#greggs do sell a very tasty vegan sausage roll though

[nettlestingsoup]

had a dream about hoshi in which we'd both turned into tigers to cross a desert but we wanted fried chicken from a greggs we found (yes, in the middle of the desert) and couldn't order as tigers so we had to make jeonghan go in and order for us?

for context, greggs is a cheap chain bakery that you'll find all over the uk, and they do not sell fried chicken.

[katiebrereton]

“Vegetarian” doesn’t have to mean healthy fruit and veg - Veggie fast food review

It’s pretty clear by now that “vegetarian” doesn’t always have to mean “healthy”. Thanks to fast food chains such as KFC and McDonalds, it is becoming easier than ever to indulge in a big, tasty *vegetarian* burger (and more!). 

Over the past year or so, there has been an evidently large increase in fast food vegetarian (and vegan) options. For example, in early 2019, Greggs introduced their vegan sausage roll as part of ‘Veganuary’, a UK campaign which encourages people to follow a vegan diet for the first month of the year. The vegan sausage roll instantly became a topic of discussion for thousands of people online, sparking debates between vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters. Some argued the sausage roll was unnecessary (which is still very confusing for me - how could a product that meant more people could enjoy the brand be ‘unnecessary’?), whilst others, like myself, supported and loved it. In the same month, KFC launched their vegan burger which was also proven to be very successful. As the year went on, more and more fast food restaurants started introducing both vegetarian and vegan foods.

For me, any store or restaurant that does delivery or takeaway counts as fast food. While I’m a huge pizza fan, there are so many more options out there for us vegetarians. Whether you’re a burger or wrap kind of person, the following ranking of my top 5 veggie fast food options should help you determine what you need to try!

5. Burger King’s “Veggie Bean Burger”

The first time I tried Burger King’s veggie burger I really didn’t know what to expect. As soon as I got it I unwrapped it and dived in. The first thing I noticed was that the bun itself was rather flimsy so it was a little difficult to hold everything inside whilst eating it, however this wasn’t a huge issue as the burger was still edible (just missing a few shreds of lettuce and tomato by the end). The two bean burgers inside are accompanied by lettuce, tomato, cheese, mayo and ketchup, although the majority of the flavour definitely comes from the burger itself. It is very flavoursome with a hint of spice, however I think the letdown here is due to the quality of the lettuce and tomatoes - they don’t seem incredibly fresh but they don’t taste bad so I can’t really complain. Obviously this burger isn’t supposed to be a meat alternative so it is difficult to compare to other Burger King products (and is probably why it’s my least favourite out of the five I’m talking about today) but overall it is an enjoyable burger. If you prefer a vegetable filled crispy bite over ‘fake meat’ alternatives the Veggie Bean Burger is for you! This burger sells for £4.49 on it’s own, or £6.49 as a meal, which I personally think is slightly overpriced, especially in comparison to others like it from different fast food places. 

Overall rating: 7/10

4. McDonalds’ “Spicy Veggie Wrap”

Similarly to Burger King’s “Veggie Bean Burger”, this wrap is filled with crispy pesto goujons, surrounded by lettuce, red onion, tomato and mayonnaise. This is honestly the same concept as Burger King previously mentioned, just in the form of a wrap, however in my opinion this has a bit more flavour and spice to it. Although you do seem to get slightly more salad than goujon, I thoroughly enjoy it and think this makes the wrap more manageable and flavoursome. Practicality-wise the veggie wrap was much easier to hold and was better at keeping it’s contents actually inside than Burger King’s, which I can appreciate. One thing I did notice and like about McDonald’s wrap was that it also seemed to be quite filling which is always good, especially considering you’re only paying £1.99 for it on wrap of the day! If you want a side of fries and a McDonalds coke on the side (my personal preferences) it costs as little as £4.89. That’s only slightly more than what you’re paying for the burger on it’s own at Burger King, which is another reason why I prefer the McDonald's veggie option. I think it’s important to add that McDonalds also offers the same product in a burger bun, so if you prefer a burger over a wrap, you have that option too.

Overall rating: 8/10

3. Greggs “Vegan Sausage Roll”

Onto the first actual ‘fake meat’ product. I feel like I should start by disclaiming that I was never a massive fan of sausage rolls before turning vegetarian, but since trying Greggs’ vegan sausage rolls I think my life changed (not to be dramatic at all). They honestly do taste exactly like a regular sausage roll, so I’m not entirely sure how they’ve managed to convert me to a massive sausage roll lover, but I will say I am not complaining. For the price of just £1 you get a decent sized crispy sausage roll, which causes a lot less of a flaky mess than a regular one, might I add. I also found that the vegan sausage roll is less greasy than Greggs’ regular ones too, which is always a positive. It almost tricks you into thinking what you’re eating is healthier than it actually is, but again, always a positive! Overall I couldn’t really fault the Greggs vegan sausage roll at all - the only reason it’s not number one for me is because it’s more of a snack than an actual meal so it’s harder to appreciate so much.

Overall rating: 9/10

2. KFC “Zero Chicken Burger”

Arguably one of the closest-to-meat-tasting fast food burgers out there. I went into this after hearing so highly of it from pretty much every vegetarian I know. The burger comes alongside lettuce and mayo, so is honestly lacking on the salad quite a bit compared to the Burger King burger and McDonalds wrap. Although not going to lie, I do love a simple lettuce and mayo combo over something that's 80% salad and 20% ‘meat’. Considering I was going into this with such high expectations, the burger did not disappoint at all. I can confirm the rumours are true, it really does taste just like real chicken. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside; even texture-wise it was like eating an actual chicken burger.

The Zero Chicken Burger is £3.99 without sides or £4.49 with a drink, which I think is completely fair for the quality and size of the burger. If you’ve recently turned vegetarian and are missing real chicken, I couldn’t recommend KFC’s burger more.

Overall rating: 9/10

1. Nando’s “Halloumi and Mushroom Wrap”

Not to be basic or predictable but, yes, Nandos is my favourite place for vegetarian fast food meals. Particularly their halloumi and mushroom wraps, which might be cheating considering it’s not ‘fake meat’ or anything along the lines of Burger King’s Veggie Bean Burger or McDonalds Spicy Veggie Wrap. For me a massive bonus to the Nandos wrap is that you can order any side with it so you feel as though you are getting more value for money. For example the wrap with one regular side is £8.95 which is somewhat affordable and the portion sizes are generous, so for me it is worth it. The wraps are filled with halloumi and mushroom, chilli jam, topped with fresh lettuce and tangy yoghurt sauce, which adds a lot of flavour and overall just makes the wrap more interesting. I just really enjoy how Nandos has less standard/typical vegetarian foods like your classic fake chicken burger or vegetable wrap - they have more to offer which means they can cater for more people! If you’re going to try anything off this list, it has to be this. (and don’t be put off by the mushroom, I was never a big fan of mushrooms before trying it with the halloumi - it’s honestly amazing!).