Two years after the first vegan beef burger was introduced to the public on a nationwide scale (thank you, Burger King), McDonald’s has finally launched a plant-based burger of its own thanks to a partnership with vegan brand Beyond Meat. The American-born chain says that it’s been working on the McPlant for three years with microscopic testing markets in Europe and Canada. Now, the plant-based-as-is sandwich is rolling out to 250 UK and eight US locations—its largest distribution yet (and first foray in the US). So where can you get it, and is it vegan? Here’s the latest on the McDonald’s McPlant.

@Veegboi/Instagram

McDonald’s vegan options

While certainly the most buzzed-about meatless offering, the McPlant isn’t McDonald’s first foray into plant-based options. The behemoth burger brand has launched a few veggie sandwich items—just not in its home country. The currently discontinued Vegetable Deluxe debuted in Europe and the UK in 2018 and was made with two red pepper pesto goujons (breaded and fried veggie sticks), iceberg lettuce, and sandwich sauce. Depending on the location, the handhold could be vegan—it all came down to the sauce. Some McDonald’s kitchens continued to use a sauce recipe with egg, while others removed it for a completely plant-based, creamy sauce. 

In 2019, McDonald’s first showcased the burger currently known as the McPlant in 28 Ontario, Canada locations. Back then, it was called the P.L.T. (Plant, Lettuce, Tomato) and featured a vegan patty formulated for McDonald’s by Beyond Meat. In addition to tomato and lettuce, the beefless burger was accompanied by a slather of mayo-style sauce, mustard, and a slice of processed cheddar cheese. After 12 weeks, the test was complete and the offering was removed from McDonald’s menu. In February 2021, the P.L.T. reemerged in select Swedish and Denmark locations as the McPlant. Still served with cheese- and egg-based mayo, the sandwich was removed from these test locations in April. 

Aside from burgers and sandwiches, McDonald’s UK carries a few vegan-friendly menu items to complement the main meal. French fries, hash browns, apple slices, baby carrots, and Veggie Dippers are all fair game for the plant-based crowd. A similar spread (minus the Veggie Dippers) is available in the US with the exclusion of the fries. While Stateside Mickey D’s swapped out the beef fat for vegetable frying oil in 1990, the chain added beef flavoring so the McDonald’s fries in the US are not vegetarian or vegan.  

McDonald’s

The US McPlant

The McPlant will be available at select US locations beginning November 3. Unlike its British counterpart, the meatless sandwich in the US is only being tested at a very select number of locations—just eight, to start. From now until November 3 (or until sold out), you can find the McPlant at these select McDonald’s locations.

Cedar Falls, IA

El Segundo and Manhattan Beach, CA 

Irving and Carrollton, TX 

Jennings and Lake Charles, LA

Likely due to the pressures of the dairy lobby in the US, the American McPlant is not vegan as-is. The sandwich is made with the same Beyond Meat formulated patty, but it comes with animal-based mayo and American cheese in addition to the standard lettuce, tomatoes, onions, ketchup, mustard, and pickles. The sesame seed bun is vegan, so plant-based patrons can get a taste of this new offering by ordering without mayo or cheese (note: unlike the UK, the US McPlant shares cooking surfaces with non-vegan items). 

@lickyplate/Instagram

A vegan spin in the UK

Following months of hibernation after select test runs across the world, the McPlant has also resurfaced in the UK, but with a vegan facelift. Now being tested in 250 UK locations until January 2022, the Beyond Meat-based burger comes with ketchup, mustard, onions, pickles, tomato, and a slice of vegan cheese on a sesame seed bun. Unlike many fast-food vegan burger options, the McPlant will be prepared with dedicated, vegan-friendly cookware and utensils to avoid animal product cross-contamination. 

England and Ireland residents—curious if your local Mickey D’s carries the McPlant? Here are all the locations that serve it … given it hasn’t sold out. 

