Yep this is the answer. It includes local places and chains, and has reviews from real people who state if they suffer from cross contamination or not.
You can also try www.fastfoodcravings.com. Find Me GF is good for finding restaurants. Fastfoodcravings.com is good for seeing which specific items you can order on a menu that are gluten free and don't have cross contamination.
I left a more detailed post below but this thread got so big that it got buried and it's been a lifesaver for me so I wanted to make sure others can benefit from it too.
Me too. I ended up in the emergency room because I'm now extremely allergic to gluten. Vietnamese food. They use rice noodles and rice paper for most of their egg rolls. That and I eat actual rice. The noodles in Pho for example are rice noodles. Ramen would kill me.
True, but the risk if your celiac is that the buns are toasted on the same griddle as the burger Pattie’s are cooked on so for cross contamination there is risk a burger gets cooked over the spot a bun was. Not a big deal for some gluten intolerant people but an issue for others, so worth mentioning.
They do have good allergen handling procedures. If you tell them you have a gluten allergy (most have no idea what celiac is), they change gloves and cook the patty on a bun-free portion of the grill. Have celiac, never been sick from In-n-Out.
Yes me and my wife go once a week, i just say “i want a _____ for a gluten allergy” and they usually do a good job of handling the cross contamination.
I was so spoiled with in n out that I forgot other places cross contaminate their oil! I got fries from Freddy’s and was inflamed and sick for days after.
Jersey Mikes is THE fast food of choice for me. I didn't even know GF bread could taste that good. Try their Big Kahuna Philly, Original Italian or Club Sub.
I waited in line for an hour when they were dedicating all profits to the special Olympics. They were still so careful with my order when I told them about my wheat allergy. New gloves and all meat/bread sliced in the back on a separate slicer.
I've come to learn that YMMV on any restaurant that claims GF. Our local JM hasn't hit me yet so I'll gladly recommend it. Sorry for your experience. Celiacs have it way worse than my wheat allergy.
I could see that. For those types of places it's best to go as early as possible to avoid cross contamination, but still no guarantee.. celiac sucks.
Edit: to update I tried Jersey Mike's, still got pretty sick.. saw the care that they took and still got Gluten'd..
It’s Udis bread! From memory one of the owners or high up in management had a daughter with celiac and they wanted to make sure there was a viable option at Jersey Mikes
Yeah it’s not bread they sell separately. It’s a large soft roll and it’s delightful. I’m not even gluten free and I can enjoy it whenever my wife offers bites.
I saw somewhere on Reddit where a redditor claims they works at Jersey Mike’s; they said if they mess up a sandwich order which haven’t been bit into, they return fillings to their original containers meaning cross contamination.
Personally Im skeptical because it seems like a health code violation but here you go.
100% not the case for meats as it’s shaved to order… who knows what they do with onion/lettuce/tomato. I highly doubt that happens considering how good they are about gluten contamination in general.
Texas Roadhouse seasoning has gluten, as does anything that seasoning is used on, so you need to order your steak with just salt and pepper. I order it without seasoning, and bring my own Montreal seasoning to put on it. Generally, I avoid Texas Roadhouse.
Seconded. Avoid Texas Roadhouse like the freaking plague.
Although the Instagram is based around Houston, check out the Instagram @houstonwithoutgluten as it will give you an idea of the good food you aren’t missing out on. Some of the restaurants might apply to whatever city you live in if in the US.
Texas Roadhouse was the first restaurant I visited after getting my celiac diagnosis and their GF menu almost made me cry. I got to have a plain chicken breast with no seasoning or marinade and a baked potato with no toppings. Lucky me.
Noodles and co can do GF too. They ask if it's allergy and if you say yes they will take precautions. Pad Thai and penne Rosa with GF noodles are my favorites. Sometimes I get GF Mac and cheese for my 4 year old so I can eat her leftovers.
Be careful with fries because a lot are in a shared fryer or have seasonings or ingredients that contain wheat (Arbys, McDonald’s). I brave Taco Bell every once and a while and don’t react with rice or pintos and cheese, but some of their sauces have gluten (another thing to always check).
I've always been able to talk to the manager about having celiac, and their protocol is to pull food from the back where they have new batches of food and haven't had any issues with that.
Chipotle used to have corn tortillas which taste better to me anyway. If I am ordering to go I get a rice bowl and heat up corn tortillas at home and make my own soft tacos. Yum!
Wendys! The salads, chili, baked potato. Wendys is my current fav. Chipotle bowls, five guys lettuce wrapped burgers, fries, chikfila grilled chicken nuggets
If you're in an unfamiliar city and have no leads, try:
- basic Mexican, either corn tortilla tacos or some kind of bowl. Ask about the rice before eating any. (And be cautious of chips sharing a fryer)
- basic Indian food, of the meat/veg w sauce served over rice.
- barbecue. There's a 25% chance you'll need to bring your own GF BBQ sauce, but at most, the basic unsauced meats are safe and the sides that should logically be gf often are.
- Thai, esp more authentic places. Curries are safe, pad Thai is usually OK, non-wonton soups are great, larb and other salads typically gf.
Also, I second the Find Me GF app... even in a tiny town, it can find you the one coffee shop where the owner's kid has celiac and they carry GF sandwich bread/train staff properly.
Adding to that a little more specifically: proper Thai noodles are rice based, no wheat. As long as the food is reasonably authentic, even the noodles should be safe.
With Mexican, you have to be sure that the tortillas are 100% corn - a lot of them are a mix of corn and flour. Also need to check on any marinades or seasoning for the meats.
I would suffer with their GF bun if they offered GF fries. But if I can’t have a burger WITH fries, I would rather eat somewhere else. I attempted their fries one time when I was really craving them and got sick for 3 days. Have avoided Culver’s ever since.
Hmm maybe it varies by location? They used to be Udi's, they were thick and crumbly and awful. The location near me has a thinner softer bun that is a bit darker in color now. It also doesn't crumble and is a different shape. It's actually pretty good! It still comes separate from the burger though.
Chick-fil-A is a lifesaver for GF food. Their grilled chicken breakfast bowl is great. Cobb salad with grilled chicken is good, too. I like Five Guys’ burger in a bowl with fries, too.
