By 
Tex-Mex/Mexican Food
Zambreros
I have been a frequent visitor of Zambreros ever since they first opened in Canberra. Nowadays you can find them all over Australia. Zambreros have 2 options for vegans which are detailed on their menu with markings. These options can be made into burritos, bowls or nachos. You can order the Classic Veg – Free Guacamole, Salads, Rice, Beans and Sauce or a Spiced Cauliflower with Rice, Beans, Salads and Sauce (but you have to pay for the Guacamole). Be sure to say NO sour cream and NO cheese. Vegan cheese and Vegan sour cream can be added to any order at a surcharge of $1, or $2 for nachos. Salad choices are red onion, lettuce, tomato, jalapeños, lime and corn. The vegan sauces are trezigo, BBQ, verde, and red chilli. Other vegan extras include black rice, crushed corn chips, guacamole and salsa IQ. (Salsa IQ is a vegan madly with corn, salsa and sunflower seeds). Do note that only the classic tortilla and taco shells are vegan, the black tortilla is not.
My Order – Spiced Cauliflower Burrito with double beans and double white rice, guacamole and crushed corn corn chips, lettuce, tomato, corn, onion and jalepenos with trezigo sauce.
Fun Fact – Zambreros are also a social enterprise that have a plate for plate initiative. This means for every burrito or bowl purchased a meal is donated to someone in need.
Mad Mex
Mad Mex have nachos and burritos that can easily be made vegan…with vegan cheese! You can order them with black beans, rice and a ‘Tofu veggie rancheros‘ filling with salsas. The Veggie Tofu filling is sautéed eggplant, mushrooms, zucchini and organic tofu, and also comes with free guacamole. They have 5 salsa options which are all vegan ranging in spice. Be sure to ask for no traditional cheese and no sour cream. Vegan cheese can be added to your meal at a surcharge.
My Order – Veggie Tofu Burrito, guacamole, rice, beans, pico de gallo and corn salsa.
Fun Fact – They do 1kg burrito eating contests.
Guzman Y Gomez
Guzman have nachos, burrito bowls, tacos and burritos that can be made vegan. Their fries are also vegan as are their corn chips which can be ordered with guacamole. Their main dishes can be ordered with black beans and rice, sautéed vegetable filling (mushroom, capsicum, onion with free guacamole!), salads and salsas. Be sure to ask for no cheese and no sour cream. Also- the Guzman Y Gomez Chimi Mayo is completely vegan!
My Order – ‘Veggie’ Nachos with added rice and chimi mayo. No cheese.
Fun Fact – You can get a FREE burrito with your first purchase ordered on their app.
Beach Burrito
Beach burrito has vegan options for their tacos, burritos, nachos and loaded fries. Their vege nachos and fries are served with black beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, and salsa. Ask for no cheese or sour cream. The tacos and burritos have a chickpea fritter and a tofu and vege option. Ask for no cheese or sour cream in the tofu vege.
My Order – I be difficult and ask for half nachos half fries hehe, with guacamole, black beans, pico de gallo and tomato corn salsa.
Fun Fact – $3 taco Tuesday!
Salsas
Salsas have 3 staple vegan options. The ‘Mucho Veg Burrito’ (coriander & lime rice, onion & capsicum, zucchini & broccoli, corn salsa, black beans, guacamole & chipotle salsa) and the ‘Mucho Veg Bowl’ (coriander & lime rice, onion & capsicum, zucchini & broccoli, corn salsa, black beans, guacamole & chipotle salsa served with corn chips). They also have a ‘Mexicali Salad’ (shaved zucchini, pickled veg, red cabbage, lettuce, broccoli & zucchini, corn salsa, onions & capsicums, salsa fresca, guacamole & ranchero salsa) and the corn chips and guac are vegan. You can also veganised the ‘Holy Guac Nachos’ (corn chips, salsa fresca, black beans, guacamole & tomatillo salsa) if you ask for NO cheese and NO sour cream.
Warning – The hot chips are not vegan they have milk powder in the seasoning.
