Where fast food drive-thru, vegans meet

Think fast food drive-thru places are bad? Think again.

Ocean Beach-based Plant Power Fast Food has expanded to ever-trendy, and ever-retro-hipped-out Leucadia, and with a twist. Its new location at a former Burger King features a drive-thru window, believed to be the first drive-thru vegan restaurant experience offered by a fully plant-based fast-food restaurant chain in the nation.

Plant Power Fast Food calls itself a “FREE drive-through experience” because the entire menu is cholesterol-free, meat-free, and dairy-free, according to co-founder Zach Vouga.

Referring to the major roadway intersection 411 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, Vouga said, “This is a perfect location for a healthy drive-thru restaurant. We’ve taken a former Burger King and transformed it into a convenient oasis to enjoy a delicious plant-based meal.”

Vogue added: “We’re demonstrating that outstanding taste, convenience, and wholesome food can be delivered in the fast-food format.”

This represents Plant Power’s second location. The first such eatery opened in January 2016 at 2204 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Ocean Beach. However, that restaurant is more of your everyday-variety pedestrian vegan restaurant. It requires parking the vehicle before — shudder — walking inside.

Plant Power Fast Food does its thing 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

Motivated by various concerns ranging from personal health, the environment and animal welfare, an expanding number of consumers have chosen to reduce the amount of meat and dairy in their diet. In response to this, many restaurants now feature one or more plant-based options on their menu.

“The interest in convenient, healthy food is growing exponentially as a result of the medical challenges facing many Americans today,” Vouga said.

Plant Power Fast Food has taken this a hopefully delicious step further and offers a completely plant-based menu, joining the flourishing business of plant-based restaurants in the United States, including Veggie Grill and Native Foods. Plant Power Fast Food, however, is the only 100 percent plant-based, GMO free chain of drive-thru fast food restaurants in the U.S.

Both locations feature typical fast food offerings but with a healthy twist. The selection includes burgers, fries, shakes, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and desserts, all of which are plant-based. It features a kid’s menu and includes breakfast, which is served from 8 a.m. through 11 a.m. This unique restaurant chain is committed to being affordable — entrees range from $6.25 to $8.95 –while at the same time featuring quality, fresh ingredients.

Besides the drive-thru, this new location features walk-up, take-out service and an outdoor patio dining area. Plant Power Fast Food also launched mobile ordering app as well as online ordering earlier this year, making it convenient for customers to order before they arrive and then stop by to pick up their meal.

For locations, menus and other details, visit plantpowerfastfood.com or Facebook at facebook.com/plantpowerfastfood.