Looking for Dennys vegetarian options? Here’s the full list. Denny’s is one of the easier sit-down chains for vegetarians. The menu is big, and you can customize almost everything. Build a meat-free Grand Slam, order a veggie burger, or keep it simple with pancakes, hash browns, and a salad. The one thing to watch is the grill, which Denny’s seasons with bacon. New to eating out meat-free? Our guide to eating vegetarian at restaurants pairs well with this one. Here’s exactly what to order, what to skip, and how to keep your meal vegan.
A Quick Look at Denny’s
Denny’s has served Grand Slams and late-night coffee for more than 70 years. It started life as a doughnut stand. Here are the milestones worth knowing:
- 1953: Harold Butler and Richard Jezak open “Danny’s Donuts” in Lakewood, California.
- 1959: Butler renames the growing chain “Denny’s Coffee Shops.”
- 1961: The chain shortens the name to simply “Denny’s.”
- 2002: The business becomes Denny’s Corporation and later trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker DENN.
- 2022: Denny’s acquires the Keke’s Breakfast Cafe brand for about $82.5 million.
- December 2024: The company announces plans to close roughly 150 underperforming locations.
- January 2026: TriArtisan Capital Advisors, Treville Capital Group, and Yadav Enterprises take Denny’s private in a roughly $620 million deal. The sale closed on January 20 and swept in the Keke’s Breakfast Cafe brand.
- Today: Denny’s operates and franchises roughly 1,500 restaurants from its headquarters in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Dennys vegetarian options: What to Order
Here’s a quick reference to the vegetarian options at Denny’s — plus the vegan picks — that you’ll find at most locations. Menus vary by region and change often. Treat this as a starting point, and confirm with your server before you order.
Denny’s Vegetarian and Vegan Options
| Menu Item | Vegetarian | Vegan |
|---|---|---|
| Veggie Burger (no cheese, no mayo) | Yes | Yes |
| Plant-Based Pancake Slam | Yes | Yes |
| Hearty 9-Grain Pancakes | Yes | Yes |
| Build Your Own Grand Slam (veggie picks) | Yes | Customizable |
| Santa Fe Skillet (no chorizo, egg, cheese) | Yes | Yes |
| Loaded Veggie Omelette | Yes | No |
| Oatmeal (made with water) | Yes | Yes |
| Grits (made with water, no butter) | Yes | Yes |
| Hash Browns | Yes | Yes |
| Seasoned Fries / Wavy-Cut Fries | Yes | Yes |
| Garden / House Salad (no cheese, no croutons) | Yes | Yes |
| Sweet Corn (no butter) | Yes | Yes |
| Whole Grain Rice Blend | Yes | Yes |
| Seasonal Fruit | Yes | Yes |
Vegetarian Breakfast at Denny’s
Breakfast is where Denny’s shines for vegetarians, since you can mix and match almost anything:
- Build Your Own Grand Slam: Pick from pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns, English muffins, and seasonal fruit. Skip the meat add-ons and you have a hearty vegetarian plate.
- Plant-Based Pancake Slam: Denny’s vegan pancakes served with seasonal fruit and hash browns. One of the easiest fully plant-based meals on the menu.
- Loaded Veggie Omelette: A fluffy omelette packed with vegetables and cheese. Vegetarian, but the egg and cheese keep it off the vegan list.
- Brioche French Toast: Denny’s dips thick brioche in an egg-and-milk batter, so French toast lands as vegetarian but not vegan. It’s a sweet, filling pick when you want something beyond pancakes.
- Oatmeal and Grits: Ask for them made with water instead of milk and they’re vegan-friendly.
- Hearty 9-Grain Pancakes: A plant-based pancake option you can dress up with fruit or syrup.
