Gluten-free restaurants near me: what to order at 20 popular chains.

Finding safe, gluten-free options when dining out doesn't have to mean endlessly searching online or settling for a dry side salad. Whether you're pulling into a drive-thru or sitting down for dinner, many of the country's largest restaurant chains offer dedicated gluten-free menus or simple ingredient swaps.

Here is a quick-reference guide with gluten-free dining suggestions for 20 of the most popular casual dining and fast food chains. If gluten is new territory for you, pair this with our guide to hidden gluten in everyday ingredients.

1. Texas Roadhouse

• What to order: Hand-cut steaks (Sirloin, Ribeye, Filet), Herb Crusted Chicken, Grilled Salmon, and Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs. Full details in our Texas Roadhouse allergy & gluten-free guide.
• Safe sides: Baked potato, sweet potato with honey cinnamon butter, fresh steamed vegetables, and green beans.
• Modifications: Order burgers and sandwiches without buns or as a lettuce wrap. Salads must be ordered with no croutons.
• Strictly avoid: The complimentary dinner rolls and steak fries (shared fryer).

2. Olive Garden

• What to order: Gluten-Free Rotini with Marinara or Meat Sauce, Herb-Grilled Salmon, and 6 oz Sirloin Steak. See our full Olive Garden gluten-free & Celiac dining guide.
• Safe soup & salad: Famous House Salad (order with no croutons in a clean bowl) and Zuppa Toscana (the only GF soup).
• Strictly avoid: Unlimited breadsticks, fried calamari and mozzarella, and all wheat-based pastas.

3. Chili's

• What to order: Sizzling Fajitas (Chicken, Steak, Shrimp) swapped with warm corn tortillas, Ancho Salmon, and classic Sirloin steak. More in our Chili's allergy & gluten-free guide.
• Safe sides: Black beans, Mexican rice, steamed broccoli, and loaded baked potato soup.
• Modifications: Fresh Mex Bowls (hold crispy tortilla strips) and bunless burgers.
• Strictly avoid: Tortilla chips and crispy taco shells (shared fryers).

4. Applebee's

• What to order: 8 oz Top Sirloin, Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp, and Grilled Chicken Breast.
• Safe sides: Baked potato, garlicky green beans, and steamed broccoli.
• Modifications: Classic Bacon Cheeseburger ordered with a lettuce wrap (no bun).
• Strictly avoid: Riblets (sauce contains wheat), crispy chicken tenders, and onion rings.

5. Buffalo Wild Wings

• What to order: Traditional (bone-in) wings tossed in safe dry rubs (Desert Heat, Lemon Pepper, Buffalo) or sauces (Mild, Medium, Hot, Honey BBQ, Sweet BBQ).
• Safe sides: Carrots and celery with ranch or blue cheese, potato wedges.
• Strictly avoid: All boneless wings (wheat breaded), soft pretzels, and fried bar appetizers.

6. LongHorn Steakhouse

• What to order: Outlaw Ribeye, Flo's Filet, Renegade Sirloin, LongHorn Salmon, and Parmesan Crusted Chicken.
• Safe sides: Loaded baked potato, sweet potato, fire-grilled corn on the cob, and fresh steamed asparagus.
• Modifications: Chop Salad and Strawberry Pecan Salad ordered with no croutons.
• Strictly avoid: Warm bread loaves and French fries.

7. Outback Steakhouse

• What to order: Victoria's Filet Mignon, Outback Center-Cut Sirloin, Grilled Chicken on the Barbie, Alice Springs Chicken, and Baby Back Ribs.
• Safe sides: Homestyle mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, and steamed veggies.
• GF dessert: Chocolate Thunder from Down Under — the pecan brownie base is naturally gluten-free.
• Strictly avoid: Aussie Fries and the Bloomin' Onion (heavy wheat batter and shared fryers).

8. The Cheesecake Factory

• What to order: Look for the "Gluten-Free" designation on their multi-page menu: Shepherd's Pie, GF Pasta with Marinara or Alfredo, and Grilled Salmon.
• Burgers: Any specialty burger ordered on a certified gluten-free bun.
• GF dessert: Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake and Low-Licious Cheesecake (made with a gluten-free crust).
• Strictly avoid: Standard wheat pastas, fried eggrolls, and signature bread baskets.

9. Red Lobster

• What to order: Steamed Maine Lobster, Wood-Grilled Garlic Shrimp Skewers, Snow Crab Legs, and Grilled Atlantic Salmon.
• Safe sides: Plain baked potato, rice pilaf, and seasoned fresh broccoli.
• Modifications: Request grilled seafood without seasoning breadcrumbs or marinade flour thickeners.
• Strictly avoid: Cheddar Bay Biscuits (unless you make the frozen retail GF mix at home) and fried seafood platters.