Pizza
Crust
Crust have an amazing vegan pizza options and use vegan cheese! Their ‘Smokey BBQ Pulled Jackfruit’ pizza (bbq jackfruit, spanish onions and roasted capsicum on a tomato base, garnished with vegan Aioli, parsley, freshly chopped chilli and vegan cheese) ‘Mediterranean Romesco’ pizza (grilled zucchini, roasted capsicum, cherry tomatoes, Spanish onion, special sauce and vegan cheese) ‘Sweet Peppered Pineapple’ (peppered pineapple, caramelised onion & aby spinach on a sweet chilli base garnished with vegan aioli & fresh basil and vegan cheese) and ‘Pesto Pear with Balsamic Fig’ (freshly sliced pear and caramelised onions, with a alsamic fig & ate reduction on a vegan pesto base drizzled with evoo and garnished with fresh basil, rocket and served with cracked pepper & sea salt and vegan cheese). They also have vegan ‘Herb and Garlic Sourdough’ (fancy garlic bread) and a ‘Middle Eastern Felafel Salad Bowl’ (traditional oven roasted falafels, tabouli, harissa hummus, cherry tomatoes and rocket dressed with fresh lemon) and Caramelised Onion & Balsamic Fig Squares for sides that are marked vegan. Enjoy!
My Order – BBQ Pulled Jackfruit pizza.
Fun Fact– You can get free delivery by signing up as a Crust V.I.P member! (Simply surrender your email address to their marketing team!)
Pizza Capers
Pizza Capers have three completly vegan pizzas. The ‘Vegan Tabasco Spiced Smashed Avo’ (smashed avocado, vegan cheese, charred corn and diced tomato lightly seasoned with garlic and green tabasco. finished with coriander and a lime wedge) the ‘Sweet Potato Vegan Lovers’ (sweet potato, button mushrooms, crushed garlic, pizza sauce and vegan cheese. garnished with rosemary, shallots and salt flakes. finished with sweet chilli sauce) and their new ‘Vegan Satay Tofu’ (Luscious satay marinated tofu, shallots, onion, red capsicum & vegan cheese on a light olive oil base. Finished with satay sauce, cucumber & carrot slaw & cashews). You can also order 3 types of vegan calzones, the classic garlic, the sweet chilli and the garlic rosemary. They also have a ‘Vegetarian’ pizza that you could order with no parmesan cheese and no dairy cheese.
My Order – Sweet Potato Vegan Lovers pizza.
Dominos
Dominos have 4 pizzas that can be altered vegan, and 4 that are vegan with vegan cheese by default. Their ‘Vegorama’ (mushrooms, sweet cherry peppers, baby spinach, capsicum, fresh tomato and red onion topped with oregano) ask for NO feta and no mozzarella cheese, The ‘Garden Veg’ (sweet cherry peppers, fresh red onion, capsicum, spinach, cherry tomatoes sprinkled with fresh spring onion) ask for NO camembert cheese and no mozzarella cheese, The ‘Avocado Veg’ (avocado, fire roasted peppers, mushrooms, red onion, capsicum, olives topped with spring onion) ask for NO mozzarella cheese and finally their value range ‘Spicy Veg Trio’ (baby spinach, fresh tomato, red onion topped with chilli flakes) ask for no mozzarella cheese. The ‘Spicy Veg Trio’ and ‘Avocado Veg’ alongside a ‘Vegan Margarita’ and their new ‘Vegan Summer BBQ’ (Vegan mozzarella, spinach, red onion, mushroom, pineapple, fire roasted peppers, cherry tomatoes, on a BBQ sauce base topped with tomato capsicum sauce) can be ordered default vegan with vegan cheese via their vegan menu. You may also add the vegan cheese to the customised vegetarian pizzas at a surcharge of $2.95. Dominos traditional garlic bread is also vegan and you have the option of ordering a vegan cheese garlic bread too. Their chips can be vegan if you ask for no salt.
My Order – Vegorama with no mozzarella and no feta, with added pineapple, olives and vegan cheese. Sometimes ill also order a side of vegan cheese garlic bread. ORRR their Vegan Summer BBQ pizza.
