These side dishes are commonly available at
fast food restaurants, particularly those that sell fried chicken.
When you think of fast food chains, the kind of places that
usually have drive-thrus, “vegetarian friendly” does not typically come to mind. Some restaurants have a respectable selection
of meat-free side dishes, while others offer scarcely more than fries and a house
salad. Some have specialty salads that
you could order without the meat. A few fast
food restaurants have some kind of vegetarian entrée selection.
Sometimes I avoid meat in my diet for months at a time. The first time I did this, I was providing
therapy for clients in the home health setting.
This is a job that often requires eating on the run, and I admit I hit a
lot of fast food restaurants and drive thrus, which is really unusual for
me. I ate a lot of fries, and got really
tired of them. Salads were not very
appealing to me, especially “on the run”.
I discovered sides from some of the chicken restaurants, and
found those to be pretty satisfying, and worth carving out a few more minutes
and going inside to eat. If you’re a
strict vegetarian, you have to be careful of these sides. Some may flavor vegetables or gravies with
meat or meat grease. Same is true for refried
beans, especially at Mexican restaurants (at least in Texas). Refried beans often are seasoned with pork
lard.
As time has gone on, I’ve found more and more vegetarian
food choices at fast food restaurants, including some veggie burgers,
sandwiches, burritos, and such. I’m
sharing with you an alphabetical listing of fast food restaurants, and the vegetarian
food choices offered at each. Selections
may vary by location. With little
exception, I do not list pies, ice cream, shakes, etc.
A few sides: Seasoned
curly fries (very good), homestyle fries, loaded potato bites, potato cakes,
mozzarella sticks, jalapeño bites, steakhouse onion rings, chopped side
salad.
In one of only a few mention of desserts and such, I have to
endorse their Jamocha shake.
Arby's Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Not much here: Onion
rings, cheese curds, fries, cheese fries, chipotle dipping sauce.
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q
(For my fellow Texans) Garden fresh salad, baked potato, fresh
fruit, potato salad, hash browns, fries (really good Texas fries), mashed
potatoes, slaw, Spanish rice. Unfortunately
their pinto beans and green beans are flavored with meat or meat
drippings. I don’t usually address
desserts, but I’ll make a mention and say Bill Miller’s is famous for their
pies and other desserts.
Very respectable selection of sides: Bo-tato rounds, Cajun pintos, dirty rice,
green beans, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes & gravy, seasoned fries,
garden salad, biscuits. Bojangles posts
nutritional info but not ingredients.
Since they list 0 for saturated fats and cholesterol on green beans and
pintos, it should be safe to say they have no animal products. I think the dirty rice has meat.
Bojangles Mac & Cheese
Not much in the way of sides here: Fries, onion rings, apple slices, garden side
salad.
Salad Entrées: There
are several salads with chicken that you could have without. The (Chicken,) Apple & Cranberry salad
features 7-lettuce blend, fresh apple, dried cranberries, blue cheese, and
Ken’s Apple Cider Vinaigrette. The (Chicken)
Caesar salad features romaine, tomatoes, Parmesan, and Ken’s Citrus Caesar
Vinaigrette. The (Chicken) BLT salad
features 7-lettuce blend, tomatoes, red onions, 3-cheese medley, and Ken’s
Avocado Ranch Dressing.
Wraps: There are 4
chicken wraps you could have without the chicken. The ingredients are the same as the salads
above: (Chicken) Apple & Cranberry
wrap, (Chicken) Caesar wrap, and (Chicken) BLT wrap. There is also a Chipotle (Chicken) Wrap
features chipotle mayo, caramelized onions, pepper jack cheese, tomatoes,
lettuce (hold the bacon).
MorningStar Veggie Burger:
MorningStar Farms Veggie Patty, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, mayo,
ketchup on a toasted sesame seed bun.
This is a good sandwich, and quite reminiscent of the Whopper.
They also have fruit smoothies.
My BK Veggie Burger
Very respectable selection of sides: Coleslaw, fries, side salad, green beans, mac
& cheese, okra, broccoli, baked potato, corn, mozzarella sticks. My brother is a fan of the mozzarella
sticks.
Captain D's Corn on the Cob
A few sides: Natural
cut fries, crosscut fries (like waffle cut), sweet potato fries, Jack and
cheddar cheese fries, onion rings, fried zucchini, garden side salad, pinto
beans, chips and guacamole. The zucchini
is very good. Carl’s posts a link to
nutritional info and ingredients. Corn
oil is listed for beans, but no lard or meat products.
Vet It Guacamole Six Dollar Burger: Everything but the meat (not sure if it still
costs $6)- guacamole, pepper Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onions.
