[JeremyNT]

As a vegetarian I actually prefer stuff like Beyond when eating out.

The reason is simple: it has higher protein content than most other place based fast foods.

I'd love to live in a world with minimally processed high protein vegetarian restaurant food (like lots of legumes), but the only reliable place to get this that I know of is CAVA.

Products like Beyond are at least a step up from carb heavy pastas and grains or oily fried vegetables and starches which are the staples of most restaurant fare for vegetarians.

[kjkjadksj]

Plenty of places will give you beans. Are beyond burgers really higher protein than a bean? Taco bell the whole menu can be subbed for black beans.

[JeremyNT]

When you get "black bean burgers" they usually have a bunch of other stuff in them which reduces the protein. Combine with a bun and you get a lot of calories without much protein.

Beyond/impossible are not great, but they are better.

A few fast casual places like Chipotle do have pretty good bean options.

But your friendly neighborhood restaurant? Probably you can get a salad or a Portobello sandwich or some pasta or a black bean burger. In relation to those, the packaged burgers provide a reliable source of protein.

[curiousgibbon]

Yes, processed meat alternatives tend to be significantly higher protein per unit mass than beans. But other metrics like protein per calorie can be useful.