Talking about a steakhouse, it can be quite challenging when you’re a vegan. What can you get from a non-vegan diner?
For a steakhouse like Morton’s, dining in sounds impossible for vegans. But good news, hungry vegans. At Morton’s The Steakhouse, you can have a tasty meal on request.
Morton’s The Steakhouse has a meaty-sounding menu. Of course, it’s obvious. It’s a steakhouse, but vegans have options on request. The diner can make you a tasty platter filled with grilled vegetables and a delicious salad in oil and vinegar. How cool is that?
So, in case you’d be dragged in at Morton’s The Steakhouse by a family member or a friend, you already know what to get. But let’s find out more about the restaurant and see what we can get apart from the grilled veggies.
Morton’s The Steakhouse, Savor The Good Life
Arnold J. Morton and Klaus Fritsch were co-workers at the Playboy Club in Montreal, Quebec until they both found a friendship with each other. Together, they started Morton’s The Steakhouse in 1978 after Fritsch made his version of hamburger for the club’s menu.
Morton realized that it was the best burger he ever tasted, and decided to open their own restaurant in Downtown Chicago. From there, they developed different specialties, including their signature prime steaks and chops.
Apart from meat, Morton’s also offers seafood, and a few veggies, which can be made vegan on request.
Morton’s The Steakhouse also offers private dining and catering with a select menu to choose from. Today, the restaurant has about 80 locations, including Beijing, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, and Toronto.
The restaurant has also hosted different special charitable and celebrity events such as ESPN’s Lunch With A Legend, and Celebrity Server.
Morton’s The Steakhouse is now fully owned and operated by Landry’s, Inc. with headquarters in Houston, Texas.
Morton’s The Steakhouse Vegan-Friendly Options
The menu at Morton’s The Steakhouse changes occasionally, but the crew is very knowledgeable and well-versed. Depending on your diet restrictions, they will carefully guide you according to your needs and will help you find one.
The staff will also ensure to clean up everything, including utensils and other kitchen tools to avoid cross-contamination. Now, this is definitely what vegans need, especially when eating out at a non-vegan restaurant like Morton’s The Steakhouse.
The menu though varies by location. So, you may have to check first with them wherever you are in the U.S. or in other international locations.
Check these items on their menu that can be possibly made vegan. Always check with them to see what you can get or skip other ingredients. This includes the chopped meat on their salad or soup ingredients, as well as the whipped cream in their drinks.
- Appetizers
- Wild Mushrooms
- Soups And Salads
- Baked French Onion Soup
- Chopped House Salad
- Seasonal Burrata Salad
- Morton’s Iceberg Wedge
- Sides
- Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
- Thick Cut Onion Rings
- Jumbo Grilled Asparagus
- The Troy (Sautéed Mushrooms & Onions)
- Sautéed Spinach and Button Mushrooms
- Loaded Baked Potato
- Signature Sides
- Herb Roasted Cauliflower
- Signature Desserts
- Fresh raspberries or mixed berries
- Dessert Drinks
- Italian Coffee (Romana Sambuca)
- Iris Coffee (Tullamore D.E.W.)
- Spanish Coffee (Kahlúa, Brandy)
- Espressotini (Grey Goose Vodka, Kahlúa, Simple Syrup, Espresso)
- Morton’s Mixology 18 Drinks
- Blackberry Mojito
- Cadillac Margarita
- Island Bessie
- Palm Beach Passion
- Blooming Hibiscus
- Ginger Rabbit
- Long Island Iced Tea
- Paloma Picosa
- Bourbon Old Fashioned
- Golden Pineapple
- Moscow Mule
- Seasonal Cocktails 18
- Avant-Garde Sidecar
- Seasonal Sangria
- Maple Ryeball
- Martini’s 18
- French Martini
- Lemon Drop
- Free Spirits 10
- Spa Spritz
- Strawberry Coconut Coupe
- Champagne And Sparkling Wine
- La Marca, Prosecco, Extra Dry, Prosecco Doc
- Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Rose, Champagne, Chouilly
- Chandon Brut Classic, Sparkling Wine, California
- Nicolas Feuillatte Brut, Champagne, Chouilly
- White Wines
- Red Wines
You can also ask for a platter of sautéed or grilled veggies to enjoy your vegan meal. Unfortunately, the sauces at Morton’s The Steakhouse are non-vegan although it still makes a great deal to ask if there’s something vegan-friendly for you.
Morton’s The Steakhouse also offers gluten-free items, peanut-free, nut-free dishes, and more. You just have to check with them what to get for your dietary restrictions. The best person to talk to when it comes to their restaurant protocols is the manager to help you out.