Fun Fact– Dominos always has vouchers available for you to score a cheaper deal, including a 30% off student discount for Uni-Days members!
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut have 3 vegetarian pizzas that can be veganised. The ‘Veggie Supreme’ (kalamata olives, fetta, diced tomato, mushrooms, red & green capsicum, onion, garlic) order with NO mozzarella cheese or fetta, The ‘Veggie Sensation’ (mushrooms, pineapple, tomato, green capsicum, olives, onion, oregano) order with NO mozzerella cheese, cheddar or aioli drizzel, and the ‘Hot & Spicy Veggie’ (jalapeños, pineapple, red & green capsicum, onion & chilli flakes) order with NO cheese or aioli drizzel. You can also create your own on their website. Their vegan sides are garlic bread and hot chips (ask for no chicken salt on chips).
Edit: As of 15/02/17 I have received email confirmation that Pizza Huts Tomato sauce is now vegan (previously contained milk), edits have been made to reflect this change.
*picture displays pizzas with cheese and aioli, order without*
Dessert Places
San Churro
San churro has great vegan options and a really handy allergy menu which you can ask for when you order. The allergy menu covers all the vegan options clearly marked. Alternately you may see their full vegan menu online here. Their churros are vegan and their dark chocolate dipping sauce is vegan. They can also make many of their drinks vegan such as their ‘Dark Couverture Hot Chocolate’ and their ‘Spanish Hot Chocolate’ vegan if ordered with soy or almond milk. Their Mango Sorbet, Salted Caramel and Honeycomb ice creams are also vegan which means you can order a vegan churro sundae with drizzled dark chocolate sauce and banana strawberry decoration. Yassss.
Recently San Churro have even come out with a handmade churro bowl featuring vegan ice-cream fruit and chocolate called the ‘Happy Vegan’. San Churro also have a ‘Cookie Butter Filled Churro’ that is vegan and amazing! Another great new item is the ‘Choc Caramel Craving Shake’ with blended chocolate, and honeycomb and salted caramel ice-cream.
My Order – Spanish Hot Chocolate with Soy milk, a Churros for two with dark chocolate dipping sauce and cinnamon sugar. If I’m feeling like spending some dough I may even get the Cookie butter churro too.
Doughnut Time
The donut time menu is always changing – but they always have at least 4 vegan donuts that are clearly labeled. These creations are always fun and whimsical!
My Order – The Liam Hemsworthy (red velvet doughnut with a vegan cookies & cream frosting, crushed choc ripple biscuits and a vegan chocolate glaze drizzle!)
Fun Fact – Liam and his wife Miley Cryus are both vegan!
Everything Else
Gozleme King
Gozleme King Turkish Cuisine have an abundance of vegan options. Including 4 staple vegan Gozleme options derived from their vegetarian mains created with Vegan Soy Cheese. This Gozlemes are completely customisable, with the option to add or subtract vegetables to suit your preference at request. (With a fee). Vegan Gozlemes are as follows: Vegan Cheese & Spinach, Vegan Cheese, Mushroom & Spinach, Vegan Cheese & Marinated Chilli Potato, and the Veggie Plus including Vegan Cheese, Capsicum, Olives, Spinach, Mushrooms. All Gozlemes are served with a lemon wedge for dressing. Gozleme King also serve vegan Turkish delight and occasionally have vegan Baklava.
My Order – A ‘Veggie Plus’ Gozleme with Added Potato and Vegan Cheese. This will take you back $14 with the $1 Vegan Cheese and the $2 added Potato. I also loved the Spiced Pumpkin Baklava.
Subway
Subway have 2 vegan options ‘Veggie Delight’ and ‘Veggie Patty’, they also do both options in salad form. Veggie Delights is just a sandwich with your choice of sauce and salad and Veggie Patty is the same but with a veggie paddy. Ask for no cheese. (Veggie patty is not vegan in USA subway but it is in Australia). Vegan sauces at Subway include; sweet onion dressing, zesty italian dressing, deli brown mustard dressing, yellow mustard dressing, marinara (tomato) sauce, BBQ sauce, sweet chilli sauce. The bread options are; white bread, wheat bread, multigrain bread, white wrap, and 9 Grain bread.
