Are the Sonic french toast sticks vegan?

Sorry, nope! The french toast sticks include dairy, so they are not vegan.

Is the Sonic pretzel vegan?

Yes, the pretzel is vegan-friendly. Just make sure to substitute the side of cheese sauce for a different dairy-free sauce or condiment packet.

Are Sonic onion rings vegan?

The onion rings are no longer vegan. Previously, their allergen page did not list them as having any milk, but managers and employees of this diner claimed that the rings are dipped in vanilla soft serve mix before frying––making them off-limits for vegans. Sonic finally gave a clear answer when they updated their allergen guide, that the onion rings do, in fact, contain milk.

Is the Signature Sauce at Sonic vegan?

The signature sauce at Sonic is not vegan. It contains eggs as part of the main ingredients.

What's Vegan at Sonic? Here's Your Complete Guide

Vegan options at Sonic can be a bit limited, especially if you’re used to the variety offered at other fast-food spots like the Impossible and Beyond burger selections. Even Sonic’s veggie burger isn’t vegan—go figure! However, fear not, because there are still some refreshing choices to brighten your day.

Their summery drinks, slushes, and sides are perfect for a quick, satisfying treat. When it comes to vegan picks, potato lovers rejoice! Sonic’s french fries and tater tots are your go-to snacks for that crunchy, savory fix. While the vegan options for kids might be a bit basic—think buns with veggies, tots, fries, applesauce, and drinks—there’s still something to curb their hunger.

For the best experience, swing by Sonic when you’re in the mood for a sweet or salty snack on the go—but not when you’re hungry enough for a full meal. Skip over the meaty burgers and dairy-packed drinks and savor the flavor of crispy fries, refreshing lemonades, fruity slushies, and portable pretzels.

With time and patience, we might even see more vegan delights added to Sonic’s menu in the future!

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How To Order Vegan From the Sonic Menu

It’s no surprise that Sonic is not exactly top of the list when it comes to vegan-friendly diner food. With Sonic vegetarian options at an all time low, they’re not really luring us in with anything spectacular. But, if you find yourself with no other alternative than vegan food at Sonic, this is what you can do:

Pick The Pretzel – Order a pretzel with no butter and no cheese sauce. Choose any of the vegan-friendly dipping or condiment sauces listed below.
Construct Your Own Sandwich – Fill one of the bread options with as many sandwich toppings as you can. Slather with plant-based dipping sauces and off you go!
Fill Up On Fries & Tots – Will you be fueling up on fries or tasty tater tots this time? Either way, there are several saucy options to choose from besides plain ol’ ketchup and mustard. If you pass on them, you can always make this tater tot casserole for dinner when you get home!
Imbibe A Fruity Beverage – Luckily, there are lots of bright beverages to order so make sure to go there thirsty. From fruity lemonades to super sweet slushies, there should be a flavor to fit everyone.
Choose A Sweet Or Savory Snack – Applesauce or Fritos corn chips are both up for grabs. If you’re hoping for something healthier, select the applesauce. If the corn chips are calling to you, choose that salty, crunchy treat instead.

Sonic Vegan Menu Options

Does Sonic have vegan options? If you were hoping for a Sonic veggie burger, you’re out of luck. For some strange reason, the veggie burger contains dairy (why?!?) and is swiftly off the menu for us plant-powered folks. They do have some diner foods that are vegan-friendly, but the few they offer are not at all special. So, our answer must be a (very) unenthusiastic ‘yes.’

Breads

All of the bread options listed (besides the hoagie bun and pretzel) vary from location to location and some might also include dairy, depending on the bakery. Make sure to ask before ordering. None of these breads are suitable for gluten-sensitive vegans:

Bagel (not available at all locations)
Hamburger Bun
Hoagie Bun
Hot Dog Bun
Pretzel (order with no butter or cheese sauce)
Tortilla

Condiment Packets

Peer at the plant-based packet list below and pour freely over your fries, tots, or veggie-filled sandwich. The sweet sauces might even be tasty on a pretzel or tortilla. Our tip is to be as creative as possible with these condiments:

BBQ Sauce
Buffalo
Grape Jelly
Ketchup
Lemon Juice
Marinara
Mustard
Pepper
Salsa
Salt
Strawberry Jam
Sugar
Sugar Substitute
Sweet & Sour Sauce
Sweet Relish
Syrup

Fried Foods & Sides

Because there aren’t any separate fryers for animal-products and plant-based fried foods, it’s a personal choice whether you feel okay eating these items. Asking at each location is an option, though. You may get lucky and find a Sonic that will make your crispy fries or tots in oil that’s free of meat miasma. Here are the vegan options you can expect:

Fries
Tater Tots
Soft Pretzel Twist (order with no butter or cheese sauce)

Sandwich Toppings

This is almost the best part of the Sonic vegan menu. If they agree to give you as many toppings as you wish, you could actually make a somewhat satisfying, appetizing sandwich out of these varied veggies.

Avocado
Dill Pickle Chips
Dill Pickle Spears
Fritos Corn Chips
Hatch Green Chilies
Jalapeños
Lettuce
Onion (diced and grilled)
Sauerkraut
Sport Peppers
Sweet Pickle Relish
Tomato

Sauces

Slather a sauce (or two!) on each side of a burger bun or on the inside of a tortilla before adding your veggie toppings. At least you’ll have a hint of flavor, since you have to do without an actual vegan hamburger patty.

Buffalo
Celery Salt
Hickory BBQ
Ketchup
Mustard
Salt and Pepper Blend

Syrups and Flavor Add-Ins

All of these simple syrups can be added to any slush base for more flavor and fun.

Fresh Fruit – Lemon, Lime, Mint, and Strawberry
Regular Syrups – Blue Coconut, Blue Raspberry, Cherry, French Vanilla, and Grape
Sugar-Free Syrups – Blackberry, Diet Cherry, Mango, Peach, and Raspberry

Toppings for Sweets

Be brave and ask for a cup filled with fresh bananas. Then, top with any (or all!) of the garnishes listed below that strike your fancy. It won’t beat banana nice cream, but it might come in as a close second, especially if you added Oreos, peanut butter cups, or sweet strawberry topping!

Apple Slices
Banana
Graham Crackers
Lemon
Lime
Maraschino Cherries
Oreos
Peanut Butter Topping
Strawberry Topping

Vegan Drinks

The vegan drinks at Sonic are pretty sweet, but keep in mind that it’s only the liquid gulp-y beverages that are up for grabs. All of the creamy shakes are off-limits since there are no dairy-free milk choices on the menu. However, it’s good to know that the slush base is vegan, too. Order these to keep it vegan:

All-Natural Lemonade (Not quite as refreshing as this strawberry mint lemonade, but a good option.)
Fresh Brewed Iced Tea – Sweetened or Unsweetened
Green Mountain Hot Coffee – Without milk or cream
Signature Limades – Cherry, Cranberry, Diet Cherry, Diet Lime, Lime, and Strawberry
Slushes – Lemonade, Limeade, or with Syrups or Add-Ins.
Ocean Water
Soft Drinks – Coca-Cola Products

Note: The Cold Brew Iced Coffee and Hot Chocolate both contain dairy. But, when you get back home, you can always make your own comforting and delicious mug of dairy-free hot chocolate!

NOT Vegan at Sonic

Asian Sweet Chili Sauce – Surprisingly has milk as an ingredient (as well as soy, wheat, and gluten), according to their allergen page.
Blasts, Shakes, and Sundaes – All made with dairy with no dairy-free milk options.
Everyday Deals – None of the everyday deal menu items are vegan-friendly.
More Beverages – The Cold Brew Iced Coffee and Hot Chocolate both contain dairy.
Pickle-Os – These mini appetizers are made with dairy, so are not vegan.
Signature Sauce, Slaw and Tarter Sauce – All contain eggs.

More Sonic Menu Vegan Information

When you get down to the nitty gritty on the Sonic allergen menu, you’ll find a few interesting things.

The bun oil, fryer shortening, and liquid margarine that they use for cooking and preparing food are all accidentally vegan.
The only vegan dessert option at Sonic is applesauce. At some locations, apple slices are available.
Keep in mind that NERDS candy add-in is not vegan. Only the grape NERDS flavor is vegan-friendly (made without carmine, a dye made from insects) and this flavor is NOT the one used at Sonic locations.

How to Use the Sonic Allergen Menu

Check out the Sonic’s Allergen and Nutrition Information PDFs to make sure that you are purchasing a vegan-friendly item. They also share a helpful sodium guide for items that are a little bit lower sodium than other food options. The menu items offered at Sonic don’t seem to change very often, but you may want to double check before you visit.

Browse the Sonic menu before ordering. You can print out their full menu page here.
If ordering from Sonic 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 Sonic), it might be a better idea to go there directly to order.
Be careful when new and exciting seasonal products are offered at Sonic. Double-check the allergens and ingredients to make sure the item is vegan before purchasing.

Creating a Kinder and More Accessible Vegan Sonic Experience

Even though Sonic has not yet added any plant-based burgers, dairy-free desserts, or scrumptious shake options to their menu, we can still hope with all our might that our vegan voices will be heard. Because more and more burger joints are adding heavenly vegan hamburger options on the fast food front, we’re pretty sure that Sonic will soon be mighty motivated to include at least one vegan cheese choice and maybe a speciality Sonic drive in veggie burger. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if they added even a small section of their menu to plant-based, dairy-free deliciousness? In the meantime, we can always write to, call, or contact the managers of any location to make our requests.

Share your preferred Sonic veggie burger, dessert, or meal item wishlist on a Sonic vegan menu. Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!