Gluten-Free Restaurant Menu

I am not usually one to eat fast food and have mainly avoided it for years and tried to focus on eating organic and whole foods, but since I tasted my first Chipotle in the early 2000s I was hooked and it became my weakness.  There is something about Chipotle that differentiates it from your typical fast-food place. It seems fresher by using whole foods, and you have the ability to create what you want every time best of all, it is cheap with pleasant interiors. Interestingly, I never really liked the flour tortillas, and always took my fillings out and tossed the tortilla.

Below we’ve collected what foods are currently safe to eat at Chipotle restaurants for your convenience:

Chipotle Gluten-Free Menu

• Soft/Crispy Corn Tortilla (Tacos)
• Cilantro-Lime Rice (White & Brown)
• Beans (Black & Pinto)
• Fajita Vegetables
• Meats (All)
• Sofritas
• Salsas (All)
• Cheese
• Sour Cream
• Guacamole
• Romaine Lettuce
• Chips
• Vinaigrette

Chipotle Review:

When I was diagnosed with celiac, I immediately thought all my favorite food places were going to be off-limits. I was extremely pleased to learn that almost everything at Chipotle was still safe to eat, as long as I took a couple of precautions. Of course, everyone must keep in mind there is always a chance of cross-contamination when eating anywhere gluten foods are prepared, it is impossible to be 100% sure. Thankfully, I feel comfortable when eating at Chipotle, and when we are on road trips, it is the one place, I know I can stop and eat.

Chipotle provides an allergen card that is available online and at their restaurants, which clearly lists which ingredients contain gluten, wheat, egg, fish, soy, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish.  Obviously, the flour tortillas (large and small) are out of the question, so you can either order a burrito bowl, salad, or crispy tacos.  Basically, everything else is safe for those of us who are gluten-free.  And for whatever reason, the pork carnitas is missing from the list, but they are also gluten-free.  I typically order the veggie fajita burrito bowl with black beans and a side of chips.  The main thing to be careful of is cross-contamination from the tortillas.

When I first step up to order my dish, I will tell them I have a wheat allergy.  I have learned that if I say gluten-free, many times they look at me like I have a third arm, but if I say I have a wheat allergy, they are taking off their gloves to change them before I even finish my sentence.  And if someone else is going to be handling your dish, be sure they also change their gloves.  However, once I say I have a wheat allergy, that first person will usually alert the others to change as well.

Every Chipotle is different, and it seems some are much more knowledgeable about celiac and other food intolerances than others.  I have been somewhere they have automatically changed all the serving spoons and used condiments from new containers for me.  Otherwise, I will usually ask if they can take the cheese from one of the unopened containers from under the counter for me since they grab the cheese with their hands, it seems everything else, other than the lettuce, is handled with utensils. And finally, I always order my own, so I can watch exactly how my dish is prepared.

I have had very good experiences with every Chipotle I have been to, and they all seem more than happy to accommodate me when I nicely explain, in the beginning, my food limitations. It is nice to know there is another place where we can comfortably eat.

As always, when dining out gluten-free, do your due diligence and make sure the staff understands your needs. There are very few restaurants that are 100% gluten-free, so cross-contamination is always a risk. If you don’t feel comfortable with what you are hearing from the staff, perhaps it is best to dine elsewhere.

For information about other gluten-free restaurants menus, check out our gluten-free restaurants page.