My Order – Footlong Veggie Patty with no cheese on white bread, toasted, with lettuce, tomato, carrot, onion, olives, spinach, cucumber and marinara (tomato) sauce and sweet chilli sauce, with salt and pepper. Added avocado if I’m feeling fancy.
Lord Of The Fries
Lord of the fries is the vegan holy grail for fast food. Its located all across Australia (except Canberra) and has 9 stores in Melbourne alone. Lord of the fries is completely vegan. They have burgers with soy meats, hot dogs with loaded vegan cheese, thick shakes, chicken nuggets, onion rings and their famous loaded fries.
They have burgers with soy meats such as vegan bacon, chick’n, and beef as well as the classic veggie patty. These burgers faux meat looks identical to the real thing. Vegan cheese is available on everything, including the fries. They have 4 types of fries too, shoe string, classic, sweet potato and chunky. Lord of the fries would make the perfect sloppy hangover meal!
My Order – ‘Vegan Parma’ burger (veg chick’n patty, napoli sauce, vegan cheese and soy bacon topped with diced onion and ketchup) alongside a vegan cookies and cream thick shake and a side of small shoestring fries.
Grilld
Grilld have a build your own burger option but they have 3 veg burgers that can be made vegan; The default vegan ‘Amazing Vegan Cheeseburger’ (Premium quality vegan “beef” patty with Dijon mustard, dill pickle, vegan cheese, Spanish onion, smoked sea salt, tomato sauce & vegan mayo) the default vegan ‘Hemp Therapea’ (Premium quality pea & hemp patty with avocado, cos lettuce, beetroot, fresh basil, smoked sea salt & tzatziki) the vegetarian ‘Garden Goodness’ burger (premium quality veggie pattie with beetroot, avocado, salad) ask for NO mayo and no cheese.
Grilld also have chips which are vegan and delicious. The chips come in three options, classic, zucchini and sweet potato. The tomato relish chip dip is vegan. To build your own burger you can choose from the following three buns; panini, gluten free and traditional. You then have all the salads and the above 3 burgers paddies as filling. The tomato relish, tomato sauce, satay sauce, dijon mustard, chilli relish, cranberry sauce and poppy splash dressing are vegan.
My Order – I build my own burger. I order two patties the ‘Garden Goodness’ veggie patty with added pineapple, lettuce, tomato and onion. Alongside a cup of classic chips.
Fun Fact – Grilld have a ‘Local Matters’ community /charity donation program. Each time you purchase a burger you’ll receive a bottle cap to add to a charitys/local cause jar of your choosing. Once a jar is full, money is donated. Each Grilld store donates $500 a month.
Nandos
Nandos Regular and ‘Peri-Peri’ chips and Sweet Potato chips are vegan. You can also get the ‘Spicy Rice’ and corn on the cob, and marinated olives. For salads, the ‘Tabouli and Quinoa’ salad and the Regular side salad are vegan by default, and the ‘Superfuel’ salad can be vegan without the feta and optional chicken.
Warning – The ‘Veggie Pita’ and ‘Veggie Burger’ contain egg in Australia. These cannot be substituted. However, this week Nandos is rolling out a new secret Vegan burger…its hit a select few stores but hasn’t been officially advertised.
My Order – Spicy Rice and Peri Peri chips and a side of marinated olives.
Ali Baba
Ali Baba has plenty of great felafel options like ‘Veggie Felafel Kebab’ (veggie falafel, lettuce, tomato, onion & your choice of sauce, wrapped in a lebanese bread) the ‘Felafel Plate’ (veggie falafels, persian rice, your choice of two dips, two salads, wrap bread and one sauce) and a ‘Felafel Snack pack’ (felafel, hot chips and a sauce). Their chips are vegan! The following sauce options are; tahini, mild chilli, hot chilli, lemon coriander, and hummus.