Meat Steak Vs. Vegan Steak
Morton’s The Steakhouse has a wide selection of prime steaks and chops that are perfected by its in-house chef. Unfortunately, the restaurant doesn’t have any vegan meat to replace the animal meat for its steaks and chops.
For vegans, it’s important to get something that’s not only vegan-friendly but also a healthier option. But what can you get from vegan steak? To help you out, check the list below and see the difference between a vegan steak and its non-vegan counterpart.
It’s worthy to note that this is only an estimated figure depending on the ingredients used.
| Vegan Steak (Tofu, Chickpeas, Seitan, etc.) per 100 g | Non-Vegan Steak (Pork, Beef, Chicken) per 100 g |
|---|---|
| Calories: 120 | Calories: 271 |
| Total Fat: 5.8 g | Total Fat: 19 g |
| Cholesterol: 0 mg | Cholesterol: 78 mg |
| Sodium: 80 mg | Sodium: 58 mg |
| Potassium: 146 mg | Potassium: 279 mg |
| Total Carbs: 13 g | Total Carbs: 0 g |
| Protein: 14 g | Protein: 25 g |
| Iron: 1.8 mg | Iron: 2.4 mg |
| Vitamin B6: 2% | Vitamin B6: 25% |
| Magnesium: 60 mg | Magnesium: 23 mg |
| Calcium: 372 mg | Calcium: 12 mg |
If you notice, meat-free or vegan steak has significantly lower calories compared to its non-vegan counterpart. This is because animal meat is naturally rich in calories, especially when there’s excessive consumption.
However, vegan meat normally has higher sodium content in contrast to non-vegan, which you can see in the figure above. But this would depend on the brand you’re using. For instance, Impossible Burger has 370 mg while Beyond Burger offers 380 mg of sodium.
Vegan meat though is still a better option than animal meat. Chef and nutritionist Geeta Sidhu-Robb told Metro although vegan meat contains higher sodium, it can still be a healthier alternative.
According to Sidhu-Robb, although vegan meat has a higher sodium content, this doesn’t mean that genuine is the healthier option. This is because real meat is packed with unhealthy oils, preservatives, sodium, and additives, among others,
So to say the least, vegan meat is still a better option when we’re talking about a healthy lifestyle.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015 classified red meat such as lamb, veal, and beef as group 2 carcinogens. This means that red meat may cause cancer. Processed meat, including pepperoni, hotdog, and bacon is classified as a group 1 carcinogen, which means that they’ve been linked to cancer.
Pancreatic, colorectal, stomach, and prostate cancer are the common adverse health effects of red meat as well as processed meat. A study at Oxford University found that eating at least three rashers of bacon daily increases bowel cancer risk by 20%.
Health experts have warned that meat consumption, especially when eaten daily gives you a higher risk of cancer and other adverse health issues. This is why many health experts have also called for plant-based meat substitutes to keep any chronic diseases at bay.
To keep things balanced, pile up on more veggies for your vegan meat cooking, especially those that are rich in fiber and flavonoids. The USDA recommends limiting your sodium intake to 2,300 mg a day, which can be easier to achieve when you add fiber and flavonoid-rich veggies.
Vegan food has been an effective way of reducing the risk of heart diseases, diabetes, dementia, arthritis, fatty liver, and more.
There are many healthy vegetables to choose from to add to your vegan steak ingredients. For a vegan steak, there are also a lot of options that you can choose as a substitute for real meat. Most of these ingredients are very easy to find.
The key ingredients for vegan steak are listed below.
- Chickpeas
- Tofu
- Lentils
- Seitan
- Mushrooms
- Beets
- Flaxseed
- Coconut Flour
- Dark Red Kidney Beans
The Bottom Line
Morton’s The Steakhouse isn’t a vegan restaurant, but it does offer several alternatives for hungry vegans. On request, you can get grilled or steamed vegetables on the platter, or even its sides and salads minus the cream, butter, or cheese.
When ordering, always ask the staff to use vegetable oil when frying instead of butter. Morton’s The Steakhouse also follows its strict protocol when it comes to avoiding cross-contamination for those who have dietary restrictions.
Also, when it comes to its beverage offering, you may have to skip the ones with whipped cream or order a drink without it. Morton’s The Steakhouse has a huge selection of drinks such as wines, cocktails, brandy, and more. So, be sure to check with their staff to see what you can have according to your needs, especially since you’re a vegan.
Lastly, if you’re inner umami taste is craving steak, you can make one at home. There are vegan meat brands that you can consider when buying. I listed a few of them in this article.
I have tried these brands a few times, and I can say that they’re really worth your time and budget.