16 Terrible Vegetarian And Vegan Fast Food Items That Simply Shouldn’t Exist

In the quest for convenient vegetarian and vegan options, fast food chains have occasionally missed the mark. Here are 16 items that have left diners unimpressed, each with its own set of issues ranging from blandness to poor texture. Let’s explore these culinary missteps.

1. Subway Veggie Delite

Picture a Subway Veggie Delite: a sandwich that fails to delight. It’s essentially bread—cold and sometimes stale—with a sparse filling of iceberg lettuce and tomato. The occasional banana pepper might peek through, but it’s nothing more than a sad salad.

The bread remains the star, but not in a good way. You’d expect flavor, but it’s bland and lacks the zest of a true sub. For those seeking fulfillment in their meal, it disappoints.

Ultimately, it feels less like a sandwich and more like a missed opportunity in vegetarian fare.

2. KFC Beyond Fried Chicken (Discontinued in Many Areas)

KFC’s Beyond Fried Chicken aims for innovation but lands in the realm of rubbery missteps. Diners expecting crispy, juicy bites are met with chewy disappointments. Imagine deep-fried soy sponge, and you’re in the ballpark.

The texture is its primary downfall—too dry, lacking the moist tenderness of traditional fried chicken. It’s like biting into something that’s been overcooked and forgotten.

Though the idea is noble, the execution leaves much to be desired. When people crave fried chicken, they seek satisfaction, not compromise.

3. McDonald’s McPlant (U.S. version)

The McDonald’s McPlant, briefly tested in the U.S., didn’t quite capture the imagination—or taste buds—of its audience. It was a burger that seemed to lack identity, seasoning, and spark.

Blandness was its calling card, with little effort apparent in crafting a memorable flavor profile. The patty, while plant-based, didn’t boast the zest or charisma of its meaty counterparts.

For those anticipating a revolution in fast food, the McPlant was more of a muted whisper than a powerful roar.

4. Taco Bell Bean Burrito (Without Customization)

At Taco Bell, the Bean Burrito—when left uncustomized—presents a beige culinary experience. It’s a simple tortilla enveloping a filling of dry beans, offering minimal excitement.

Without additions like guacamole or salsa, it becomes a monotonous meal, lacking in flavor and moisture. Edible, yes, but far from thrilling.

Diners can easily enhance it, yet in its base form, it remains a tale of underwhelming potential in the fast-food realm.

5. Jack in the Box Side Salad

The Jack in the Box Side Salad might be better termed as a side afterthought. This salad comes without protein or flavor, merely a bed of iceberg lettuce occasionally accompanied by a cherry tomato or two.

Priced higher than a burger, it raises eyebrows and questions. It’s a dish that seems to suggest that vegetarians deserve less.

For those seeking nourishment, this salad offers little more than a perfunctory nod to health-conscious eating.

6. Dunkin’s Beyond Sausage Sandwich (Without Modifications)

Dunkin’s Beyond Sausage Sandwich, when consumed without modifications, can be an experience of salty heaviness. Imagine a sandwich that defies veganization, offering a strange texture and overwhelming saltiness.

Removing components to make it vegan defeats its purpose and leaves diners pondering its value. The texture feels peculiar, not satisfying like a traditional breakfast sandwich.

In essence, it’s a lesson in the challenges of vegan fast food that fails to impress or inspire loyalty.

7. Chick-fil-A Grilled Market Salad (No Chicken)

Remove the chicken from Chick-fil-A’s Grilled Market Salad, and you’re left with fruit attempting to masquerade as a meal. It’s lettuce, some berries, and little else.

While it might offer a momentary refreshment, it lacks the substance needed to sustain. Not satisfying as a standalone lunch option.

In the world of salads, it merely tiptoes around mediocrity, offering little to those in search of a hearty and fulfilling meal.

