Categories: Gluten-Free Fast Food

Gluten-Free Fast Food

I personally stopped going to fast food restaurants, but in a pinch I needed to know what was safe. While searching for gluten-free fast food restaurants I found multiple websites with broken links to pages with allergen information and/or gluten-free menus. The links you will find below are either to a restaurant’s allergen and sensitivity charts to their gluten-free menu or list. Though most restaurants will list which items are gluten-free, some will not mention anything about cross-contamination. Please check with each restaurant before you go. And definitely educated them on how to prepare your food: washing down cutting boards (or better yet, line the board with plastic wrap, etc.), using clean utensils, etc. Though they may follow your advise if you are highly intolerant to gluten, note that the utensils and cutting boards still may contain traces of gluten. Visiting fast food restaurants on off-hours is always best, as they will have more time to cater to your needs.

I really would have preferred to make reading this information easier on you by listing all of the gluten-free items for each fast food chain, but ingredients and items change so often I thought it would be best if I just link to each page. This will be a more accurate and efficient way for everyone who lands on this page to get the latest up to date information.

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[showmyads]If a restaurant below does not have what you are looking for, you may consider ordering salad, but please be cautious of salad dressings, as some contain gluten as a thickener.

I hope you find this list useful.

A&W Allergens & Sensitivity List (third party link no longer available – awaiting to hear back from A&W)
Arby’s Gluten-free Menu (downloadable pdf file)
Burger King Gluten-fee List (Only promotes items for “gluten sensitivity” not “gluten intolerance”)
Carl’s Jr. Does not have a gluten-free list, but does list their ingredients and major allergens
Dairy Queen’s Gluten Free List
Del Taco – I could not find anything on Del Taco, but did find one discussion on another site that mentions the gluten-free items: “hamburger patty and Mucho Nachos”; and “Del Taco french fries are not gluten-free.” I am not sure how up to date this information really is.
El Polo Loco – No gluten or allergen statement: 1-877-375-4968 8am – midnight EST

I did, however, run across Gluten-free New Jersey, in a 2/2011 discussion, stating that they will place their BRC burrito without the tortilla into a bowl to make it gluten free! On celiac.com, dated 2009, someone states that the following items were gluten-free: pinto beans, refried beans, Cotija cheese, mixed vegetables, corn tortillas, flame grilled mexican chicken (chopped on cross-contaminated board), avocado salsa (no mention of oats), and flan (mentioned by several websites as being safe). Gluten-free Long Beach mentions their Pollo Bowl as a gluten-free option.

In-N-Out – Their buns are the only thing that has gluten. When ordering ask for lettuce wrapped burgers.
Jack-in-the-Box Ingredients List
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
McDonald’s Ingredients List (If you’re not familiar which ingredients may contain gluten check out this McDonald’s Gluten Free List. Just be sure to check with the server prior to ordering.)
Panda Express – “none of our food is gluten-free.”
Sonic Gluten-free Menu
Subway’s Gluten-free menu – They are also in the process of testing out gluten-free rolls and brownies in selected Texas Subways.
Taco Bell‘s Allergens List, including gluten
Wendy’s Gluten-free List
Chipotle Mexican Grill

Visit Carla’s Gluten Free Online Store.

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View Comments

Janet Schwandt says:

November 19, 2014 at 11:16 am

5 Guys Burgers and Fries are gf....ask for burger in a bowl. Told them I had a wheat (gluten) allergy and they immediately put special order in red. I was treated with respect and felt safe eating there.
koko says:

September 5, 2014 at 5:13 pm

Subway is changing there meat so it's gf and getting gf bread..
Barbie Briley says:

March 10, 2014 at 7:56 am

I understand that the Restaurant.. Friendly's although pricey for "fast food" and actually a sit down restaurant in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Is supposed to have a Gluten free Menu. I have not been yet. They do have quality food and a good kitchen in general and excellent wait staff.
Rudy says:

November 26, 2013 at 6:59 pm

Are the tacos at Jack in the box in fact gluten free?
- Gluten Free Recipes says:
  
  November 26, 2013 at 7:37 pm
  
  Hi Rudy,
  
  I apologize, but all of the links disappeared awhile ago on my site. I had added links so people could check on the current ingredients as they change often. I have added the Jack in the Box link back for you. Here it is: http://assets.jackinthebox.com/pdf_attachment_settings/108/value/Ingredients_and_Allergens.pdf. They list all of the ingredients for many of their menu items. Their taco shells currently contain wheat.
  
