Best gluten free chain restaurants

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Are you looking for a chain restaurant where you can get a gluten free pasta dish? Or maybe you are looking for a chain where you can order a juicy steak? Well either way, you are in the right place! In this article, we discuss all of our favorite chain restaurants that offer gluten free options. In particular, we will focus on sit down restaurants where the primary focus is on dine in. We will also focus on chain restaurants that are popular in the United States.

For each gluten free chain restaurant that we discuss in this article, we will provide information on a specific set of characteristics. This will help you determine which of these gluten free chains best suits your preferences. We start this article out by discussing those characteristics. After that, we discuss all of our favorite sit down chains that offer gluten free options.

Note. In this article, we will focus on sit down restaurants that offer dine in options. If you are looking for a quick spot where you can grab a meal on the go, check out our articles on gluten free fast food chains and gluten free fast casual chains.

Characteristics of gluten free chain restaurants

What characteristics will we use to provide additional information on each of these gluten free chain restaurants? Here are the characteristics that we will use to provide more information on each of these gluten free chain restaurants.

Location. First, we will discuss the location of each of these gluten free chain restaurants. Some of these restaurants are national chains that have locations across the United States. Others are regional chains that are primarily focused on the east coast or the west coast.
Type of food. After that, we will describe the type of food that is served at each of these gluten free chain restaurants. This will include information on the main cuisine that the menu draws inspiration from. It will also include information on any specialty that each restaurant has.
Gluten free status. Next, we will discuss the gluten free status of each restaurant. This will include information on whether the restaurant is dedicated to gluten free food or not. If the restaurant is not dedicated to gluten free food, we will provide additional information to help assess the risk of cross contamination.
Other dietary restrictions. Finally, we will provide information on whether the restaurant caters to any other food allergies and dietary restrictions. Some of these restaurants focus specifically on gluten free offerings, whereas others can accommodate a range of food allergies and dietary restrictions.

The best gluten free chain restaurants

Now that we have laid out the characteristics we will use to provide more information on each of these gluten free restaurant chains, we will discuss some of our favorite restaurant chains with gluten free options. We will list these chains roughly in order of preference, with our favorite gluten free restaurant chains appearing towards the top of the list.

P.F. Changs

P.F. Changs is a national restaurant that is known for being one of the first major chains to offer a gluten free menu. The menu at P.F. Changs focuses primarily on Chinese food and Chinese American food, though there are some dishes that take inspiration from other Asian cuisines. P.F. Changs is a nice restaurant and most of their locations are stylishly decorated with Asian-inspired accents and bright pops of color.

Location. P.F. Changs is a national chain that has locations all across the United States. At the time of writing this, they have over 300 locations in the United States and internationally.
Type of food. The menu at P.F. Changs focuses on Asian food. In particular, most of their dishes draw inspiration from Chinese cuisine and Chinese American cuisine. They also have some items on their menu that are inspired by Japanese cuisine, such as their sushi rolls.
Gluten free status. P.F. Changs is not a dedicated gluten free restaurant. That being said, they are known for their gluten free options and they were one of the first national chains to offer a gluten free menu. They take food allergies very seriously and take many precautions to prevent cross contamination in their kitchen.
Other dietary restrictions. P.F. Changs has a comprehensive allergen matrix that labels items that contain common allergens like wheat, soy, egg, dairy, fish, and nuts. They also label some less common allergens and irritants like legumes, sulfites, onion, and mushrooms. Vegetarian options are also clearly labeled on the menu.

Burtons Grill

Burtons Grill is a popular chain with many locations in the eastern portion of the United States. They have a large menu of American-inspired dishes. In particular, they are known for having some delicious fried items and many rich, indulgent dishes. Most of their locations are nice, without being overly fancy.