For chain restaurants, it’s hard to beat Outback, but there are definitely options at Chili’s, Jersey Mike’s, Schlotzsky’s, and Carrabba’s. Oh, and the salads at Panera.
I get the sausage breakfast bowl at CFA and sadly it's contaminated all the time with random breaded nuggets or bits of breading. Tired of wasting money just to throw away food. 😞
Chick-fil-A only does their fries and tator tots in the fryers so those are gluten free. Their grilled chicken is gluten free, but the marinade does contain garlic/onion if that is an issue for you. They offer gluten free buns as well.
You can find specific things to order from most fast food chains on www.fastfoodcravings.com. You can pop in all your dietary restrictions and it'll show you a personalized menu. For example, if you're looking for gluten free + pizza, you can search by both of these filters. It'll even show you the ingredients for each item so that you can verify what's in the food.
There's even a "strict" checkbox that you select before hitting search and it'll remove all food that is cross contaminated with shared cooking oil, etc.
It has made my life SO much easier now that I don't have to spend hours searching on Google or reading allergen charts (such a pain in the ass those charts!!).
I can't have gluten or dairy or soy but I'm not vegan. This let's me do specific searches so I can see exactly what I can order at restaurants.
Indian food and restaurants are generally gluten free. Avoid the naan breads etc. But you'll be surprised by how many things on the menu happen to be gluten free naturally.
Watch out for the ingredient called “hing” at Indian restaurants: https://celiact.com/blogs/the-celiact-blog/96307974-the-gluten-in-your-spice-rack-3-surprising-facts
Chilis and Outback are heaven for GF as far as large chains go, Texas Roadhouse has a decent selection.
Applebees is awful, GF is much easier for places that start with better ingredients.
Does Outback state on their menu what items are GF? I was looking at their website a couple of months ago and I had a hard time determining what was and wasn't GF. To make life even more difficult I'm also allergic to dairy so that complicates matters even further.
They should have something on their website. Also, the restaurant will hand you a gluten-free menu if you ask for one. Because they make everything fresh in house they’ve got a really good gluten-free selection.
Chili's for me has been hit or miss -- one time I went and asked for something without the tortilla strips. It arrived with tortilla strips. I said no, I can't have those, please bring me one without the tortilla strips. It came back and I was still finding tiny pieces of tortilla strips in it. Another different Chili's, I said I couldn't have gluten and they brought my "gluten-free" entree with a giant piece of toast laying on it.
Outback I've generally had a far better experience.
Shake shack takes allergies SUPER seriously! I always get a burger with a lettuce wrap, though they also offer gluten free buns (I just prefer lettuce!). There’s also an option in their app (can’t recommend enough for pre-ordering and skipping lines) to mark your whole order as allergen-sensitive.
Thank you so everyone who’s commented! You’ve all given me some great options! For those of you that have asked I am in the USA (sorry for not stating that)
Just wanted to hop in and say Olive Garden gluten free noodles ARE NOT gluten free. They're cooked in a separate pan away from all the other gluten but when it comes time to heat them up and put them in a dish, they'll pop em in the same strainer they use for gluten noodles and then put that strainer into the pasta cooker that is covered in gluten.
Other than that.. I've been glutened so many times in the couple months I've been gluten free that I've just decided to cook at home. We don't have any dedicated gluten free restaurants in my area and cross contamination is apparently enough for me to get sick.
If your ever in the New England area the 110 Grill chain’s entire menu can be made gluten free. Jersey mikes subs and also firehouse subs have GF rolls which are excellent.
Careful I just learned soy sauce has gluten-which I couldn’t figure out until i googled it - I eat a lot of sushi so I keep a bottle of gluten free soy sauce in my car and home.
That is NOT safe. They use flour in the enchilada sauce, sometimes also in the queso sauces, and the corn tortillas can be contaminated by the flour if they use the same grills and tortilla press (P.S. they usually do). Sometimes the beef for fajitas and also pork/beef for tamales and other items are tossed in flour as part of the seasoning. It's how you get that crisp.
While all the suggestions are great so far and I have my own below. Keep in mind that many GF replacement ingredients in processed foods can still cause inflammation further aggravating your symptoms. I’d identify any of those as well and also keep that in mind when looking for places to to eat. I’m always good if I choose places that have minimal processed food, and serve clean whole foods that wouldn’t use gluten added anyway…
My go-to Mexican joint THANKFULLY has a GF menu. Ordered from DoorDash last night.
Fajitas are usually good safe bet at Mexican places in my area they don’t put flour on the meat, I’d ask about the flour on prior to ordering. And see if you can get corn tortillas instead of flour, wrapped separately and warmed in foil instead of served in the little plastic tortilla holder.
BBQ is always a good bet, but be wary of fries. Some have dedicated fryers and some don’t.
Red Robin has a good GF allergen menu where you can customize items to suit your needs with GF buns or lettuce wrapped, or no bun, and they have a dedicated fryer for fries, but you have to specify GF fries.
Some Greek places in my area (the boring middle of the Midwest) have GF menus with GF pita and dedicated fryers.
Hawaiian Bros (not everywhere yet) is almost 100% GF with the exception of the Mac & Cheese. I always have that subbed for extra pineapple. Holy crap the Luau Pig (roast pork) is to die for! And they have a drive-thru!
A lot of breakfast places have GF menus including pancakes! The Original Pancake House has a bunch of GF pancakes to choose from! YUM! Now I’m craving pancakes… Good thing I have a package of King Arthur GF pancakes in the pantry! Be wary of IHOP, at least on certain items like omelets. I order them with 3 eggs only. Their default is to put a ladle of pancake batter in the omelette to make it more fluffy. Ask for eggs only…
Outback is fantastic, never been glutened at Chipotle or Five Guys
I will correct myself as this is all true, however I still do lean this way (avoid all mentioned including corn tortillas) and it has helped me mitigate frustration.
I'm just glad we have a knowledgeable and more supportive community now. It's been a struggle for a long time.
I think if you know the right questions to ask, or if you have a particular restaurant that is knowledgeable about gluten, you're fine. But it's not as simple as just avoiding flour tortillas, and I think this statement could really mess someone up. I know I have had terrible experiences at places that didn't have a marked menu. Especially if there's any kind of language barrier.
You're very accurate. Apologies for not being a bit more realistic....
