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If you are aware of a fast food place with good vegetarian options please let us know. Send new listings or updates to directory@veg.ca. Your feedback is appreciated.

General notes and scope


Verify vegetarian options when ordering – Menu items can change over time and between locations. Also, if you are looking for vegan options, ask about condiments and sauces. (i.e.: some places may automatically add mayonnaise to a veggie burger.)

Cross-contamination – Some chains do a good job of keeping vegetarian items separate, but many don't and there can be variations between locations. Veggie burgers are often cooked on the same grill as the meat, and French fries may be deep-fried in the same oil as the chicken. Ask before ordering if this is a concern.

Unhealthy fats – Most chains use liberal amounts of saturated fat, hydrogenated (trans fats) oils, and palm oil (a naturally-saturated vegetable oil that has been associated with rainforest destruction).

Caesar salad – Assume the dressing contains anchovies (fish) and egg, unless mentioned as otherwise.

Chemical additives and preservatives – These are very prominent. For example the ingredient lists for many of the items at Burger King are over 50 words long. Many of the big chains use dimethylpolysiloxene and TBHQ. Here is a quote from the Omnivore's Dilemma about the presence of these "toxic" ingredients in McDonald's Chicken McNuggets:

"...Then there are "anti-foaming agents" like dimethylpolysiloxene, added to the cooking oil to keep the starches from binding to air molecules, so as to produce foam during the fry. The problem is evidently grave enough to warrant adding a toxic chemical to the food: According to the Handbook of Food Additives, dimethylpolysiloxene is a suspected carcinogen and an established mutagen, tumorigen, and reproductive effector; it's also flammable.

But perhaps the most alarming ingredient in a Chicken McNugget is tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, an antioxidant derived from petroleum that is either sprayed directly on the nugget or the inside of the box it comes in to "help preserve freshness." According to A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, TBHQ is a form of butane (i.e. lighter fluid) the FDA allows processors to use sparingly in our food: It can comprise no more than 0.02 percent of the oil in a nugget. Which is probably just as well, considering that ingesting a single gram of TBHQ can cause "nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse." Ingesting five grams of TBHQ can kill.

Animal or plant source additives? – Many additives, such as sodium stearoyl lactylate, can come from either. Rennet can be from an animal (calf stomach) or non-animal source. According to Wikipedia, Microbial rennet is used more often in North America today because it is less expensive than animal rennet, whereas cheese from Europe is more likely to be made from animal rennet due to tradition. Lipase is another ingredient frequently found in cheese that can be from a vegetarian or non-vegetarian source. One additive called L-cysteine is frequently found in bread products at fast food places and is commonly derived from duck feathers. A synthetic version is available but not commonly used. It would be near impossible to verify the source of all the additives at fast food restaurants. Our investigation has mainly focused on the obvious animal, milk and egg derived products such as whey (dairy), modified milk ingredients, egg whites, cholesterol (meat, dairy or eggs) gelatin (animal bones) or beef flavouring and fat.

Allergen info – Many chains now have allergen charts that you can view as pdfs. They tend to err on the side of caution (or avoidance of lawsuits). For example if a vegan product is made in the same facility where products with milk or egg are made, they may be flagged for "milk" or "egg" due to the chance of cross contamination. Ask to see an ingredient list before ordering if you are concerned.

Scope – Ingredient information is geared to fast food chains in Canada, the United States, and to a lesser extent, the UK. Information may be different in other countries, and is subject to change over time. For more information about options in the United States see Vegan Eating Out (75 fast food chains researched). 

[rest.] – this symbol indicates a full service restaurant chain. Such places typically have waited tables, larger menus, longer wait times, and more natural, less processed meals.

This report is not meant as an endorsement of fast food eating. We recommend that you support local vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants whenever possible. For an extensive list in Toronto, see our Vegetarian Directory and for other places, see our World links page.

Originally researched and written by Thom Oommen. Updates by Stephen Leckie.
[Our vegetarian nutrition page -- protein, iron, calcium, D, iodine, omega-3, zine, B12.]

Pizza and pasta places: vegetarian options

Most fast food pizza chains have pleny of options for vegetarians, and vegan pizza usually just involves skipping the cheese and loading up with extra veggies. Olives are a nice salty addition to a vegan pizza.

Rennet can be a concern for vegetarians that eat cheese. It can be from an animal (calf stomach) or non-animal source. According to Wikipedia, microbial rennet is used more often in North America today because it is less expensive than animal rennet, whereas cheese from Europe is more likely to be made from animal rennet due to tradition. When known, we have noted the rennet source below.