Location. Burtons Grill is an east coast chain that has most of their locations on the east coast. Many of their locations are in the northeastern region of the United States, but they also have some locations in the southeast.
Type of food. The menu at Burtons Grill focuses primarily on American cuisine. That being said, they do have some items that take inspiration from Chinese American cuisine. Burtons Grill is particularly well known for indulgent dishes like their risottos and chicken cordon bleu. That being said, they do offer salads and rice bowls for those who are looking for a lighter option.
Gluten free status. Burtons Grill is not a dedicated gluten free restaurant. That being said, they have a large range of items that are or can be made gluten free. They have a separate gluten free menu that labels items that can be made gluten free. They also have gluten free fryers available at most, if not all, of their locations.
Other dietary restrictions. Burtons Grill takes food allergies very seriously and is able to accommodate a range of food allergies and dietary restrictions. They state on their website that they regularly serve clients with dairy, egg, soy, nut, and fish allergies.

Rosa Mexicano

Rosa Mexicano is another gluten free chain restaurant that has many locations on the east coast. They primarily serve Mexican food and are also known for having rich, indulgent dishes. Compared to the other restaurants that we have discussed so far, Rosa Mexicano locations tend to have a particularly nice ambiance. The restaurants are carefully decorated with Mexican-inspired accents and murals that feature bright pops of color.

Location. Rosa Mexicano is an east coast chain that has most of their locations in the northeast portion of the United States. That being said, they do have a few locations in the southeast region as well.
Type of food. The menu at Rosa Mexicano focuses primarily on Mexican cuisine. That being said, they do have some dishes that take inspiration from other Latin cuisines. Rosa Mexicano has a large menu that contains items like enchiladas, ceviche, flautas, tacos, and queso.
Gluten free status. Rosa Mexicano is not a dedicated gluten free restaurant. That being said, a large portion of their menu is or can be made gluten free. Items that are or can be made gluten free are clearly labeled on the menu. They generally have dedicated gluten free fryers available, so fried options are fair game even for those who are sensitive to cross contamination.
Other dietary restrictions. Rosa Mexicano also clearly labels items that are vegetarian friendly. They also label items that contain peanuts and tree nuts on their menu.

The Melting Pot

The Melting Pot is a really unique spot that has a menu that centers around fondue. They serve a range of cheese fondue and chocolate fondue options that are made right at your table. This is a great place to go when you are looking for a unique dining experience to celebrate a special occasion.

Location. The Melting Pot is a national chain that has locations all across the United States. They have more locations in the eastern portion of the country, but they do have some locations in major west coast cities.
Type of food. The Melting Pot is unique in that their menu focuses specifically on fondue. They have a large range of cheese fondue options that can be enjoyed as an appetizer and chocolate fondue options that can be enjoyed as a dessert. And their entrees are equally unique. Most of their entrees consist of meats and vegetables that are served raw then cooked at your table in a large pot that is filled with oil or broth.
Gluten free status. The Melting Pot is not a dedicated gluten free facility. That being said, they have no problem accommodating gluten free diners. They have gluten free substitutions for many of the items that are served on their normal menu. This includes gluten free dippers like gluten free bread and gluten free brownies. It also includes gluten free items that can be used in the fondue mixtures themselves like gluten free beers. The owners of the restaurant have worked with the Gluten Intolerance Group to create protocols to be able to serve dishes that are certified gluten free. Items that can be made gluten free are labeled on the menu.
Other dietary restrictions. The Melting Pot is also able to accommodate vegan diners and has a range of vegan options available. They have vegan cheese available so that they can make their cheese fondues vegan as well.

True Food Kitchen

True Food Kitchen is another great spot that is popular with the health conscious crowd. Most of their menu consists of classic American dishes that have been modified to be more healthy and include more fresh ingredients. True Food Kitchen is a national chain that has locations all across the United States. True Food Kitchen is rare in that it has many dishes that are suitable for those on a keto or paleo diet. That means that this is the perfect place to go if your group has a large variety of food allergies and dietary restrictions.

