Fast-Food: The Best Plant-Based Options

You can now find plant-based ‘meat’ in 40,000 locations throughout Canada and the US, proving the trend is here to stay.

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Available everywhere from fast-food restaurants to grocery stores, plant-based meat is storming the market. Below is a list of fast-food chains that are embracing people’s growing desire to steer clear of animal meat.

15. Burger King

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Impossible Foods is a big player in vegan burgers and it has joined forces with another fast-food chain, Burger King, to create the Impossible Whopper. Available in both the US and Canada, the burger is said to taste just like a regular Whopper. It’s definitely worth investing a few bucks to taste it yourself.

14. KFC

KFC’s vegan offering, Beyond Fried Chicken, is the result of its collaboration with Beyond Meat. After a successful test of the product in Atlanta, Beyond Fried Chicken will be launched nationally in the US this year with a limited release following for Canada by the end of 2019 and a full national launch scheduled for next year. This is probably the most exciting launch for vegans who loved KFC before turning their backs on meat.

13. McDonald’s

Mcdonalds

There is currently no vegan burger available in North American McDonald’s restaurants, but they are on their way. In Germany, McDonald’s has launched the Big Vegan Burger TS, and Scandinavian diners can now enjoy the McVegan. Moreover, the team at Impossible Foods has partnered with McDonald’s chief meat supplier, so meat-free burgers for the North American market can’t be far behind.

12. White Castle

White Castle Veggie Sliders

In the US, you’ll find the Impossible Slider in almost every White Castles. The chain was among the very first American fast-food restaurants to sell plant-based burger patties. You can now find a BBQ version of the Impossible Slider in some stores. If they prove popular, BBQ Impossible Sliders will soon be available more widely.

11. Subway

Subway

More than 600 Subway restaurants in Canada’s Nova Scotia and the US are currently offering the Beyond Meatball Marinara. Should the test of this product be a success, it will be available in Subways across North America pretty soon. We hope this sub will claim its place on the plant-based meat market!

10. TGI Fridays

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You can now opt for a Beyond Meat Cheeseburger at TGI Fridays instead of the chain’s regular cheeseburger. However, it may surprise you to learn that the meat-free version has over 100 calories more than the regular version. Oh well, there is always the gym to spend this extra energy, right?

9. Hard Rock Café

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If you’ve been to a Hard Rock Café this year, you may have noticed the chain’s new vegan Impossible Burger. The burger has now made its way onto the chain’s Legendary Burger list and is available in every Hard Rock Café in America. Surely it will give you all the energy you need for a night of Rock n’Roll.

8. Del Taco

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Del Taco has been offering vegan Beyond Meat substitutes for all menu items since April of this year. So, customers can enjoy nachos, burritos, tacos, and more with a meat-free substitute seasoned in exactly the same way as the beef option. With those conditions, we’ll trade our meat for plant-based meat anytime!

7. Dunkin’

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We may still refer to Dunkin’ by its old name of Dunkin’ Donuts but it is definitely ready to move into the future. A New York trial of the chain’s Beyond Sausage Breakfast Sandwich has been a success and in just a few months, this vegan option will be available in Dunkin’s US-wide.

6. Carl’s Jr

Photo: Catherine Lamb

For an extra $2, you can get a vegan Beyond Meat patty in any Carl’s Jr burger. The chain has also created its own vegetarian option, the Beyond Famous Star, which features, of course, a Beyond Meat patty.

5. The Cheesecake Factory

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From way back in August of 2018, The Cheesecake Factory’s Impossible Burger has been on sale in stores all across America. Served on a brioche bun and toasted (of course), this plant-based burger comes with crispy lettuce, pickles, tomato, onion, cheese, and a signature sauce.

4. Little Caesars

Little Caesars

Residents of Washington state, Florida, and New Mexico can opt for a plant-based meat substitute, specifically, a sausage developed by Impossible Foods, to top their Little Caesars pizzas. Strong sales in these three test states will see this vegan option rolled out across the US. Fingers crossed!

3. Red Robin

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This year, on April Fool’s Day to be precise, Reb Robin launched its Impossible Burger in over 570 stores. It wasn’t a trick; the Impossible Burger is now a permanent part of the menu and customers can opt for a vegan patty instead of a beef patty with any of the chain’s gourmet burgers.

2. A&W

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The very first fast-food chain to offer customers in Canada Beyond Meat patties, A&W has been a trailblazer in vegan fast food. Its vegan options have expanded and the Beyond Meat Burger has been joined by a Beyond Meat Sausage and Veggie English Muffin and the vegetarian Beyond Meat Sausage and Egger English Muffin. No doubt having been the first on the plant-based meat market has helped their business in the last couple of years…

1. Harvey’s

Harveys

To create a burger option suitable for vegans, Harvey’s decided to branch out and not partner with the stalwarts of the meat-free industry Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. Instead, the chain partnered with Lightlife, a Maple Leaf brand, to create its unique plant-based burger, which is now available Canada-wide.