you’re in really dire straits you can even cobble together a vegan meal (or at least a makeshift snack) at Maccas! Try a plain English muffin with a hash brown as the filling, or order a side of fries, the garden salad, side salad, or apple slices. The sweet and sour sauce, BBQ sauce, Italian dressing, and tomato sauce are also all vegan.

P.S. If you’re in Sydney, be sure to visit the unofficial “vegan version” of McDonald’s, Mr Charlie’s for a much more exciting, fully plant-based menu! 

Muffin Break: A vegan wholemeal muffin range full of sweet and fruity flavours like Apple Blueberry, Banana Pecan, Date Apple Cinnamon, and Mixed Berry. And as an added bonus, there’s no additional charge for plant milks with their house-made beverages!

Nando’s: Swap out chicken for the Great Pretender Protein (their popular plant-based chicken alternative) or Superfood Veggie Patty in any burger, wrap, or salad bowl. They also have vegan ‘Perinaise’ mayo and lots of vegan sides! 

Noodle Box: Plant-based BBQ buns, salt and pepper tofu, wok-charred seasonal greens with vegan oyster sauce, veggie spring rolls, plant-based beef, plant-based chicken, and tofu galore! If building a meal from scratch, refer to their allergen chart and look for the red “vg” to make sure your meal elements (noodles, add-ins, sauces, etc.) are vegan-friendly.

Oliver’s: Lots of great road-trip options including the Hashbrown and Avocado Breakfast Bun, chia puddings, coconut yoghurt cups, bliss balls, cookies, Golden Rice Nuggets, and a fresh juice range.

Oporto: A wholesome kale and quinoa patty that you can get in a vegan burger, a vegan rappa, or a vegan bowl, each also made with plenty of other healthy veggie ingredients like mixed greens, slaw, tomato, avocado, and relish. You can get vegan-friendly churros for dessert, too!

Pancake Parlour: There’s not just a handful of options here, but an entirely separate vegan menu filled with sweet and savoury ‘plantcake’ varieties! Start with the savoury Cheese & Potato Plantcake with a side of Cottage Fries and their famous Swiss Mountain Malt. If you’ve still got room in the tank – or even if you haven’t – treat yourself to the Bavarian Apple & Cinnamon Plantcake with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream and maple syrup.

Pie Face: Sink your teeth into their Maxi Plant Pie, Vegan Spag Bol Pie, Vegan Cheeseburger Pie, Sausage Plant Roll, Vegan Pastry, or Vegan Classic Choc Donut. 

Pizza Hut: Several drool-worthy vegan pizza options including the Vegan Deluxe, Vegan Mediterranean, Vegan Margherita, and Vegan Cheese Lovers. The Spud Bites and Vegan Cheesy Garlic Bread are also plant-based.

P’Nut Asian Kitchen: With clearly labelled options on the menu, there are a number of veg stir-fry options including Satay, Teriyaki and Mongolian. Keep them vegetable-heavy, or do as I would and load these babies with all the tofu your heart can handle!

Roll’d: Try their Vegan Lemongrass Chilli ‘Chicken’ rice bowl, Mushroom and Tofu Phở, Tofu Soldiers, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Tofu Gỏi, or the Plant-Based Lemongrass ‘Chicken’ Bánh Mì. 

San Churro: A decadent vegan menu with everything from churro bowls filled with vegan salted-caramel and honeycomb gelato, to cookie-butter-filled churros, to velvety, vegan Spanish hot chocolate, and even a choc caramel shake.

Schnitz: All of their bread and wrap bases and the Sweet Potato Chips are vegan, and you can also swap out the meat in most menu items for a veg schnitzel instead.

7-Eleven: Their No Chicken and Lettuce Sandwich is one of my fave on-the-go options! They also offer a veggie pastie and a No Sausage roll, plus vegan-friendly flavoured milks, crisps, a selection of vegan-friendly Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and various protein and snack bars.

Starbucks: Try the Plant-Based Brekky Roll with vegan cheese and bacon, Chargrilled Vegetable and Vegan Feta Panini or Roasted Vegetable Roll. They also have a few vegan-friendly muffins, cakes, bagel spreads, salads, and of course lots of drinks options.

Subway: Order a veggie patty, the Veggie Delite patty, or falafels on a Wheat, Multigrain, White, or 9-Grain Wheat sub or a wrap, and load it up with all the veg fillings that take your fancy! The Sweet Chilli, BBQ, Sweet Onion, and Tomato sauces are vegan, as well as their Avocado Toastie and Mixed Berry Smoothie.

TGI Fridays: Several clearly labelled vegan options on the menu, including the Vegetarian Quesadilla, Sizzling Vegetarian Fajita Tower, Love Buds Plant-Based Chook-Free Burger, Love Buds Plant-Based Cheeseburger, and Shoestring Fries.

Zambrero: All of their burritos, bowls, and nachos are super filling and have easy customisation options. Just select from their range of plant-based fillings and toppings – including spiced cauliflower, beans, mixed veg, fresh salsas, guacamole, vegan cheese, and vegan sour cream.

Zeus Street Greek: Dig into their Plant-Based Chicken Spartan Bowl, Pythagoras Pita (also made with plant-based chicken, as well as vegan mustard mayo), Vegan Greek Salad, Pita Chips, Sweet Potato Chips, Zucchini Fries, or signature Yia Yia’s Chips – and don’t forget the Vegan Loukoumades for dessert.

Note: Some vegan options may be cooked or prepared on the same surface as animal products. Menus also change frequently, so check with staff for the most-up-to-date info. You might even discover some exciting new options that have popped up since we wrote this list!

If you’re in a relatively populated city, chances are you’ll have a handful of these options within reach at any given time (as well as heaps of other vegan-friendly establishments that may not be chains, of course!). If you’re in a more rural area, your options might be a bit more sparse – but it’s always worth asking around and checking the local bakeries and cafés anyway. At the very least, it can be helpful to let them know the demand is there!

I can’t tell you how many surprise vegan options I’ve discovered in the most unexpected places: from veggie pasties and pies to the soup of the day, or even a trusty falafel wrap.

What I’ve learned (and hopefully what this list suggests too) is that there’s always something plant-based and tasty to be found if you have a poke around.