Hungry Jacks
Hungry Jacks has 3 vegan meal options. Their ‘Vegan Cheeseburger’ (double vegan patty made from corn, capsicum and carrot, vegan cheese and vegan mayonnaise with tomato sauce, onions, tomato and lettuce on a seeded bun), ‘Vegan Breakfast Muffin’ (vegan paddy same as vegan cheeseburger alongside vegan cheese and mayonnaise, avocado and lemon and garlic dressing on muffin bun) and their vegetarian ‘Kind Meat Burger’ which is exclusive to only the ACT and Golburn for the time being. Since the ‘Kinda Meat Burger’ is only vegetarian by default, you will need to remove the mayo or request the mayo be swapped to vegan mayo. The Kinda Meat Burger includes ‘plant based ‘beef like mock meat paddy, tomato sauce, onions, tomato, pickles and lettuce on a seeded bun with non-vegan mayo’ (remove the mayo). Hungry Jacks fries are also vegan.
Healthy Fast Food
Thr1ve
Thrive changes their menu seasonally. They usually have at least 1 staple vegan option, but always have plenty of yummy veggie options to build your own. Their salad options in the past have been things such as; roasted pumpkin, lentil curry, turmeric cauliflower, pickled onion, avocado and pea smash, zucchini noodles and kaleslaw. You start by choosing a base (lettuce, spinach, rainbow slaw, brown rice and quinoa) then optionally add tofu, then continue on to choose veggies. My experience with thr1ve has been quite positive and their employees always easily accomodate a vegan salad. Th1ve also do great smoothies and juices which you can order with almond, coconut or soy. Ask to remove honey and whey protein if required.
My Order – This constantly varies with their ever changing menu, but my salad always has their tasty avo and pea smash! I also love their ‘Salted Caramel’ smoothie without the honey and with coconut milk.
Sumo Salad
Sumo salad also do Build your own. Their ‘Deli Salad’ vegan choices are; kale & quinoa, oriental brown rice, pumpkin & chickpea, pumpkin & cous cous, seasonal greens, grains and greens, lentil & tabbouleh, super quinoa & brown rice, and falafel & couscous. Leafy Salads; chargrilled cauliflower and pumpkin. Hot Deli; asian hokkien noodle and kale, quinoa & vege soup. Dressings; balsamic vinaigrette, lemon juice, lemon parsley, lemon spiced (moroccan), olive oil, super clean paleo dressing, roasted garlic and seeded mustard vinaigrette. They also have fruit salad and two vegan porridges for breakfast. Availability of these options will vary from store to store.
Soul Origin
Soul origin have 3 regular vegan deli salad options which are quite nice combined; ‘Healthy Brown Rice’ (brown rice, carrot, celery, corn & sultanas, topped with cucumber and fresh capsicum, mixed with light sweet chili sauce dressing) ‘Bean Medley’ (mixed beans, carrot, celery & corn, garnished with fresh capsicum & lightly tossed in a seeded mustard dressing) and ‘Pumpkin Cous Cous’ (pumpkin, couscous, roast capsicum, sundried tomato & shallots, garnished with rocket). On their limited edition summer menu they have also added ”Felafel Mix’ (signature sweet potato falafels on a bed of quinoa, brown rice and fresh mixed leaves, tomatoes and cucumber lightly topped with sultanas, pepitas and creamy tahini dressing) and ‘Mexi-Bean Salad’ Sweet corn, black beans, kidney beans and crisp capsicum on a bed of coz lettuce with a Mexican dressing, topped with fresh avocado). Mexi-Bean is delicious! All vegan Soul Origin salads are marked ‘plant based’ on their flyer menus.
My Order – Healthy brown rice, Mexi-bean salad and pumpkin cous cous combined!
