Lucky for vegetarians, there are chicken sandwiches that are impossibly delicious outside of Popeyes and Chick-fil-A, and no animals were harmed in their making. These 19 vegan twists on the classic chicken sandwich are not only good for you, but they’re also much better choices for animals and the planet. And if you think you’ll sacrifice flavor or texture by biting into one of these bad boys, you’d be wrong. Bring a friend and a napkin – your taste buds (and your worldview) will never be the same.
What is vegan chicken?
Is vegetarian chicken healthy?
Plant-based chicken can be healthy if eaten in moderation. Like the ingredients mentioned above, plant-based chicken can be more nutritionally beneficial with high fiber, low saturated fat and no dietary cholesterol. A recent study found that plant-based meat is healthier and more sustainable than animal meat.
Brands of vegan chicken
These days, the options for vegan chicken are endless. From Mickey Mouse-shaped chicken nuggets to breaded chicken strips, there’s a vegetarian option for any craving. To learn more about all the plant-based chicken offers, check out our guide to the best vegan chicken brands.
Where to find vegan chicken sandwiches
When you’re craving a fried chicken sandwich, check out the 19 eateries below that offer the most mouthwatering options around.
Atlas Monroe
1 Atlas Monroe
Multiple locations, plus nationwide shipping
This company can engineer the perfect vegan fried chicken recipe and it just happens to be plant-based. Not only was it the first vegetarian chicken producer to enter the competitive National Fried Chicken Festival in New Orleans in 2018, but it was also voted the best dish. Extra crispy Editor Ryan Grimm. The menu extends from buckets to buns – sandwiching finger-licking, crispy, juicy vegan chicken on the outside. In addition, Atlas Monroe markets its famous chicken online for nationwide shipping. Cook, at your dredging station! There are many orders to fill.
Find it here
![Vegnews.Veggie Grill Santa Fe Chick'n Sandwich[63]](https://vegnews.com/media/33702/Vegnews.Veggie Grill Santa Fe Chick'n Sandwich[63].jpg)
Veggie Grill
2 Veggie Grill
multiple locations
One of the first vegan restaurants to compete in the chicken sandwich game, Veggie Grill’s signature menu items rival even newcomers. For more than a decade, Veggie Grill has been a place where omnivores gently put their hand on their vegetarian friend’s knee, look them in the eye, and say, “That’s not vegan.” The chain’s new slogan should be, “Veggie Grill: Successfully Fooling Omnivores Since 2006.” The Santa Fe Chicken is a standout sandwich featuring a juicy, meaty chicken patty, romaine, diced tomato, red onion, mashed avocado and spicy mayo on a toasted wheat bun. Dare we say it rivals Wendy’s Chicken Sandwich? Yes, yes we do.
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Daniel Burapovong
3 Slutty Vegan
multiple locations
It’s more than just the name that draws attention; The food at this Atlanta fast-food concept is equally headline-grabbing. Opt for Chick’n Head, which offers a sweet and savory sandwich experience—house-made crispy plant-based chicken tossed in a spicy buffalo sauce, cooled with a slather of vegan ranch and coleslaw, balanced with a bit of acid. A few pickles, and two tucked into a slightly sweet and fluffy Hawaiian bun. Like all of its sandwiches, this handhold is served with a side of slutty fries.
Find it here
Green is the new American
4 Green is the new American vegetarian
Phoenix, AZ
A play on a certain fast-food chain that has a redheaded female mascot, Wendy’s Pickle Sandwich surpasses the original. With just a few pickles, hot sauce, and mayo, the Southern-Style Breaded Vegan Chicken Patty is truly the star of the sandwich. Toasted ciabatta bread serves as the perfect serving dish. Order with one of the unique sides like thyme fries, roasted Brussels sprouts, tahini coleslaw, fruit or grandma’s chili.
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Soli is vegan
5 Soli is vegan
Oakland, CA
If plain isn’t your game, Soli Vegan’s Proud Mary might suit your style. The sandwich starts with a plant-based, crispy-yet-tender tofu patty. Underneath is a thick layer of barbecue tofu, pickles and more special sauce. There’s hardly any monster in a soft cracked wheat burger bun. There are two ways to tackle this sandwich: take a knife and fork to it or rip your jaw open.
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South V
6 South V
Nashville, TN
The country music capital’s first vegetarian restaurant offers a bit of Southern charm with a great fried chicken sandwich. Here are a few options for diners—go for the reliable chicken sandwich, piled high with a seasoned and fried seitan-based chicken cutlet, chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato, and onion; or the ‘Hot Chicken’ sandwich which includes all of the above with a significantly spicy hot sauce. Add a complimentary Southern-style touch to your sandwich with turnip greens from mac and cheese.
Find it here
@minneapoldish/Instagram
7Jay Selby’s
St. Paul, MN
Sometimes you just want a classic chicken sandwich, and Jay Selby’s Crispy Chicken’ Sandwich will satisfy your taste buds. This hot handhold features a perfectly fried and battered, crispy-on-the-outside-and-gooey-on-the-inside plant-based chicken patty topped with lettuce, sweet pickles and a bun mayo.
