A solid bite — but what it represents about accessibility, progress, and accountability is even bigger.
When I heard that McDonalds was launching the McVeggie across Canada – and that the patty itself was VEGAN – I knew I had to try it. While vegans in the UK have had a vegan burger at McDonalds for quite some time, Canadian vegans have long endured visits to the Golden Arches with nothing but fries, apple pies, dry side salads and plain oatmeal to squash their hunger. And while it might be argued that McDonalds doesn’t have to cater to vegans, I think a bigger argument is, why shouldn’t they?
But before I get into that…
The Review
The McDonalds McVeggie burger.
Nestled under a bed of shredded lettuce and a dry bun (you must order the McVeggie without mayo to make it vegan), the McVeggie patty is crispy, and somewhat substantial. It has a solid, bread-crumby crunch, and is not at all soggy. And full of salty flavour, even without sauce. On future orderings (indeed, there will be future orderings), I will dress it up a bit by requesting tomato, ketchup, mustard, and pickles.
As you may have guessed, my roommate joined me for this review, and, to my surprise, was not only positive about it, but enthusiastically so. Considering the price point of around $6 (a combo with fries and a drink was $9.99), this is a viable option for him in the future. For me, that was the real test: if a non-vegan will not only eat it, but enthusiastically return for it, that’s an absolute win in my book.
Inside the McVeggie.
“The Bigger Picture: Why ‘Good Enough’ Isn’t Enough”
Unlike other fast-food offerings (A&W, Burger King, KFC) the McVeggie isn’t a meat analogue. It’s not trying to mimic beef at all. Instead, it’s a true veggie burger: a patty built from crushed veggies and peas. It won’t fool anyone into thinking they’re eating meat, but it doesn’t need to. It’s satisfying on its own terms, which makes it both approachable for omnivores and refreshing for vegans who actually enjoy a burger that tastes like vegetables. And isn’t that the whole point?
Fast food chains don’t just feed people; they shape habits, supply chains, and culture. That’s why the arrival of a vegan option at McDonald’s matters, even if it’s “just a veggie burger.” Because when the world’s largest fast food brand decides that plant-based belongs on the menu, it sends a signal that this isn’t a passing fad, it’s part of the future of food.
Fast Food as Accessible Vegan Food
The lettuce-heavy Impossible Whopper from Burger King.
Accessibility is a huge part of the equation. In big cities, it might be easy to find vegan restaurants, but in countless towns and suburbs, fast food is often the only option around. Having a burger like the McVeggie on the menu means that a vegan family member isn’t left eating plain fries, and a curious omnivore has a low-risk way to try something plant-based. These options matter because they make vegan food normal, not niche.
Popular and Profitable
And if anyone’s still convinced that plant-based eating is on the decline, look at A&W Canada. When tariffs made the Beyond Burger less viable, they didn’t just pull it from the menu – they invested in creating their own pea-protein patty instead. Companies don’t sink money into developing a new product unless they know it will sell. That move tells us exactly what we need to know: the demand is real, and it’s strong enough to justify innovation.
Of course, not every plant-based company has thrived. Some have gone on record saying they needed to add meat to their product lines or shut down entirely because demand just wasn’t strong enough. But I think that narrative deserves more scrutiny. If chains like A&W are investing in their own pea-protein patty, clearly the appetite for plant-based food is there. Maybe the issue isn’t demand — maybe it’s that a particular product didn’t stand out, or the marketing didn’t connect. A weak launch doesn’t mean the movement is dying; it means that execution matters.
Corporate Responsibility on the Menu
Those of you who follow me on Instagram will recall my recent abysmal experience at Denny’s with their plant-based slam, and for contrast, it deserves a mention here. It was poorly conceived, carb-heavy, and felt more like a checkbox menu item than an actual meal. That’s exactly the problem: throwing plant-based eaters a half-baked option doesn’t count as progress. If fast food chains are going to offer vegan meals, they need to make them good — otherwise, it’s just tokenism dressed up as inclusion.
Beyond the Token Burger
McDonald’s is more than a burger chain: it’s a cultural institution. With tens of thousands of locations worldwide, it feeds millions of people every single day. That kind of reach makes every menu decision enormously influential. But with that influence comes responsibility. A single burger tucked between the McChicken and the Big Mac isn’t going to shift habits on its own. For real impact, chains like McDonald’s need to commit to more than checkbox items: they need consistent availability across regions, clear labeling, and choices that feel like genuine alternatives, not afterthoughts.
The McVeggie may not be a culinary masterpiece, but it proves an important point: plant-based food in fast food doesn’t have to be groundbreaking to matter. It just has to be good enough that people – vegans and non-vegans alike – will actually order it.
Plant-based sandwich & fries from K.F.C.
Why We Need to Keep Asking for More
But “good enough” is not the finish line. If chains like A&W can invest in developing their own plant-based patty because they know it will sell, then McDonald’s has no excuse for treating the McVeggie as a token gesture. With their scale and influence, they could set the bar for what fast food looks like in a world that’s increasingly conscious of health, sustainability, and inclusivity. Major chains have the power to normalize plant-based eating on a global scale – and in other countries, they are bringing the options. It’s time they do so in North America too.
So here’s my call to you: if you’re curious, give the McVeggie a try — and then tell McDonald’s (and other chains) what you thought. Every order, every bit of feedback, and every voice helps show there’s demand for more. Because if “good enough” is already selling, imagine what could happen if fast food actually aimed for great?
Do you think the McVeggie is a step forward, or just “good enough”? I’d love to hear your take in the comments below. And if you want more reviews, reflections, and vegan finds in Calgary and beyond, make sure to follow along here on Vegan in YYC!
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