Our Guide To Vegan Options At First Watch

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.

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. 

Juice Bar Vegan Options

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.
• Kale Tonic. The Kale Tonic drink contains kale, Fuji apple, English cucumber, and a squeeze of lemon.
• Purple Haze. Contains lemon, butterfly pea flower tea, and a touch of lavender. Purple Haze is sweetened with cane sugar.
• Watermelon Wake-Up. A seasonal option, Watermelon Wake-up contains watermelon, pineapple, lime, and mint.

Other Vegan Drink Options

First Watch contains non-dairy milk at many locations, but the availability is variable.

• 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 Dijonaisse 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 are vegan as described, but with some clever changes, you can adapt the meals to suit your dietary requirements.

• Superfood Kale Salad: A vitamin-rich salad made with kale and organic mixed greens. Ask for it without the chicken breast, chicken stock, and Parmesan. It comes with maple-roasted carrots, dried cranberries, slivered almonds, and a maple-lemon vinaigrette. Ask for the ciabatta toast without whipped butter (or remove the toast entirely).
• Chicken Avocado Chop Salad: Ask for no chicken and no Feta cheese, plus no butter on the ciabatta toast. The salad comes with an arugula and romaine lettuce base, avocado, black beans, corn, tomatoes, a herb mix, tortilla strips, and a citrus chipotle 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 All-Natural House Preserves And Whipped Butter. Ask for the toast without butter or margarine. The butter is often served on the side.
• 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.

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. 

Frequently Asked Questions