These incredible vegan burgers exceed their animal-based counterparts from Pennsylvania to California.
Vegan sandwiches at fast-food chains are no longer uncommon, but vegan eateries used to make their own super-stacked veggie burgers before Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat penetrated drive-thru culture. While both vegans and omnivores have praised the Burger King Impossible Whopper and Carl’s Jr. Beyond Famous Star, fast-food fans are still waiting for McDonald’s McPlant to go worldwide. Vegan establishments do it best, as these 12 plant-based burgers demonstrate. Vegan handholds are putting the Big Mac to shame from Los Angeles to New York City, and everywhere in between.
- Vurger Guyz’s Deluxe Vurger, Los Angeles, CA
Vurger Guyz, beloved by Angelenos and Hollywood celebrities, is a must-see when visiting the City of Angels. The Deluxe Vurger is a plant-based burger topped with vegan American cheese, lettuce, raw onions, pickles, tomatoes, and caramelized grilled onions before being slathered with secret Vurger Sauce. Make it twice as big for a more meaty burger.
- Double at Monty’s Good Burger, many locations around California
Monty’s has been dubbed the “Vegan In-N-Out” because it closely resembles the Southern California burger chain, even down to the secret sauce. On a local bakery artisan bread, our trademark sandwich is layered with two Impossible patties, melty Follow Your Heart cheese, house spread, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and grilled onions. Serve with a strawberry shake and a side of crispy-yet-tender fries.
- Tustin, CA’s Freesoulcaffe serves a truffle burger.
To be honest, the size of this burger is a little disappointing. What it lacks in volume, it more than makes up for in flavor. This Freesoulcaffe portable is made with a meaty vegetable-based patty and topped with caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and truffle aioli on a flax seed bun, this handheld is the most gourmet burger on our list.
- Burgerlords’ Cheeseburger in Los Angeles, California
The recently revised — and now totally plant-based — menu of this veg-friendly stalwart is the reason for joy. Choose the Burgerlords Cheeseburger, which comes with a housemade patty, Follow Your Heart cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and Burgerlords’ unique 2,000 Island sauce. For complete happiness, serve your handheld with a side of animal-style Lord of the Fries and a tahini milkshake.
- Slutty Vegan in Atlanta, Georgia
In Georgia, what started as a small vegan food truck has grown into a successful vegan micro chain. Each menu item is a good pick, but the Slutty Vegan’s Fussy Hussy is the place to go if you’re searching for a McDonald’s knockoff. Toss a plant-based burger with vegan cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and Slut Sauce into your mouth. What distinguishes this burger from the Big Mac? It’s served with two vegan Hawaiian buns on the side. Pinky Cole, you’re fulfilling our wishes!
- The Big D, Doomie’s Home Cookin’, Los Angeles, CA
To get this Big Mac knockoff at Doomie’s Home Cookin’ in Los Angeles, you must inquire about the hidden menu. With two vegan patties and three buns, plus all of the typical Big Mac toppings, it’s hard to believe this burger didn’t come through the drive-thru.
- The Maverick at Next Level Burger
Next Level Burger is reinventing fast food one state at a time, with outlets in California, Oregon, Washington, New York, and Texas. Whole Foods Markets are home to several of the company’s eleven locations. To order, skip the hot bar and go straight to the Next Level register. The Maverick is a house-seasoned steak. Beyond a special sauce-slathered patty, your choice of vegan cheese, crunchy onion rings, tempeh bacon, smokey barbecue sauce, dill pickles, lettuce, and tomato sandwiched inside an organic wheat bun.
- Big WAC at Phoenix, AZ’s Green New American Vegetarian
Green New American Vegetarian, Phoenix’s favorite casual vegan diner, offers a burger on its menu that rivals all other fast-food competitors: the Big WAC. This sandwich is wonderful in its simplicity, consisting of a double patty served with special sauce, pickles, cheese, lettuce, and onions on a typical sesame seed bun.
- Modern Cheese Burger at Modern Love in Omaha, NB, and Brooklyn, NY.
You may rest confident that none of the ingredients in the Modern Love Cheeseburger originate from a factory. You’ll be on your way to burger ecstasy after biting into this scratch-made bad boy prepared with a seitan bean patty, cashew cheddar, tomato, lettuce, red onion, pickles, and fancy sauce.
- J Selby’s, Dirty Secret Burger in Minneapolis, MN
J Selby’s is an important part of the expanding vegan cuisine scene in Minneapolis. You can guarantee the menu contains a fantastic Big Mac-style burger since it is known for its plant-based versions of fast-food, bar, and diner items. To replicate this McDonald’s classic, the kitchen uses two meaty vegan patties.
- Smokehouse Burger at HipCityVeg in Pennsylvania and Washington, DC
At HipCityVeg, you can’t go wrong. Even the most intense desires will be satisfied by the fan-favorite Smokehouse Burger. Pair this veg handheld with sweet potato fries and a chocolate milkshake for a dinner you won’t soon forget, made with a Beyond Meat patty and topped with crispy onions, and tangy barbecue sauce, and smoked gouda.
12. Cheeseburger Deluxe at Munchies Diner in Santa Ana, CA
Munchies has lately put Orange County, CA on the map, despite the fact that the beachfront region isn’t known for its diner culture. The Cheeseburger Deluxe—a house patty burger slathered in melted American cheese and topped high with lettuce, pickles, onions, G sauce, and tomatoes, all sandwiched between toasted sesame seed buns—is one of the many over-the-top diner-style treats on the menu. If space allows, add a VcFlurry for a nice touch of nostalgia.
