Photo: ID 26290350 | Travis Barker © Featureflash | Dreamstime.com
Fans lined up outside Mr. Charlie’s newest restaurant in San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood, hoping for a free plant-based burger and a chance to meet Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.
As the longtime vegan officially joined Mr. Charlie’s as an equity partner and brand ambassador, Barker also threw his support behind a growing movement making plant-based fast food more accessible across the United States.
In a statement announcing the partnership, Barker said, “Mr. Charlie’s isn’t just another food concept—it’s a movement. What they’re building across food, culture, and community resonates with me. I’m excited to help take it to the next level.”
Travis Barker and Mr. Charlie’s
Barker has been a longtime advocate for plant-based eating, making his partnership with Mr. Charlie’s a natural fit. Over the years, he has supported and invested in several plant-based businesses, using his platform to encourage more compassionate food choices.
Now he’s helping champion one of the fastest-growing names in vegan fast food.
Since opening its first restaurant in Los Angeles in 2022, Mr. Charlie’s has become known for serving plant-based versions of McDonald’s-inspired, familiar fast-food favorites. The restaurant’s burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, nuggets, and kids’ meals offer customers the nostalgic fast-food experience they know and love without harming animals.
Vegan fast food is important
Alongside Barker’s investment, Mr. Charlie’s is continuing an ambitious national expansion.
The company recently announced plans for new restaurants in Austin, Atlanta, and additional cities, with more than 25 locations already secured through franchise agreements. As the chain grows beyond California, even more people will have convenient access to delicious plant-based meals.
This is important because convenience and accessibility play a major role in people’s choices. Some people just want to grab a quick meal on the go, while many others simply don’t have easy access to plant-based meals or even to grocery stores. Every vegan fast-food option makes it easier for someone to choose a meal that doesn’t rely on industrial animal agriculture.
Billions of chickens, pigs, cows, and other animals raised for food endure lives of misery at industrial farms before being slaughtered. Choosing plant-based meals helps reduce demand for these products while showing businesses that consumers want more compassionate, sustainable options.
Not into fast food? Read more about why we should all celebrate vegan fast food options even if we don’t eat them.
