Looking for Fatburger vegetarian options? You have several. Fatburger sells an Impossible Burger, three kinds of fries, onion rings, cheese and egg add-ons, and four vegan shakes. The catch is the shared kitchen. Fatburger says on its menu that it is not a certified vegan restaurant. Here’s what to order, what to change, and what to skip. If you’re new here, start at the homepage to see how we check chains.
A Quick Look at Fatburger
Lovie Yancey opened the first Fatburger in the Exposition Park neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1947, according to Wikipedia. She called it Mr. Fatburger, then dropped the Mr. in 1952. The signs still say Since 1952. She kept sole ownership until 1990, and the chain grew beyond California in the late 1990s.
Ownership changed hands recently. Wikipedia reports that the parent company, FAT Brands, filed for Chapter 11 on January 26, 2026, and that FBG Bid Co. bought the remaining assets, Fatburger included, on June 18, 2026. FAT Brands says on its Fatburger page that the chain has over 200 units in 20 countries. The U.S. footprint is smaller. Go Dairy Free counted over 80 restaurants in 13 U.S. states in its February 2026 guide, mostly in the Southwest. Check the store locator before you drive.
Fatburger Vegetarian Options: What to Order
The Impossible Burger is the only entree Fatburger tags vegetarian on its menu page. Everything else you can eat is a side, an add-on, or a shake. We built the table below from Fatburger’s menu page and its allergen chart, and we marked anything uncertain with a warning sign.
| Menu Item | Vegetarian | Vegan |
|---|---|---|
| Impossible Burger (order without mayo) | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Check (ask about the bun) |
| Daiya dairy-free cheese add-on | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Cheddar, American or Swiss cheese add-on | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (milk) |
| Skinny Fries, Fat Fries, Sweet Potato Fries | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Check (shared fryer oil) |
| Homemade Onion Rings | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (milk) |
| Egg add-on | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (egg) |
| Mayonnaise | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (egg) |
| Lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, relish, mustard | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Dairy milkshakes (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, Maui Banana, Cookies and Ice Cream) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (milk) |
| Craig’s Vegan Shakes (four flavors) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (contain cashews) |
| Veggieburger (on the chart, not on the menu page) | ⚠️ Check | ❌ No (milk and egg) |
| Chili, Chili Cheese Fries, Chili Cheese Dog | ❌ No (chart says no) | ❌ No |
| Hot Dog | ❌ No (chart says no) | ❌ No |
| Beef, turkey and chicken burgers and sandwiches | ❌ No (meat) | ❌ No |
The Impossible Burger
Fatburger describes the Impossible Burger as “a delicious burger made entirely from plants for people who love meat.” Fatburger lists it at 420 to 550 calories and marks it vegetarian. On its chart, Fatburger flags egg, wheat, soy and gluten for the sandwich as built. Fatburger flags egg on its mayonnaise too, so skip the mayo. Fatburger leaves the bun off its chart, so you can’t tell from the chart whether the bun adds egg as well.
Add a slice of cheese if you want one. Fatburger stocks American, Swiss and cheddar, and Fatburger doesn’t say what kind of rennet goes into any of them. If that matters to you, ask the counter or skip the dairy cheese and take the Daiya slice instead.
Fries, Rings and Sides
Fatburger tags all three fries vegetarian and flags no allergens on them. Skinny Fries run 390 calories, Fat Fries 380 and Sweet Potato Fries 480. The Homemade Onion Rings run 540 calories, and Fatburger flags milk on them. Go Dairy Free confirms the rings contain milk in the U.S.
Skip anything with chili. Fatburger marks Chili Cheese Fries, Chili Fries and every chili cup as not vegetarian. A plain order of Skinny Fries topped with cheese or Daiya slices is the safe version.
Shakes and Dessert
Fatburger makes its regular milkshakes with dairy ice cream, so they’re vegetarian and not vegan. Five flavors are on the menu page: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, Maui Banana, and Oreo Cookies and Ice Cream. Fatburger flags milk on each one, plus wheat and gluten on the Oreo shake.