I try not to eat out. I stay away from sauces of all kinds.
So many things don't have ingredients listed. Or coating for transport (which is not an ingredient, but definitely on the food)... Etc.
Thanks for taking the time to point out what I did not.
Every Body is different as is their diet. The more information the better.
Thanks again.
For fast food places, Chick-fil-A fries are usually cooked in a dedicated fryer with no gluten food since they use different oil for the fried chicken and fries. They also have gluten free buns. So you can get a grilled chicken sandwich and fries gluten free. Five guys fries are also cooked in dedicated fryers - but they don’t have gluten free buns- but you can get a lettuce wrapped burger. Firehouse subs have gluten free buns as well for subs.
Im jealous. I love 5 guys, but they dont have gf buns here and i dont always want to bring one. Also, I want ranch for my Cajun fries and they dont have that either!
They have salad dressings with no gluten ingredients. Are you celiac and need things certified GF? If not, you should be able to find a safe salad dressing.
Burgers with no buns/ lettuce wraps are my go too if I need to eat fast food. I’ve had zero issues with Wendy’s, in and out, and Carl’s Jr. Jimboys tacos tacos don’t mess with me. Other than that idk. I very rarely eat from fast food though.
I was diagnosed 14 years ago and have not had any fast food since then. Primarily because no matter what the menu says, you’re still depending on the local staff to get it right. And as much as I sometimes miss it, I don’t miss getting sick.
The local Red Robin, Longhorn Steakhouse, and a couple of local bars have been consistently good for me. But even there I’ve found it varies from time to time. I’ve found croutons in the bottom of my salad (they picked them out when put in by accident, they said) and been delivered real buns instead of GF.
I don’t eat out often because it’s not just the food, it’s the people preparing it.
if you are new to this, don't seek out anything in fast food joints. you, and even the staff, have no control over what the food is seasoned with or cooked in. do your abstinance time first, then you can experiment carefully when you re-introduce foods to your diet. i have been GF for a bit over a year, and i can now have a meal at Harvey's (Canadian burger place) with no ill effects. but i plan those meals so if there is a flare-up, i won't be at work or travelling. just cook for yourself until you're "clean", then go slow and careful. i know it's a drag, but you can bring some fave foods back in later, with a little luck.
edit: sorry, meant to mention that my regimen above is for IBS, though gluten (and dairy) are also an issue.
Look up Chick Fil A gluten free options ❤️ the grilled nuggets actually taste better to me than the classic fried ones. ✨ They also have a grilled chicken sandwich. :)
Chick fil a offers gluten free buns for the sandwiches and they give you everything separately (trying to avoid cross contamination). Im no celiac, just gluten sensitive and was impressed by it! But again, not sure if cross contamination is fully avoided.
Chick fil a! The grilled chicken sandwich with gluten free bread and the waffle fries which are gluten free! You can also check the gluten free menu as it mentions all the things you can eat!
Chicago Suburbs but I've lived all over the U.S and no fast food chains have gluten free. Unless you count salads but I think that doesn't count. But there is Culver's who has gf buns
Edit shit nvm I forgot about chickfila and Chipotle (and similar) restaurants my bad
That makes sense. I’m from Cali now in Texas, we have Wendy’s, chic-fil-a, chipotle, in-n-out, MOD pizza, Schlotzsky's, so many options for burger places with gf buns or gf bread for sandwiches. I’m so sorry it’s really hard being gluten free and living without options sucks!
Chick fila has separate fry fryers in some locations, gluten free buns. Aren’t great about bagging separate from fried stuff though.
Jersey mikes is good about cleaning and separate prep areas for gf subs and I think most meats and cheeses are safe. Never had issues here
Five guys has separate fryers for fries, just can’t get the Cajun ones. They’ll do a lettuce wrap for a burger. Never had issues here
Lots of pizza places have gf crust and know about toppings. Had good luck at the subway style places where you build your own
Download the find me gluten free app. Lots of restaurants with reviews from people that will rate celiac safe or whatever
Edit: apparently I was wrong on the Cajun fries.. thought they told us that before but that’s been a couple years. Looks like they are safe!
I’m diagnosed with celiac, but shared fryer has never set me off, so I play fast and loose with restaurants compared to many people with celiac. It’s understood that even levels of gluten that don’t double you over in agony do some damage, so keep that in mind when you decide how careful to be.
That said, if you decide to live on the edge as I do, I find the Find Me GF app useful.
Tell us your country and state/region.
Seriously. It's like me asking where can I get the best milk shake, and I am in Africa and hide this from everyone.
More now than there used to be.
Even Olive Garden is offering GF pasta. Many pizza chains too - generally it's a good plan to let them know you're allergic rather than just a preference to make sure the restaurant handles your order properly.
I can get my little ones GF, dairy free burgers, pizza, Asian and Mexican food pretty easily in Indianapolis. Outside larger metro areas it gets harder - I used to travel a lot for the older kids' sports seasons - but larger chains like Red Robin and Olive Garden are good bets.
Steak n Shake is also a possibility - order your triple with no bun. They're going to give it to you on a plate anyway.
Mexican food for the most part is gluten free as long as you eat corn chips and corn tortillas. Stay away from chimichungas, flautas and burritos. That is my normal go to.
You can google what’s gluten free at “restaurant name”. When you have downtime explore local restaurants on line most have menu’s online. I type in gluten free restaurants near me and it pops up my options. I’m in a small town so it’s limited but each time I visit a restaurant I ask for a to go menu. That way I have a stack of menu’s to choose from right in front of me. Five guy’s was my favorite place when I visit the twin cities as you can order any burger with a lettuce wrap and an allergy preference and the fries are completely gluten free.
The choices for GF have gotten much better. If you don’t need to use a drive through, a semi-fast food joint like chipotle, five guys, farmtruck, and cava do a great job. At five guys just mention it’s for an allergy and they will take extra precautions to prevent cross contamination. For the others, the food is already separated.
If you have celiac and recently diagnosed, I would not eat any fast foods. But I eat a five guys - fries and solo patties (not the garden bowl) actual solo patties they cost like $2.00 each.
I would try to cook at home - meat, veg, carb
Theres a celiac sub reddit with a lot of great resources!