8. Wendy’s “Meatless” Sandwich

Ordering a Wendy’s burger without a patty results in a sandwich that’s more an exercise in compromise than satisfaction. It’s a soggy bun with pickles and iceberg lettuce, devoid of excitement.

Forget the richness of a burger; this is a culinary letdown. The absence of a patty is glaring, and the sandwich suffers in flavor and texture.

Those seeking a satisfying meal may find themselves regretting the choice, longing for more substance and delight.

9. Panda Express Eggplant Tofu (On a Bad Day)

When freshly made, Panda Express Eggplant Tofu can be delightful. However, when it sits too long, it transforms into a dish of mushy tofu and greasy eggplant.

The oil becomes overwhelming, and the texture loses its appeal. It’s a dish that requires timing; otherwise, it disappoints.

On a bad day, it’s a reminder of the importance of freshness in fast food, leaving diners yearning for a better experience.

10. Carl’s Jr. Beyond Famous Star

Carl’s Jr. Beyond Famous Star could shine, but often it’s a tale of careless assembly. The patty, though decent, suffers from sloppy construction and limp lettuce.

A soggy bottom bun adds to the woes, making for a less than stellar dining experience. It’s a burger that requires care, yet often receives little.

In the world of fast food, it’s a reminder that thoughtful preparation can make or break a meal.

11. White Castle Impossible Sliders (Without Cheese)

The White Castle Impossible Slider sans cheese transforms into a dry snack, more akin to a hockey puck than a burger. The absence of melted cheese highlights its shortcomings.

It lacks the moistness that’s needed to satisfy, leaving a void both in taste and texture. What once was nostalgic now feels incomplete.

For those seeking that nostalgic flavor, the experience might end in disappointment, craving a more balanced slider.

12. Del Taco Beyond Taco (When They Cheap Out)

Del Taco’s Beyond Taco can hit the mark, but when corners are cut, it falls flat. Inconsistency is its foe, sometimes offering flavor, other times a dry shell with sparse filling.

The experience can vary wildly, leaving diners uncertain of what awaits. When filling is scant, it loses its appeal.

A taco’s success often lies in balance, and here, that balance can be elusive, leading to unsatisfied cravings.

13. Arby’s Mozzarella Sticks as a “Meal”

Trying to pass off Arby’s Mozzarella Sticks as a meal borders on the absurd. While delightful as a snack, as a meal they lack substance and nutritional value.

Cheese sticks alone can’t satisfy hunger, and if fried in beef fat, they even exclude vegetarians. Dining on these as a meal feels like a culinary shortfall.

For those looking for nourishment, this choice highlights the challenges of finding fulfilling fast food options.

14. Dairy Queen Pretzel Sticks with Queso

Dairy Queen’s Pretzel Sticks with Queso fail to meet expectations of a meal. As a snack, it’s barely adequate, leaving you hungry shortly after.

The pretzels, paired with a minimal amount of queso, don’t offer the satisfaction or fullness one might seek. It’s a fleeting indulgence.

This choice can lead to questioning one’s meal decisions, as hunger lingers long after the last bite is gone.

15. Pizza Chains’ Vegan Cheese Options That Don’t Melt

Vegan cheese options in pizza chains often bring disappointment, especially when they refuse to melt properly. What results is cheese that retains its shredded form, resembling warm plastic.

The experience of biting into such a slice is underwhelming, missing the gooey delight of melted cheese. It’s a culinary letdown.

Those seeking the comfort of pizza may find themselves longing for the traditional stretch and flavor that’s lacking here.

16. Any “Vegan” Item Cooked on Shared Meat Equipment

The notion of vegan items cooked on shared meat equipment is a head-scratcher. A vegan patty grilled with bacon grease contradicts its very purpose.

This practice leaves vegetarians and vegans questioning their choices, as cross-contamination looms large. It’s a compromise many are unwilling to make.

For those striving for a strict vegan diet, this oversight serves as a reminder to choose dining options with caution.