Eating Out as a Vegan

At home, being vegan is quite easy.  It's when you go out to eat that it can get a bit tricky, but nevertheless, there are many delicious options at restaurants that are made specially for vegans (or simply happen to be vegan).  What's hard is finding them.  That's why I've put together a list of places where you can find tasty vegan-friendly restaurants and which dishes are vegan there!  Bon Appetit!  

Always remember to tell your waiter that you're vegan!  Menus change all the time!

​Last updated: 7/13/2020

Chipotle

Chipotle Mexican Grill's Vegan Sofritas

Chipotle Mexican Grill is one of my favorite restaurants, and that's because they offer several tasty vegan options on their menu, including my favorite: sofritas! 

Vegan menu items:

"Meats":

• Sofritas

Toppings:

• Cilantro-Lime White Rice
• Cilantro-Lime Brown Rice
• Pinto Beans
• Black Beans
• Guacamole
• Fajita Vegetables
• Super Greens Lettuce Blend
• Tortilla Chips
• Flour Tortilla
• ​Crispy Corn Tortilla 

​Sauces:

• Tomatillo  Red-Chili Salsa
• Fresh Tomato Salsa
• Roasted Chili Corn Salsa
• Tomatillo Green-Chili Salsa

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Tropical Smoothie Cafe

After my weekly ballroom dance class, I always enjoy going to Tropical Smoothie Café for a  refreshing smoothie, and with so many options, I can try a new one every time!

 Vegan Menu Items:

Food:

• Baja Chicken Wrap or Bowl (Ask for the chicken substitute and for no cheddar)
•  Buffalo Chicken Wrap or Bowl (Ask for the chicken substitute and for no mozzarella and ranch dressing.)
•  Cali Chicken Club Flatbread (Ask for the chicken substitute and order without bacon, mozzarella, and mayo.)
•  Caribbean Jerk Chicken Wrap or Bowl (Ask for the chicken substitute and without cheddar.)
•  Supergreen Caesar Chicken Wrap or Bowl (Ask for the chicken substitute and for no Parmesan, Parmesan crisps, or Caesar dressing.)
•   Thai Chicken Wrap or Bowl (Ask for the chicken substitute)
•  Hummus Veggie Wrap or Bowl (Ask for no cheese and for no ranch)

​Smoothies:

• Acai Berry Boost
• Avocolada
• Blimey Limey
• Blueberry Bliss
• Chia Banana Boost with Peanut Butter
• Chia Banana Boost with Strawberry
• Detox Island Green
• Health Nut with Pea
• Health Nut with Soy
• Island Green
• Jetty Punch
• Lean Machine
• Muscle Blaster with Pea
• Muscle Blaster with Soy
• Orange Ginger Glow
• Paradise Point
• Peaches ‘N Silk
• Pomegranate Plunge
• Strawberry Limeade
• Sunrise Sunset
  

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Cheesecake Factory

For a long time Cheesecake Factory was a family favorite, especially after discovering their Impossible Burger! 

Vegan Menu Items:

​Salads:

• Vegan Cobb Salad
• Super Antioxidant Salad
• California Guacamole Salad (Ask for no feta cheese, avocado cream drizzle, and replace the cilantro dressing with any of the ones listed in the Dressing section)
• Kale and Quinoa Salad (Ask for no  Parmesan cheese.)
• Falafel Salad (Ask for it without the feta cheese, and with any of the vegan dressings listed in the Dressing section)
• Fresh Vegetable Salad (No white cheddar.)
• French Country Salad (No goat cheese.)
• Tossed Green Salad (No croutons.)
• Endive Salad (No blue cheese.)

Dressings:

• Mildly Spicy Avocado Dressing (Ask for it without the  avocado cream drizzle.)
• Lemon-Blueberry Vinaigrette
• House Vinaigrette
• Lemon Vinaigrette
• Pomegranate Vinaigrette
• Shallot Vinaigrette

Soups:

• Lentil Soup

Sides and appetizers:

• Avocado Toast
• Edamame
• Ratatouille Toast (Without the  cheese and yogurt.)
• Plain or Soy-Glazed Edamame (with steamed, salted soybeans)
• French Fries
• Green Beans (No butter.)
• Sweet Potato Fries (Order without the chipotle mayo.)
• Corn Succotash (Without the butter.)
• Sautéed Spinach (Without the butter.)
• Fresh Broccoli
• Fresh Asparagus
• SkinnyLicious® Grilled Artichoke (No aioli.)
• Fire-Roasted Fresh Artichoke (Ask for oil instead of butter, and hold the garlic dip.)
• Guacamole (No sour cream.)
• Beets with Goat Cheese (Without the goat cheese.)

Burgers:

• Impossible Burger (Ask for a vegan bun and for vegan cheese) ​

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Red Robins

Red Robins' Vegan Burger made with the Lightlife Pattie

If you're craving a quick burger then Red Robins is the place to go.  Several of their burgers can be made vegan with only a few substitutes!  Here's a list of the vegan ingredients at this restaurant. 

