Jason’s Deli: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Jason’s Deli is one of the better vegetarian stops you’ll find in fast casual. The chain built its name on fresh, organic ingredients and a serious salad bar, so meatless eaters get real choices here instead of a sad side salad tacked onto the menu.

What to order at Jason’s Deli

The Garden Fresh Salad Bar is the main event, loaded with mixed greens, spinach, broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, beets, artichokes, and roasted red pepper hummus. Order the Spinach Veggie Wrap without cheese for a vegan option built from mushrooms, organic spinach, guacamole, and pico de gallo. The Zucchini Garden Pasta and the Hearty Vegetable Chili both work without modification, and the Nutty Mixed-Up Salad is a solid pick once you drop the chicken and cheese. A plain baked potato without butter, cheese, or sour cream rounds things out and keeps the meal vegan.

What to watch out for

Most dressings, including ranch, Italian, and honey mustard, contain dairy, so they work for vegetarians but not vegans. Reach for oil and vinegar or balsamic if you’re skipping dairy. Watch for bacon bits and diced chicken sitting near the salad bar bins, and grab a clean serving spoon if the containers sit close together. Soups other than the vegetable chili are a check rather than a safe bet, since some lean on stock or cream, and the same goes for mac and cheese and grilled cheese, both vegetarian but not vegan because of the dairy.