Bean and Cheese Burrito:
No lard or other animal protein listed in ingredients.
Taco Salad, hold the meat:
Pinto beans, Jack & cheddar cheese, lettuce, fresh salsa, hot sauce,
sour cream in a crispy tortilla bowl.
Super Nachos, hold the meat:
Fresh tortilla chips, pinto beans, cheddar cheese sauce, guacamole, sour
cream, fresh salsa.
Cheese Quesadilla
Very respectable selection of sides: Fried pickle slices, corn on the cob, mashed
potatoes & gravy, fried okra, cheese sticks, coleslaw, fries, corn nuggets,
mini poppers.
Chicken Express Fried Okra
Chick-Fil-A
Not many sides:
Waffle fries, side salad, fresh fruit cup, coleslaw.
Asian Salad (hold the chicken): Romaine, baby greens, red & green
cabbage, carrots, mandarin oranges, Honey Thai almonds, garlic & ginger
wontons, honey sesame dressing.
Cobb Salad (hold the chicken & bacon): Romaine, baby greens, red cabbage, carrots,
roasted corn, Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, diced eggs, grape tomatoes,
charred tomato, crispy red bell peppers, avocado lime ranch dressing.
Grilled Market Salad (hold the chicken): Romaine, baby greens, red cabbage, carrots,
blue cheese, red and green apples, strawberries, blueberries, harvest nut
granola, roasted nut blend, zesty apple cider vinaigrette.
Chicken Strip Salad (hold the chicken): Lettuce, grape tomatoes, broccoli, carrots,
cheese, sunflower seeds, croutons, choice of dressing.
They also have really good tea and lemonade.
Chick-Fil-A Fruit Cup
Church’s Chicken
Decent selection of sides:
Fries, corn on the cob, fried okra, mashed potatoes & gravy,
jalapeño cheese bombers, coleslaw, honey butter biscuits
Church's Jalepeno Cheese Bombers
Culver’s
A fair few sides:
Crinkle cut fries, onion rings, mashed potatoes & gravy, coleslaw,
green beans, cheddar fries, dinner roll, Wisconsin cheese curds, side
salad.
Soup of the Day: It’s
luck of the draw on any given day, but their website lists a dozen vegetarian
soups.
Garden Fresco Salad:
12-variety mixed salad greens, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, Wisconsin
cheddar, zesty croutons.
Grilled Chicken Cashew Salad: (Hold the chicken) Mixed lettuce and mixed spring mix, grape
tomatoes, cucumbers, cheddar cheese, roasted cashew topping.
Cranberry Bacon Bleu Salad (with Grilled Chicken): (Hold chicken and bacon) Mixed lettuce and mixed spring mix, grape
tomatoes, cucumbers, blue cheese, dried cranberries.
Strawberry Fields Salad:
(Hold the chicken) Mixed lettuce
and mixed spring mix, grape tomatoes, blue cheese, strawberries, roasted
pecans.
They also have fruit smoothies and coolers.
Culver's Wisconsin Cheese Curds
Not much here: Fries,
side salad, onion rings, applesauce, banana.
Iron Grilled Cheese
Iron Grilled Supreme BLT (hold the bacon)
Veggie Quesadilla Basket:
Vegetables with melted cheese in flour tortilla, served with salsa, sour
cream, and onion rings.
Try an Orange Julius fruit
smoothie or a fruit chiller. I don’t
usually include sweets and desserts, but here I make another exception. If nothing else appeals to you, spring for a
Banana Split Blizzard!
A few sides: Bean and
cheese cup, nachos and cheese, mini cheese quesadilla, crinkle-cut fries,
cheese fries. I hope the beans are
vegetarian, since they pitch the “veggie” burrito, which has beans.
Deluxe Taco Salad (hold the meat): Beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar, sour
cream, guacamole, taco sauce, crunchy tortilla bowl
Bean Tostada: Beans,
lettuce, and cheese on a crispy corn tortilla
Cheese Quesadilla:
Spicy Jack or cheddar cheese
Macho Nachos: (hold
the meat): beans, nacho cheese,
tomatoes, jalapenos, sour cream, fresh made chips
8 Layer Veggie Burrito:
beans, Fresca lime rice, guacamole, tomatoes, lettuce, cheddar cheese,
red sauce, sour cream, flour tortilla
Jacked Up Value Bean, Rice & Cheese Burrito: Beans, Fresca lime rice, spicy Jack cheese,
tangy green sauce, flour tortilla
Value Bean & Cheese Burrito
½ lb Bean & Cheese Burrito
Del Taco 8-Layer Veggie Burrito
Very respectable selection of sides: Flame grilled corn, sweet corn cake, sweet
potato fries, BBQ black beans, fresh vegetables, Mexican rice, pinto beans,
corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, slaw, side salad, fries, mac &
cheese. Judging by the cholesterol stats
(low numbers for items with dairy, none for other sides), all sides are free of
meat protein or drippings.