Abbey Centre

London Camberwell

Abbey Lane

London Camden

Anniesland

London Canning Town – Hallsville Quarter

Antrim – The Junction Retail Park

London Catford 2

Asda Longbenton

London Chancery Lane

Asda Morley

London Chelsea Kings Road

Asda Norwich

London City Road

Barton Mills

London Clapham

Beaumont Leys

London Clapham Junction

Beccles

London Commercial Road

Bedminster

London Dalston

Belfast – Boucher Road

London Deptford

Belfast – Mckinstry Road

London Earls Court

Belfast Knocknagoney Road

London Edgware Road

Belfast Shore Road

London Eltham

Birmingham – Chelmsley Wood

London Fulham

Birmingham – Small Heath

London Hackney

Birmingham – Temple Row

London Hammersmith 2 Broadway Centre

Birmingham Bristol Rd

London Highbury Corner

Birmingham Fort

London Highway Shadwell

Birstall

London Holborn

Black Cat Southampton

London Holloway Road

Boongate Peterborough

London Islington

Bordesley Green

London Kensington

Bourges Boulevard

London Kentish Town

Bow – Payne Road

London Kilburn

Braehead

London Killingbeck

Brampton Hut – Huntingdon

London Kings Cross

Bristol

London Kings Cross – Ex Wendys

Bristol Bedminster

London Leicester Square

Bristol Brislington

London Lewisham

Bristol Cribbs

London Liverpool Street

Bristol Filton

London London Bridge

Bristol Fishponds

London Maryhill

Bristol Hengrove

London Notting Hill Gate

Bristol Horsefair

London Nuneaton

Bristol Longwell Green

London Old Kent Road Dt

Bristol Patchway

London Oxford Street 1

Broadlands

London Peckham+C44

Bury St.Edmunds

London Pollokshaws

Byker

London Putney

Cambridge

London Queensway 

Cambridge – Newmarket Road

London Road Edinburgh

Cambridge Circus

London Seven Sisters

Cambridge Services

London Shaftesbury Avenue – 2

Campbells Meadow Kings Lynn

London Shepherds Bush

Capitol Shopping Park – Cardiff

London Springburn

Cardiff – Excelsior Road

London St Martins Lane

Cardiff – Ty Glas Avenue

London St Pauls

Cardiff 1

London Strand

Cardiff Bay

London Stratford The Mall

Cardiff Culverhouse Cross

London Streatham Place

Cardiff Longwood Drive

London Swiss Cottage

Cardiff Newport Rd

London Victoria

Cardiff St Marys Street

London Victoria Place

Caxton Gibbet

London Victoria Station

Chesterton

London Walworth Rd

Coast Road, Newcastle

London Wandsworth

Conswater

London Wandsworth Drive-thru

Cosham

London Wandsworth Road

Coventry Alvis

London Warren Street

Coventry Canley

London West One Shopping Centre

Coventry Walsgrave

London Westfield Stratford City

Coventry-Binley

London Woolwich

Cross Cheaping

Lowestoft Kirley

Crow Road

Lowestoft Pakefield

Crystal Peaks

Manchester Oxford Road

Dereham

Manchester Piccadilly Gardens

Donegal Place

Meadowhal 2

Drakehouse

Meadowhall

Dublin, Grafton St

Milngavie

Dublin, Ilac Centre

New Oscott

Dublin, Mary Street

Newcastle – Grainger Street

Dublin, O’Connell Br. 

Newcastle-Under-Lyme

Dublin, O’Connell St

Newport IOW

Dublin, Temple-Bar

Northfield

Dundonald

Norwich – Chapelfields

Edinburgh

Norwich – Hay Hill

Edinburgh – Corstorphine

Norwich – Thickthorn

Edinburgh – Newbridge

Norwich Boundary Road

Edinburgh – Straiton

Norwich Longwater

Felixstowe

Norwich Tuckswood

Finnieston

Nuneaton – Asda

Fosse Park

Nuneaton DT

Gallagher Retail Park

Parkhead

Gapton Hall

Port Glasgow – Retail Park

Glasgow – Great Western Retail Park

Portsmouth

Glasgow – Kirkintilloch

Portsmouth – Fratton

Glasgow – London Road

Portsmouth – Fratton Del. Kitchen

Glasgow – Silverburn

Portsmouth – North Harbour

Glasgow – Easterhouse

Portsmouth Ocean Retail Park

Glasgow Fort – Morrisons

Princes Street

Glengormley

Queensgate Peterborough

Gorgie Road

Ryde IOW

Gosforth Park

Saintfield Road 

Great Yarmouth

Sauchiehall Street

Great Yarmouth 3

Seafield Road

Greenwich-Cutty Sark

Sheffield – Archer Road

Hagley Rd

Sheffield – Darnall Road

Havant

Sheffield – Farm Road

Hedge End

Sheffield 2

Helen St

Sheffield Handsworth

Hillsborough

Shirley Road Southampton

Hinckley – Dodwells Road

Snetterton A11

Hinckley DT

South Andrew Street

Hunslet

Southampton – Millbrook

Huntingdon – Tower Field

Southampton – West Quay

Ipswich – Ravenswood

Southampton Esplanade

Ipswich Cardinal Park

St Enoch Centre

Ipswich Ranelagh Rd

Stamfordham Road

Ipswich Tavern Street

Star City

Ipswich Whitehouse

Stechford

Killingworth Centre

Swaffham

Kings Lynn

Swansea

Kings Norton

Swansea – Cwmdu

Kingston Park

Swansea – Fabian Way

Kinnaird Park

Swansea M4 Junction 47

Kitts Green

Swansea Morriston

Leeds – Colton Mill

Tankersley

Leeds – Elland Road

Telford Road

Leeds – Kirkstall

Thetford – Forest Retail Park

Leeds – Oakwood

Thornliebank

Leeds 1

Thurmaston

Leeds 2

Tooton

Leeds-Central Station

Trongate

Leeds, Bond Street

Waverley Market

Leicester – Meridian Way

West Bromwich 3

Leicester – Monks Rest (Hamiliton) 

West Lynn

Leicester Eastgates

West Orchards

Leicester Market Street

Westwood

London 185-187 Oxford Street

White Rose Centre

London 291 Oxford St

Whittlesford

London Argyle St

Wigston

London Baker Street

Woolwich – Church Street

London Balham

Wroxham

London Bethnal Green

Yardley

London Bham – Stephenson Place

Yardley Wood

London Brixton

Yorkshire Grey

London Brompton Rd

 

For more on vegan fast-food burgers, read:Fatburger Expands Vegan Cheeseburger to All Locations
The Vegan Guide to Plant-Based Eating at Burger King
The Ultimate Vegan Guide to Carl’s Jr. 

This post was originally published on VegNews.com.