The Ultimate Guide to Vegetarian Eating at Ben’s Fast Food

Why Vegetarian Eating Matters (and How We Make It Easy)

Choosing a vegetarian lifestyle is a powerful way to prioritize health, sustainability, and flavor—without giving up the joy of eating. At Ben’s Fast Food, we make it easy to enjoy satisfying, craveable meals built entirely without meat. Whether you’ve been vegetarian for years or just enjoy going meatless a few days a week, we’ve got you covered.

While many fast food options rely on processed meat substitutes or hidden ingredients, our menu is different. We use whole, clean-label ingredients—everything is 100% gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and made from scratch. If you’re vegetarian and looking for food that fuels you without compromise, you’re in the right place.

And yes, it’s all available for takeout and delivery. Our vegetarian-friendly bowls, sides, and smoothies are made to travel—perfect for a quick pickup, an at-home dinner, or office lunch delivery.

Every vegetarian-friendly item at Ben’s is labeled clearly. Ready to explore our meatless bowls, smoothies, and sides?

Ben’s Fast Food: Vegetarians at the center of Our Mission

We believe that vegetarian food shouldn’t feel like a backup plan. That’s why our bowls, sides, smoothies, and desserts are built to be naturally satisfying and entirely meatless by default. Our founder Ben started the company with a plant-first philosophy, inspired by Michael Pollan’s motto from The Omnivore’s Dilemma: “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.”

That philosophy informed our broader mission from day one: design a fast food menu around plant-based eating first, then build from there. That naturally makes Ben’s Fast Food a great fit for vegetarians—whether you're fully meat-free or just skipping meat today.

All of our dishes are made from scratch using clean, minimally processed ingredients. Even our sauces, marinades, and spice blends are free of dairy, eggs, or hidden animal products. That means vegetarian customers can confidently order almost anything on our menu—just skip the optional meat proteins.

How We Make Plant-Based Eating Easy

Every meal at Ben’s Fast Food is designed to make plant-forward eating effortless and satisfying—especially for vegetarians. Here’s how we do it:

  • Ingredient Standards: Only real, whole ingredients—never artificial flavors, preservatives, or refined sugar. Every dish is gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free by default.

  • Vegetarian by Design: Everything on our menu—every bowl, sauce, spice mix, and marinade—is vegetarian unless you choose to add chicken, pork, or beef. All vegetarian items are clearly labeled for your confidence.

  • Flexible Menu: Whether you’re ovo, lacto, or just meat-free, our menu is designed so you can customize every bowl to match your preferences.

  • Prep Protocols: We prepare all food from scratch, keep meat separate, and follow thorough cleaning routines to reduce cross-contact.

  • Transparency: We provide detailed allergen info for all menu items, and you can always check our nutrition and allergy info.

What’s Vegetarian At Ben’s Fast Food

All of our bowls, smoothies, sides, and desserts are vegetarian-friendly—just build your bowl without chicken, pork, or beef. Our sauces, toppings, grains, and veggies are all plant-based and made without eggs or dairy.

The real stars of our vegetarian menu? Chickpeas and potatoes. These humble, whole ingredients are slow-roasted with spices and extra virgin olive oil for rich flavor, plant-based protein, and healthy fats. They're the heart of our signature bowl and a big reason vegetarians keep coming back.

Every vegetarian item is made to order and travels well for takeout and delivery—so you can enjoy a warm, satisfying meatless meal wherever you are.

Featured VEgetarian Menu Items

Vegetarian chickpea and potato bowl with vegetables and half salad, half grain base from Ben’s Fast Food

Chickpea & Potato Mixed Bowl
The OG Ben’s Fast Food bowl. Roasted chickpeas and potatoes over a grain-and-greens base, topped with your choice of sauce (we recommend Lemon Thyme).

Fresh green smoothie made with clean, healthy ingredients from Ben’s Fast Food

Green Smoothie
Pineapple, banana, spinach, lime juice, coconut milk. Refreshing and nutrient-packed.

Dark chocolate cashew pudding with a smooth, vegetarian, and gluten-free base from Ben’s Fast Food

Dark Chocolate Cashew Pudding
A creamy dessert made with an entirely vegetarian friendly base of cashews, dates, and cocoa.

Every menu item is also gluten-free, dairy-free, and contains no added sugar or soy so vegetarian eaters can focus on flavor, not restrictions.

Vegetarian Community Reviews

We're proud to serve many vegetarian customers daily — and to earn their trust over and over again. Here’s what a few of them have said.

“Fresh. Delicious. Great price. Hot when it arrives. Great vegetarian selections. Meat options are really delicious as well.” - Kimberly F., Sunnyvale

“This place is perfect for a relatively cheap lunch around NYC. There are lots of vegetarian and vegan options and the Chickpea and Potato bowl is delicious. I got my order in about 5 minutes.” - Alana K., NYC Times Square

“Amazing V Chickpea Potato Garden Bowl!! It was so filling, refreshing and mind blowing in taste. The dressing was soo yum! Great for vegetarians/vegans. - Divya S., San Francisco

Why Choose Vegetarian Fast Food?

AA well-balanced vegetarian diet has been linked to a number of health benefits, from improved digestion and heart health to lower environmental impact. According to Mayo Clinic, Harvard Health, and Cleveland Clinic, vegetarian diets can:

  • Lower your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure

  • Support healthy weight management

  • Reduce your carbon footprint and promote sustainability

  • Increase your intake of fiber, antioxidants, and essential nutrients

  • Potentially reduce the risk of certain cancers and type 2 diabetes

More research from institutions like Stanford Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) continues to highlight the role of plant-rich diets in promoting long-term health outcomes.

Not all vegetarian meals are created equal. At Ben’s Fast Food, we skip the processed meat alternatives and lean into real, whole ingredients like chickpeas, potatoes, grains, and greens—combined with bold sauces and flavor-forward prep for meals that as exciting to eat as they are healthful.

Dietary Notes

At Ben’s Fast Food, we take plant-based eating seriously and do our best to make our vegan options accessible to everyone. We do prepare animal proteins in our kitchens, and we follow careful prep routines to keep things separate—but if you have a severe allergy or aversion, please use caution. You’ll always find ingredient and allergen details on our nutrition page and our team is happy to answer any questions.

Vegetarian FAQs

  • Absolutely. Every vegetarian item on our menu is available for takeout or delivery. Whether you’re ordering from home, work, or on the go, our bowls and sides are prepped fresh and travel perfectly.

  • Not entirely—but most of our menu is vegetarian by default. Everything except for the chicken, pork, and beef is made without animal products, including all sauces, toppings, and sides.

  • Nope. Our entire kitchen is dairy-free and egg-free, which makes Ben’s a great option for vegetarians who also avoid these ingredients.

  • The Chickpea & Potato Mixed Bowl is our original and most-loved meatless option. Pair it with Lemon Thyme sauce and add walnuts for a hearty, satisfying meal.

  • Yes! You can choose your base of grains or greens or a mix, sauces, toppings, and more. Skip the meat and pile on the flavor.

  • Definitely. Our meatless options are packed with fiber, plant-based protein, healthy fats, and whole grains. No fried food, no junk—just real meals that leave you feeling good.

Meet the Ben’s Family: Palmita & Umami Express

Ben’s Fast Food is proud to be part of a family of plant-forward brands, including Palmita and Umami Express. All three follow the same food philosophy: scratch-made, clean-ingredient meals with a focus on vegetables, flavor, and nourishing food.

Whether you’re vegetarian, plant-curious, or just hungry for something better, we’ve got something for you.