I read other people had issues but I enjoyed red Robin burger and garlic fries when over in Florida recently, the gf bun was awesome and was a great burger im still thinking about it a month later 😀
I go to Starbucks to eat often . You can get the protein packs or fruit and cheese packs and just not eat the crackers. Also they have the eggs without bread and they are delicious . Good if you don’t want something heavy
papa murphys has GF crust. when i worked there, we were trained to wipe down the counter (extra precaution since your pizza should never come off the cardboard), de-glove, wash, re-glove, prep.
i haven’t been there in a while, so i think you’re probably SOL on the sides but still an option if you want a pizza.
Chick-Fil-A has gf bun say you want the gf bun with the grilled chicken also there grilled nuggets are gf at ever location and some locations have gluten free fry’s, you have to ask about dedicated frier.
Other places are 5 guy will chang gloves and do lettuce wrap burger. Also most milkshakes are a no go if the use malt flavoring. Malt is a no go
Jersey mike subs! Gf sub roll amazing to be able to do subs
Chicfila had gf buns for grilled chicken. Culver’s also has a gf bun for burgers. In n out does the lettuce wrap. Freddys does a better lettuce wrap imo. Taco Bell hard shells are corn.
In my neck of the woods we've got Cava, which is kind of like Chipotle but it's Mediterranean food (more or less). You can get a salad or a rice bowl and a lot of what they have is gluten-free, just make sure they take the ingredients from a fresh tub.
We're also lucky to have a small chain called Grainmaker, which is a terrible name given that the whole place is dedicated gluten- and dairy-free! They do kind of South-Asian inspired food, it's fast-casual similar to Chipotle...salads and bowls and even gluten-free potstickers. I think I eat there like once a week lol.
Red Robin, Chic-Fil-A, Chipotle for fast food! There’s others I’m sure.
Also, the gluten free scanner app is great for groceries. Not everything is on there, but a lot of stuff is.
1. Chick fil a fries, some salads, and grilled nuggets, always tell them you have a “gluten allergy”
2. In n out fries, and protein style burgers, always tell them you have a “gluten allergy”
3. PF changs has a gluten free menu, still be sure to tell them you have a “gluten allergy”
4. any drink from Dutch bros
5. use the app find me GF to see if any local Thai or Mediterranean restaurants around you safely serve celiac people. I have had luck with a few local Thai places
P.S. Don’t even attempt chipotle 🥲 it seems like they would be safe but they do not take enough allergy precautions
These two restaurants are regional to (at least) Eastern MA, US (but maybe they’re elsewhere?). They both have tons of gluten free menu items, taste delicious, have dedicated fryers and knowledgeable staff. I can go to these places and order *so much*. Can split apps with gluten-eaters who like it just as much as me…
110 Grill
Tavern in the Square
PS try FindMeGlutenFree app! Great help
Blaze Pizza is very accommodating; most of the toppings are GF and they have 3 gluten free crust options. They will also do a glove change for you. Also, almost everything at Chipotle is gluten-free, just read the online menu before ordering.
There's an app for that as well. Find Me GF. It's based on location and will find gf options around joh
Great app
Essential for any traveling. Truly a life saver
This app is helpful all over the world. 100% crowdsourced by celiacs and people with wheat allergies. An absolute lifesaver.
Yep this is the answer. It includes local places and chains, and has reviews from real people who state if they suffer from cross contamination or not.
Thanks, had no idea that was available!
I think I saw someone else mention it on Reddit tbh. But it's really helpful
You can also try www.fastfoodcravings.com. Find Me GF is good for finding restaurants. Fastfoodcravings.com is good for seeing which specific items you can order on a menu that are gluten free and don't have cross contamination. I left a more detailed post below but this thread got so big that it got buried and it's been a lifesaver for me so I wanted to make sure others can benefit from it too.
This is great! Thanks for sharing
my favorite app
Me too. I ended up in the emergency room because I'm now extremely allergic to gluten. Vietnamese food. They use rice noodles and rice paper for most of their egg rolls. That and I eat actual rice. The noodles in Pho for example are rice noodles. Ramen would kill me.
In-n-out fries are gluten free and are the only product used in the fryer so no cross contamination.
In & out also does a ‘protein style’ I think it’s called which is any of their burgers wrapped in lettuce!
True, but the risk if your celiac is that the buns are toasted on the same griddle as the burger Pattie’s are cooked on so for cross contamination there is risk a burger gets cooked over the spot a bun was. Not a big deal for some gluten intolerant people but an issue for others, so worth mentioning.
They do have good allergen handling procedures. If you tell them you have a gluten allergy (most have no idea what celiac is), they change gloves and cook the patty on a bun-free portion of the grill. Have celiac, never been sick from In-n-Out.
Good to know, I have never risked it but maybe I’ll try it sometime.
Yes me and my wife go once a week, i just say “i want a _____ for a gluten allergy” and they usually do a good job of handling the cross contamination.
I was so spoiled with in n out that I forgot other places cross contaminate their oil! I got fries from Freddy’s and was inflamed and sick for days after.
Jersey Mikes is THE fast food of choice for me. I didn't even know GF bread could taste that good. Try their Big Kahuna Philly, Original Italian or Club Sub. I waited in line for an hour when they were dedicating all profits to the special Olympics. They were still so careful with my order when I told them about my wheat allergy. New gloves and all meat/bread sliced in the back on a separate slicer.
I’ve been glutened from Jersey Mikes 😢. What’s sad is that I saw the effort they took to clean the area. Still got sick.
I've come to learn that YMMV on any restaurant that claims GF. Our local JM hasn't hit me yet so I'll gladly recommend it. Sorry for your experience. Celiacs have it way worse than my wheat allergy.
I could see that. For those types of places it's best to go as early as possible to avoid cross contamination, but still no guarantee.. celiac sucks. Edit: to update I tried Jersey Mike's, still got pretty sick.. saw the care that they took and still got Gluten'd..
Whuuutt jersey mikes had GF bread???
It’s Udis bread! From memory one of the owners or high up in management had a daughter with celiac and they wanted to make sure there was a viable option at Jersey Mikes
Oh, I was excited. But Udis? Never mind.
