Looking for Moes vegetarian options? Here’s the full list. Moe’s Southwest Grill is one of the easiest fast-casual spots to eat meat-free, because you build your own meal from the start. Tofu, beans, rice, grilled veggies, guacamole, and the famous free chips and salsa are all on the table. A vegetarian or vegan order is just a matter of choosing the right fillings. If eating out without meat is still new to you, our guide to eating vegetarian at restaurants pairs well with this one. Here’s exactly what to order at Moe’s, what to skip, and how to keep it vegan.
A Quick Look at Moe’s Southwest Grill
Moe’s is a younger Tex-Mex chain than most of the fast-food names you know, but it grew fast and built a loyal following on customization and that “Welcome to Moe’s!” greeting. Here are the milestones worth knowing:
- 2000: The first Moe’s Southwest Grill opens in the Garden Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, launched by the Atlanta-based restaurant group Raving Brands.
- The name: “Moe’s” is an acronym for “Musicians, Outlaws and Entertainers,” which is where the chain’s original music-themed decor came from.
- 2005: A lawsuit from Jerry Garcia’s estate over the use of his likeness led Moe’s to revise its music-themed artwork and some of its pop-culture menu names.
- 2007: FOCUS Brands acquires Moe’s, putting it alongside sister chains like Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, and McAlister’s Deli.
- 2025: Moe’s celebrated its 25th anniversary, capping four straight years of growth.
- Today: Moe’s runs around 580 locations across 35 states and is owned by GoTo Foods (formerly FOCUS Brands), an affiliate of the private-equity firm Roark Capital.
Moes vegetarian options: What to Order
The good news at Moe’s is that the meat-free list is long, not short. Almost every format on the menu can be built vegetarian, and most can go vegan with a couple of swaps. Here’s how the main options shake out:
| Menu Item | Vegetarian | Vegan |
|---|---|---|
| Burrito (tofu or beans) | Yes | Yes* |
| Burrito Bowl (tofu or beans) | Yes | Yes* |
| Tacos (tofu or beans) | Yes | Yes* |
| Quesadilla | Yes | No |
| Salad (no cheese or ranch) | Yes | Yes* |
| Nachos | Yes | Yes** |
| Chips & Salsa | Yes | Yes |
| Chips & Guacamole | Yes | Yes |
| Queso | Yes | No |
Burritos, Bowls, and Tacos
This is where Moe’s shines for vegetarians. You build the meal yourself, so you control every ingredient:
- Build-your-own burrito: Start with a flour, whole-grain, or corn tortilla, then load up on rice, black or pinto beans, organic tofu, grilled veggies, guacamole, lettuce, and salsa. It’s vegetarian as built, and vegan if you skip the cheese and sour cream.
- The Homewrecker, made meat-free: Moe’s signature Homewrecker burrito is built around rice, beans, cheese, and your choice of protein. Order it with organic tofu in place of meat for a hearty vegetarian version, then hold the cheese and sour cream to keep it vegan.
- Burrito bowl: The same fillings without the tortilla, served over rice and beans. Easy to keep vegan with the same swaps.
- Tacos: Build soft or crunchy tacos on tofu, beans, grilled veggies, and salsa. They’re vegetarian as built, and vegan if you skip the cheese and crema.
- The proteins: Organic tofu is the meat-free protein here, and both the black beans and pinto beans are vegan-friendly too. Stack tofu and beans together if you want a heartier bowl.
Quesadillas and Nachos
- Quesadilla: Built around melted cheese, so it’s vegetarian but not vegan. Add tofu, beans, and grilled veggies to make it a meal.
- Nachos: Vegetarian with cheese and queso. To go vegan, build them on chips, beans, rice, salsa, and guacamole, and skip the dairy toppings.
Salads and Sides
- Salad: Romaine with beans, grilled veggies, salsa, cucumbers, and tofu makes a solid vegan bowl. Skip the shredded cheese and the ranch, and ask for salsa or the southwest vinaigrette as your dressing.
- Chips and salsa: Every order comes with free chips and salsa, and both are vegan. The tortilla chips aren’t fried in any animal fat.
- Guacamole: Made fresh and fully vegan. Add it to anything or scoop it with chips.
- Queso: A Moe’s signature, but it’s dairy cheese dip, so it’s vegetarian and not vegan.
What’s Vegan at Moe’s Southwest Grill?
You can put together a fully vegan meal at Moe’s without much effort. The core building blocks are:
- Flour, whole-grain, or corn tortillas, and the tortilla chips
- Cilantro lime rice and seasoned rice
- Black beans and pinto beans
- Organic tofu
- Grilled onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms, plus roasted corn
- Guacamole, the salsas, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, romaine, diced tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, and pickled jalapeños
The honest caveat: skip the cheese, sour cream, and queso, since those are all dairy. Moe’s Sauce, the poblano crema, and the chipotle ranch contain dairy too, so steer clear of those if you’re vegan and lean on salsa, guacamole, or the southwest vinaigrette instead.
Special Dietary Requirements and Allergies
Moe’s publishes allergen and nutrition information on its website, so you can check specific ingredients before you order. A few things to keep in mind: the tofu contains soy, the corn tortilla products may be fried in shared oil with items that contain gluten, and cross-contamination is always possible in a busy kitchen where staff handle meat and dairy at the same line. If you have a strict requirement or a serious allergy, tell the staff and ask them to change gloves or check the allergen guide before they build your order.
Tips for Vegetarians at Moe’s Southwest Grill
- Build your own burrito or bowl so you control every ingredient. It’s the easiest way to keep it vegetarian or vegan.
- Order tofu as your protein, then add beans for a meal that actually fills you up.
- To go vegan, hold the cheese, sour cream, and queso, and skip Moe’s Sauce, poblano crema, and chipotle ranch, which all contain dairy.
- Don’t sleep on the free chips and salsa. They’re vegan and come with every order.
- Order ahead online or in the Moe’s app so you can pick every ingredient and double-check your build before you pay.
- Menus shift, so check your local Moe’s for current options and limited-time items before you go.
That’s the complete rundown of Moes vegetarian options. Bookmark this guide so you always know what to order, and check our other restaurant guides for more meatless picks like these.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
Moe’s Southwest Grill is one of the more vegetarian-friendly chains out there, mostly because you build the meal yourself. Load a burrito or bowl with tofu, beans, rice, grilled veggies, and guacamole, and you’ve got a solid meat-free meal. Hold the cheese, sour cream, and queso to make it vegan, and remember the free chips and salsa are fair game. For more meat-free picks, start with our master guide to eating vegetarian and vegan at restaurants, browse our full restaurant guides, or compare notes with what’s vegetarian at Chipotle, Qdoba, and Taco Bell.
