2. Shake Shack’s Veggie Shack
Until recently, Shake Shack’s only vegetarian option was fairly indulgent—a breaded, deep-fried and cheese-filled portobello mushroom sandwiched between a bun. The chain’s new patty, which was just rolled out to all units after a limited test, takes a different tack. It’s a mix of black beans, roasted beets and brown rice with pureed dates, jalapeno and onion for added flavor and texture that gets dusted with gluten-free bread crumbs before grilling. It comes topped with provolone (which can be omitted for vegans), as well as a vegan-friendly mayo-mustard spread.
Some 30% of millennial diners say it’s important that restaurants offer vegetarian burger options, according to Technomic’s Burger Consumer Trend Report. And, the report found, there’s tremendous consumer interest in patties made from vegetables and beans: About three-quarters of consumers overall prefer non-meat patties composed primarily of vegetables, as opposed to other faux-meat options such as soy or grain.