  Carla
isabelle says:

September 30, 2013 at 6:38 am

Can you somebody tell me if the McDonald fries in Canada are Gluten free?
M says:

September 14, 2013 at 6:30 pm

My 14 month old granddaughter is both gluten and lactose intolerant. Since my daughter is still nursing, so is she. She is also a working, single mom with another daughter (luckily, no food allergies there!). So, sometimes, fast food is necessary. Wendy's, McDonalds, KFC are the closest. Taco Bell, Burger King, and Dairy Queen are not far. Those are the easiest, because they have drive-thrus. There is also Chipotle and Panera, but they require getting the 3 yr old and the 1 yr old out of the car, into the restaurant, stand in line, and then get them all back in the car! What would be their easiest and best choices?!?
- joy says:
  
  September 6, 2014 at 2:28 pm
  
  fast food is never necessary...it is always a choice...
- Michelle says:
  
  January 25, 2014 at 10:48 am
  
  M,
  I feel your pain! Well, actually your daughter's; I as well as all 5 of my children are sensitive to varying degrees to lists of various foods. My first recommendation would be to purchase for her any of Jamie Oliver's cookbooks; his "Meals in Minutes" or "Jamie's Food Revolution" would be good places to start; I understand needing a break, but it's far less expensive to cook at home, and then you know EXACTLY what is in everything on your plate. Maybe you could offer to bring a book over, and help her prep some meals on a weekend, then when she gets home all she has to do is heat them up.
  
  That being said, our favorite emergency drive through is Chick-Fil-A because they have a grilled chicken kids meal, and applesauce as a side option.
  Wendy's grilled chicken is pretty good; tell them to keep the bun! A caveat about mass produced chicken though; eeewww. I would reserve these things for rare occasions.
  
  Hope this helps!
  - joy says:
    
    September 6, 2014 at 2:30 pm
    
    great ideas.....once out of the habit and in the habit not to go to fast food...then it is just what you do...
Anthony says:

January 4, 2013 at 5:39 pm

Chipotle Mexican Grill everything except the flour tortilla and flour taco shells are gluten free. They do offer corn taco shells. My wife ordered a corn shell taco they asked if she was gluten sensitive and immediately changed gloves and wiped down their line they also went as far as switching out the foods to be sure of no cross contamination. Very impressed.
- Gluten Free Recipes says:
  
  January 4, 2013 at 5:58 pm
  
  Anthony,
  
  Thanks for sharing your experience.
  
  In addition to the flour tortillas not being gluten-free, those who are gluten intolerant should know that Chipotle's corn may contain gluten cross-contamination gluten grains in the fields, per their website: http://www.chipotle.com/en-us/menu/special_diet_information/special_diet_information.aspx
  
  Thanks again for leaving a comment for all of us to learn through your experience.
  
  Carla
kelly says:

November 18, 2012 at 11:27 am

Chic-fil-A chargrilled chicken AND their waffle fries are gluten and dairy free.
Carolyn says:

October 31, 2012 at 9:27 pm

Thanks! This is helpful to us roadees!

But I'd love to hear about Panera as they are in the same class as Chipotle and are going across country opening drive thru restaurants.
Christine Molinar says:

September 30, 2012 at 8:37 am

I've been so stressed about not eating gluten and if i need food while out what to do ! This list is a great help Thank You SSSSOOOOOO very much !!!!!!!