Our Guide To Vegan Options At First Watch (Updated 2025)

First Watch is a breakfast/brunch chain with over 300 locations in many parts of the U.S. It’s best known for providing healthy and satisfying breakfasts and lunches. 

For vegans, the First Breakfast menu is limited. However, there are some potential options to explore! 

While you might not have a wealth of choices, you can put together a filling vegan meal at First Watch.

We swung by in July and wanted to share what we ate.

About The First Watch Vegan Menu

First Watch isn’t overwhelmed with vegan options, but there are a few good items for you to try. 

One important thing to note, though, is that the availability can vary by location.

Juice Bar Vegan Options at First Watch

The Juice Bar is primarily vegan, although check any seasonal additions to ensure they aren’t made with honey.

• Morning Meditation. Containing orange, lemon, organic ginger, beets, and turmeric, the Morning Meditation juice is sweetened with agave nectar, and it’s really refreshing and uplifting.
• Kale Tonic. The Kale Tonic drink contains kale, Fuji apple, English cucumber, and a squeeze of lemon. It’s packed full of goodness.
• Purple Haze. Contains lemon, butterfly pea flower tea, and a touch of lavender. Purple Haze is sweetened with cane sugar. You’ve got to try this one once – at least.
• Watermelon Wake-Up. A seasonal option, Watermelon Wake-up contains watermelon, pineapple, lime, and mint. It’s delicious, but not always available.

Other Vegan Drink Options

First Watch contains non-dairy milk at many locations, but the availability is variable. We were able to offer coffees with oat milks on our last visit, but this has been a problem when we’ve visited in the past. Almond milk is almost always available, though.

• Cold Brew Coffee. 
• Project Sunrise Coffee.
• Herbal Teas: Make sure to request your herbal tea without honey.
• 100% Cold Squeezed Orange Juice.
• Grapefruit Juice.
• Cranberry Juice.
• Apple Juice.

First Watch has multiple juices on the menu, which are typically vegan.

First Watch also offers brunch cocktails. These use primarily vegan ingredients, but some alcohols do contain animal products. Speak to your server before ordering so you can find out what alcohol and brand are used in the cocktail. 

Healthier Vegan Side / Small Plate Options

The Healthier Side section is the best place to look on the menu for a vegan meal.

• A.M. Superfoods Bowl: The A.M. Superfoods Bowl is primarily vegan; just make sure to ask for the toast to be made without margarine. The bowl contains coconut milk chia seed pudding, sliced fresh bananas, fresh berries, a mixed berry compote, and housemade granola with almonds. It’s served with whole-grain artisan toast topped with almond butter and a sprinkle of Maldon sea salt.
• Avocado Toast: Ask for the Avocado Toast with no eggs and no margarine on the toast. A base of whole-grain artisan toast is topped with fresh smashed avocado, extra virgin olive oil, lemon, and Maldon sea salt.
• Steel-Cut Oatmeal: The Steel-cut Oatmeal is made to order, so ask to substitute dairy milk for non-dairy milk. The oatmeal is topped with banana and pecans and served with brown sugar. Ask to switch the fresh muffin to whole-grain toast and almond butter (no margarine).

Vegan Sandwich Options At First Watch

The Veggie Burger isn’t available at all locations, but if you can get hold of it, it can be made vegan-friendly.

You can make the veggie burger vegan-appropriate, but it requires some variations and substitutions. 

First, remove the whipped butter and Dijonnaise. Next, substitute the brioche bun for whole-grain toast with no butter or margarine. The veggie burger is made from brown rice, Peppadew peppers, onion, carrots, and mushrooms.

You might also consider ordering the Veggie Burger with no bun (in addition to no butter or Dijonnaise). The burger patty comes with fresh smashed avocado, mixed greens, tomato, and red onion.

The Dijonaise is served on the side, so you can ask your server about subbing it for a vegan-friendly dressing or sauce.

Vegan Salads at First Watch

None of the salads at First Watch are vegan as they appear on the menu, but you can make some adjustments. Keep in mind that salads vary by region – some of these have been phased out in certain locations.

Superfood Kale Salad (not always available)

This salad has appeared on past menus but isn’t offered everywhere now. If you do find it, you’ll need to remove the chicken breast, chicken stock, and Parmesan.

It usually comes with kale, organic mixed greens, maple-roasted carrots, dried cranberries, slivered almonds, and a maple-lemon vinaigrette. Ask for the ciabatta toast without butter, or skip the toast altogether.

Chicken Avocado Chop Salad (not always available)

Also not consistently on the menu anymore. If it’s at your location, order without chicken and Feta cheese, and ask for ciabatta toast plain (no butter). The salad itself has arugula and romaine, avocado, black beans, corn, tomatoes, tortilla strips, and citrus chipotle dressing.

If neither of these salads is available, your best bet is to build a salad plate from sides (greens, avocado, black beans, and a vegan dressing).

Vegan Sides

You can bulk up your meal at First Watch with some vegan-friendly sides. Some of your options include:

• Fresh, Seasonal Fruit Cup.
• Fresh, Seasoned Potatoes.
• Whole Grain Artisan Toast with Preserves – ask for it plain, since it’s often served with butter or margarine.
• Gluten-Free Toast with Preserves – typically served without butter, but double-check to be safe.
• Gluten-Free Toast with All-Natural House Preserves. This is served without butter.
• Lemon-Dressed Organic Mixed Greens.
• Black Beans.

If you are ordering toast, make sure it’s kept plain and isn’t made with either butter or margarine.

Vegan Dressings

First Watch has two vegan dressings currently available. These are:

• Maple Lemon Vinaigrette.
• Citrus Chipotle.

If you plan on ordering a salad, make sure it’s made using one of these two dressings. If you’re ordering the Veggie Burger, ask your server about subbing the Dijonnaise for one of these dressings. 

Vegan Soups

The majority of soups at First Watch contain either meat or dairy, so be careful with this part of the menu.

• Market Vegetable Soup: Market Vegetable Soup is vegan, but it isn’t always on the menu.

What We Ate At First Watch

On our most recent trip to First Watch, I had the A.M. Superfoods Bowl, ordered without butter on the toast, and a coffee with oat milk.

Mr went for the Steel-Cut Oatmeal and enjoyed it with his usual black coffee.

The kids both tucked into oatmeal and shared a side of fresh fruit. To drink, they had a freshly squeezed orange juice and an apple juice, which went down really well with their brunch.

It was simple but filling, and everyone left the table happy.

Take a look at the full menu here to plan your visit.

Final Thoughts

First Watch isn’t the best restaurant chain for vegans, but there are enough options to make a decent breakfast, brunch, or lunch. 

Plus, if you’re ordering online, First Watch makes it easy to remove any ingredients that might not be suitable. 

Disclaimer: We cross-checked this guide with First Watch’s official allergen information in July 2025. While we do our best to keep everything current, menus and ingredients can change quickly. Use this guide as a starting point, and always confirm with your server before ordering.

More Dining Out Options for Vegans

If you’re looking for other breakfast and brunch chains with vegan-friendly choices, take a look at our guides to Vegan Options at IHOP and Vegan Options at Denny’s.

Frequently Asked Questions