Slutty Vegan Among Best Burger Joints In US, According to Yelp
Plant-based burgers are a top food trend of 2023 says Yelp, as the review platform reveals its top 100 burger joints in the country.
The popularity of plant-based burgers is sizzling, according to review platform Yelp which has revealed its list of the Top 100 Burgers in America.
The list ranked all of the eateries featured on the Yelp website, analyzing the volume and ratings of reviews for each before narrowing the country’s countless burger joints down to just 100 of the most popular and well-reviewed.
And the final list is a testament to how plant-based food has gone mainstream in recent years, with plant-based burger joints featuring throughout the top 100.
The Black-owned and women-led burger chain Slutty Vegan claimed the highest spot for a plant-based eatery, coming in at an impressive #3.
Thanks to its loaded burgers, dancehall party atmosphere, and celebrity fan base, Yelp says “Slutty Vegan is right at the vanguard of the plant-based food trend”. Quoting one of its user reviews, one customer explains “I’m not vegan, but this is my go-to spot for late-night burgers, and I will drive out of my way to go there.”
Founded in 2018, the vegan burger chain is valued at around $100 million and already has eleven locations across the US. Founder Pinky Cole recently announced her plans to open Slutty Vegan’s first-ever drive-thru among several other new location launches later this year.
As well as Slutty Vegan’s success with cracking the top 5, plant-based burgers were also marked as one of the top food trends of 2023 by Yelp, who said the data shows that “vegans and meat-eaters alike are craving plant-based burgers more than ever”. In fact, the majority of burger joints on this year’s list have added meatless patties to their menus.
Just outside the top 10, San Diego’s Evolution Fast Food impressed Yelp reviewers with its healthier spin on fast-food-style burgers, claiming the #11 spot on the list. The animal-free menu offers a choice of patties made from black beans, tempeh, or soy-based “beef”, and burgers include the Fuego (loaded with with jalapenos, cheddar, and chipotle aioli), Mushroom Swiss with its combo of mushrooms and cheese, and the Evo, topped with cashew cheese and Thousand Island dressing. The eatery also gets recognition for being the city’s only vegan restaurant with a drive-thru.
Local chain Monty’s Good Burger was ranked #12, thanks to its vegan take on the In-N-Out-style burger joint. Based in Los Angeles, Monty’s classic Cheeseburgers, Max’d Out Fries and non-dairy shakes have created a legion of fans.
The Rise and Rise of Plant-Based Burgers
Yelp’s list is the latest showcase of how plant-based burgers have gone mainstream in recent years, with some of the world’s biggest burger brands going plant-based. Fast-food giant Burger King has predicted that half its menu will be 50 percent plant-based within less than a decade, and has even trialed making plant-based burgers the default option when customers order, as part of its “Normal, or With Meat?” campaign.
The popularity of plant-based burgers has increased availability too, with the likes of Impossible burgers found in leading eateries including White Castle, The Cheesecake Factory, and Hard Rock Cafe, while Beyond Burger’s famous ‘bloody’ patties can be found in supermarkets as well as restaurants like TGI Fridays.
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