From the Baja Shrimp menu:
Ask for tacos, stuffed quesadilla, or tostada salad without the shrimp.
Pollo Bowl (hold the chicken): beans, rice, salsa, etc.
El Tradicional Burrito:
Zero cholesterol, therefore meat free.
Looks to have pintos, rice, guacamole.
Pinto Beans
A couple sides:
Fries, cheese fries, onion rings
Veggie Burger: Black
bean patty, Freddy’s Sauce, cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato.
Freddy's Black Bean Veggie Burger
Nice selection of sides:
Battered fries, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn on the cob, fried
okra, dirty rice, mac & cheese, coleslaw, fruit salad, potato salad, side
salad, garden salad, jalapeno poppers, corn nuggets, yeast rolls.
Hardee’s
A few sides: Natural
cut fries, beer battered onion rings, side salad, refried beans in tortilla
bowl, tortilla chips, fresh salsa.
Hardee’s posts a link to nutritional info and ingredients. Vegetable or tropical oils are listed for
beans, but no lard or meat products.
Vet It Thickburger:
No patty. American cheese,
tomato, lettuce, red onion, mayo, ketchup, mustard, mustard, dill pickles on a
sesame seed bun.
Bean and Cheese Burrito:
Refried beans, cheese, hot sauce, flour tortilla
Taco Salad, hold the meat:
Cheddar cheese, lettuce, fresh salsa, sour cream in a crispy tortilla
bowl.
Super Nachos, hold the meat:
Fresh tortilla chips, refried beans, cheddar cheese sauce, guacamole,
sour cream, fresh salsa, diced tomatoes, onions.
Cheese Quesadilla:
flour tortillas filled with cheese, served with salsa, sour cream and
lettuce
Jack in the Box
A respectable number of sides: French fries, seasoned curly fries, potato
wedges with cheese, onion rings, stuffed jalapenos, mozzarella cheese sticks,
apple bites
Grilled Chicken Salad:
(Hold the chicken) Iceberg, romaine
& spring mix greens; cheddar cheese, grape tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers,
carrots, croutons, balsamic dressing
Southwest Chicken Salad:
(Hold the chicken) Iceberg,
romaine & spring mix greens, pepper Jack cheese, black beans, red onions,
grape tomatoes, roasted corn, spicy corn sticks, creamy Southwest dressing
Breakfast: My JitB
serves breakfast menu all day. They’ve
made me potato, egg, and cheese burritos, which is not on the menu. Be warned that these are large.
They also have a pina colada smoothie.
Jack in the Box Curly Fries
Very respectable selection of sides: Coleslaw, potato wedges, green beans, mac
& cheese, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn, corn on the cob, biscuits. I’ usually get their potatoes and gravy and
their slaw, and maybe some green beans.
KFC Side Dishes- Fries, Potatoes & Gravy, Slaw
Krystal
A few sides: Fries,
cheese fries, ranch cheese fries, side salad
Long John Silver’s
Enjoy a selection of side dishes at LJS: Natural cut fries, corn on the cob, coleslaw,
green beans, seasoned rice, hush puppies
Long John Silver Sides
A few sides: Fries
(truly some of the best), side salad, apple slices, fruit ‘n yogurt parfait
Premium Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken (hold chicken
and bacon): Mixed greens, grape
tomatoes, carrots, Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, Newman’s Own Ranch Dressing
Premium Caesar Salad (hold the chicken): Mixed greens, grape tomatoes, carrots,
parmesan cheese, Newman’s Own Caesar Dressing
Premium Southwest Salad (hold the chicken): Mixed greens, fire roasted corn, black beans,
roasted tomatoes, poblano peppers, cheddar cheese, Jack cheese, chili-lime
tortilla chips, Newman’s Own Southwest Dressing
Fruit Smoothies
McDonald's Premium Southwest Salad
Mrs. Winner’s Chicken
Decent selection of sides:
Mashed potatoes & gravy, coleslaw, green beans, baked beans, Cajun
rice, potato wedges
Vegetable Plate: 3
sides and a biscuit
Popeye’s
Very respectable selection of sides: Coleslaw, Cajun fries, mashed potatoes &
gravy, red beans & rice, green beans, Cajun rice, applesauce, biscuits. Seems to me they usually have corn on the cob
as well. I’m a fan of their potatoes and
gravy and their slaw. My brother really
likes their fries.