Oliver’s
Olivers serve healthy fast food all across Australian road trip pit stop locations. Their vegan items are plentiful and are clearly marked on their menu in store and on their website. Fort their hot food their vegan options are ‘Veggie Patch Pita Pocket’ a ‘Burrito Pita Pocket’, ‘Golden Rice Nuggets’ (chicken nugget alternative) ‘Veggie Korma Curry’, ‘Minestrone’ and ‘Pumpkin’ soup. Olivers also have vegan Sweet Potato fries, Roast Potato and a funny alternative ‘Steamed Green Beans’ and Edamame Beans’ which are lightly salted and served in a chip cup.
They also have a wide rang of vegan chips, drinks, deserts, pre made sandwiches, salads, and sushi for you to take back on the road. (They have pana chocolate!) Their vegan deserts are coconut yogurt muesli, and chia seed puddings. You can also order juices, and you have the option to build your own.
Fun Fact – Download the Olivers app and it can tell you where the closest Olivers pit stop is so you know when to pull over during long haul drives!
- Note: ‘Mcdonalds’ fries and hash browns are vegan in Australia. They are not in the USA as they have beef tallow. I don’t personally support ‘Mcdonalds’ however I understand this may be helpful information to a vegan that needs to eat something with substance during a long road trip with little options! Its great Olivers are found in many locations now but not in far rural areas. The buns are vegan as are the salad filling options for their burgers. I have heard of many vegans ordering hash brown burgers before! (They do this by removing ingredients all non-vegan ingredients like mayo, cheeses and meats and then adding hash browns). They also have garden salads and a side salad option in some Mcdonalds stores, and they are also vegan.
Well folks that completes the list. For my ‘Accidentally Vegan foods of Australia’ supermarket list with all sorts of vegan burgers, lollies and pantry staples click here!
Darren
December 15, 2017What an awesome and very useful summary! Well done Jessica ?
jessicawhalen
December 15, 2017Thank you for that kind comment!
Alana
February 14, 2018Wait is the hummus + pita from Nandoes not vegan?
jessicawhalen
February 14, 2018I didn’t see a plain pita and hummus on their online menu, but their ‘veggie pita’ is listed as non vegan containing milk and egg because of the mayo! their website lets you select your dietary requirements and do a search! 🙂
jay
February 15, 2018Hey Jessica ☺️,
This makes going vegan irresistible and too easy.
This post really inspired me to find foods that are not only delicious, fulfilling and nutritionally dense.
Since trying these foods, I’ve experienced many gains in my health, career and social life.
Thank you Jessica, I appreciate your efforts in trying to make the world a better place, you really changed my perspective on life.
✌️✌?✌?✌?✌?✌?
Erin
June 28, 2018Hello, I believe Lord Of The Fries is fully vegan now 🙂 this list is great!
jessicawhalen
February 13, 2019Thanks for the update Erin I will fix this!
Lisa
October 19, 2018This is such a good list really helped me out
jessicawhalen
February 13, 2019Thats great to hear!
kris
March 3, 2019this is good. but the black tortilla from zammie b’s has eggs in it – does double beans and double rice cost extra?
jessicawhalen
March 5, 2019Hi Kris, I didn’t mention the black tortilla as vegan, I mentioned the black rice. The black rice is definitely vegan! Though I will be sure to add a warning to the paragraph so it does not confuse anyone- this is a good point. The double beans double rice is supposed to cost extra yes, though I have only been asked to pay the extra fee twice! Usually they don’t charge you any extra. Thanks for commenting!
Angela
April 1, 2019Handy generally but also when travelling.
Thanks
durianrider
April 19, 2019Great write up.
no maccas review?
What is the point of doing all that work and leaving out the biggest fast food chain in Oz?
Jotoro
June 1, 2019Nandos veggie patties themselves actually are vegan. They contain no animal products, however 2 of their bread choices contain egg (Soft White Bun and White Portuguese Roll) so just avoid those two and you should be fine ordering a veggie from nandos 🙂
Samantha B
June 21, 2019Such a good list and very helpful when trying to make a vegan choice when eating fast food. Living for the day we get a Lord of the Fries here in CBR! However, Grill’ds new beyond vegan menu is very good and hits the burger spot that’s for sure!