In fact, hidden animal ingredients in fast food are more common than most menus let on. Across 289 chain restaurant guides, 42 chains serve at least one item that sounds vegetarian but isn’t. Here’s the full infographic, the data behind it, and what to order instead.
Key findings
- 42 chains serve something that sounds vegetarian but isn't.
- Anchovies are the most common catch, behind 12 menu items our guides mark not vegetarian.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill lists the most vegan items in our guides, with 17.
- Salads and Mediterranean chains lead on vegan share. At 60%, most of their vegetarian picks are also vegan.
What’s hiding in the food
Anchovies top the list. Caesar dressing is the classic hiding spot, which is why Red Lobster's Caesar salad made the four below. Beef tallow and gelatin come next, and both turn up in food that looks completely meat-free.
| Ingredient | Menu items marked not vegetarian because of it |
|---|---|
| anchovies | 12 |
| beef tallow | 11 |
| gelatin | 11 |
| chicken broth or stock | 8 |
| pork fat or ham | 8 |
| bacon bits or bacon fat | 2 |
Four that fool everyone
Each of these looks safe on the menu board. Here's the catch and what to order instead.
- McDonald's French Fries: the catch is natural beef flavor. The US fries are cooked in vegetable oil, but the added flavoring is beef-derived and also contains milk, so they fail vegetarians and vegans alike. Swap in Baked Apple Pie.
- Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Onion: the catch is beef tallow. The whole fried menu goes into that tallow, so the Aussie Fries are out too. Instead, get the Grilled Asparagus, and ask for no butter if you're vegan.
- Fuzzy's Taco Shop Refried Beans: the catch is lard. Also skip the house rice, since it's cooked in chicken stock. For that reason, order Black Beans, with cilantro lime rice on the side.
- Red Lobster Caesar salad: the catch is anchovies in the dressing. Swap in Garden side salad, with a vinaigrette instead of Caesar.
Where vegans eat best
These chains list the most vegan items in our guides. Tap a name for the full guide.
| Chain | Vegan items in our guide |
|---|---|
| Chipotle Mexican Grill | 17 |
| Tijuana Flats | 16 |
| Einstein Bros. Bagels | 14 |
| Denny's | 13 |
| Arby's | 12 |
| Blaze Pizza | 12 |
| Del Taco | 12 |
| El Pollo Loco | 12 |
The most vegan-friendly food types
This shows how much of each food type’s vegetarian menu is also vegan.
| Cuisine | Share of vegetarian picks that are also vegan |
|---|---|
| salads & mediterranean | 60% |
| mexican | 57% |
| asian | 55% |
| sandwiches | 42% |
| burgers | 37% |
| coffee & bakery | 36% |
| casual dining | 35% |
| bbq & steakhouses | 33% |
How to dodge the catch
Ask what the fries share a fryer with. Skip Caesar dressing unless the guide clears it. Order beans and rice only where the guide says no lard and no chicken stock. And check the gravy, every time.
How we counted
Source: What's Vegetarian's guides to 289 US restaurant chains, data as of 2026-10-02. Item counts are the vegetarian and vegan picks each guide lists. Hidden-ingredient counts are menu items a guide marks not vegetarian because of that ingredient. Menus change, so check the chain's current ingredient list.
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