Top Lists, Restaurants, Dining Out

2017 List of Top 10 Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains

by on March 1st, 2017

AllergEats 2017 Top 10 Allergy-Friendly Restaurant ChainsAllergyEats, the leading guide to allergy-friendly restaurants in the United States, has just released its 2017 list of the Top 10 Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains nationwide.

The chains on this prestigious list hold the highest ratings on the AllergyEats app and website, per feedback from the food allergy community. AllergyEats restaurant ratings are based solely on how well restaurants have accommodated food-allergic diners, and not on other factors, such as ambiance, service or food quality.

“We’re pleased to announce the 2017 list of Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains in America,” said Paul Antico, Founder and CEO of AllergyEats. “These restaurants have demonstrated a superior willingness and ability to accommodate guests with food allergies. We applaud their commitment and their exemplary efforts around food allergy protocols, education, and training, and we congratulate them for earning a place on this prestigious list. We are particularly pleased to see such a breadth of different restaurants make this year’s list – fast food, casual dining, Mexican, Italian, American, seafood, sandwiches, pizza, and more.”

AllergyEats’ Top 10 Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains are grouped into two categories – large (50 or more restaurants) and small (under 50 restaurants).

Results were based on diner feedback from the AllergyEats app and website through December 31, 2016. Ratings are based on a 1 through 5 scale, with 5 being the most allergy-friendly.

Most allergy-friendly large chains:

Most allergy-friendly small chains:

Some of the restaurant chains on the 2017 list, including Maggiano’s Little Italy, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Burtons Grill, and Not Your Average Joe’s, have earned placement on the AllergyEats Top 10 Chains List consistently for several years. New to the list this year are both Flatbread Company and In-N-Out Burger, the first fast-food chain to earn a place in the Top 10.

“We are truly honored to be recognized by AllergyEats users,” said Carl Van Fleet, Executive Vice President of Planning and Development at In-N-Out Burger. “This recognition is especially meaningful to us because it is coming directly from our customers. Our customers are everything to us and, since our inception in 1948, we’ve always made every burger to order and have always strived to accommodate our customers’ special requests. Thank you for this great recognition.”

“The AllergyEats Top 10 Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains list – and the growing number of AllergyEats ratings of all restaurants around the country – helps the food allergy community make more informed decisions about which restaurants to visit and which to avoid, based on how well or poorly they’ve accommodated other diners’ food allergies,” Antico explained.

AllergyEats is a free app (GooglePlay or App Store) and website using a crowdsourced model where people find and rate restaurants based solely on their ability to accommodate food-allergic diners. AllergyEats lists more than 650,000 restaurants nationwide, which people can rate, and also offers user comments, web links, menus, directions and more. Restaurants are easily searchable by geographic location, so people can find allergy-friendly establishments around town and around the country. The app, website, and related social media forums help families with food allergies reduce the guesswork and the anxiety surrounding dining out with food allergies.

If you’d like to find other top-rated restaurants across the country, please help us help you by sharing your personal experiences as a food-allergic diner on AllergyEats – and spreading the word about our app and website so others do the same. Every rating makes AllergyEats a more valuable tool for the entire food allergy and intolerance community. We’re all in this together!

 

Comments

    Author:
    Barbara
    Written:


    Chellos is an excellent restaurant when you have an allergy (peanuts and treenuts).

    Author:
    Maria Medina
    Written:


    I had wrote to you before…you have it wrong, do not publish that Not Your Average Joes and Legal Seafoods is allergy friendly. I worked at both and I have severe nut allergies, they have protocols in place but fail to train their employees. Also massive food contamination in the salad station areas where nuts are accidentally dropped in salads that do not contain nut as an ingredient. I will never eat at these restaurants nor would I ever eat a salad while dining out, I still work in the restaurant industry cross contamination is very real. You are so wrong in your list, sorry, and sorry for the people who suffer with food allergies who actually dine at one of these 2 places..