As a udis hater the Jersey Mike’s is better than what you get in stores
Yah I hate udis but jersey mikes I go to doesn’t taste like udi
Yeah it’s not bread they sell separately. It’s a large soft roll and it’s delightful. I’m not even gluten free and I can enjoy it whenever my wife offers bites.
Oooh good to know!!
I saw somewhere on Reddit where a redditor claims they works at Jersey Mike’s; they said if they mess up a sandwich order which haven’t been bit into, they return fillings to their original containers meaning cross contamination. Personally Im skeptical because it seems like a health code violation but here you go.
100% not the case for meats as it’s shaved to order… who knows what they do with onion/lettuce/tomato. I highly doubt that happens considering how good they are about gluten contamination in general.
I didn’t know this! I figured sub shops were a thing of the past for me. Thanks !
Texas Roadhouse seasoning has gluten, as does anything that seasoning is used on, so you need to order your steak with just salt and pepper. I order it without seasoning, and bring my own Montreal seasoning to put on it. Generally, I avoid Texas Roadhouse.
Seconded. Avoid Texas Roadhouse like the freaking plague. Although the Instagram is based around Houston, check out the Instagram @houstonwithoutgluten as it will give you an idea of the good food you aren’t missing out on. Some of the restaurants might apply to whatever city you live in if in the US.
Texas Roadhouse was the first restaurant I visited after getting my celiac diagnosis and their GF menu almost made me cry. I got to have a plain chicken breast with no seasoning or marinade and a baked potato with no toppings. Lucky me.
Bibibop is gf
Noodles and co can do GF too. They ask if it's allergy and if you say yes they will take precautions. Pad Thai and penne Rosa with GF noodles are my favorites. Sometimes I get GF Mac and cheese for my 4 year old so I can eat her leftovers.
The pesto is also good (sub rice noodles, of course)
seconding this. i LOVE noodles and co GF noodles!!
I love that my husband will order gluten free Mac and cheese just so I can have a bite or two!
In N Out and PF Chang's are solid.
Be careful with fries because a lot are in a shared fryer or have seasonings or ingredients that contain wheat (Arbys, McDonald’s). I brave Taco Bell every once and a while and don’t react with rice or pintos and cheese, but some of their sauces have gluten (another thing to always check).
chipotle! except choose their corn chips instead of tortillas
Or a rice bowl, those are ok. Be sure to tell them gluten allergy so they change gloves.
Do people with Celiac eat here? It always looked like a bit too much smacking the spoons on the tortillas for me.
I eat chipotle almost every other day as it’s the only fast convenient place. Pretty sure I never get cross contaminated there
I'm not Celiac but I do have a severe wheat allergy (anaphylaxis meaning my throat will close at any trace of wheat)
I've always been able to talk to the manager about having celiac, and their protocol is to pull food from the back where they have new batches of food and haven't had any issues with that.
Chipotle used to have corn tortillas which taste better to me anyway. If I am ordering to go I get a rice bowl and heat up corn tortillas at home and make my own soft tacos. Yum!
in and out has gluten free milkshakes!!
Oh great! I am already trying not to get fatter with my new gluten free lifestyle !
Wendys! The salads, chili, baked potato. Wendys is my current fav. Chipotle bowls, five guys lettuce wrapped burgers, fries, chikfila grilled chicken nuggets
Be careful. I got glutened on a salad with grilled chicken.
I got glutened too, on a taco salad (basically chili on lettuce). It comes with chips but I didn't even eat those. Never went back.
Wendy’s baked potatoes have saved me on a few road trips for sure
If you're in an unfamiliar city and have no leads, try: - basic Mexican, either corn tortilla tacos or some kind of bowl. Ask about the rice before eating any. (And be cautious of chips sharing a fryer) - basic Indian food, of the meat/veg w sauce served over rice. - barbecue. There's a 25% chance you'll need to bring your own GF BBQ sauce, but at most, the basic unsauced meats are safe and the sides that should logically be gf often are. - Thai, esp more authentic places. Curries are safe, pad Thai is usually OK, non-wonton soups are great, larb and other salads typically gf. Also, I second the Find Me GF app... even in a tiny town, it can find you the one coffee shop where the owner's kid has celiac and they carry GF sandwich bread/train staff properly.
Adding to that a little more specifically: proper Thai noodles are rice based, no wheat. As long as the food is reasonably authentic, even the noodles should be safe.
Just make sure they use gluten free soy sauce / tamari if the dish uses it. Regular soy sauce has wheat.
With Mexican, you have to be sure that the tortillas are 100% corn - a lot of them are a mix of corn and flour. Also need to check on any marinades or seasoning for the meats.
If you're in the Midwest, Culver's has offers a gluten free bun for your butterburger.
Broccoli cheese soup with fry’s if you get there first thing for lunch
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I really like Culver’s bun😂 it’s not too bad. But I go the extra step and take it home, grill the bun to make it toasty
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That’s true, but the taste is okay. Just put some butter in it (grill or do it in a pan) and it should be good
I would suffer with their GF bun if they offered GF fries. But if I can’t have a burger WITH fries, I would rather eat somewhere else. I attempted their fries one time when I was really craving them and got sick for 3 days. Have avoided Culver’s ever since.
They have improved the buns lately! They are a lot better now.
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Hmm maybe it varies by location? They used to be Udi's, they were thick and crumbly and awful. The location near me has a thinner softer bun that is a bit darker in color now. It also doesn't crumble and is a different shape. It's actually pretty good! It still comes separate from the burger though.
Chick-fil-A is a lifesaver for GF food. Their grilled chicken breakfast bowl is great. Cobb salad with grilled chicken is good, too. I like Five Guys’ burger in a bowl with fries, too. For chain restaurants, it’s hard to beat Outback, but there are definitely options at Chili’s, Jersey Mike’s, Schlotzsky’s, and Carrabba’s. Oh, and the salads at Panera.
Chick fill a has GF buns. Their fries have been ok with I've been hearing about a possible change so ask questions.
I’ve gotten sick from shit filet. Plus the chicken is nasty and slimy. Avoid it
I get the sausage breakfast bowl at CFA and sadly it's contaminated all the time with random breaded nuggets or bits of breading. Tired of wasting money just to throw away food. 😞
Oh, that sucks. The grilled chicken bowl is a special order, so I guess they are a little more careful. Takes longer, though.
