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Comment by CaptainNegative | Hacker News Reader

"Something for everyone" is stretching it when they have one vegan entree: The Impossible Burger. The closest second option, if it even counts as a separate option, is the "Skinny" Impossible Burger, which comes with mayo that can be removed.

Nothing else is close to vegan, unless you're into ordering Chicken Lettuce Wraps without Chicken.

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True Vegan (no Honey etc) is unusually strict but “there are 9 vegan options at the Cheesecake Factory, plus a handful of other dishes that can be customized to make it vegan.” https://dietmenus.com/restaurant/the-cheesecake-factory

Vegetarian bumps that to 52 menu items.

There are a few more options when generalizing beyond entrées, but still five of the items listed on that page are salads, with the other four being a side of beets, asparagus, artichoke, or edamame. Which, at double digit Calories, is only as much a reasonable meal for vegans as it is for carnists (that is to say not much of one).

I would think that vegans regularly have salad for dinner, no?

A lot of vegetarians and vegans I know personally hate salad, because it is so often the only option at a restaurant and often an afterthought for those who don’t eat meat or are trying to lose weight.

It also does limit the choice of dressing, for example anything with mayo is off limits.

True, but again at the CCF salads aren't the only option, but about half of them.

No, vegans eat food.

Salad is food, afaik. I eat it frequently.

> Nothing else is close to vegan, unless you're into ordering Chicken Lettuce Wraps without Chicken.

They just haven't figured out how to keep vegans from spoiling in a commercial kitchen yet. They're high maintenance, a bit too big for the freezer, and the vacuum packer tends to deprive them of oxygen.

But... cows are vegan, aren't they?

Actually, no. They're (occasional) omnivores, believe it or not:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-herbivores-ar...

Horses sometimes eat chickens too.

Nary a grazer turns down occasional free protein

So it does seem they have something even for vegans. Something doesn't mean that the entire selection is built around your particular quirks.

By that notion my home kitchen also has something for everyone because I have a tomato in the fridge. Where's my HN praise for being so culinarily flexible?

> Chicken Lettuce Wraps without Chicken.

Which is an actual item on the menu

https://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/menu/appetizers/thai-le...

The avocado lettuce wraps are really good (I'm mostly vegan). I've taken my young kids (6 and 4) there and it works out great. I usually get this and the kids get whatever they want.

I'm allergic to milk and I stay very far away from such places. Cross-contamination is pretty much a given. (Same with actual fancy restaurants and butter.)

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