Plant-based eating is on the rise in the United States — 15% of Americans follow a meat-free diet. Whether your customers are avoiding animal products due to dietary restrictions, a love of animals, or other reasons, it’s important to make your restaurant as inclusive as possible. By adding vegan options to your menu, you can create a better experience for vegans, vegetarians, and health-conscious diners.

Benefits of adding vegan options

Introducing vegan menu ideas isn’t a small feat; you’ll need to develop the dishes, adjust your ordering strategy, and create new kitchen workflows. Many restaurant owners are reluctant to take the leap, which has created a valuable market opportunity. By switching to a partially vegan restaurant menu, you can capture a piece of the $8.1 billion plant-based food market. You’ll also enjoy additional benefits, including:

• Increased customer base. A menu that contains a few vegan options — or meat-free versions of existing dishes — can attract a wider range of customers. After all, plant-based foods are one of the biggest restaurant trends of 2024. A varied menu is also an efficient way to make your restaurant more accommodating for families and friend groups with diverse dietary preferences.
• Health-conscious appeal. Vegan dishes aren’t just appealing to vegans. They often contain vegetables, whole grains, and plant-based proteins, which can appeal to people who want nutrient-packed meals. And because vegan recipes are made without animal products such as eggs, milk, and cheese, people with egg allergies or lactose intolerance can order them with confidence.
• Environmental impact. Research shows that plant-based diets are more sustainable and environmentally friendly than diets that contain meat. Adding more vegan restaurant menu options can reduce your restaurant’s carbon footprint. It also communicates an important message to customers, letting them know that your business values sustainability. This connection can build brand affinity and attract customers who are looking to minimize their personal ecological impact.
• Menu innovation. Because vegan dishes don’t contain animal products, they require your chefs to get creative with alternative ingredients and cooking techniques. Developing each vegan option can inspire the kitchen team to come up with new menu innovations, pique the interest of local foodies, and add more variety to your menu.

Implementing a vegan menu in your restaurant: Entrée ideas and implementation 

The trick to a successful plant-based menu is to choose dishes with broad appeal. It’s important to branch out beyond salad and tofu; with mouthwatering recipes packed with flavor and healthy ingredients, you can attract vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike.

Here are some vegan options your customers will love:

• Grilled portobello mushroom steaks. Marinate portobello mushrooms in a spice-heavy sauce and grill them to perfection. Serve them on sandwiches for lunch or on top of garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed greens for dinner. The result is a hearty and delicious alternative to steak or chicken. You might even allow guests to order grilled mushroom steaks in place of meat in your restaurant’s salads, pastas, and grain bowls. 
• Lentil and veggie shepherd’s pie. Is there anything more comforting than a heaping plate of shepherd’s pie? Replace the ground beef with a mix of lentils and vegetables, top it with creamy mashed potatoes, and bake until golden. It’s a dish that’s appealing to vegans and people who want to reduce their red-meat intake.
• Chickpea and spinach curry. Whip up a spice-packed curry with chickpeas, spinach, tomatoes, and coconut milk, and serve it with basmati rice. Prepare it in batches ahead of time to streamline the kitchen workflow and allow the flavors to develop. Curries are exceptionally flexible, adapting easily to the tofu, extra vegetables, or seasonal foods you have on hand.
• Stuffed bell peppers. Stuff bell peppers with a mix of quinoa, black beans, corn, and spices. Top it all off with vegan cheese for a satisfying, creamy finish, and serve the dish with sides of salsa, chopped avocado, or guacamole. The beans and quinoa provide plenty of protein, so diners will walk away feeling satisfied but not uncomfortably full.
• Eggplant Parmesan. For a twist on an Italian classic, serve breaded eggplant slices layered with marinara sauce and vegan cheese. Serve over pasta for a dish that feels indulgent but packs a nutritional punch.

Any time you change your restaurant menu, it’s important to take a measured, data-driven approach. By implementing vegan menu items thoughtfully, you can keep costs in check and make choices that have a positive impact on your customers and the bottom line.

Consider the following factors:

• Menu planning. Study popular vegan dishes and research trends in plant-based foods to compile a list of potential new menu items. Then, ask your customers what they’d like to see; you might find they have a strong preference for specific dishes. Incorporating this feedback can help you choose vegan options that appeal to a large percentage of your audience. It also gives customers a sense of ownership and engagement, which can make them more likely to order the new dishes when they appear on the menu.
• Staff training. Invest in training for your kitchen crew and servers. Focus on topics such as vegan cooking techniques and preventing cross-contamination. It’s also useful to help them understand why plant-based ingredients are important for customers, the restaurant, and the planet — when employees are fully informed and on board, they’re better able to promote the new menu items effectively.
• Sourcing ingredients. If your new dishes contain foods such as non-dairy cheese, tofu, seitan, vegan sausage, black bean burgers, or vegan bread, you may need to change your ordering and inventory management strategy. Start by testing the available products from your current vendors. If the quality is lacking, you might need to begin sourcing ingredients from other reliable suppliers. Set up new agreements with the understanding that order volume will change as your restaurant adjusts to the new meals.

Keep in mind that rolling out vegan dishes takes time and experimentation; don’t be afraid to change course or edit dishes along the way.

Enjoy the benefits of Grubhub for Restaurants

Adding new vegan entrées and appetizers to your menu is an effective way to make your restaurant more attractive to a wider audience. The right third-party delivery partner can help you reach even more customers — and that’s where Grubhub comes in. With more than 33 million hungry customers who are eager to find their new favorite restaurant, we can help you get your brand in front of plant-based diners and build a devoted following. Partner with Grubhub today for more restaurant insights.