Worth the hype? Reviewing vegan fast-food at Greggs, KFC, Subway & More

When Greggs launched their vegan sausage roll in 2019 it quickly became one of their bestselling products. It seemed like EVERYONE was talking about it - vegetarians, vegans and meat-eaters. It proved that plant-based options are in demand, and other food chains soon started to take notice.

I feel like there's been a huge shift over the last few years. Documentaries such as What the Health and The Game Changers on Netflix have encouraged more people to seriously consider reducing their meat intake.

When I went vegetarian in 2010 I'd have been lucky to walk into a restaurant and find a bean burger or tomato pasta on the menu. Fast forward a decade and I'm starting to lose count of all the new vegan products that have been launched!

In honor of veganuary, over the past few weeks, I've been testing some of the new vegan options at fast-food chains, including:

• The KFC Vegan Burger
• Gregg's Vegan Steak Bake
• Subway Meatless Meatball Marinara 
• Papa John's Vegan Sausage & "Pepperoni" Pizza
• McDonalds Veggie Dippers

I've seen a few people (mostly meat-eaters) asking "Why would you want to eat something that tastes like meat if you're a vegetarian/vegan?"

The answer is pretty simple. There are a lot of different reasons why people stop eating meat. Some people do it for health reasons or because of the negative impact the meat and dairy industries have on the environment. Some people simply don't want to eat a dead animal. I don't actually know many people who went vegetarian or vegan because they don't like the taste of meat.

So without further ado, let's get stuck in...

The KFC Vegan Burger

I first tried "The Imposter" burger when KFC were trialing it in selected stores last summer. The fillet is made out of Quorn and is coated in the Colonel’s Original Recipe herbs and spices. It comes in a bun with lettuce and vegan mayo.

I really enjoyed this. It's been a long time since I ate chicken, but even my Dad commented on how realistic it tastes. Mine was a little dry and could have done with a bit more sauce. I've heard other people saying theirs was swimming in mayo, so it obviously depends on the person who makes it.

My only complaint is that there are limited options if you want to get this as part of a "meal." KFC still insists on cooking their chips in the same oil as their chicken, meaning they're not even suitable for vegetarians * side-eye.*

Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gregg's Vegan Steak Bake

My Nan actually bought this for me as a surprise. I showed up at her house and she'd bought a little vegan feast from Greggs, including the Steak Bake, sausage roll and glazed ring doughnut (which are also now vegan!)

I love Gregg's vegan sausage rolls and will often pick one up if I'm in town and need something quick for lunch. However, unfortunately, I wasn't the biggest fan of the steak bake. The pastry was nice, and the filling was very "meaty." I can see why other people might like it, but it just wasn't to my taste.

Rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

Subway Meatless Meatball Marinara

I have a bit of an obsession with Subway. When I worked in a shopping centre I used to go there 2 or 3 (sometimes 4) times per week on my lunch break.

I ordered the Meatless Meatball Marinara on Hearty Italian bread and got it toasted with (vegan) cheese. To finish, I added lettuce, spinach, olives, sweetcorn, and pickles with a squeeze of vegan garlic aioli.

This was so good, I couldn't stop talking about it for days after! I'd happily order this again over the vegan patty, although next time I'd probably get it without cheese because I couldn't really taste it.

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Papa John's Vegan Sausage & "Pepperoni" Pizza

Papa John's have always been one step ahead of the game when it comes to vegan-friendly takeaway pizza. In 2020 they added four new vegan pizzas to their menu, which feature either Vegan Sausage and/or Jackfruit Pepperoni.

I ordered a large "Create Your Own" pizza. I think I used the Garden Party pizza as a base, removed the cheese, then added vegan sausage, jackfruit pepperoni, and BBQ sauce. Vegan cheese can be a bit hit-and-miss and I didn't want to risk not liking it, so I ordered my pizza without any "sheese." I did however order some potato tots and "sheese" rolls to try.

Let's just say I'm glad I ordered my pizza without the "sheese." I tried one of the rolls but I wasn't a fan. The fake cheese tasted really artificial and gloopy. Luckily my sister was happy to finish them off. I think it all comes down to personal taste.

The faux "sausage" and "pepperoni" are really nice. Meaty with a hint of spice. I'd definitely order them again. I used to love BBQ chicken/meat feast pizza before I turned veggie and this took me right back!

  Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

McDonald's Veggie Dippers

When McDonald's announced they were releasing their first-ever "vegan" meal, I was intrigued. Could my dreams of vegan chicken nuggets FINALLY be coming true? Or maybe they were going to surprise us with a plant-based Big Mac...?

Unfortunately not. Apparently, the best McDonald's could come up with is... mashed up vegetables in breadcrumbs. Which you can already get in the veggie wrap and veggie burger.

10 years ago this might have been *revolutionary* but when you compare them to what other fast-food joints have come up with, they're pretty uninspiring. According to the website, the veggie dippers are made with red pepper, rice, sundried tomato pesto, and split peas, coated in crispy breadcrumbs.

I thought I'd give them a try, but I didn't have high hopes. My verdict? They were ok. Kind of like the cheap bean burgers you can pick up in the supermarket. Not something I'd order again in a hurry.

Rating: 2/5 ⭐⭐

Final thoughts - what are the best vegan fast-food options?

Out of all the new vegan options I tried, the Meatless Meatball Marinara from Subway is the one I'd be most likely to purchase again. Although I also enjoyed the pizza from Papa John's and the KFC vegan burger.

I've seen a few questions over why vegetarians/vegans would want to support some of these fast food companies, knowing that they slaughter millions of animals every year. This question is hard to answer, but I can speak for what I personally believe.

For me, it's a convenience thing. I don't eat a lot of fast-food (everything in moderation) and I would never *choose* to go to a KFC or McDonalds. Not if there were other options available. However, if I'm out in town with my meat-eating friends or family and they do want to eat at one of these places, it's good to have the choice. Previously I would have had to find somewhere else to eat, or gone hungry.

Have you tried any of the new vegan options at fast-food chains such as KFC and Subway?

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