Vegan Substites:

​Buns: 

• Brioche Bun
• Multigrain Bun
• Wedgie Style
  

Beef Pattie Substitutes:

• Lightlife Vegan Patty
• Veggie Burger Patty
  

Chicken Pattie Substitute:

• Lightlife Patty
• Veggie Patty

Condiments:

• Guacamole
• House-Made Salsa
• Island Heat Sauce
• Bruschetta Salsa

Other:

• Red Robin Seasoning
• Raw Onions
• Fresh sliced Jalapeno Peppers
• Seasoning Red Robin Cayenne
• Shredded Ice burg Lettuce
• Fresh Shredded Romaine Lettuce  
• Tomato Slices
• Avocado
• Mixed Greens
• Fresh Cucumber
• Diced Tomatoes
• Steamed Broccoli
• Fresh Carrots

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Dairy Queen

On our way back from a long day running errands or after school, I always enjoyed stopping by our local Dairy Queen to get a Blizzard.  When  I became vegan, I stopped going there, but not long ago I discovered that they offer vegan options!

Vegan Menu Items:

Food: 

• Side salad (select one of the dressings from the Dressing section)
• French Fries
• Pretzel Sticks (No queso)
• Kid's Applesauce
• Banana

Desserts:

• Non-Dairy Dilly Bar  

Dressings

• Marzetti Asian Sesame Dressing
• Marzetti Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
• Marzetti Fat Free California French Style Dressing
• Marzetti Light Italian Dressing

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Panera Bread

On a chilly day, there's not much that's better than a big bowl of warm soup with a side of baguette, and Panera Bread is the place to get just that! 

Vegan Menu Items:

​Bakery:

• Sea Salt Focaccia
• Black Pepper Focaccia
• French Baguette Side
• Hoagie Roll
• Country Semolina 
• Rye Semolina
• Sesame Semolina
• Sourdough Bread 
• Sesame Bagel 
• Everything Bagel
• Plain Bagel
• Blueberry Bagel
• Cranberry Walnut Bagel
• Poppy seed Bagel

Breakfast:

• Steel Cut Oatmeal with Strawberries, Pecans & Cinnamon Crunch Topping
• Steel Cut Oatmeal with Apple Chips, Pecans and Cinnamon Crunch Topping
• Peach & Blueberry Smoothie with Almond Milk
• Seasonal Fruit Cup

Soups: 

• Soba Noodle with Edamame Blend
• Vegan Lentil Quinoa
• Black Bean Soup

Salads:

• Seasonal Greens (You can add avocado and quinoa)
• Ancient Grain & Arugula with Chicken (without the chicken)
•  Fuji Apple with Chicken (without the chicken and Gorgonzola)
•  Greek or Modern Greek with Quinoa (without any feta cheese)

Bowls:

• Mediterranean Grain Bowl (order without the feta crumbles and Greek yogurt)
• Baja Grain Bowl (order without the feta crumbles and Greek yogurt)

Sandwiches:

•  Mediterranean Veggie (without the feta and on a vegan bread option)

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Mellow Mushroom

This was one of the very first vegan pizzas that I ever had and it was a really good pizza that was certainly worth the hour's wait!

Vegan Mellow Mushroom pizza with Tempeh

Vegan Menu Items:

​Pizzas:
Veg-Out Vegan Pizza
Vegan Cheese Pizza
Great White Pizza (Swap the 4 non-vegan cheeses for Vegan cheese for a margarita style pizza)
Pacific Rim Pizza (Swap ham/bacon for either tofu or tempeh)
Build-Your-Own Vegan Pizza (See vegan toppings below)

Sauces:

• Red sauce
• Olive oil
• BBQ Sauce

Crusts:
Thin
Original
Gluten-Free

Toppings:

• Vegan Cheese
• Artichoke hearts
• Avocado
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Pepperoncini
• Pineapple
• Roasted tomatoes
• Banana peppers
• Black olives
• Caramelized onions
• Chives
• Fresh basil
• Garlic
• Green olives
• Green peppers
• Jalapeno peppers
• Kalamata olives
• Spinach
• Teriyaki tempeh
• Tofu.
• Tempeh
• Tofu 

Calzones:

• Veg-Calzone (ask for vegan cheese instead of traditional)
• Create your own calzone (add any of the pizza toppings)

Hoagie:

• Tofu or Tempeh on either a French Roll or multigrain roll and ask for the vegan cheese instead of the traditional vegan cheese.  (You can add any pizza topping onto it)

Sides:

• Hummus with Pita
• Hummus with Carrots & Celery
• Pretzels with pizza sauce & mustard (No Butter/Parmesan or garlic dip)
• Brochette (No feta, replace with vegan cheese if desired)

Salad:

• Chef Salad (Replace ham with tofu or tempeh and the cheese with vegan cheese)

• Enlightened Spinach Salad (Swap the feta with vegan Cheese)
• Greek Salad (Swap the cheeses with vegan cheese)
• House Salad (No Parmesan or cheese and swap the cheese for vegan cheese)
• Italian Herb Vinaigrette Dressing
• Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing