Hardee’s is known for its hearty, indulgent fast food, focusing on burgers and breakfast items. Founded in 1960, the chain has built a reputation for its big, flavorful burgers like the Famous Star and its tasty breakfast biscuits. Whether you’re craving a classic cheeseburger or a biscuit smothered in sausage gravy, Hardee’s has you covered. They’re also famous for their crispy fries and thick milkshakes, making it a go-to spot for those who love a satisfying, down-to-earth meal.
In terms of atmosphere, Hardee’s keeps it pretty casual and straightforward, with a focus on delivering good food quickly. If you’re in the mood for something a bit different, they also have a range of chicken sandwiches and loaded fries that are worth trying. The menu might vary depending on the location, but the core appeal is all about big flavors and comfort food that hits the spot.
While Hardee’s is primarily known for its meaty offerings, it’s making strides to cater to vegans and those with dietary preferences. Recently, the chain has started introducing plant-based options like the Beyond Famous Star burger, which uses a Beyond Meat patty as a tasty alternative to traditional beef. This move reflects a growing trend in the fast-food industry to include more diverse and inclusive menu items.
However, it looks like Beyond Burger is canceled. So, what does Hardee’s offer for vegans nowadays?
What are the vegan options at Hardee’s?
For the first look, the question is is there anything vegan at Hardee’s at all? Hardee’s doesn’t offer any vegan items since they discontinued Beyond Burger. So, what else do vegans get at Hardee’s?
- Grits (specifically with water),
- Fries,
- Hash rounds,
- Crispy Curls,
- Apple Sauce Pouch
- coffees,
- drinks,
- water, and
that’s all literally for plant-based eaters. Everything else, even the plain biscuit and the apple turnover, is only vegetarian. Hardee’s peaches pie used to be vegan, however it is now peaches and cream fried pie which contains dairy. Luckily, Hardee’s doesn’t get rid of one of the best vegan options which is the curly fries.
Best vegan options at Hardee’s
Hardee’s doesn’t have Beyond Burger, a veggie burger, or anything similar to the Impossible burger. To be honest, there are only a few items for vegans at Hardee’s.
Crispy Curls
While there is no big competition for the best vegan option award at Hardee’s, this doesn’t detract from the merits of the Crispy Curls. However, nowadays, I can’t find them on the menu. I hope Hardee’s doesn’t get rid of the curly fries.
Crinkle Cut Fries (regular fries)
Regular fries are also vegan at Hardee’s since the seasoning is free from animal ingredients. However, cross-contamination is a huge risk, so it is a big no for many vegans. It is a little bit disappointing that you can only have ketchup as a dipping sauce.
Hash rounds
Another potato-based side dish, which is quite okay as a vegan option at Hardee’s.
How does Hardee’s look as a vegan in a nutshell?
In short, it is disappointing. There isn’t a single vegan option at Hardee’s which is not a common side dish. Unfortunately, the restaurant chain gave up the vegan way when they canceled Beyond Burger a few years ago. Now, there is nothing but crispy curls, hash rounds, and crinkle fries and beverages. Also, the onion rings at Hardee’s aren’t vegan since they contain egg and dairy products. There are many similar restaurant chains that are far better for vegans, such as Burger King or White Castle. As a final note, in Hardee’s defense, there are worse restaurants, such as McDonald’s, where even the French fries are not vegan.