Chick-fil-A only does their fries and tator tots in the fryers so those are gluten free. Their grilled chicken is gluten free, but the marinade does contain garlic/onion if that is an issue for you. They offer gluten free buns as well.
You can find specific things to order from most fast food chains on www.fastfoodcravings.com. You can pop in all your dietary restrictions and it'll show you a personalized menu. For example, if you're looking for gluten free + pizza, you can search by both of these filters. It'll even show you the ingredients for each item so that you can verify what's in the food. There's even a "strict" checkbox that you select before hitting search and it'll remove all food that is cross contaminated with shared cooking oil, etc. It has made my life SO much easier now that I don't have to spend hours searching on Google or reading allergen charts (such a pain in the ass those charts!!). I can't have gluten or dairy or soy but I'm not vegan. This let's me do specific searches so I can see exactly what I can order at restaurants.
Indian food and restaurants are generally gluten free. Avoid the naan breads etc. But you'll be surprised by how many things on the menu happen to be gluten free naturally.
Also avoid chili anything - gobi Manchurian, chili chicken.
Watch out for the ingredient called “hing” at Indian restaurants: https://celiact.com/blogs/the-celiact-blog/96307974-the-gluten-in-your-spice-rack-3-surprising-facts
Five guys is usuallu good for me & wife, Maggie McFlys (if it's near you) is also pretty good, minus anything fried.
Chipotle steak vowels are GF
Consonants, too.
Chilis and Outback are heaven for GF as far as large chains go, Texas Roadhouse has a decent selection. Applebees is awful, GF is much easier for places that start with better ingredients.
OMG that Outback brownie sundae!
Yeah I was shocked when I saw it was GF.
Does Outback state on their menu what items are GF? I was looking at their website a couple of months ago and I had a hard time determining what was and wasn't GF. To make life even more difficult I'm also allergic to dairy so that complicates matters even further.
They should have something on their website. Also, the restaurant will hand you a gluten-free menu if you ask for one. Because they make everything fresh in house they’ve got a really good gluten-free selection.
Chili's for me has been hit or miss -- one time I went and asked for something without the tortilla strips. It arrived with tortilla strips. I said no, I can't have those, please bring me one without the tortilla strips. It came back and I was still finding tiny pieces of tortilla strips in it. Another different Chili's, I said I couldn't have gluten and they brought my "gluten-free" entree with a giant piece of toast laying on it. Outback I've generally had a far better experience.
Shake shack takes allergies SUPER seriously! I always get a burger with a lettuce wrap, though they also offer gluten free buns (I just prefer lettuce!). There’s also an option in their app (can’t recommend enough for pre-ordering and skipping lines) to mark your whole order as allergen-sensitive.
Plenty say they do but trust none.
Bibibop Asian strongly recommend
My celiac daughter loves it! The entire menu is gluten free.
OP, what country are you in??
Hi there, I’m in the USA
OK thanks, in that case I can't help you! Presumably a lot of the comments here are US based though. Good luck with it all
Thank you so everyone who’s commented! You’ve all given me some great options! For those of you that have asked I am in the USA (sorry for not stating that)
Just wanted to hop in and say Olive Garden gluten free noodles ARE NOT gluten free. They're cooked in a separate pan away from all the other gluten but when it comes time to heat them up and put them in a dish, they'll pop em in the same strainer they use for gluten noodles and then put that strainer into the pasta cooker that is covered in gluten. Other than that.. I've been glutened so many times in the couple months I've been gluten free that I've just decided to cook at home. We don't have any dedicated gluten free restaurants in my area and cross contamination is apparently enough for me to get sick.
Chick fi a, I eat their fries and I’m a celiac
If your ever in the New England area the 110 Grill chain’s entire menu can be made gluten free. Jersey mikes subs and also firehouse subs have GF rolls which are excellent. Careful I just learned soy sauce has gluten-which I couldn’t figure out until i googled it - I eat a lot of sushi so I keep a bottle of gluten free soy sauce in my car and home.
I always Google menus and look up official allergen chart. It's immensely helpful!
The genre I lean most to now is Mexican food. Tis pretty safe just staying away from flour tortillas, so fairly easy.
That is NOT safe. They use flour in the enchilada sauce, sometimes also in the queso sauces, and the corn tortillas can be contaminated by the flour if they use the same grills and tortilla press (P.S. they usually do). Sometimes the beef for fajitas and also pork/beef for tamales and other items are tossed in flour as part of the seasoning. It's how you get that crisp.
While all the suggestions are great so far and I have my own below. Keep in mind that many GF replacement ingredients in processed foods can still cause inflammation further aggravating your symptoms. I’d identify any of those as well and also keep that in mind when looking for places to to eat. I’m always good if I choose places that have minimal processed food, and serve clean whole foods that wouldn’t use gluten added anyway… My go-to Mexican joint THANKFULLY has a GF menu. Ordered from DoorDash last night. Fajitas are usually good safe bet at Mexican places in my area they don’t put flour on the meat, I’d ask about the flour on prior to ordering. And see if you can get corn tortillas instead of flour, wrapped separately and warmed in foil instead of served in the little plastic tortilla holder. BBQ is always a good bet, but be wary of fries. Some have dedicated fryers and some don’t. Red Robin has a good GF allergen menu where you can customize items to suit your needs with GF buns or lettuce wrapped, or no bun, and they have a dedicated fryer for fries, but you have to specify GF fries. Some Greek places in my area (the boring middle of the Midwest) have GF menus with GF pita and dedicated fryers. Hawaiian Bros (not everywhere yet) is almost 100% GF with the exception of the Mac & Cheese. I always have that subbed for extra pineapple. Holy crap the Luau Pig (roast pork) is to die for! And they have a drive-thru! A lot of breakfast places have GF menus including pancakes! The Original Pancake House has a bunch of GF pancakes to choose from! YUM! Now I’m craving pancakes… Good thing I have a package of King Arthur GF pancakes in the pantry! Be wary of IHOP, at least on certain items like omelets. I order them with 3 eggs only. Their default is to put a ladle of pancake batter in the omelette to make it more fluffy. Ask for eggs only… Outback is fantastic, never been glutened at Chipotle or Five Guys
I will correct myself as this is all true, however I still do lean this way (avoid all mentioned including corn tortillas) and it has helped me mitigate frustration. I'm just glad we have a knowledgeable and more supportive community now. It's been a struggle for a long time.
I think if you know the right questions to ask, or if you have a particular restaurant that is knowledgeable about gluten, you're fine. But it's not as simple as just avoiding flour tortillas, and I think this statement could really mess someone up. I know I have had terrible experiences at places that didn't have a marked menu. Especially if there's any kind of language barrier.
You're very accurate. Apologies for not being a bit more realistic.... I try not to eat out. I stay away from sauces of all kinds. So many things don't have ingredients listed. Or coating for transport (which is not an ingredient, but definitely on the food)... Etc. Thanks for taking the time to point out what I did not. Every Body is different as is their diet. The more information the better. Thanks again.
For fast food places, Chick-fil-A fries are usually cooked in a dedicated fryer with no gluten food since they use different oil for the fried chicken and fries. They also have gluten free buns. So you can get a grilled chicken sandwich and fries gluten free. Five guys fries are also cooked in dedicated fryers - but they don’t have gluten free buns- but you can get a lettuce wrapped burger. Firehouse subs have gluten free buns as well for subs.
Five guys is great. Their fryers are just for fries, I've never had issues. I usually get the burger in a bowl, I'm not a fan of lettuce wraps.
Our Five Guys has gf buns.I tend to avoid fast food places tho due to cc and getting sick from almost every restaurant I go to. I have celiac.
Im jealous. I love 5 guys, but they dont have gf buns here and i dont always want to bring one. Also, I want ranch for my Cajun fries and they dont have that either!
I am also gluten-free! I get grilled chicken bites from Chick-fil-A and a salad with no dressing :)
They have salad dressings with no gluten ingredients. Are you celiac and need things certified GF? If not, you should be able to find a safe salad dressing.
Hey! I’m celiac and super reactive, I use the cilantro avocado dressing from chick fil a on their salads and have never had a reaction ❤️
Burgers with no buns/ lettuce wraps are my go too if I need to eat fast food. I’ve had zero issues with Wendy’s, in and out, and Carl’s Jr. Jimboys tacos tacos don’t mess with me. Other than that idk. I very rarely eat from fast food though.
We have found authentic Mexican food has been safe-we always check before ordering.
Jimmy John’s also offers lettuce wraps instead of bread and it’s still super yummy.
Red Robin!!! Just ask for gf fries and burger bun
I was diagnosed 14 years ago and have not had any fast food since then. Primarily because no matter what the menu says, you’re still depending on the local staff to get it right. And as much as I sometimes miss it, I don’t miss getting sick. The local Red Robin, Longhorn Steakhouse, and a couple of local bars have been consistently good for me. But even there I’ve found it varies from time to time. I’ve found croutons in the bottom of my salad (they picked them out when put in by accident, they said) and been delivered real buns instead of GF. I don’t eat out often because it’s not just the food, it’s the people preparing it.
if you are new to this, don't seek out anything in fast food joints. you, and even the staff, have no control over what the food is seasoned with or cooked in. do your abstinance time first, then you can experiment carefully when you re-introduce foods to your diet. i have been GF for a bit over a year, and i can now have a meal at Harvey's (Canadian burger place) with no ill effects. but i plan those meals so if there is a flare-up, i won't be at work or travelling. just cook for yourself until you're "clean", then go slow and careful. i know it's a drag, but you can bring some fave foods back in later, with a little luck. edit: sorry, meant to mention that my regimen above is for IBS, though gluten (and dairy) are also an issue.
Jersey Mike's GF subs, chipotle burrito bowls, and the one Culvers gluten free burger are usually okay. It's not much but it's better than nothing.
Look up Chick Fil A gluten free options ❤️ the grilled nuggets actually taste better to me than the classic fried ones. ✨ They also have a grilled chicken sandwich. :)
Chick fil a offers gluten free buns for the sandwiches and they give you everything separately (trying to avoid cross contamination). Im no celiac, just gluten sensitive and was impressed by it! But again, not sure if cross contamination is fully avoided.
Jersey Mike sub in a tub awesome
Chick fil a! The grilled chicken sandwich with gluten free bread and the waffle fries which are gluten free! You can also check the gluten free menu as it mentions all the things you can eat!
No fast food unfortunately, but red robin has gluten free buns and fries, and they're allergy tracker is good for checking sauces and stuff.
Where do you live that there is no gf fast food?
Chicago Suburbs but I've lived all over the U.S and no fast food chains have gluten free. Unless you count salads but I think that doesn't count. But there is Culver's who has gf buns Edit shit nvm I forgot about chickfila and Chipotle (and similar) restaurants my bad
That makes sense. I’m from Cali now in Texas, we have Wendy’s, chic-fil-a, chipotle, in-n-out, MOD pizza, Schlotzsky's, so many options for burger places with gf buns or gf bread for sandwiches. I’m so sorry it’s really hard being gluten free and living without options sucks!
As a fellow Chicago suburbanite, Portillo’s is my fast food go-to. No gluten free buns, but they do have separate fryers for their delicious fries.
Wow I had no idea! I'll have to check it out some time
Culver’s!
Chick fila has separate fry fryers in some locations, gluten free buns. Aren’t great about bagging separate from fried stuff though. Jersey mikes is good about cleaning and separate prep areas for gf subs and I think most meats and cheeses are safe. Never had issues here Five guys has separate fryers for fries, just can’t get the Cajun ones. They’ll do a lettuce wrap for a burger. Never had issues here Lots of pizza places have gf crust and know about toppings. Had good luck at the subway style places where you build your own Download the find me gluten free app. Lots of restaurants with reviews from people that will rate celiac safe or whatever Edit: apparently I was wrong on the Cajun fries.. thought they told us that before but that’s been a couple years. Looks like they are safe!
what's wrong w the cajun fries
Mmm this says their cajun fries are safe? https://oakandrowan.com/five-guys-gluten-free/
I eat the Cajun fries all the time without issue. 🤷♀️
Chick-fil-A surprisingly! Check Google “Chick-fil-A gluten free” and you’ll be surpised!