Domino's Pizza

Approx. 8,500 locations in 55 countries

Of the four crusts available only the Crunchy Thin Crust is vegan, the others have dairy and L-cysteine. The pizza sauce is vegan and the cheese appears to be rennet-free as the ingredient list just mentions "enzymes". The basic menu has one vegetarian pizza called Vegi Feast with green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and black olives, topped with extra cheese. Each location may have extra selections and presumably you can make your own. Veggie toppings are limited to the basics. There is also a garden salad with Italian dressing that is vegan. They don't seem too concerned about health or natural ingredients. There are trans fats in many items and chemical additives. For example the sandwiches come with:

"Butter Flavored Oil: Liquid and Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural & Artificial Flavor, Beta Carotene (Color), TBHQ And Citric Acid and Dimethylpoysiloxane."

See "General notes" for some scary information about TBHQ and Dimethylpoysiloxane.
www.dominos.com

[rest.] East Side Mario's

Over 100 locations across Canada and four in the U.S.

Restaurant and delivery chain serving what they call "American Italian" cuisine. The menu on their website has a symbol to indicate which dishes are vegetarian. You can also build your own pasta or pizza dish.

Thanks to an inquiry by Josee in January 2008, East Side Mario's wrote him to say that each location has a printed document with ingredients and allergens listed. Anyone can ask to view it.

"Currently the items that are vegan on the menu are our Napolitana and Arrabbiata sauces for pasta (they do not contain chicken stock), and our DeCecco rigatoni pasta and DeCecco angel hair. Garden Salad (request "no cheese"). Soho Chicken Salad (request "no chicken). The sautéed vegetables are also vegan as is our pizza sauce and pizza dough.
   The other pastas state that they may contain egg due to the fact that they are manufactured in a facility that uses eggs. The only pastas that do directly contain egg are cappelletti, asparagus cappelletti, ravioli and Milanese. Please do note that all pasta is cooked in the same boiling water."
www.eastsidemarios.com

Little Caesar's

2,700 locations in the U.S. (in 2003) plus locations in four continents

 
  

Little Caesars's website has a page that outlines the vegetarian options.  Any pizza can be ordered with cheese-only or with any of their fresh vegetable toppings including onions, green peppers, tomato slices, mushrooms, ripe olives, hot peppers and pineapples. Vegans can order a pizza without cheese. Their pizza crust is made with high-protein flour and contains no animal products or by-products. The sauce is vegan and is made from crushed tomatoes and is seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices. The pizzas contain no trans fats.

Other vegetarian options include: Crazy Bread (warm sticks of freshly baked bread topped with faux butter and garlic, then sprinkled with Parmesan cheese – for a vegan version skip the cheese) and Crazy Sauce (a vegan tomato-based dipping sauce). In Canada there is also a veggie deli sandwich, and Greek or tossed salad.
www.littlecaesars.com

Papa John's

3,300 locations, including over 2,600 in the U.S., 18 in Canada (mainly Calgary and Laval), and more than 500 in over 30 other countries. 

  
  

The menu has a Garden Fresh pizza topped with cheese and "fresh-sliced onions & green peppers, gourmet baby portabella mushrooms, ripe black olives and juicy, fresh-sliced Roma tomatoes." You can also create your own pizza. They also have bread sticks and dipping sauces.

Their FAQ page details the options for vegetarians and vegans. The original and whole wheat crusts are vegan as is the garlic sauce and tomato sauce that are added to each pizza.

In addition to cheese, the following items contain dairy: thin crust, garlic ranch sauce, Alfredo sauce, spinach Alfredo sauce, garlic Parmesan sauce, crisp topping used on Sweetreats, Chocolate Pastry Delight. All cheese items are free of animal enzymes and rennet, except the pan crust and the cheese blend used on their Tuscan Six Cheese pizza which contain animal-derived enzymes. Note: the garlic ranch sauce and the Honey Mustard, Cheese, Ranch and Blue Cheese dipping sauces contain eggs.

All of their pizzas, sides and other menu items have zero trans fats.
www.papajohns.com

Pizza Hut

Approx. 34,000 locations in 100 countries.