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Lettuce feast
8Lettuce feast
Los Angeles, CA
Honestly, this vegetarian food truck is relatively light on the lettuce. It’s all about that crispy, crackly vegan fried chicken. Wait patiently in line for your Nashville Sando or Classic Sando. Both are made with the company’s house-made crispy chicken patty and vegan buttered bun — though OG is paired with pickles and a secret sauce, while Nashville brings slaw, ranch and your choice of hot sauce. Again, no need to be a hero. Original, mild, medium and hot honey sauces are spicy enough. Only true heat-seekers should indulge in more advanced hot sauce dipping options.
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Justin Nelson
9Stefano’s Sandwiches
Toronto, Canada
Congratulations hold more gravitas when they come from an omnivore, and when that omnivore is a celebrity, you can call on the Michelin team to hand out a star. Actor Dan Levy Sheets Creek The fame of this plant-based fried chicken sandwich, co-created by Discovery Channel host Jia Tong, has spread. The restaurant sources its vegan chicken from Barcelona-based company Heura and coats it in Tong’s top-secret spice mix. Meat filling with preserved chili, vegan mayo, shredded lettuce and pickles all held together by a crusty ciabatta roll.
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Modern Love Omaha
10modern love
Omaha, NE and Brooklyn, NY
Tofu is a trick—you’d never know this juicy, fried patty had soy in disguise. Classic takes on fresh ingredients pair with the golden-fried deliciousness of modern love. Don’t miss the restaurant’s other chicken dishes such as the Mushroom Fried Chicken.
Find it here
Molly without meat
11Hipcity Veg
multiple locations
Residents of Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia rejoice: This decadent Sando is on your neck. Sink your teeth into the Crispy Hipcity Ranch Sandwich. It has all the classic toppings—lettuce, onion, and pickles—but the pepper ranch adds a nice touch of heat without going into Nashville’s hot zone.
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Beatbox
12Beatbox
War Acres, OK
Originally launched as a food truck by two young vegetarian entrepreneurs for comfort in their college town, this Middle-American kitchen serves up the best vegan chicken sandwiches around (and that’s not just because they’re the only vegetarian concept around). Their chickenless sandwich menu allows patrons to customize their handhold with a variety of sauces and heat levels. Dare to go spicy or try the Eat More splash of sauce that will remind you of a certain non-vegan chain that’s closed on Sundays. This vegan chicken sandwich is transforming her community one sandwich at a time.
Find it here
Herbie Butcher Fried Chicken
13Herbie Butcher Fried Chicken
Minneapolis, MN
After five years of success, America’s first vegetarian butchery has expanded. Herbivorous Butchers co-founders Cal and Aubrey Walch haven’t opened another general butcher shop, though. They jumped into the vegan fried chicken market. From buckets to strips, wings and sandwiches—Herbie’s Butcher’s has it all.
Find it here
Heartbreaker
14 Heartbreaker
Brooklyn, NY
Fans of Champ’s Diner and Screamers Pizza have a new joint to check out. This ’70s-themed quick-service spot specializes in all kinds of vegan fried chicken – buckets, bowls, tenders and sandwiches. Made with fried chicken, cheese, pickles, sambal mayo and hot honey, the name Heartbreaker will erase memories of Popeye’s or Chick-fil-A.
Find it here
Wolf’s
15Wolf’s
Los Angeles, CA
Wolfie has options for those who love to customize. From Nashville to Seoul, there’s a vegan fried chicken sandwich for every taste and spice tolerance level. Each handhold contains a juicy, crispy chicken patty with some spicy, some creamy and cold, some fresh and crispy, and some pickled. This combination of flavors and textures will light your dopamine receptors on fire.
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PLNT Burger
16PLNT Burger
multiple locations
Beyond an acclaimed vegan fried chicken sandwich, PLNT Burger has something Popeye’s doesn’t—soft serve. Choose from the original crispy chicken sandwich or add some heat with the spicy chicken sandwich before moving on to dessert.
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Winter Park Biscuit Co.
17Winter Park Biscuit Co.
Orlando, FL
Come for the vegan biscuits, come back for the succulent vegan fried chicken. Opt for the Crispy Chick Sandwich for a classic chicken sandwich. It features a house-made chicken cutlet, lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayo on a brioche bun. But make sure you don’t miss the OG featuring a crispy cutlet stuffed into an oat buttermilk biscuit with your choice of sauce.
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Monty’s Good Burgers
18 Monty’s Good Burgers
Multiple locations, Southern California
In-N-Out’s vegan equivalent, the Vegan Fried Chicken Sandwich, has entered the fray. The Charlie’s Chicken Sandwich, made with homemade fried chicken, is a departure from the chain’s menu that previously relied on Impossible Foods patties to make its addictively good burgers. The crispy chicken deviates a bit from the sandwich’s original premise—the only condiments include pickles and vegan mayonnaise. Beyond the seasonal rotation of specialty dairy-free milkshakes, Charlie’s Chicken Sandwich is the first new menu item since Monty’s opened its first Los Angeles location in 2018.
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Heart House
19 Heart House
Los Angeles and Monrovia, CA
At Kevin Hart’s plant-based chain, customers can choose between Deluxe Crispy Chicken and Spicy Deluxe Hot Crispy Chicken. Both sandwiches feature a house-made chicken patty, vegetarian-friendly honey mustard, pickles and the chain’s kale crunch slaw. For extra spice, the Deluxe Hot Crispy Chicken has patties dipped in Heart Hot Sauce. Order with a refreshing iced tea and fries to complete your meal.
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For more delicious vegan sandwiches, read:
Tanya Flink is a digital editor for VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.