Checkers and Rally’s: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

This is a sides-and-drinks chain, not a veggie-burger one. Checkers and Rally’s has no Impossible or Beyond Burger, so you’ll build your meal from famous fries, fried sides, salads, slushies, and a workaround burger order that drops the meat and the bacon. The double-drive-thru chain runs about 700 to 750 locations, so most people can find one nearby.

What to order at Checkers and Rally’s

Ask for a build-your-own burger, like the Fry Lover’s or a Baconzilla-style build, and drop the patty and the bacon. What’s left is a bun with lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, pickles, and ketchup or mustard, vegetarian as ordered and close to vegan if you skip the cheese and mayo. The Famous Seasoned Fries anchor the menu for most vegetarians here, and Fanta slushies, fountain sodas, and the BBQ and Buffalo dipping sauces are all vegan as served. A side salad rounds things out if you want something lighter.

What to watch out for

Confirm the bun at the counter if you’re vegan. The allergen chart doesn’t break it out separately, and plenty of fast-food buns contain milk or an egg wash. The fries’ vegan status is genuinely murky despite being vegetarian, so ask if that matters to you. Monsterella Stix, milkshakes, funnel cake, and the cheesecake sundaes are all vegetarian but not vegan. Skip anything billed as a fish item too, since the Crispy Fish Sandwich and Deep Sea Double both use Pollock and aren’t vegetarian at all.