Looking for Subway vegetarian options? Here’s the full list. Subway is built for customization, which makes it one of the easier fast-food chains to eat meat-free — you pick the bread, the cheese, the veggies, and the sauce. The catch is that Subway’s only dedicated meat-free protein is the Veggie Patty (and it’s not in every store), so most vegetarians build a loaded veggie sub or salad. This guide breaks down exactly what’s vegetarian at Subway, what’s vegan, and how to order it. For more chains, start with our guide to what’s vegetarian at popular restaurants.
A Quick Look at Subway
Subway started in 1965, when 17-year-old Fred DeLuca borrowed $1,000 from family friend Peter Buck to open “Pete’s Super Submarines” in Milford, Connecticut. The name became Subway by 1968, and franchising took off in the 1970s. For years it was the largest restaurant chain in the world by location count.
The chain is privately held and headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, though investment firm Roark Capital agreed to acquire it in 2023. Subway still runs roughly 20,000 US locations and tens of thousands more worldwide. The build-your-own model is the whole point — and it’s exactly what makes the menu workable for vegetarians.
Subway Vegetarian Options: What to Order
The honest answer: Subway has no large dedicated vegetarian menu, but the build-your-own format means you can put together a satisfying meat-free meal almost anywhere. The Veggie Delite (veggies and sauce on bread) is the default, and the Veggie Patty turns it into a heartier sandwich where it’s available. Here’s how the core items sort out.
| Menu Item | Vegetarian | Vegan |
|---|---|---|
| Veggie Delite (veggies + sauce on bread) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes* |
| Veggie Patty sub | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes* (limited locations) |
| Veggie protein bowl / chopped salad (no meat) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes* |
| Cheeses (American, provolone, etc.) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (dairy) |
| Most breads (white, multigrain, sourdough, flatbread, wraps) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Italian Herbs & Cheese bread | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (cheese) |
| Cookies | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (egg/dairy) |
| Chips (varies by flavor) | ⚠️ Check | ⚠️ Check |
*Vegan as built without cheese and with a vegan sauce. The Veggie Patty is listed as vegan on Subway’s allergen guide, but it’s not stocked at every store — call ahead if it’s the reason you’re going.
Vegetarian Sandwiches and Subs
Two real meat-free subs anchor the menu. The Veggie Delite is the classic: your choice of bread piled with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, olives, and pickles, plus cheese and sauce. Add avocado where it’s offered for more staying power. The Veggie Patty sub swaps in Subway’s meat-free patty (a mix of vegetables and grains) for a heartier, protein-forward option — just confirm your location carries it.
Either one is easy to bulk up. Double the veggies at no extra charge, add cheese, and finish with a sauce that fits your diet. Vegetarians have the full topping bar to work with; vegans just skip the cheese and creamy sauces.
Vegetarian Breads, Cheeses, and Sauces
Breads: most Subway breads are vegan, including Artisan Italian (white), Hearty Multigrain, Sourdough, the Artisan Flatbread, and the wraps. The one to watch is Italian Herbs & Cheese — it has cheese baked in, so it’s vegetarian but not vegan.
Cheeses (American, provolone, Monterey cheddar, pepper jack, and Swiss where offered) are vegetarian but obviously not vegan. Sauces: oil, red wine vinegar, yellow mustard, sweet onion, and sweet onion teriyaki are vegan-friendly. Mayo-based and creamy dressings (ranch, chipotle southwest, creamy sriracha) contain egg or dairy, so they’re vegetarian but not vegan. When a specific sauce matters for a strict diet, check Subway’s published allergen guide or ask your location.
Vegetarian Salads, Sides, and Snacks
Prefer to skip the bread? Order any sub as a chopped salad or protein bowl with no meat — same toppings, same sauces, over greens. It’s an easy vegan order when you leave off the cheese and creamy dressings.
For sides, the cookies are vegetarian but not vegan (they contain egg and dairy). Chips vary by flavor — some plain varieties are vegan, but read the bag rather than assuming. Applesauce, where offered, is a safe vegan side.
What’s Vegan at Subway?
Vegan ordering at Subway is straightforward once you know the rules. Start with any bread except Italian Herbs & Cheese, since the rest are dairy- and egg-free. Add the Veggie Patty if your store stocks it, or just load up on vegetables for a Veggie Delite. Then skip the cheese and choose a vegan sauce: oil, red wine vinegar, yellow mustard, sweet onion, or sweet onion teriyaki all work.
The whole vegetable bar is fair game — lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, red onions, black olives, jalapeños, banana peppers, and pickles. Avocado, where offered, adds richness and is plant-based. The same build works as a salad or protein bowl if you’d rather skip the bread entirely. What to avoid as a vegan: all cheeses, mayo-based and creamy sauces, the cookies, and the Italian Herbs & Cheese bread. Internationally, Subway has rolled out more plant-based products (the UK trialed a Smashed Falafel sub and a vegan patty called the “Plant Patty”), but those aren’t standard on the US menu, so don’t count on them stateside.
Special Dietary Requirements and Allergies
Subway publishes a detailed US allergen and ingredient guide, which is the best source for anything strict. A few things to know: the chain doesn’t have a fully separate prep area, so cross-contact with meat is possible on shared surfaces and gloves — ask staff to change gloves if that matters to you. For gluten-free needs, Subway has tested gluten-free bread in some markets, but availability is limited and it’s prepped in a shared environment. There’s no certified vegan or kosher line; the meat-free items above are based on the standard ingredient list.
Tips for Vegetarians at Subway
- Call ahead if you want the Veggie Patty — it’s the only hearty meat-free protein and it’s not in every store.
- Load up: double veggies are free, so build a fuller sub or bowl.
- Going vegan? Skip the cheese, pick any bread except Italian Herbs & Cheese, and stick to oil, vinegar, mustard, or sweet onion sauce.
- Add avocado where offered for healthy fat and staying power.
- Ask for fresh gloves if cross-contact with meat is a concern.
- Turn any sub into a salad or protein bowl to cut the carbs while keeping the toppings.
Subway vegetarian options: frequently asked questions
Conclusion
Subway vegetarian options come down to one strength: control. There’s no big dedicated meat-free menu, but the build-your-own model lets you make a genuinely good vegetarian or vegan sub, salad, or bowl at almost any location. Grab the Veggie Patty if your store has it, load the veggies, and pick your bread and sauce to match your diet. For more chains, see our complete guide to eating vegetarian and vegan at restaurants, browse the full restaurant guides, or compare other sandwich shops like Jersey Mike’s and Jimmy John’s.
