Subway’s BBQ Plant Protein Is in the U.K.—So Why Are U.S. Menus Still Missing Out? (Plus 8 Other Chains Holding Out on Vegan Options)

Isn’t it infuriating when major restaurant chains refuse to fully embrace the vegan revolution? Sure. But you know what’s even more maddening? When they do offer amazing vegan options—just not here in the U.S. What exactly is the hold‑up?

The eight restaurant chains below have some explaining to do. Actually, scratch that—we don’t need explanations. We just want them to update their U.S. menus with the vegan goods they’re already serving elsewhere. Check out which chains are still leaving American vegans hanging, and use the links to take action while you’re at it.

Subway

Subway is out here teasing American vegans like it’s a sport. The chain just expanded its plant‑based menu in the UK with a brand‑new BBQ Pulled Plant Protein filling—a smoky‑sweet, saucy, summer‑ready option available nationwide starting June 3, 2026.

Domino’s

Domino’s Australia offers dairy-free cheese Down Unda. Does that sound fair to you? Narr! We’re sick of drooling, and the amount of fluid we’re losing is just not sustainable. 🤤 Domino’s, we need you to get it together in the U.S., and we will talk in a fake Aussie accent about koala bears and dingoes just to get your attention if we have to.

Papa John’s

Brits can choose from several different vegan pizzas at Papa John’s U.K., including a jackfruit “pepperoni” pie and The Vegan Works, which comes with jackfruit “pepperoni,” vegan sausage, chestnut mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and black Herrera olives. Leading sustainability consultant Bioregional even analyzed the environmental footprint of two vegan Papa John’s U.K. pizzas and found that producing them uses 36% less water and 65% less land as well as emitting 58% fewer greenhouse gases than a pizza made with animal flesh and cow’s milk cheese. What’s Papa John’s in the U.S. waiting for?! Papa John’s: better ingredients, better pizza, better make this stuff available in the U.S.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut still offers vegan cheese and multiple vegan pizzas in the U.K., including options made with Violife. Germany also continues to offer Violife‑topped pizzas and several vegan‑as‑is menu items. These offerings originally expanded after pressure from PETA Germany—and they’ve stuck.

In the U.S., Pizza Hut has not launched vegan cheese nationwide. The chain previously tested Beyond Meat Italian Sausage Crumbles and Beyond Pepperoni, but those tests ended without a national rollout. So Americans are still waiting for a fully vegan, cheesy, delivery‑ready pizza experience.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s already offers the McPlant or other vegan burgers in Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands, Portugal, Austria, Sweden, Finland, and South Africa. In addition, Norway gets vegan nuggets in its Happy Meals. But then there’s the U.S.—crickets.

In the U.S., the McPlant test ended in 2022 and has not returned. No vegan burger, no vegan nuggets, and the fries remain non‑vegan. Come on, McDonald’s—this is an epic McFail!

Burger King

Burger King remains one of the most vegan‑friendly global chains:

• Germany: Still offers a huge vegan menu, including Vegan Whoppers, Vegan Royale, vegan nuggets, and more—all made with The Vegetarian Butcher.
• South Africa: Continues to offer the Vegan Royale and other plant‑based items.
• U.K.: Still has multiple vegan options and has run several all‑vegan pop‑ups.

In the U.S., Burger King offers the Impossible Whopper, but vegan chicken options have not been made permanent.

KFC

In the U.S., KFC stands for one thing: Kentucky Fried Cruelty. But in Canada, Germany, and the U.K., the fast-food chain offers vegan-friendly fried chicken sandwiches at select locations:

• U.K.: The Vegan Chicken Sandwich (with vegan mayo!) has returned in limited runs and continues to appear seasonally.
• Germany: Testing of the Kentucky Fried Vegan Burger has continued in select cities.
• Canada: Has offered vegan chicken sandwiches in limited-time promotions.
• China: Previously served Oatly vegan ice cream, though this is no longer widely available.

In the U.S., KFC’s Beyond Chicken test ended in 2022 and has not returned.

Dunkin’

In the U.S., Dunkin’ still offers oat milk, almond milk, and vegan-friendly drinks and food like avocado toast—but no vegan donuts.

In Belgium and the Netherlands, Dunkin’ continues to offer a large vegan donut menu, including fun flavors like Mango Frosted and Strawberry Rainbow. These menus are still active and expanding.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell is leaving the U.S. high and dry while it indulges other parts of the world with its innovative vegan options. Internationally:

• Finland: Still offers a vegan burrito meal and other plant‑based items.
• U.K.: Continues to offer Oumph! vegan meat in select items.
• Other regions: Several European countries still have rotating vegan proteins.

The U.S. remains stuck with beans, potatoes, and customization—good, but not as exciting as the global options.

What YOU Can Do

Restaurants across Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond are serving incredible vegan options while the U.S. gets left behind—but YOU can help change that. Check out PETA’s guide to ordering vegan at fast‑food chains—every time you choose a compassionate option, you’re helping hens who want to nurture their chicks, cows who want to stay close to their friends, and other living, feeling individuals who suffer on filthy farms.

Tell fast‑food chains to step it up:

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