10. Red Robin

• What to order: Any gourmet burger served on an individually wrapped gluten-free bun or lettuce wrap ("Wedgie style").
• Safe sides: Bottomless Steak Fries, prepared in a dedicated gluten-free fryer at most locations.
• Entrees: Ensenada Chicken Platter and Simply Grilled Chicken.
• Strictly avoid: Crispy onion rings, crispy chicken patties, and standard wheat buns.

11. Chick-fil-A

• What to order: Grilled Chicken Sandwich served with an individually sealed Gluten-Free Bun, Grilled Nuggets, and Market Salad. Full breakdown in our Chick-fil-A allergy & gluten-free guide.
• Safe sides: Waffle Potato Fries and Hash Browns, fried in dedicated fryers using 100% canola oil.
• Strictly avoid: Classic and Spicy breaded chicken filets and nuggets.

12. Chipotle Mexican Grill

• What to order: Burrito Bowls, Lifestyle Bowls, Salads, and Crispy Corn Tacos. See our Chipotle allergy & gluten-free guide.
• Safe bases & proteins: Chicken, steak, barbacoa, carnitas, black and pinto beans, white and brown rice, and all salsas.
• Safe sides: Tortilla chips and guacamole — chips are fried in dedicated fryers.
• Strictly avoid: Large flour tortillas and soft flour taco shells.

13. Wendy's

• What to order: Plain Baked Potato, Sour Cream & Chive Potato, Bacon & Cheese Potato, and classic Wendy's Chili.
• Modifications: Dave's Single or Double burger, or a grilled chicken patty, ordered with no bun or lettuce wrapped.
• Dessert: Classic Chocolate or Vanilla Frosty.
• Strictly avoid: French fries, chicken nuggets, and crispy breaded sandwiches (shared fryers).

14. McDonald's

• What to order: Quarter Pounder patty or 100% Beef Hamburger patty, ordered with no bun and no Big Mac sauce.
• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, round poached egg, bacon, and sausage patties.
• Strictly avoid: French Fries and Hash Browns in the US — the beef flavoring contains hydrolyzed wheat protein.

15. Burger King

• What to order: Whopper patty, King Jr. patty, or Bacon Double Cheeseburger ordered without the bun.
• Sides: Apple slices and side garden salad (no croutons).
• Strictly avoid: French fries, hash browns, chicken fries, and onion rings (shared fryers).

16. Sonic Drive-In

• What to order: Plain beef patties, bacon, breakfast sausage, and hot dog wieners ordered without buns.
• Sides: Apple slices and grilled bacon breakfast bowls (without tortillas).
• Strictly avoid: Tots and French fries, frequently cooked in shared fryers with onion rings and mozzarella sticks.

17. Carl's Jr.

• What to order: Famous Star, Western Bacon Cheeseburger, or Super Star burger ordered "Green Style" — wrapped in large iceberg lettuce leaves.
• Sides: Natural-cut french fries (confirm the dedicated fryer at your local franchise).
• Strictly avoid: Fried zucchini, onion rings, and breaded tenders.

18. Taco Bell

• What to order: Power Menu Bowl (Chicken, Steak, or Veggie) with black beans, seasoned rice, guacamole, sour cream, and tomatoes.
• Sides: Black beans and seasoned rice, chips and guacamole (check fryer protocol).
• Strictly avoid: Crunchy and soft flour tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and cinnamon twists.

19. Subway

• What to order: No-Bready Bowls and Chopped Protein Salads with grilled chicken, roast beef, tuna, or turkey.
• Gluten-free bread: Available at select locations, prepared on clean paper deli sheets.
• Strictly avoid: Standard sub rolls, flatbreads, and meatballs (they contain breadcrumbs).

20. Dunkin'

• What to order: Hash Browns (no gluten ingredients — verify toaster oven separation), Bacon/Egg/Cheese wake-up wrap fillings ordered without the wrap, and classic hot or iced coffees.
• Strictly avoid: All donuts, bagels, croissants, and breakfast muffins.

Dining somewhere not listed here, or managing multiple overlapping allergies? Skip the guesswork before you sit down. If you're travelling, our guide to finding allergy-friendly restaurants in a new city walks through the research steps.

With Stuff I Can Eat, checking your meals is fast, accurate, and completely mobile-first:

• Instant menu checking: Paste a menu link, upload a PDF, or snap a photo of any restaurant menu to automatically flag safe dishes, caution items, and hidden gluten triggers across every course.
• Custom server questions: Get tailored questions to ask your server to confirm dedicated fryers and clean prep spaces.
• Digital chef cards: Show a clear, customized allergy card right on your phone screen — with explicit safety guidelines for the kitchen.