    Author:
    Christina Wright
    Written:


    I’m shocked to not see Fresh Brothers or California Pizza Kitchen on here. My son is anaphylactic to wheat, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, coconut and shellfish. We have taken him to both of these places and he’s been GOOD. I will say that In-N-Out is fantastic and has always treated us so great so I’m glad to see them on here. I also have to recognize Chick Fil A because he is able to eat thier waffle fries and grilled nuggets! I wish more restaurants would get on the train because it really is life changing for us families who struggle with this horrible illness.

    Author:
    Jen M
    Written:


    Not your average joes didn’t have much for my son to eat. They gave us a different answer about what was safe on the menu every time we went there. I am not impressed.

    Author:
    Alecia A Berman Dry
    Written:


    Plus one for Chick Fil A grilled nuggets and waffle fries!

    Author:
    Cher
    Written:


    I agree that California Pizza Kitchen should be on the list. I have numerous food allergies and rarely can dine out w/family and/or friends w/o eating beforehand and just joining to socialize. However, they have made me feel safe about ordering every time. Even having the chef come out personally to talk to me again about preparations and making sure an area was cleared down for prep, etc. Plus, they didn’t make me feel like a complete nuisance. I’ve been there a few times and experience was always good and no reactions or mistakes.
    Also was pleasantly surprised with experience at Bahama Breeze. They didn’t have a lot to offer as far as food choices for someone with extensive food allergies like me, but they were so accomodating and willing to prepare anything I wanted. They too made sure to have a separate area for prep and the chef also came to discuss everything with me. They made sure to have clean gloves, new clean utensils, etc. I even asked for grated parmigiana cheese if possible and they opened a new one from the back for me and put it into a clean grater, which they brought on a plate for me to use myself. They were so nice about everything too. May not seem like much, but as many of you know, when you often can’t partake in something as simple as a meal out, it’s great to find a new place that takes food allergies seriously.

    Author:
    Tracy
    Written:


    Here are a few allergy friendly restaurants that are consistent in being that.

    Sam Diegos, Plymouth, MA (nut free kitchen)

    Cask n Flaggon, Marshfield, MA ( I think they are also a nut free kitchen – only been a couple of times)

    Hola, Marshfield, MA (not nut free but allergy friendly – plenty of options)

    PF Changs (allergy friendly – Boston & Dedham)

    Tavern on the Wharf, Plymouth, MA (allergy friendly – no dessert options – the waitress told me she thought during the summer there are nut free options) but food is good and dessert is not a deal breaker for me.

    Author:
    Dana kanfer
    Written:


    Chick filet has impressive computer system and consistently trained staff for “red flag food allergy” orders and my son who is anaphylactic to wheat tree it’s and peanuts eats their grilled nuggets and waffle fries regularly. Staff change gloves before handling his food and the restaurants all have a separate fryer for fries that doesn’t have gluten or wheat contamination.

    Author:
    Leslie
    Written:


    I agree with the chick-fil-a comments. My son is allergic to eggs, wheat, and nuts but has several options on their menu–grilled nuggets, waffle fries, fruit cups, applesauce, ice dream cups. Yum!

    Author:
    Julie
    Written:


    Chick-fil, Popeyes, and some seafood and Asian restraunts use peanut oil for frying. Be aware of that. Also Dairy Queen employees will mix a Reeses Blizzards, not rinse the blender and make “you” a banana strawberry blizzard in the “same” blender. Cook-out does the same with shakes. Tell them to “rinse” the blender and the beater “before ” they make yours.

    Author:
    Brook
    Written:


    We’ve done well with:
    Outback Steakhouse
    Papa Johns
    Dominos
    Pizza Hut
    Firehouse Subs
    Bone Island Grill
    Dickey’s BBQ
    Your Pie
    Loco’s Deli
    Barberitos
    Chick-fil-A
    Subway
    Zaxby’s
    Moe’s

    (ANA to PN, TN, Egg)

    Author:
    Tracey
    Written:


    Mellow Mushroom is not allergy friendly! They use soybean oil in their pizza dough. They also do not offer gluten free dough.

    Author:
    Kevin
    Written:


    My son is anaphylaxic and has severe reactions to dairy and eggs. Our go to is Burger King. He can have the hamburgers, chicken nuggets, chicken fries, french fries, and Icees. Unfortunately that is the only restaurant he can eat a whole meal at. He can also have the French toast at breakfast. Have not had a problem yet.