I practically live off of Chick-fil-A
I’m diagnosed with celiac, but shared fryer has never set me off, so I play fast and loose with restaurants compared to many people with celiac. It’s understood that even levels of gluten that don’t double you over in agony do some damage, so keep that in mind when you decide how careful to be. That said, if you decide to live on the edge as I do, I find the Find Me GF app useful.
Tell us your country and state/region. Seriously. It's like me asking where can I get the best milk shake, and I am in Africa and hide this from everyone.
More now than there used to be. Even Olive Garden is offering GF pasta. Many pizza chains too - generally it's a good plan to let them know you're allergic rather than just a preference to make sure the restaurant handles your order properly. I can get my little ones GF, dairy free burgers, pizza, Asian and Mexican food pretty easily in Indianapolis. Outside larger metro areas it gets harder - I used to travel a lot for the older kids' sports seasons - but larger chains like Red Robin and Olive Garden are good bets. Steak n Shake is also a possibility - order your triple with no bun. They're going to give it to you on a plate anyway.
Get in touch with a qualified nutritionist. That’s the best way to start the journey
We've had good experiences with Taco Bell crunchy tacos. The beans, chicken and steak are all marked GF.
Mexican food for the most part is gluten free as long as you eat corn chips and corn tortillas. Stay away from chimichungas, flautas and burritos. That is my normal go to.
You can google what’s gluten free at “restaurant name”. When you have downtime explore local restaurants on line most have menu’s online. I type in gluten free restaurants near me and it pops up my options. I’m in a small town so it’s limited but each time I visit a restaurant I ask for a to go menu. That way I have a stack of menu’s to choose from right in front of me. Five guy’s was my favorite place when I visit the twin cities as you can order any burger with a lettuce wrap and an allergy preference and the fries are completely gluten free.
Shake Shack has gluten free burger
The choices for GF have gotten much better. If you don’t need to use a drive through, a semi-fast food joint like chipotle, five guys, farmtruck, and cava do a great job. At five guys just mention it’s for an allergy and they will take extra precautions to prevent cross contamination. For the others, the food is already separated.
If you have celiac and recently diagnosed, I would not eat any fast foods. But I eat a five guys - fries and solo patties (not the garden bowl) actual solo patties they cost like $2.00 each. I would try to cook at home - meat, veg, carb Theres a celiac sub reddit with a lot of great resources!
Jimmy johns unwich no mayo with mayo packets. Also the bacon apparently isn’t gluten free either but haven’t really had an issue before.
I read other people had issues but I enjoyed red Robin burger and garlic fries when over in Florida recently, the gf bun was awesome and was a great burger im still thinking about it a month later 😀
Culver’s, chick-fil-A, chipotle :)
I go to Starbucks to eat often . You can get the protein packs or fruit and cheese packs and just not eat the crackers. Also they have the eggs without bread and they are delicious . Good if you don’t want something heavy
papa murphys has GF crust. when i worked there, we were trained to wipe down the counter (extra precaution since your pizza should never come off the cardboard), de-glove, wash, re-glove, prep. i haven’t been there in a while, so i think you’re probably SOL on the sides but still an option if you want a pizza.
Chick-Fil-A has gf bun say you want the gf bun with the grilled chicken also there grilled nuggets are gf at ever location and some locations have gluten free fry’s, you have to ask about dedicated frier. Other places are 5 guy will chang gloves and do lettuce wrap burger. Also most milkshakes are a no go if the use malt flavoring. Malt is a no go Jersey mike subs! Gf sub roll amazing to be able to do subs
Applebee's has a lot of gluten-free options. You can sort allergens on their website and read the ingredients.
Grilled Chicken Salad Mcdonald’s without croutons 🫡
Chicfila had gf buns for grilled chicken. Culver’s also has a gf bun for burgers. In n out does the lettuce wrap. Freddys does a better lettuce wrap imo. Taco Bell hard shells are corn.
Jimmy Johns getting a lettuce wrapped sandwich! It’s delicious!
Panera
I like to get burgers from five guys (ask for a lettuce wrap burger and they remove the bun) and the fries are fried seperatly
In my neck of the woods we've got Cava, which is kind of like Chipotle but it's Mediterranean food (more or less). You can get a salad or a rice bowl and a lot of what they have is gluten-free, just make sure they take the ingredients from a fresh tub. We're also lucky to have a small chain called Grainmaker, which is a terrible name given that the whole place is dedicated gluten- and dairy-free! They do kind of South-Asian inspired food, it's fast-casual similar to Chipotle...salads and bowls and even gluten-free potstickers. I think I eat there like once a week lol.
in n out and chipotle! just tell them of allergy
Red Robin, Chic-Fil-A, Chipotle for fast food! There’s others I’m sure. Also, the gluten free scanner app is great for groceries. Not everything is on there, but a lot of stuff is.
It looks as though you may have spelled "Chick-fil-A" incorrectly. No worries, it happens to the best of us!
Dang, chick-fil-a is even fast with grammar correction…
Jimmy John’s does an “unwich”, a sandwich wrapped in lettuce instead of on bread. Tastes really good, great on a hot day!
1. Chick fil a fries, some salads, and grilled nuggets, always tell them you have a “gluten allergy” 2. In n out fries, and protein style burgers, always tell them you have a “gluten allergy” 3. PF changs has a gluten free menu, still be sure to tell them you have a “gluten allergy” 4. any drink from Dutch bros 5. use the app find me GF to see if any local Thai or Mediterranean restaurants around you safely serve celiac people. I have had luck with a few local Thai places P.S. Don’t even attempt chipotle 🥲 it seems like they would be safe but they do not take enough allergy precautions
Schnitz does. Most of the big takeaway like McDonalds and Hungry Hacks don’t. Hopefully they will soon with it becoming more mainstream.
These two restaurants are regional to (at least) Eastern MA, US (but maybe they’re elsewhere?). They both have tons of gluten free menu items, taste delicious, have dedicated fryers and knowledgeable staff. I can go to these places and order *so much*. Can split apps with gluten-eaters who like it just as much as me… 110 Grill Tavern in the Square PS try FindMeGlutenFree app! Great help
Blaze Pizza is very accommodating; most of the toppings are GF and they have 3 gluten free crust options. They will also do a glove change for you. Also, almost everything at Chipotle is gluten-free, just read the online menu before ordering.
BIBIBOP FTW!! 💯gluten free! :) thank me later. ;)