Location. True Food Kitchen is a national chain that has locations all across the United States.
Type of food. Most of the menu at True Food Kitchen is inspired by traditional American cuisine. They like to take classic American dishes that are known for being unhealthy and put a healthy twist on them. They go out of their way to use fresh ingredients, so they have a seasonal menu that changes based on what types of fruits and vegetables are in season.
Gluten free status. True Food Kitchen is not a dedicated gluten free facility. That being said, a large portion of their menu is or can be made gluten free. Items that are or can be made gluten free are clearly labeled on the menu.
Other dietary restrictions. True Food Kitchen is able to accommodate a range of allergies and dietary restrictions. Their staff are well trained and are generally very knowledgeable about what ingredients are used in their dishes, so they can answer any questions that you have about common allergens. Vegan and vegetarian options are also clearly labeled on the menu. Notably, True Food Kitchen is also able to accommodate diners who maintain a keto or paleo diet. Items that are suitable for those on a keto or paleo diet are labeled on their website.

Fogo De Chao

Fogo de Chao is a popular Brazilian steakhouse that offers a large range of fresh cooked meats and vegetable sides. They have a large menu and the majority of the dishes that they carry are naturally gluten free. We will note that many of their foods are served buffet style, which may increase the risk of cross contamination. That being said, the majority of the dishes on their menu are gluten free and the items that contain gluten are usually clustered together in one specific area. Many portions of the buffet are entirely gluten free, which makes their buffet much safer than the average buffet.

Location. Fogo de Chao is a national chain that has locations all across the United States.
Type of food. Fogo de Chao is a Brazilian steakhouse, which means that they serve all different kinds of Brazilian-inspired meats. They have a large range of steak, chicken, pork, and lamb offerings that can be carved right before your eyes. They also serve a range of vegetable sides and salads, many of which are laid out on their salad bars.
Gluten free status. Fogo de Chao is not a dedicated gluten free facility. That being said, the majority of the dishes that they serve are naturally gluten free. Fogo de Chao generally has allergen printouts that are available to tell you which dishes contain allergens like gluten. These printouts are sometimes a little out of date and may be missing one or two items. We will also note that some of their food is served buffet style, which may increase the risk of cross contamination. That being said, the majority of the food that they serve on the buffet is naturally gluten free. If there are items that contain gluten, they are usually clustered together in one specific area.
Other dietary restrictions. Fogo de Chao has allergen printouts that label items that contain common allergens like nuts, fish, eggs, wheat, dairy, and soy. Since much of the food is served buffet style, it may be difficult to eat here if you have an allergy to an ingredient that is used in many of the dishes.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse is a casual American restaurant and brewhouse that has locations across the United States. They have a large and varied menu that contains items like pizzas, pasta dishes, burgers, and slow roasted meats. We will note that this is a chain where some locations exercise excellent allergen protocols and others do not. We recommend looking into the particular location that you plan to go to before visiting if you are sensitive to cross contamination.

Location. BJ’s is a large chain that has locations all across the United States.
Type of food. BJ’s has a large and varied menu that takes inspiration from American cuisine. They offer many options ranging from burgers and sandwiches to pizzas and pasta dishes. It is not often that we see restaurants with large and varied menus that are able to cook all of the items on their menu so well. That means that this is a great place for people who like variety and prefer to have a lot of options at their fingertips.
Gluten free status. BJ’s is not a dedicated gluten free facility. That being said, they have a large and varied gluten free menu that contains many different options. Their gluten free menu contains items like soups, salads, meats, rice bowls, pizzas, burgers, and cookies. We will note that adherence to allergen protocols can vary from location to location. Some locations go to great measures to prevent cross contamination, whereas others may have staff that are not as well informed about food allergies. If you are sensitive to cross contamination, we recommend looking into the particular location that you intend to visit before you dine in.
Other dietary restrictions. BJ’s offers an allergen guide that labels items that contain common allergens like wheat, soy, fish, nuts, dairy, sesame, and eggs.