They just opened a chain called Genghis Grill near my house.  It's one of those places where you pick a bunch of stuff from a buffet of ingredients, put it in a bowl, and then they cook it on the grill right in front of you.  But unlike other similar ones I've been to, Genghis Grill has a "vegetarian" option on their menu of special things to ask your cook for.  If you ask for vegetarian, they will clean off a section of the grill and use separate utensils to cook your food.  I'm usually too wussy to ask anybody to do this, but since it was on their menu... !  It's a pretty pricey place for what the food is, but a good option for me to try to steer people toward when I have to eat out with omnivores who insist on certain foods and all.

If you're a vegan you have to be careful with the vegetarian burger patties as many aren't vegan, such as Chili's. For more info on vegan options please consider my site which lists Retaurants, Fast Food and Snack menu options for the vegan diet.

Chipotle

chili's has a black bean burger that is OUT OF THIS WORLD.

i went there and got it once and the waittress asked me how I wanted it cooked, i was like what do you mean cause its not meat... and she wanted to know if I wanted it to be pink in the middle or well done. it made me laugh alot.

hah!  that's great.  as much as i enjoy my faux meat items, that is one thing i'll never be looking for in them - pink middles.. ugh sick.

If you're on 6th St. in Austin, most of the veg*n restaurants are pretty far away.  But I found that El Sol y La Luna has vegetarian options on their menu.  Anna's Tofu burrito rocked! 

We went to Austin for my birthday and saw Esther's Follies, which is why we were on 6th St.  Stayed at the Hilton (about 2 blocks from Ester's)  which totally sucked big time as far as veggie options.  None whatsoever.  >:(

Potbelly's has an awesome veggie salad. It comes with chickpeas, roasted red bell peppers, cucumbers, marinated artichoke hearts, tomatoes, croutons & cheese. You have to tell them to exclude the cheese. I was pleasantly surprised at the toppings since this is a sandwich place. The Potbelly's vinaigrette is excellent also.

I came across this recently, from a college newspaper -- someone put together all the common fast food restaurants' vegan/ vegetarian info: http://gargoyle.flagler.edu/2010/01/new-leaf-vegetarian-and-vegan-fast-food-options/

(Not that fast food's a great option, usually, but it might come in handy for road trips or whatever...)

Vegan dining in my area consistent of the HFS's deli, Taco Bell, Subway, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut, and Qudoba.  We just got the latter.  There is a Chinese take out place too.  I wish we had more options.  I've never been in a completely vegan restaurant.  That would be so awesome.  When visiting my mother down south, I get excited when I see a couple things on a menu I can eat. 

Ugghh, I know what you mean. In my town, there is Qizno's Subway, and a Japanese restaurant that is very expensive, but has good vegetable rolls. There's a really cool college town about an hour away with great vegan options (and a co-op and a foreign foods market), and we go there almost every weekend, just to SEE real food! It's the only time I don't have to cook everything from scratch.

I've never tried Taco Bell or Papa Johns since I've been vegan--it makes me really nervous. Have you tried Papa John's without cheese? Is it any good? I make our own pizza at home, and I splurge on the Tofutti Mozzarella slices.

I usually make my own pizza as well but have ordered Papa John's in a pinch.  Make sure to get the regular crust.  The others aren't vegan.  Also make sure they understand the no cheese part.  At least arouind here that is unheard of.  It is good.  There sauce isn't bland like Pizza Huts.  One time you could tell they started to put cheese on it and then stopped, because there were a few scattered sprinkles.  I prefer being in the restraunte and watching people prepare my food, no matter where I get it from.  People here really don't know what vegetarianism is, let alone veganism.  (i.e. fish on the vegetarian menu.)  To get good vegan options, I'd have to drive 2-3+ hours away.  I just deal with what I can get, but one of these days may splurge and drive to eat in a veg restraunt.  I wouldn't know what to do with myself. 

Ibarte, I feel your pain! My bf and I are the only vegans around, and we're slowing trying to introduce it to everyone we can. We're constantly taking food into our work, our lab, to our climbing club, etc. just so people can see that vegan food is real food!!! I feel like I'm trying to educate people, one at a time. It's a slow process.

I'm also nervous about getting food at a nonvegan restaurant that I can't watch them make it. I've been at Qdoba and been like "no cheese" and they reach for the cheese and I go "No Cheese!" and one time I had to say it a third time. long story short, it's also unheard of here. People look at me like I'm crazy at Subway, too.

And you know what? We're awesome for making it work, even when it's difficult! People always say that it's too hard, and this just makes me laugh. You know what's too hard? Getting sick and taking medications, for instance. Or living outside the boundaries of your morals and beliefs. I think veganism is much easier than that.

Thanks for the tips everyone!