If you follow a vegan diet, you might assume that a restaurant like The Cheesecake Factory is not for you. While their desserts are not vegan-friendly, they have a plethora of side dishes, salads and entrees that are vegan-friendly. If they are not already vegan on their own, they most likely can easily be made vegan with a few modifications. As long as you are polite and ask with a friendly smile, your server will most likely be more than happy to accommodate your request.
Despite its name, The Cheesecake Factory actually offers a variety of vegan-friendly options. Some dishes such as the veggie burger and Evelyn’s Favorite Pasta require slight modifications to make it vegan. But, there are also plenty of dishes such as the vegan cob salad and the avocado toast that do not require any modifications. Unfortunately, their desserts should be avoided.
If you have been to The Cheesecake Factory before, then you know it has an extensive menu. That can make it difficult to pinpoint which items are vegan and which items should be avoided. Read on to learn which menu items are vegan-friendly and how to customize certain items to make them vegan!
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Tips & Tricks For Ordering Vegan at The Cheesecake Factory
It can be hard to know which menu items are vegan or how to make them vegan, especially if you are new to the vegan diet. Use the following tips and tricks to order a vegan meal like a pro at The Cheesecake Factory:
- Omit cheese on their veggie burger, salads and pasta dishes.
- Ask for a vegan-friendly dressing such as the house vinaigrette, lemon-blueberry vinaigrette, lemon vinaigrette, pomegranate vinaigrette or shallot vinaigrette. Their mild spicy avocado dressing can be made vegan by asking them to hold the avocado cream drizzle.
- Hold the butter on side dishes like the green beans, sautéed spinach, and corn succotash.
- Ask for your vegetables to be sautéed in oil instead of butter.
- When in doubt, tell your waiter or waitress that you are vegan, so they can make sure everything you order is suitable for your diet.
Non-Vegan Foods To Avoid at The Cheesecake Factory
Unfortunately, not all menu items at The Cheesecake Factory are vegan or can be made vegan. These are the menu items you will want to avoid when dining at The Cheesecake Factory:
- Any of their desserts such as cheesecakes, specialty desserts and ice cream delights (contains milk and eggs)
- Avocado egg rolls (contains milk and eggs)
- Any salad or burger with meat in it such as chicken, beef, cheese and bacon
- Any pasta dish with meat and/or dairy such as shrimp, chicken, cheese and butter
- Eggs and omelettes
- Chicken potstickers
- Chicken taquitos
- Stuffed mushrooms (contains cheese)
- Fried macaroni and cheese
- Loaded baked potato tots (contains cheese, bacon, sour cream and sriracha mayo)
- Crispy crab wontons
- Cheeseburger spring rolls
- Factory nachos (contains cheese and sour cream)
- Chicken samosas
- Crispy fried cheese
- Dynamite shrimp
- Crispy crab bites
- Hot spinach and cheese dip
- Southern fried chicken sliders
- Fried calamari
- Tex-mex egg rolls (contains chicken, cheese and avocado cream)
- Warm crab and artichoke dip
- Buffalo blasts (contains chicken and cheese)
- Any soup with meat or dairy in it such as chicken and milk or cream
- Any of the steak or seafood dishes such as their shrimp and chicken gumbo, grilled rib-eye steak, herb crusted filet of salmon, etc.
Vegan Options at The Cheesecake Factory
Appetizers
1. Fire-Roasted Artichoke (omit the garlic dip)
These are the ingredients found in the Fire-Roasted Artichoke:
- Artichoke
2. Edamame
These are the ingredients found in the Edamame:
- Soybeans steamed in their pods
3. Korean Fried Cauliflower (omit the ranch dressing)
These are the ingredients found in the Korean Fried Cauliflower:
- Cauliflower
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Green onion
4. Fried Zucchini (omit the parmesan cheese and ranch dressing)
These are the ingredients found in the fried zucchini:
- Lightly breaded zucchini
5. Avocado Toast
These are the ingredients found in the avocado toast:
- Grilled artisan bread
- Fresh avocado
- Marinated tomato
- Arugula
- Radish
- Red onion
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Lemon
Salads
1. Vegan Cobb Salad
These are the ingredients in the Vegan Cobb Salad:
- Quinoa
- Green beans
- Roasted beets
- Avocado
- Garbanzo beans
- Farro
- Tomato
- Grilled asparagus
- Almonds
- Sunflower seeds
- House vinaigrette dressing
2. Beet and Avocado Salad (omit the honey-yogurt sauce)
These are the ingredients in the Beet and Avocado Salad:
- Glazed beets
- Avocado
- Fresh orange
- Arugula
3. Greek Salad (omit the feta cheese)
These are the ingredients in the Greek Salad:
- Tomato
- Cucumber
- Kalamata olives
- Red onion
- House vinaigrette dressing
4. Tossed Green Salad (omit the croutons, as they are usually made with milk and/or eggs)
These are the ingredients in the Tossed Green Salad:
- Mixed greens
- Assorted vegetables
- Tomato
- Your choice of dressing (the vegan dressing options are house vinaigrette, lemon-blueberry vinaigrette, lemon vinaigrette, pomegranate vinaigrette or shallot vinaigrette)
5. Factory Chopped Salad (omit the grilled chicken, bacon, and blue cheese)
These are the ingredients found in the Factory Chopped Salad:
- Julienne romaine lettuce
- Tomato
- Avocado
- Corn
- Apple
- House vinaigrette dressing
Main Dishes
1. Veggie Burger (omit the cheese and the garlic aioli)
Make sure to tell your waiter or waitress that you are vegan, so they can ensure that you get a vegan bun.
