American regional fast food restaurant chain Whataburger is a Texas institution that launched back in the golden age of drive-ins in the 1950s. Known for its hamburgers, it offers a highly customizable menu, with 36,864 ways to order. Unfortunately, though, despite the number of custom creations offered by the chain, it’s a tad lacking in the vegan department, and they’ve yet to bring out a vegan burger. That said, at Vegan Unlocked, no challenge is too big, and with our full menu, secret menu, and editor’s picks, we’ll make sure you walk away from Whataburger with a full belly and a smile on your face, whether you’re ordering a sandwich or a salad.
The Vegan Unlocked Research Team searched through all 62 offerings and found two on-menu items with substitutions and a couple of rather mouthwatering customizable creations.
Whataburger scores 1.0 out of 5 stars with little to no vegan options on offer. So, you won’t find a Beyond burger in your bap, but we’ve still managed to collate a few tasty morsels for you to enjoy.
This score is calculated based on the number of vegan offerings on Whataburger’s menu “as is” or with an easy substitution, a restaurant vegan customizability score and finally, the number of vegan options vs non-vegan options. Learn more about Vegan Unlocked Ratings.
Secret Menu
These days, more and more big chains in the US are realizing the importance of catering to the vegan community, however, so far, Whataburger isn’t one of these chains. A quick glance at the menu may make you think you’ll have to leave this establishment empty-handed. However, you can always rely on the Vegan Unlocked team to turn that frown upside down. We sent in our team of researchers to do some digging, and they found a couple of scrumptious plant-based options that really expand your eating options at Whataburger.
Don’t fancy mixing it up? We’ve set out Whataburger’s vegan menu items and our editors’ top picks just below this section.
Veggie Sandwich
To order this salivating sandwich, you need to make a few adjustments. First, order the Avocado Bacon Burger without cheese, bacon, creamy pepper sauce, or the beef patty, and then add in some grilled onions, grilled jalapenos, shredded lettuce, pickles, and a squirt of mustard, to really zhuzh it up.
Spicy Breakfast Sandwich
If you’re someone who enjoys something a little spicy in the morning, order this sandwich. Order the egg sandwich without the egg or cheese (feel free to ignore any raised eyebrows) and add in avocado, green chiles, and grilled jalapenos. Then, get yourself a side of hash brown sticks and add them to the sandwich with a touch of spicy ketchup.
All the Vegan Options at Whataburger
So, what else is on the vegan menu at Whataburger?
Meals
- Garden Salad: Order this light bite without the cheese, add in some avocado with a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette, and you’ve got a simple yet satisfying salad.
- Apple & Cranberry Chicken(less) Salad: Bringing together both the sweet and savory, order this without the chicken and cheese, and add in some avocado and tomatoes to make it 100% plant-based.
Sides
- Hash brown sticks
- Fries
Kids
- Small fries
- Grilled Cheese (ordered without the cheese and add in grilled onions, tomato, lettuce, and pickles)
- Apple slices
Sauces, Add Ons, Toppings
- Grilled onions
- Lettuce
- Avocado
- Tomatoes
- Diced onions
- Grilled jalapenos
- Jalapenos
- Green chiles
- Spicy ketchup
- Mustard
- Pickles
Editor’s Picks: What Are the Top Vegan Meals at Whataburger?
Waking up in the morning can be a bit of a slog, and it’s not always easy to pry your eyes open. Luckily, this spicy breakfast sandwich will do it for you. This spice sensation is packed full of flavor and full of zing.
Why settle for sweet or savory when you can have both? Combine the two with Whataburger’s savory-sweet mashup, the Apple & Cranberry Chicken(less) Salad, loaded with veg and fruit.
What better way to get in some of your five-a-day than to stuff them between two slices of bread? At Whataburger the perfect sandwich for veg lovers is the veggie sandwich.
Note: Vegan Unlocked is a tool dedicated to helping people find plant-based options. We are not an allergen resource, and want to encourage our friends with allergies to proceed with caution. We cannot control and don’t always know when cross contamination takes place. As far as cross-contamination of vegan foods with animal products, this is completely up to your comfort level as an individual. Read our stance on cross contamination.
Frequently Asked Whataburger Questions
Are Whataburger Hash Browns Vegan?
Yes, the hash browns at Whataburger are indeed vegan – so if you’ve got a craving for some deep-fried potato, you’re in the right place.
Are Whataburger Shakes Vegan?
Unfortunately, Whataburger doesn’t offer any vegan shakes, as all of its bases contain dairy. However, there are some vegan drink options, including sodas, black coffee, and orange juice.
What Whataburger Sauces Are Vegan?
Whataburger has a couple of plant-based sauces, including spicy ketchup and mustard.
You can find out more information on Whataburger by visiting their website here.
Planning on visiting Whataburger soon?
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Whataburger’s Vegan Menu Was Brought to You by…
Madaline Dunn
Madaline is a vegan journalist, writer, and editor specializing in sustainability, current affairs, and social justice and the ways in which they intersect. Her work focuses on innovation and progress, prioritizing rigorous investigation. When she’s not writing, she’s in the kitchen experimenting with new plant-based recipes, reading a good book, or thinking about her next cup of coffee.
Cristina Garrido
Cristina is a vegan cook and recipe developer. She’s worked in several vegan kitchens, as a collaborator for different cooking blogs and now works as a consultant helping restaurants interested in making their menus more vegan-friendly. She’s passionate about cultural foods and culinary innovations. Her non-food related interests include thrifting, sustainability and exploring her new adoptive country, Portugal.