I could not find ingredients listing for sides, but most of
them reported cholesterol, which suggests animal products. I think the gravy and red beans probably have
some meat or meat drippings to flavor them.
Popeye's Sides- Red Beans & Rice, Slaw, Potatoes & Gravy
Not much for you here:
Fries, coleslaw, Texas toast
Sonic
A respectable number of sides: Fries, cheese fries, tater tots, cheese tots,
onion rings, sweet potato tots, apple slices and caramel sauce, mozzarella
sticks, ched ‘r’ peppers
Grilled cheese sandwich
Sonic Apple Slices with Carmel
Very respectable selection of sides: Thin and crispy fries, cheese fries, Parmesan
cheese ‘n herbs fries, salt and vinegar fries, sea salt and cracked pepper
fries, coleslaw, onion rings, baked beans, garden salad, soup of the day,
applesauce, apples and caramel, cottage cheese
Taco Salad (hold the meat):
lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, crispy tortilla strips, ranch dressing
Grilled Chicken Salad (hold the chicken): lettuce blend, carrots, red cabbage,
tomatoes, cheddar cheese, Jack cheese, croutons, guacamole extra
Apple Pecan Grilled Chicken Salad (hold the chicken): Lettuce, gala apples, dried cranberries,
mandarin oranges, candied pecans, berry balsamic vinaigrette
Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad (hold the chicken): Lettuce, pico de gallo, corn, black beans,
crispy tortilla strips, cheddar cheese, Jack cheese, ranch dressing, guacamole
extra
Veggie Melt:
Portobello mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, red onion, guacamole, pepper Jack
cheese, on grilled sourdough
Grilled Cheese:
American cheese on Texas toast
BLT sandwich (hold the bacon)
Steak N Shake Veggie Melt
A few sides: Tortilla
chips with guacamole, pico d gallo, or corn salsa; black beans and rice, cheesy
fiesta potatoes, pintos & cheese, cheesy nachos. Taco Bell posts a link to product ingredients. Beans list soy oil, and no
lard or other animal-based products.
Nacho Platter (hold the beef): 3 variations, with toppings of beans, nacho
cheese sauce, sour cream, tomatoes, jalapenos
Taco Salad (hold the meat):
Beans, cheddar, Latin rice, lettuce, tomatoes, red tortilla strips, sour
cream, salsa. I’d ask for some guacamole
too!
Veggie Cantina Burrito:
Latin rice, black beans, romaine lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo,
roasted corn & pepper salsa, creamy cilantro dressing, flour tortilla
7-Layer Burrito:
Rice, beans, 3-cheese blend, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, guacamole,
flour tortilla
Loaded Potato Griller (hold the bacon): Crispy potato bites, nacho cheese sauce, sour
cream, flour tortilla
Tacos & Gorditas:
Ask for a taco or gordita with vegetarian ingredients, such as beans and
rice instead of meat.
They also have fruit sparklers and freezes.
Taco Bell Corn Salsa & Chips and Black Beans & Rice
Taco Cabana (For my fellow Texans)
Sides: Rice, black
beans, chips & queso, chips & guacamole
Build your own Cabana Bowl (taco salad), burrito, or
salad. Choose from these
ingredients: black beans, rice, romaine
lettuce, cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo, guacamole, salsa (Taco Cabana
always has a condiments bar with salsa, cilantro, onions, etc.)
Enchilada Plate:
Cheese enchilada, rice, black beans, 2 flour tortillas
Cheese quesadilla
Taco Combo: 2 tacos
(black bean, or bean and cheese), one side, soda
Taco Plate: 2 tacos
(black bean or bean and cheese), rice, beans, 2 flour tortillas
A few sides: Fries,
cheese fries, sour cream and chives baked potato, broccoli and cheese baked
potato, cheese potato, garden side salad, Caesar side salad, apple slices
Apple Pecan Chicken Salad (hold the chicken): Red and green apples, blue cheese,
cranberries, roasted pecans, lettuce
Chicken BLT Cobb Salad (hold the chicken and bacon): Blue cheese, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes,
lettuce, avocado ranch dressing
Baja Chili Salad (hold the chili): Lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, red
jalapeno dressing
Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad (hold the chicken): Romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, shaved
Asiago, French bread croutons, Caesar dressing
Wendy's Broccoli & Cheese Baked Potato
Not much here: Apple slices, fries, onion rings, garden salad, apple & cranberry salad (hold the chicken)
Whataburger Garden Salad
White Castle
Not much for you here:
Crinkle-cut fries
