Whether you’re a vegetarian looking for delicious meatless fast food, or you’re a carnivore who simply enjoys veggie burgers for their taste and texture, you were probably excited to discover that even popular burger chains like Shake Shack and Smashburger offer this lighter burger option.

However, when it comes to veggie burgers, there really is everything. Some are made from chopped vegetables like sweet potatoes and bell peppers, mixed with grains like wild rice, quinoa or farro. Others go a completely different route and are made from ingredients like jackfruit, a popular vegetarian alternative known for its meat-like texture. So while some are deliberately vegetable-based, others aim to look as much like real meat as possible (similar to plant-based burger patties).

To find the best veggie burger, I tried five burgers from four burger chains. From gourmet versions with fresh toppings and zesty sauces to no-frills options with great texture, here’s how they fared, starting with my least favorite.

Burger King

Nutrition: (Per burger):
Calories: 490
Fat: 25g
sodium: 1,310mg
Carbohydrates: 53 g (fiber: 8 g, sugar: 5 g)
protein: 13g

If you want a smash burger, go to Smashburger. If you want a veggie burger, you might want to go somewhere else. Although SmashBurger is revered for its beef burger options (BBQ Bacon Smash! Double Truffle Mushroom Smash! Spicy Jalape),No Smash!), his jackfruit veggie smash is a little too plain. I paid $9.99 for a simple veggie burger that didn’t taste bad, but somehow lacked the necessary flair.

The appearance: The first word that came to mind when I unwrapped this veggie burger was that it looked simple and neat. The bun, which was neither too thick nor too thin, was soft and toasted, and the patty was thin and small. I took the lid off the bun to see what toppings this one came with, and was surprised to find that it only had tomatoes, lettuce, and a bit of mayo—no pickles or onions here. It’s worth noting that you can add additional toppings, like grilled onions, freshly mashed avocado, grilled jalapeñoNos and crimini mushrooms for an additional charge. However, I opted for the burger in its purest form.

The taste: Too simple. The flavor wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t mind-blowing either. The bun had a nice buttery flavor and the patty was on the soft side and not very flavorful. My friend noted that this one tasted clean and healthy, making it a good option if you want a simple, no-fuss veggie burger without a lot of bells and whistles (or pickles, for that matter). I liked that this veggie burger wasn’t salty, which often happens to me with frozen meals.

I tried the smash burgers at 5 popular chains and the best one was pure bliss

ShakeShack

Nutrition: (Per burger):
Calories: 530
Fat: 27g
sodium: 1,250 mg
Carbohydrates: 56 g (fiber: 6 g, sugar: 10 g)
protein: 16g

On the other hand, if you’re craving a veggie burger with plenty of flavor, head to Shake Shack. The popular burger chain offers a veggie burger made from a blend of mushrooms, sweet potatoes, carrots, farro, and quinoa that surprisingly looks a lot like their meat-based burgers. I paid $9.49 for Shake Shack’s Veggie Shack, which has a good texture but may taste too overpowering for some.

The appearance: I’ve eaten Shake Shack’s beef burger countless times and was surprised at how similar this vegetarian substitute looked to the chain’s meat versions. It was served in Shake Shack’s signature paper bag and placed inside a thin cardboard box. This burger was very visually appealing – the potato bun was fresh and soft, the patty had a nice color and the toppings – including fried onions, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and Shack sauce – looked, if I do say so myself, picturesque. Applause to whoever put this beauty together.

The taste: Tasty, but also very laborious. While Smashburger’s vegetarian patty wasn’t much to look at, Shake Shack’s had a bit too much of it – the flavors of the patty, fried onions, orange sauce, pickles, cheese, and potato bun competed with each other and were a bit overwhelming. It was also a bit too salty for my taste. The texture, however, was another story – it was so good! The patty was thick and not too mushy, and the pickles provided a nice crunch. Bottom line: I’d probably order it again without the crispy fried onions.

I have tried 6 store bought veggie burgers and this is the best

BareBurger

Nutritional information not available

If you have a BareBurger near you, consider yourself lucky. The burger chain, which opened in 2009, has locations in states like New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The entire burger menu blows me away—seriously, just look at it; there are easily over two dozen options.

There are two veggie burgers on there, and I decided to try them both. The My Sunshine Burger is $12.95 and features a sweet potato, kale, and wild rice patty topped with avocado, organic baby kale, Roma tomatoes, and spicy green sauce. The other is the Cilantro Black Bean Burger, which is $12.95 and features a black poblano bean patty topped with avocado, pickled red onion, Roma tomatoes, and mixed greens, plus a drizzle of garlic vinaigrette. You also have the option to customize your burger by choosing the bun (sprouts, brioche, or lettuce, to give you an idea) and adding additional toppings. In short: I loved it, both with what I tried and what I didn’t try.

The appearance: Both veggie burgers looked gourmet, expertly prepared, and felt heavy in the hand, which I took as a good sign. Unlike the other burgers on this list, these were packaged in small cardboard take-out boxes – a nice touch. The patties were thick, the buns were fresh and soft, and nothing bulged out the sides. Although I love avocado and it was fresh, I thought both could do without it – veggie patties are often softer than meat patties and I don’t think the avocado added anything to the texture.

The taste: Both were delicious. The cilantro black bean version was perfectly seasoned and not too salty. Of the two, My Sunshine was my favorite. It had a slightly sweet flavor due to the little pieces of sweet potato in the patty and I found the spicy green sauce to be the perfect contrast. I really liked these burgers and believe they are a great choice if you want a veggie burger that looks, feels and tastes classy.

The only reason I didn’t put this brand first was because of a few minor reservations. The Cilantro Black Bean Burger patty was very large, and while this sandwich was neatly assembled, it started to fall apart as I ate it. I also found the My Sunshine Burger’s spicy green sauce delicious, but my boyfriend said it might be too spicy for some people – my boyfriend loves spice and thought it was a bit too spicy. These burgers were definitely great, though, and I look forward to ordering them again.

The 6 healthiest veggie burgers – and 5 you should avoid, according to nutritionists

BurgerFi

Nutrition: (Per burger):
Calories: 520
Fat: 25g
sodium: 820mg
Carbohydrates: 57 g (fiber: 7 g, sugar: 11 g)
protein: 18g

BurgerFi’s veggie burger, the VegeFi, is top-notch. It features a chef-created recipe that includes a quinoa and veggie patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and Fi sauce on a multigrain bun. It’s exactly what you want in a veggie burger – great texture and balanced flavor. I paid $9.99 for this delicious burger and would order it again in a heartbeat. (And if you want a review of the meaty options, we tried those too.)6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

The appearance: Honestly, this burger didn’t have any special features – it was simply made with a soft bun, a drizzle of Fi sauce, a slice of American cheese, and some fresh toppings. It didn’t look gourmet like BareBurger’s options or photoshoot-ready like ShakeShack’s. It did come in an insulated heat bag, though, which I appreciated.

The taste: Wow, this patty really rocked—now I understand why it’s described as “award-winning” on BurgerFi’s website. First off, the texture was fantastic. The outside had a thin layer of crispy breading that gave way to a softer, veggie-filled interior. The patty was well seasoned and not too salty or peppery. Its flavors also blended well with the cheese, lettuce, tomato, and special sauce, and the toppings offered contrasting textures, which was a plus. I feel like sometimes veggie burgers are a little on the softer side, but that wasn’t the case with this one. My friend and I liked this one so much that we ate it up in record time. While this choice doesn’t look as fancy as some of the others, it’s still an excellent takeout veggie burger that’s not soggy and doesn’t skimp on flavor.