Being a vegan will get you to appreciate cooking at home so much more. You don't have to start off learning to do so with any top-notch, 5-star fancy meals. You just have to start with some simple spins on things you already know you like to eat.

As far as eating out goes, I strictly go to restaurants that are one of the following:

• Restaurants that, not only explicitly label vegan dishes as vegan (with a symbol or something), but also tell you every single ingredient in the dish. I add that point because of stuff like this.
• Chain restaurants that have had their products vegan-certified or confirmed to be definitively vegan by some large-scale vegan organization. A lot of stuff at Taco Bell, for instance, is certified vegan. There is a problem with a lot of Taco Bell employees fucking up orders, though. I've gotten beef instead of beans more than once, and it's frustrating as hell.
• Restaurants that are exclusively vegan. This is your safest bet like @Aryuproudomenowdaddy@hexbear.net said.

Trying anything else is just too complicated and blurry to be a safe bet. It's easier, cheaper, and overall healthier to just whip something up in the comfort of your own home even if it can take some effort, but I understand your concerns about working a shit ton.

You might also want to consider food items that require very little preparation. You really can't go wrong with a lot of salads, and there are a lot of good recipes for those.

It's best to find veggie/vegan restaurants or you're basically rolling the dice.

Taco Bell is my go-to when I don't want to cook

Yeah it's a genuine struggle unless the restaurant is explicitly vegan. A lot of restaurant workers (at least where I live) are often unfamiliar with what vegan means and might not be able to answers questions about menu items. I've been handed fish before at a restaurant after saying I'm vegan, then I reiterated how I'm vegan, and the staff said to me "Oh, you're also pescatarian?" I wasn't annoyed though, I just get sad because it means we have a lot of meat eating culture to break through.

Honestly I don't blame them though. I don't blame wait staff for not understanding, or maybe not having the cultural background to know about veganism. Or they're overworked or simply don't know how some food are prepared. It feels like it's our job to continue our work to make veganism more well known. If people don't understand us, then we still have work to do. I don't believe in just dismissing people who've only known carnism their whole lives. Veganism can show them that an alternative exists.

But I agree with you too, veganism has really helped me appreciate my own cooking. It's helped me appreciate simpler, cheaper meals as well. The simplicity of beans, rice, and some vegetables is really soothing to me now.

Resteraunts shouldn't exist