These are the ingredients found in the Veggie Burger:
- Crispy veggie burger (brown rice, farro, mushrooms, black beans and onion)
- Avocado
- Cucumber
- Tomato
- Arugula
- Pickles
2. Impossible Burger (omit the mayonnaise and cheese or sub for Chao cheese at select locations)
Make sure to tell your waiter or waitress that you are vegan, so they can ensure that you get a vegan bun.
These are the ingredients in the Impossible Burger:
- Plant-based burger
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Pickles
- Onion
3. Pasta Pomodoro
These are the ingredients in the Pasta Pomodoro:
- Spaghetti
- Marinara sauce
- Cherry tomatoes
- Fresh basil
4. Evelyn’s Favorite Pasta (omit the parmesan cheese)
These are the ingredients in Evelyn’s Favorite Pasta:
- Spaghetti
- Broccoli
- Tomato
- Zucchini
- Eggplant
- Peppers
- Kalamata olives
- Onions
- Garlic
- Fresh herbs
Sides
1. French Fries
These are the ingredients found in this side dish:
- Potatoes fried in oil
- Salt
2. Sweet Potato Fries (omit the chipotle mayo)
These are the ingredients found in this side dish:
- Sweet potatoes fried in oil
- Salt
3. Grilled Asparagus
These are the ingredients found in this side dish:
- Asparagus
4. Broccoli
These are the ingredients found in this side dish:
- Broccoli
5. Sautéed Spinach (hold the butter or sub butter for oil)
These are the ingredients found in this side dish:
- Spinach
6. Crispy Brussel Sprouts (omit the bacon)
These are the ingredients found in this side dish:
- Brussel Sprouts tossed in a Vermont maple butter glaze (maple butter is vegan)
Desserts
Unfortunately, The Cheesecake Factory does not have an extensive vegan-friendly dessert menu. None of their cheesecakes, specialty desserts or ice cream delights are vegan. The only vegan-friendly dessert option at The Cheesecake Factory is:
1. Strawberries (hold the whipped cream)
These are the ingredients found in this dessert:
- Fresh strawberries
Find A Cheesecake Factory Near You
There are over 200 Cheesecake Factory locations across the United States. Click here to find a Cheesecake Factory in your area or check to see if there will be one coming to your area within the next 60 days.
Similar Restaurants To The Cheesecake Factory
If you like The Cheesecake Factory, you are going to love the places listed below. On the other hand, if you are not a fan of The Cheesecake Factory, you might still like some of the similar restaurants listed below. Although they are similar to The Cheesecake Factory, they are different enough that you just might like them better,
Related Questions
Is The Veggie Burger At The Cheesecake Factory Vegan?
Yes. The veggie burger at The Cheesecake Factory is made from a blend of brown rice, farro, mushrooms, black beans and onions. It is topped with vegan-friendly ingredients such as avocado, tomato, arugula and pickles. The only non-vegan ingredient that you will need to be sure to ask them to leave off is the cheese. Ask politely with a friendly smile and they are always more than happy to accommodate your request.
Are The Cauliflower Tacos At The Cheesecake Factory Vegan?
Yes, the cauliflower tacos are vegan-friendly. The soft corn tortillas are stuffed with crispy fried cauliflower, avocado, onion, chipotle and toasted pepitas. They are served with a side of rice and beans. If you are ever unsure if an item is vegan, feel free to ask your server. If they do not know, they will be happy to ask the chef for you and make any necessary adjustments.
Are The Avocado Egg Rolls At The Cheesecake Factory Vegan?
Although you might think avocado egg rolls are or should be vegan, they unfortunately are not. The infamous Cheesecake Factory avocado egg rolls contain hidden non-vegan ingredients such as milk and eggs, and therefore they are not vegan. Once again, if you are ever unsure if an item contains hidden non-vegan ingredients, feel free to ask your waiter or waitress.
Is The Bread At The Cheesecake Factory Vegan?
Yes. The complimentary sourdough baguette is vegan-friendly, so feel free to munch on that while you wait for your food. Do not munch on the bread too much, though. You will not want to spoil your delicious vegan meal that will be in front of you in just a few minutes.