    Author:
    Liane Herman
    Written:


    I see Chic Fillet on here several times I was told they use peanut oil. Please be careful.

    Author:
    Amanda
    Written:


    Our LO has Egg & Dairy allergies and Red Robin was a horrible experience!
    Their allergen menu was sparse. We actually had to leave without ordering because there was nothing she could eat safely.
    Chickfila has been a life saver while traveling. She loves the grilled nuggets and fries. Now if they could offer at least one soy free option other than fruit…
    Chipotle is great too. My daughter doesn’t like lime or cilantro, so they made some chips and rice fresh just for her so that she could enjoy her meal too! I was thrilled and so was she! I do wish more chains would strive to make eating safer and healthier for everyone, but that bottom line is their goal. In a perfect world…
    For anyone traveling to Orlando, Raglan Road Irish Pub & Grill is amazing! I have soy, celery & potato allergy, and my daughter’s egg & dairy allergy was accommodated easily with several options to choose from! We both could have chicken tenders, fried fish filet, and onion rings safely!!! And it was all lip smacking good!! And much easier on the pocket book than most disney restaurants.

    Author:
    M
    Written:


    I disagree with the other commenters that CPK should be on this list. I have eaten at the restaurant twice, both times in Chicago. The first time, I remember liking the food but being a bit put off by how long it took for me to receive my meal (I was the last to receive my food – my friends were finished with their own meals by then and sat there, watching me eat).

    The second time, I dined with a relative who also had dietary restrictions (not due to allergies, but still, health reasons). When they brought her dish out, the food items that she had requested they omit were in the dish. She told the server, who said he would bring her another. The second run also had the food items in it – she requested that they make her dish again. The server responded that making the dish a second time was not possible due to how busy the restaurant was at the time. He suggested she pick out the food items and eat the dish that way.

    I was appalled. If this had been someone with food allergies, a reaction would have still been possible due to cross-contamination. I have not eaten there since.

    Author:
    Lisa Price
    Written:


    Chic filet uses MSG. That is not a good thing.

    Author:
    Genna B
    Written:


    We’re not ANA but my kids react to both dairy and wheat. We have had positive experiences at both PF Changs and Ruby Tuesdays. Our Ruby Tuesday Experiences in particular have been exemplary. The entire staff seems to be trained well and any time we eat there, the manager brings our meal out personally and explains how they made it safe for us to eat.

    Author:
    Keri L
    Written:


    Our son has a severe peanut/ egg allergy and we have had very positive experiences with eating out at Red Robbin, Chili’s, chipotle, Qudoba, and he can have the grilled nuggets, fries and fruit cup at Chick fill A. A lot of people on here are talking about peanut oil and we were told by his allergist that peanut oil does not contain peanut protein and that it is safe for him. But please always check with your allergist to make sure.

    Author:
    Donna
    Written:


    My daughter is allergic to tree nuts all seafood and shellfish, peaches, ginger, kiwi, and more. Can not go wrong anywhere on Disney property or the Disney cruise line! In fact Disney is the only cruise line that will guarantee she will have something safe to eat.

    She does great at Chick-fil-A, and Mello Mushroom was good at accommodating her allergy list.

    Author:
    Georgia
    Written:


    My son haa multiple allergies so eating out is difficult. Thumbs up to Chic Filet grilled chicken sandwich no sauce. They saved him from starving once in Minneapolis airport.lol. We also like Red Robin, Papa Johns, Papa Murphy’s take and bake (tell them your allergies) Burger King nuggets. KFC extra crispy, Biaggis will cook to order by chef.
    Alot of restaurants are trying to improve but for many it is a work in progress.

    Author:
    J B
    Written:


    Daughter is allergic to wheat, peanut, dairy, and egg.
    Mellow Mushroom is one of our favorites, they have gluten free dough and vegan cheese.
    Red Robin has also been great.
    We live near Orlando. Some places it will depend on owner and location.
    I always let our server and the manager know how much it means to us when eating someplace does go well and they do make the effort. Hope it help them want to continue and to help it spread.