  
  

U.S. – Pizza Hut only has the Cheese Lovers Pizza and the Veggie Lover's Pizza according to their website, but you can create your own (except not online). All three of the tomato sauces are vegan and most of the doughs are except for the Pan Dough and the Personal Pan Pizza Dough which contain dairy. There are no vegetarian pastas. See  http://www.pizzahut.com/Nutrition.aspx

Canada – There are five vegetarian pizzas and you can create your own (except not when ordering online). The only vegan crust is the Thin N' Crispy except in Quebec the Hand Tossed crust is also vegan. The one pasta option is spaghetti and tomato sauce, but it contains egg. The bruschetta and garlic bread are vegetarian (contains whey). There is a vegan Warm Spinach Salad with French dressing. See http://www.pizzahut.ca/nutrition.htm

UK – Each vegetarian dish has a symbol. There are four veggie pizzas and you can create your own. The Pan Pizza and The Italian crusts are vegan and so is the tomato sauce. There are also four vegetarian pasta dishes. The Arrabiata pastas is vegan. And there is a soup, salad, garlic bread and potato wedges (vegan), bruschetta (dairy) and Crispy Tortilla Pizza. Some stores have vegan fries and onion rings. See http://www.pizzahut.co.uk/restaurants/menus--deals/dietary-information.aspx (click on the Allergy information)

Jan 2009: Ingredient information is no longer available on the U.S. and Canada sites.

U.S. only

Hungry Howie’s

575 locations in the U.S.

Slim pickings for vegetarians and vegans. From their ingredient page: The pizza dough contain sugar and sodium caseinate (a milk derivative), and the Ultra Thin Crust, while dairy-free, contains trans fats (partially hydrogenated soybean oil) and L-cysteine. The pizza sauce and seasoning are vegan but contain sugar. Only the mozzarella cheese mentions "enzymes (not derived from animal sources)." On the menu there is a vegetarian sub and veggie pizza. They also have salads. The Greek, French and Italian dressings appear to be vegan.
Hungry Howie's

Canada only

Panago Pizza

Over 160 locations in Western and Central Canada, but mostly in the West. In Ontario there are one or two locations in Toronto (44 Gerrard St at Bay), Ajax, Whitby, Oakville and London.

Lynsey wrote us Dec 12, 2007: "Panago offers six different vegetarian pizzas: grilled veggie and goat cheese, quattro fromaggio, garden veggie, primo vegetarian, mediterranean vegetarian and veggie pepperoni – made with Yves-like veggie pepperoni slices. A pretty good variety for vegetarians I think."

They have a strict no-trans-fats policy. Sam reports that he got an email from them on Dec 28, 2008 stating that all their cheeses contain microbial enzyme (instead of rennet from animals), except the Parmesan which may contain rennet.

www.panago.com (there is no detailed information about ingredients)

Pizza Nova

Several locations in southern Ontario

Seven vegetarian pizzas to choose from or you can custom make one. You can request a pizza without cheese. Both the dough and the two pizza sauces (spice and regular) are vegan. What appear to be two cheeseless pizzas – the Veggie (mushroom, green pepper, spanish onions) and the Bruschetta (herbed olive oil, diced fresh tomatoes, garden fresh herbs) – in fact contain some cheese according to Melinda who emailed us Feb 23, 2007.  "...there's no tomato sauce, but there is olive oil and cheese -- with the bruschetta, the tomato is put on top of the cheese after the pizza is cooked, so it kind of hides the dairy from view." When we initially contacted them, they were using a mozzarella with synthetic rennet. Salads and olives are also available.
www.pizzanova.com

Pizza Pizza

Over 500 Canadian locations, mainly in the province of Ontario.

Pizza Pizza has a long list of vegetable toppings including broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes and zucchini – far more than Pizza Hut carries. The dough and sauce are both vegan and contain NO crazy preservatives. All their cheeses contain microbial enzyme instead of rennet from animals. For vegans a cheese-less pizza or stuffed sandwich is a great choice but you don’t pay less for eliminating the mozzarella. Other vegan options include: bruschetta, fries that contain no trans fats, the onion rings, and an apple pie that is loaded with chemical additives. There are salads but none of the dressings appear to be stictly vegan. They have a strict policy of not using nuts.
www.pizzapizza.ca

Pizzaiolo

Nine locations in the Toronto Area

There are nine veggie pizzas on the menu (more than the number of meat ones) and their cheeses don’t contain rennet. They carry two thin-crust vegan slices - Vittoria (fresh tomato, zucchini, roasted red pepper) and Freda (potato and rosemary). There is also a slice called Diana with everything the Vittoria has plus mushrooms and a pesto sauce that contains parmesan. They use extra virgin olive oil for their pizzas and never use trans fats. Take-out or eat-in. Open late.

Their newest location at 454 Bloor St W (east of Bathurst) has three vegan pizza slice options, and they even use a separate pizza cutter for vegan slices. Open daily 10am - 4am.
www.pizzaiolo.ca

 

See our main Fast Food page for a full list of cuisines and vegetarian-friendly chains.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 22 February 2009 )