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    Jefferson Adams

    Finding Gluten-Free Food at America's Mexican Fast Food Chains

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Finding gluten-free Mexican fast food at chains can be a challenge. Here's a short list for you.

    Celiac.com 08/08/2024 - When on the go or short on time, finding gluten-free dining options can be challenging, especially at fast food restaurants. However, Mexican cuisine often offers some reliable choices. 

    Even Mexican fast food chains can offer some decent options. Of course, not all Mexican fast food chains are equal in providing gluten-free options, so it's crucial to know where you can find safe and delicious meals. Eating out at any restaurant is always risky, even if they offer a gluten-free menu, but if you accept such risks the listing below may be helpful.

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    Remember, individual experiences may vary, so always check with staff about ingredients and preparation methods. If you have feedback, or know of any other Mexican fast food chains that offer good gluten-free food options, be sure to tell us in the comments below.

    Here's an updated list that includes new additions, making it easier for gluten-free diners to enjoy Mexican fast food.

    Mexican Fast Food Chains with Naturally Gluten-Free Options

    #1: Chipotle
    Chipotle offers a variety of gluten-free options, with clear labeling. Except for flour tortillas, most items, including corn tortillas, all meats, beans, vegetables, and sides, are gluten-free.

    #2: El Pollo Loco
    At El Pollo Loco, you can enjoy a range of gluten-free items like flame-grilled chicken, corn tortillas, pinto and refried beans, avocado salsa, Cotija cheese, mixed vegetables, and flan. Just avoid flour tortillas.

    #3: Jimboy's Tacos
    Jimboy's is known for fresh preparation, Jimboy's Tacos offers a solid gluten-free menu including tacos (bean, ground beef, chicken, steak, carnitas), Tacoburgers, taquitos, tostadas, and their signature guacamole & sour cream.

    #4: Baja Fresh
    Baja Fresh features gluten-free options such as Baja Tacos with corn tortillas, “Bare style" burritos, Baja Ensaladas, grilled vegetables, carnitas, rice, and beans. All dressings and salsas are gluten-free.

    #5: Qdoba
    Qdoba provides diverse gluten-free choices, including chicken, chorizo, flat iron steak, pork, seasoned shredded beef, cilantro lime rice, black beans, tortilla soup, salsas, dressings, queso, and guacamole.

    #6 Taco Cabana
    Taco Cabana offers a variety of gluten-free options including beans (black, borracho, refried), barbacoa, chicken fajita meat, rotisserie chicken, shredded chicken taco meat, steak fajita meat, and gluten-free salsas and toppings.

    #7: Mighty Taco
    Mighty Taco makes it easy for gluten-free diners with corn shell options for any taco and excluding flour tortillas from most items. They offer Mighty Tacos with various fillings, salads, and more.

    #8: Del Taco
    Del Taco has expanded its gluten-free offerings, featuring items like the Grilled Chicken Taco, Street Tacos, and the Epic Grilled Chicken Avocado Burrito (without the flour tortilla). Additionally, their seasoned fries, beans, rice, and various salsas are gluten-free.

    #9: Torchy’s Tacos
    Torchy's Tacos, known for its creative taco combinations, offers a variety of gluten-free options. Diners can choose from corn tortilla tacos filled with meats like chicken, beef, pork, and shrimp. They also provide gluten-free sides such as refried black beans, Mexican rice, and queso.

    #10: Taco Del Mar
    Taco Del Mar provides gluten-free choices like corn tortilla tacos, burrito bowls (sans the tortilla), and a selection of fillings including seasoned chicken, pork, and fish. They also offer gluten-free rice and beans, and a range of salsas and toppings.

    As always, cross-contamination can be an issue at restaurants, so be sure to double check to make sure your chosen location is using dedicated fryers for gluten-free items, and that you are confident that the final product will be gluten-free. 

    If you know of other chains we should add to our list, or have feedback on these, please share in the comments below! Your experiences help others find reliable gluten-free dining options.



    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Guest Bill

    Sorry but I disagree. I went to a local Chipotle and within 2 minutes I knew I could not eat there. They were using the same spoon for everything. I when they put the food onto each plate they would touch the Wheat Flour items that were already on the plate. That created a problem with contamination.

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    Guest Jared M

    Posted

    I love Taco Cabana! Nothing beats a salsa bar. Chipotle is also nice, but a bit pricier.

     

    I hope we get El Pollo Loco in the Dallas area soon. We have similar Mexican chicken places like Pollo Regio.

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    Guest Bruce Adolphe

    Posted

    I am very disappointed in this article and I do not think it can be trusted. I say this because I called Chipotle myself and asked if they were serious about the gluten-free items listed on their menu, specifically asking if they could guarantee their gluten-free options were safe for celiacs. They said absolutely NO, their wheat-flour tortillas and gluten-free corn tortillas and all other such foods were all handled by the same people in the kitchen and no one changes their gloves or even wipes up the counters. They said it was more for people with a mild gluten intolerance, whatever that is supposed to mean. They recommended to me that a person with celiac NOT eat at their restaurants and offered an apology for the misleading menus. Did you do any research or just read menus? Restaurants are not to be trusted.

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    Guest sandra clapham

    Posted

    Too bad Canada does not have these Mexican restraunts!

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    Guest Donna Torraca

    Posted

    Moes is a great option too.

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    Guest Cynthia Swift

    Posted

    Observations of assembling a gluten-free bowel is Chipotle uses the same ingredients that touch flour tortillas and may cross contaminate them. I love their food but it isn't enough for celiacs with high sensitivity to gluten. Sad but true.

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    Guest Leah

    Great info! Will share this with my family soon. This will help when we go out to eat in the next few weeks.

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    Guest Bill

    El Pollo Loco home page states their kitchen area along with prep areas, utensils are not dedicated for gluten free safety therefore cross contamination is highly probable.

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    Guest R. Borg

    Posted

    Just to be safe, I order the burrito in a bowl at Chipolte.

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    Guest Linda

    Posted

    An interesting list. My personal experiences with Mexican chains or restaurants has been marginal however. The food may be gluten-free but cross contamination has always been a big concern (and a problem in my area). Even when I have been assured of good practices that has not been the case so I just don't take the chance any more.....

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    Guest admin

    Posted

    El Pollo Loco home page states their kitchen area along with prep areas, utensils are not dedicated for gluten free safety therefore cross contamination is highly probable.

    We think the work "possible" rather than "highly probably" is more accurate.

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    Guest admin

    Posted

    I am very disappointed in this article and I do not think it can be trusted. I say this because I called Chipotle myself and asked if they were serious about the gluten-free items listed on their menu, specifically asking if they could guarantee their gluten-free options were safe for celiacs. They said absolutely NO, their wheat-flour tortillas and gluten-free corn tortillas and all other such foods were all handled by the same people in the kitchen and no one changes their gloves or even wipes up the counters. They said it was more for people with a mild gluten intolerance, whatever that is supposed to mean. They recommended to me that a person with celiac NOT eat at their restaurants and offered an apology for the misleading menus. Did you do any research or just read menus? Restaurants are not to be trusted.

    No restaurant that serves regular gluten options, and certainly not a chain restaurant, would ever "guarantee" that their food will always be 100% gluten-free. Many celiacs still eat at them without issues by taking very basic steps and speaking to those preparing the food about their condition. Obviously this article is not for those celiac who never eat out.

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    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

    >VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY JEFFERSON ADAMS

     


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