When you are gluten-free, it can be very difficult to eat out, especially when traveling or on the road. Oftentimes, the only options are chain restaurants and fast food. Luckily, many big chain restaurants are hopping on the gluten-free trend bandwagon and are offering gluten-free options, or even full menus. Even if there is not a gluten-free menu, nearly every one will offer an allergen menu, so you can see exactly what you can eat. Here are some of the best chain restaurants to eat at when you are gluten-free.
1. Chipotle
All of Chipotle's ingredients are naturally gluten-free, except for the tortillas. If you ask them to prepare your food gluten-free, they will take special precautions and change their gloves, making this an ideal place for a gluten-free person to eat.
2. B. Good
B. Good is a great option anytime, as it has organic and local ingredients and is much healthier than your average fast food chain. They offer gluten-free buns for the burgers, and most of the salads and grain bowls are gluten free as well as the fries.
3. Uno's
Uno's offers a gluten-free menu with options including gluten-free burger buns and pizzas.
4. Olive Garden
While this one may come as a surprise, Olive Garden does offer gluten-free pasta now as well as several other dishes, such as chicken and salmon, that are gluten-free. You can ask for the salad without croutons.
5. Wendy's
If there are no options besides the typical fast food, Wendy's is the best bet. You can get baked potatoes or salads gluten-free, and one of their burgers is guaranteed gluten-free without the bun.
6. Chick-fil-A
This is another one you may not think of, but at Chick-fil-A, they have a (small) gluten-free menu available, where you can get things, such as grilled chicken nuggets, a grilled chicken patty or salads.
7. Fresh City
Fresh City lists all their gluten-free items on their menu, and you can order a variety of salads, sandwiches without the bread, rice bowls, stirfry or soups.
8. Chili's
Chili's offers a full allergen menu including gluten-free items that include salads, soups, burgers without the bun, fajitas with corn tortillas, mex bowls, steaks, fish and ribs.
9. Shake Shack
You can order burgers with a lettuce wrap instead of bread here, and unlike most places, the fries are gluten-free!
10. 99 Restaurant
Ask for their gluten-free menu, where they offer burgers with gluten-free buns, steaks, salmon, chicken and salads.
11. Outback Steakhouse
Outback seems to be following the trend of other casual sit-down chain restaurants by offering a designated gluten-free menu, which is great news for gluten-free diners. They offer a variety of items.
12. Texas Roadhouse
Although it is a small menu, it is possible to eat gluten-free at Texas Roadhouse.
14. P.F. Chang's
They offer a variety of popular Chinese food items prepared gluten-free.
We are getting increasingly more options for dining out as the gluten-free "trend" becomes larger and the need for gluten-free becomes more apparent. There is still some ways to go, but hopefully this information will make your dining out experience easier as a gluten-free person.
