Eating out while eating vegan isn't like it used to be. Restaurants have learned that if they don't have a vegetarian item on the menu, they're going to be ignored. Don't be afraid to see what's out there. If nothing strikes your fancy, most kitchens will readily whip up something to your specifications.
Most places have veggie burgers or veggie sandwiches, like Bennigan’s and Hard Rock Cafe, for instance. Bennigan’s has Boca burgers—just order them without the cheese—and super salads, and Hard Rock has yummy veggie sandwiches and salads to dig into.
Pretty much everyone on the planet’s been to Subway; who can resist that freshly baked bread and all those veggies? With so many options, there’s no way you’re leaving that place hungry.
If you’re in New England, hit the nearest O’Naturals, and be sure to take your appetite. This chain’s brand of all-natural fast food will make even mom happy—you know how she worries about your health. It’s got a great selection of veggie food, and all the vegan options are clearly marked, which we love and know you will too.
Chuck E. Cheese, Little Caesars, and Papa John's all use vegan sauce and dough, while Pizza Hut uses vegan sauce and its Thin 'n Crispy and dessert crusts are vegan. Go ahead and get a cheeseless pie and decorate it with as many veggies as your little heart desires.
The Sizzling Vegetable Skillet and the steamed vegetable plate are your vegan options at Applebee's. Of course, you can also play with its meaty and cheesy dishes to see if you can come up with a nice vegan plate o' goodness that the chef would be willing to make up just for you.
If you're vegan and you're into eating healthy (or if you're dragged blindly by your family), the Boston Market does have a few options that will certainly fill the gaping hole of hunger in your tummy. The chunky cinnamon applesauce, cranberry walnut relish, fruit salad, steamed vegetables, zucchini marinara, apple cobbler, and tossed salad (sans croutons and dressing) are all vegan. The folks at the Market are also happy to customize sandwiches upon request.
Bruegger's Bagel Bakery has several breakfast and lunch options for vegans, including its blueberry, chocolate chip, cinnamon sugar, cranberry orange, pumpernickel, and rosemary olive oil bagels, which can be topped with fresh vegetables, Dijon mustard, or vegan hummus spread. Bruegger's also serves several vegetarian sandwiches, which can be veganized by omitting the cheese and dressing, and several vegan soups, including Chili Cilantro, Gazpacho, Tuscan, Minestrone, Garden Split Pea, Marcello Minestrone, Roasted Roma Tomato, Vegetable Tomato Lentil, and Ratatouille.
All of Manhattan Bagel's bagels are vegan except for jalape?o cheddar cheese and the egg bagels, and its bialys, a flattened onion-and-poppy-seed bagel, is vegan. The Manhattan Grille and The Vegetable Garden sandwiches, which can be made on a bagel, a roll, or a tortilla, can be veganized by tossing out the spreads and cheese.
It's nice that a place like Denny's—known for its standard all-American breakfasts, lunches, and dinners and nostalgically remembered by others for its bottomless cups of coffee and late-night gossiping—even has some vegan options. Denny's vegan goods include oatmeal and tons o' fixin's, English muffins, bagels, grits, applesauce, fresh fruit, baked potatoes that can be topped with several vegetable choices, vegetable plates, seasoned French fries, garden salads with light Italian dressing or oil and vinegar, and sandwiches that can be made with several vegetable options.
Thanks to our dedicated Street Teamers (go ahead, pat yourself on the back—no one's looking) who contacted Ruby Tuesday, the company has added a vegan burger to its menu once again. Just ask them to hold the mayo and cheese, and it's vegan ... it even says so right on the menu! And be sure to hit their fantastic salad bar while you're there, too.
Launch into Johnny Rockets for a Streamliner, the restaurant's Boca Burger with grilled onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickle, and mustard.
The Macaroni Grill has tons of choices. All the pasta is vegan—just choose the garlic/olive oil sauce. The pizza and calzone crusts are vegan, so add all your fave veggies, but skip the red sauce, since it's made with butter. The balsamic vinaigrette and Italian Peasant Bread are also totally vegan.
At Chili's, you can get the tostada chips and salsa to start, then do the veggie quesadillas (minus the cheese and sour cream)—have them load 'em up with veggies—and the Cadillac fajitas (minus the tortured animal).
Here's the bottom line, kids: You can walk into any restaurant you'd like and find something edible that's vegan. You simply make educated choices and ask the server as many questions as necessary and then you eat. It's not difficult. It is empowering. No more excuses.
Another great place for bagels, breads, soups, salads and sandwiches is Panera Bread. Each location varies its menu options, so just ask what's vegan in the joint before ordering. If you get a bagel, hook it up with the Roasted Garlic Hummus and your taste buds will thank you.
The benefit of going to Cici's Pizza is not only the cheap prizes, but these guys are all about made-to-order, speciality, fresh foodage and will deliver decked-out vegan pizzas to your door. Besides pizza, Cici's offers an excellent pasta and salad buffet. Again, make sure you ask the vegan status of each item before chowing down.
If you're fortunate enough to live near a P.F. Chang's, then you'd best save up some dough and get your butt over there. It is one of the most veg-friendly nonvegetarian restaurants around. It has an amazing vegetarian menu and you can get any entrée vegan. We're talking jazzed up tofu dishes (like Orange Peel Tofu) and out-of-this-world veggie appetizers (Tofu Lettuce Wraps). Go there now!
