Krystal: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Krystal’s vegetarian menu is thin. You’re mostly limited to sides and breakfast items, with no dedicated meatless entree and no meatless combo meal. The chain built its name on the original Krystal, a square beef slider, so it’s not surprising vegetarians have to work around the edges of the menu rather than order straight off it. There’s no formal vegetarian marking system to lean on either, and the short list of options makes this one of the harder chains on this site to eat a full meal at.

What to order at Krystal

French fries, hashbrown Kryspers (tots), and Party Fries or Party Tots in the plain version are the most reliable picks. Plain grits without butter are vegan, and a plain biscuit or an egg and cheese biscuit with the meat left off cover breakfast. Onion rings are usually vegetarian too, though the batter often contains egg or dairy. Beyond that, milkshakes, sundaes, and the apple and cherry turnovers round out dessert.

What to watch out for

Nearly every vegetarian side at Krystal shares a fryer with chicken and meat items, so ask about that if cross-contact is a concern. Some locations have historically used beef tallow in the fryer, which is worth confirming directly with staff rather than assuming. The turnovers, glaze bombs, and milkshakes all contain dairy or egg, so none of the dessert menu is vegan.