How To Order Vegan at In-N-Out

If you’re vegan and craving a meal from In-N-Out Burger, you might wonder what’s on the menu for you. While In-N-Out isn’t exactly known for plant-based options, there are perhaps a couple of ways to put together a satisfying snack (but definitely not a meal). Although eating vegan at In-N-Out Burger only means a customized “burger” and a single crispy side, it is possible to have vegan-friendly food at this classic fast-food spot. You’ve just got to think outside the bun a little bit.

In-N-Out’s menu is famously simple (which sounds good, but is actually pretty bad), but with a few tips and tricks, you can enjoy a couple of options without animal products. We’ll go through how to order, what to avoid, and a few creative hacks for making your meal a bit more filling and delicious. Whether you’re a long-time vegan or just curious about plant-based choices, this guide has you covered for your next trip to In-N-Out.

Make sure you check out all of our vegan fast food guides before you head out on the road or get an attack of the munchies. Keep reading and we’ll share everything you need to know about ordering at In-N-Out!

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How to Navigate the Menu at In-N-Out Burger

Although this Pacific Coast burger restaurant has a small step above McDonald’s, the step is seriously tiny. You have three vegan menu options at In-N-Out for banishing your belly hunger and that includes the beverage.

Here’s what we suggest:

Veggie “Burger” – Banish the word “burger” from your mind and envision a piece of lettuce, a slice of tomato, and ready-sliced red onion surrounded by a bun. We’re not sure if adding ketchup and mustard will make much difference, but it’s worth a try.
Fries – At least there’s one item that is truly vegan. While it’s fun to eat a lot of fries, your stomach might not agree with you after a while. But, it’s something, right? Make sure to smother with ketchup and mustard for extra flavor. Or, a big dollop of homemade white bean hummus (if you remember to bring it with you).
Beverage – Choose from a chilled Coca-Cola product, a pink lemonade, or iced tea. If you’re craving something warm to drink, they do have hot tea and coffee on the menu.

NOTE: If you know that you’ll be visiting In-N-Out ahead of time, you can bring along your own prepared vegan burger (wrapped in foil) and slip it between the buns. BYOB takes on a whole new meaning when you’re vegan!

Does In-N-Out Have a Veggie Burger?

They do and they don’t. In-N-Out offers an item (not actually on the menu) that they call a “veggie burger” but, as usual, it’s only a bun filled with burger toppings. And, the worst part is that it’s not even vegan! They add a special sauce on top that is made with mayo, so this veggie “no-burger” must be ordered without the sauce.

If you order this, you’ll have a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, and onion. So, basically, it’s a bun with tomatoes, lettuce, and a few onions. You even have to add your own ketchup and mustard.

Are the Fries at In-N-Out Burger Vegan?

Finally! Fully vegan fries at a fast food restaurant! Lucky for us, In-N-Out only offers one menu item that is deep fried—the fries. According to the In-N-Out informants, the fries are “Fresh, hand-cut potatoes prepared in 100% sunflower oil.” I bet you didn’t know that there are other ways to request your fries. You can ask for:

Light – Lightly fried.
Well – Deep fried and very crispy.
Extra Light – Extra lightly fried with a softer center.
Extra Well – Extra well fried and even more crispy.
No Salt – No salt added.
Extra Salt – More salt added.
Famous Animal Style – This version has a layer of dairy cheese, a dollop of their famous spread, and grilled onions on top. You can always ask if they will just add grilled onions without the added animal products.

Vegan Condiments

Just two condiments? Only ketchup and mustard. That’s it.

Beverages

In-N-Out offers Coca-Cola products at all of their locations. They also offer milk and hot cocoa (neither having a plant-based option). Here’s a list of other vegan-friendly beverages to choose from:

Signature Pink Lemonade
Lite Pink Lemonade
Iced Tea (sweet and unsweetened)
Coffee

NOT Vegan at In-N-Out

Pretty much any choice you make at this burger joint is beef-centered or has a dairy derivative, so be prepared for disappointment. (You could always consider making a delicious vegan burger at home instead!)

Milkshakes – All of their milkshakes are made with dairy milk. A simple substitution for dairy milk (or ice cream) could be oat, almond, or coconut milk. If many people ask In-N-Out, maybe they would consider adding a plant-based milk option.
Grilled Cheese – If you’re vegetarian, this is an extra option for ordering. As with the milkshake, this savory sandwich (which is identical to the veggie “burger”, but with cheese slices added) could easily be created with vegan cheese since there are so many cheezy, plant-based choices on the market right now.

Helpful Hints When Ordering Vegan at In-N-Out

Browse the In-N-Out menu before ordering.
If ordering In-N-Out Burger online or through a delivery service, make sure you clearly specify any substitutions you would like. If you’re worried that your request may not be honored (or seen by the server at In-N-Out), it might be a better idea to go there directly to order.
Check out their Nutritional Information and Allergen Information page to make sure that you are purchasing a vegan-friendly item. The menu items offered at In-N-Out don’t seem to change very often, but you may want to double check before you visit.
Be careful when new and exciting seasonal products are offered at In-N-Out Burger. Double check the allergens and ingredients to make sure the item is vegan before purchasing

Creating a Kinder and More Accessible In-N-Out Vegan Experience

We suppose that it’s highly unlikely that In-N-Out will offer a plant-based burger or vegan grilled cheese in the future, but if Burger King and KFC can come up with vegan-friendly food, we’ll still keep hoping! There’s nothing stopping this bold, burger-centric fast food bistro from featuring an animal-free option for us, is there? In the meantime, we can always write to, call, or contact the managers of any location to make our requests. PETA has a petition that you can sign asking In-N-Out to offer a plant-based burger option.