The vegan route is Craig’s Vegan Shakes, in the same four flavors minus the Oreo. Fatburger says it makes them with “Craig’s cashew based ice cream, oat milk, and coconut milk whipped cream.” They run 541 to 593 calories. Fatburger lists cashews as an ingredient, so anyone with a tree nut allergy should skip them.
What’s Vegan at Fatburger?
Fatburger tags four items vegan on its menu page: the Craig’s Vegan Shakes. The Impossible Burger, the fries and the onion rings carry only the vegetarian tag, and the Daiya slice has no tag at all. Go Dairy Free’s vegan guide names the Impossible Burger without mayo, the Daiya cheese add-on, all three fries and the four shakes.
The bun is the open question. VegNews reported in 2022 that Fatburger had swapped its dairy-based buns for a vegan option by 2019, and it told vegans to order the white bun. The same piece says the wheat-based buns still contain animal ingredients. Fatburger leaves buns off its chart entirely, so ask the staff for the white bun and confirm it before you order. Fatburger also says its kitchens use common fryer oil, so strict vegans should weigh the fries.
Three Easy Meals From Fatburger Vegetarian Options
- The classic. An Impossible Burger with no mayo, a slice of cheese, and Fat Fries. Add lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and relish from the toppings, since Fatburger flags no allergens on any of them.
- The dairy-free plate. An Impossible Burger with no mayo and a Daiya slice, Skinny Fries, and a Craig’s Vegan Shake. Confirm the bun first.
- The light stop. Sweet Potato Fries and a Craig’s Vegan Shake if you only want a snack. The fries run 480 calories and the shakes 541 to 593.
Fatburger lists no salad and no other meatless sandwich on its menu page, so you’ll build most visits from those three meals. You can also skip the burger and build a plate from sides. Order Fat Fries, a shake, and onion rings if milk is fine for you.
Special Dietary Requirements and Allergies
Fatburger states on its chart that normal kitchen operations involve shared preparation and cooking areas, “including common fryer oil.” So your fries may come into contact with meat, or with the onion rings, which carry milk. Fatburger doesn’t name which items share which fryer, so ask your location.
- Chart date. Fatburger dates its allergen chart August 2008 in the footer, even though the file name carries 2026. Fatburger gives the same date for the nutrition data on its menu page. Treat both as a guide and confirm at the counter.
- Pickle juice. Fatburger warns on its menu page that both the mayonnaise and the mustard contain pickle juice.
- Nuts. Craig’s Vegan Shakes contain cashews. The Impossible Burger and the Daiya slice contain coconut oil. Fatburger still calls coconut a tree nut on its chart, but the FDA dropped coconut from its tree nut list in January 2025. Fatburger adds on its chart that refined coconut oil doesn’t count as an allergen.
- Gluten. Fatburger offers an Udi’s gluten-free bun. Go Dairy Free notes it contains egg.
- Questions. Fatburger asks guests with allergy questions to call its purchasing department at (310) 319-1850.
Tips for Vegetarians at Fatburger
- Order the Impossible Burger and say “no mayo” at the counter.
- Add a cheese slice, or ask for Daiya if you want the dairy-free version.
- Pair it with Skinny Fries, Fat Fries or Sweet Potato Fries. Skip the chili toppings.
- Ask for the white bun, or a lettuce wrap if you’re unsure. Go Dairy Free lists the lettuce wrap as a swap.
- Pick a Craig’s Vegan Shake over a regular shake if you avoid dairy.
- Ask about the Veggieburger, because the chart lists it and the menu page doesn’t.
Conclusion
Fatburger gives vegetarians one solid entree, the Impossible Burger, and a better-than-average set of sides and shakes. Order it without mayo, add cheese, and pick Craig’s shakes if you avoid dairy. Confirm the bun and fryer details with your location. Our master guide to eating vegetarian and vegan at restaurants covers the questions to ask at any chain, and the full restaurant guide list has more. If you like a burger stand, compare Five Guys, In-N-Out, Smashburger and The Habit.
