Before being diagnosed with Celiac disease, food allergies never crossed my mind. After having to completely change my diet, I realized the greatest struggle for me was finding restaurants to eat at with friends and family. I quickly felt as if my dietary needs were a burden that everyone had to work around. My sweet family and friends never made me feel this way and always accommodated to my gluten free diet. However, I know it has certainly been an adjustment for them as it has been for me.
After having to completely change my diet, I realized the greatest struggle for me was finding restaurants to eat at with friends and family.
Living in a small town, there are very few places even within a 60 mile radius that accommodate to food allergies. I can get by with lots of Mexican food (my favorite😋), but the greatest challenge is finding places that an entire group of friends and family would enjoy while still offering gluten free options.
When I travel, I prefer to only eat local. We can eat chain restaurants back home, right?! Unfortunately, thanks to Celiac disease that often times isn't an option. Now, when planning anything from a vacation to lunch with a friend, I have to research the menu, read reviews about cross contamination, and sometimes call ahead just to see if there are any gluten free options. And sometimes, that still isn't enough, and I end up sick the rest of the day. I've told my husband and family multiple times how I'd rather just not even eat because sometimes it's so hard to simply find a meal. My point is...... it's a struggle. So when I can find chain restaurants that take gluten allergies seriously, I take note!
Below I have composed a list of my Top 5 Gluten Friendly chain restaurants and my favorite items on their menus. These chain restaurant options are great to keep in mind when traveling because you can almost always find all of these close by wherever your destination may be. Keep reading if you need a go-to list for the next time your are traveling with someone with a gluten allergy.
1. Chic-fil-A
No, I'm not just saying this because I have ALWAYS loved Chic-fil-A both pre and post diagnosis. I quickly found out that finding gluten free fast food is a struggle. Most of the time, the only gf option is a salad or a single chicken breast, and even with those options, there is still a chance of cross contamination by the simple use of a knife or glove that has touched gluten foods. Most french fries at fast food restaurants either contain a wheat seasoning or are fried in the same fryer as fried foods. Trust me, that makes for a miserable rest of the day for someone with a gluten allergy.
Chic-fil-a is the best option for a quick, yet filling fast food meal. Their delicious fries are fried in their own designated fryer, so there is no chance for cross contamination. Grilled nuggets are my go-to, but sometimes I like the grilled chicken club (comes with bacon and cheese) without a bun to mix things up. Chic-fil-a is always 10/10 for me!
2. Mellow Mushroom
Next on the list is pizza! Mellow Mushroom offers 5 different certified gluten free pizza options AND a gluten free brownie. Main entree and a dessert? My fellow Celiacs know that is a big deal! 😆 (gotta celebrate the small victories in life!)
I personally think Mellow Mushroom's gf pizzas taste fantastic and they are big enough to share with others! If not, you have a midnight snack, and there is no shame in that. And come on, everyone loves pizza!
3. Outback Steakhouse
Pre-celiac me was never crazy about Outback. Celiac me looooves Outback. Why? One word- dessert. More specifically, the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under. Like I said earlier, to actually have a gluten free dessert option is everything to me, and this beautiful brownie is literal heaven. For my entree, I usually get the Alice Springs chicken with homestyle mashed potatoes, but my meal is never complete without my gf brownie! Outback Steakhouse takes gluten allergies very seriously, and the celiacs in your life appreciate it very much. Here is the link to their gf menu!
4. Cheesecake Factory
Oh how I love you, Cheesecake Factory! Although their gluten free menu is more limited than the large variety they offer on their regular menu, I still appreciate the fair selection of salads, steaks, burgers, and my favorite- pasta! I always order the Evelyn’s Favorite Pasta and, of course, Godiva® Chocolate Cheese Cake. Again, I will always take advantage of a tasty gf dessert option.
5. First Watch
Okay, we've talked fast food, pizza, steak, pasta, and even cheesecake. But what about breakfast? In my experience, it's difficult to find a gf breakfast that is anything other than an omelette. First Watch's website suggests that they only offer omelettes and Avocado toast for a gf breakfast. However, ask about the gluten free French Toast! I was ordering at a First Watch in Franklin, TN when the waitress suggested I try the gf French Toast. Without hesitation, I decided to try it and was not disappointed. It was delicious! Not sure if I just got lucky or if all of locations offer the gf french toast. Either way, it's worth checking out.
Honorable Mentions
Cracker Barrel (for lunch & dinner) and Another Broken Egg Cafe (for breakfast) are some other options to keep in mind while traveling with gluten free folks! I love Cracker Barrels grilled chicken tenders and Another Broken Egg Cafe's gluten free pancakes are YUM!
There you have it, folks- my top 5 favorite gluten friendly chain restaurants. If you are gluten free, try suggesting one of these restaurants next time you and your people are deciding on a place to eat. Or send them this blog post to give them a better understanding of the struggle of finding a meal when eating out.
And to those of you who have someone gluten free in your life, I PROMISE suggesting one of these options will help them to feel a little less like a burden when planning your next outing.
Thanks for reading!
xoxo, Av
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