    Author:
    LK
    Written:


    My daughter has ANA reaction to sesame seeds. We often eat at Red Robin because they will substitute a ciabatta bun for the sesame seed laden bun. Usually we don’t have an issue, but the last time we ate there she discovered that there were a few sesame seeds stuck to the outside of the bottom bun. Although the restaurant manager rushed over and apologized for this mistake, it could have ended badly for my daughter. Please make sure that you always inspect the food before eating it because you just never know what might be hidden from view.

    Author:
    Debra Ruffing
    Written:


    Chikfilay is horrid. Wow…they have filthy containers, dirty behind counter, touch all straws because they tear off the paper on the straw in drive through!!! UGH! I have argued with them over and over. I called corporate and they said they are not nut free…they use peanut oil to fry!!! We can not enter that place ever. Severe tree and peanut nut allergy…anaphylaxis… Thanks for posting for others who may not know. This peanut oil issue is horrible. I ask everywhere what oil they use.

    Author:
    Debra Ruffing
    Written:


    Also remember if there is any peanut/tree nut in a property you are at risk of cross contamination…always. Our doctor is adament about asking EVERY TIME you eat out because it is just so unsafe. I check all containers at groceries all the time too as companies change. You have to check every time. We are vigilant. Granddaughter is 11 and just got this allergy in November that we were aware of by eating a non nut cookie served near a cookie with nuts. She has never been a nut lover…I guess her little body knew. Please don’t ever trust Chickfila. It is bad. Call corporate if you think you are okay. Watch the mess behind the counter…cross contamination even if you don’t have peanut allergies.

    Author:
    Sonya Hall
    Written:


    We had a very positive experience at Maggiano’s in Chicago.
    They listened and to our restrictions and provided an excellent dining experience for my son.

    We have also had good experiences at Subway and Chilis

    Author:
    Christina Savino
    Written:


    Ahhh chic Fil a . My son has severe tree nut and peanut allergy and we still eat fried nuggets. Yes it is peanut oil but highly refined and once you raise the temperature of the oil to a frying temperature the proteins are broken down (essentially the proteins that give allergies are killed bc of the high temp). I watch him carefully still as an allergy parent would and he has not had any problems yet. Yes – please educate any and everyone- knowing is everything!

    Author:
    Momofz
    Written:


    Rodizio grill Is a peanut free chain. When I was there they had no nuts on menu at all. They have lots of GF options as well. I am ANA treenuts. Dined at Cooper’s hawk twice and had a reaction each time. They do not label food items adequately and staff is not very knowledgeable about items in dishes.

    Author:
    Lisa tong
    Written:


    Mellow mushroom bakes and served peanut butter cookies right there in their kitchen. How can that be on the top list? Aside fronm the kitchen you the. Have people eating them at the tables.

    Chic filet?? We know a 19 year old college atudent home on break that ended up in the ER with Anaphalyctic reaction. Peanut allergy. Person touched their own peanut butter sandwich and then her tuna sandwich. Also some people DO have reaction to refined peanut oil and that’s what they insist on using. Oh and btw all of their food is loaded w MSG for all the people w migraines. Even grilled chicken.

    Author:
    Mike
    Written:


    Bertucci’s seems food allergy friendly and so is Chilis. Sometimes you have to ask for a special menue but usually they are willing to accommodate you. In the case of Chili’s there is an actual screen that you scroll through to see what you can eat based on your restrictions. You have to be careful though and ask them what the dots mean. You don’t want to assume it means you can eat it. It turns out the dot means it has those allergens in it.

    Author:
    Angie Whyteman
    Written:


    We have always had great experiences an In N Out in California. Then today (ironically after we looked at this list for other options while on vacation but couldn’t find one) in St George UT the In N Out just served my soy allergic daughter a burger with cheese on the edges (that were buried down in the ketchup). I couldn’t even see the cheese when I inspected it but she tasted it and when I scraped off ketchup could see it. I was my usual vocal self when ordering and we all heard cashier call “soy allergy on the line” and yetanager’s explanation was “well at busy times like this we can’t guarantee a clean grill is used” ???? We will be taking this further with corporate but right now we are in a hotel room working through my daughters allergy action plan. Will definitely NEVER trust In n Out again.

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