Vegetarian Burgers, Skillets, and Mains at Denny’s
For lunch and dinner, a few customizations open up some solid meat-free plates:
- Veggie Burger: Denny’s builds it on the Dr. Praeger’s California Veggie Patty — carrots, zucchini, peas, and broccoli — the patty that replaced the Beyond Burger in 2023. Order it without cheese and mayo for a vegan burger. Dr. Praeger’s does note possible egg and dairy cross-contact at its facility, so strict vegans may want to confirm.
- Santa Fe Skillet: A vegetable skillet that’s vegan when you leave off the chorizo, eggs, and cheese.
- Crazy Spicy Skillet: Order it without the meat and cheese for a spicy vegetable bowl.
- Garden Salad: Fresh greens and vegetables. Hold the cheese and croutons and choose a dairy-free dressing to make it vegan.
Vegetarian Sides and Snacks at Denny’s
The sides menu gives vegetarians plenty to round out a meal:
- Hash Browns: Crispy and vegan-friendly, though they share fryer space with other items.
- Seasoned Fries and Wavy-Cut Fries: Both are vegan by recipe, with the same shared-fryer caveat.
- Sweet Corn and Whole Grain Rice Blend: Ask for the corn without butter to keep it vegan.
- Seasonal Fruit: A simple, fully vegan side that works any time of day.
What’s Vegan at Denny’s?
Vegan options are more workable than you’d expect at a breakfast chain, as long as you customize and ask about the grill. Stick to these:
- Veggie burger, no cheese or mayo
- Plant-Based Pancake Slam and 9-grain pancakes
- Oatmeal and grits made with water
- Hash browns, seasoned fries, and wavy-cut fries
- Garden or house salad with no cheese, no croutons, and a dairy-free dressing
- Sweet corn (no butter), whole grain rice blend, and seasonal fruit
The biggest thing to watch is the grill. Denny’s seasons its flat-tops with bacon and fryer oil. If cross-contact is a dealbreaker, stick to items that aren’t grill-cooked, and tell your server about your needs.
Special Dietary Requirements and Allergies
Denny’s publishes allergen and nutrition information on its website and at the restaurant, so check there if you have specific needs. A few things to keep in mind:
- The grill carries bacon: Denny’s allergen guide says the kitchen seasons its grills with fryer oil and bacon. So grill-cooked items can pick up trace meat.
- Butter shows up on sides: Vegetables, corn, and toast are often finished with dairy butter. Ask for no butter if you’re vegan.
- Shared fryers: Fries and hash browns cook in oil shared with animal-based foods.
- Check sauces and dressings: Some Denny’s sauces and dressings hide dairy or egg, so scan the ingredients list or ask your server before you add one.
- Cross-contamination: This is a busy diner kitchen, so tell the staff about your needs and ask questions before ordering.
Tips for Vegetarians at Denny’s
- Build your own meal: Denny’s designed the Grand Slam and skillets for customizing, so swap the meat for extra veggies, eggs, or fruit.
- Ask about the grill: If the bacon-seasoned flat-top is a concern, request that your food be prepared on a clean surface or stick to non-grill items.
- Say “no butter” for vegan orders: It’s the most common hidden dairy at Denny’s, especially on vegetables and toast.
- Double-check the menu: Recipes and regional items change often, so confirm with staff or the online allergen guide before you order.
That’s the complete rundown of Dennys vegetarian options. Bookmark this guide so you always know what to order, and check our other restaurant guides for more Dennys-style meatless picks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion: What’s Vegetarian at Denny’s?
Denny’s is a reliable pick for vegetarians. The customizable menu spans breakfast all day, plus a real veggie burger and a growing list of plant-based picks. Keep the bacon-seasoned grill in mind, and ask for no butter when you want to stay vegan. From there, you can put together a good meal any time of day. For more meat-free dining strategies, see our master guide to eating vegetarian and vegan at restaurants, or browse all of our restaurant guides.
Craving more breakfast and diner options? Check out what’s vegetarian at IHOP, Waffle House, and Cracker Barrel.
