Top 10 Allergy Friendly Fast Food & Casual Restaurants (Updated 2024)

In this post, we’ll share our Top 10 Allergy-Friendly Fast Food & Casual Restaurants for your family road trips. With road trip season approaching, we’ve researched restaurants that accommodate our family’s food allergies of all nuts, sesame, and shellfish. We hope this guide helps you plan your next road trip if you have family members with food allergies like us!

Our Top 10 Allergy Friendly Fast Food Restaurants for Your Road Trips 2024 [Allergen Guides]

1. Chipotle
2. Red Robin
3. KFC
4. Taco Bell
5. Culvers
6. Wendy’s
7. Panera Bread
8. Cracker Barrel
9. Olive Garden
10. MOD Pizza

Criteria For Selection For Our Top Allergy Friendly Fast Food & Casual Restaurants

Our top 10 allergy friendly fast food and casual restaurants were selected based on three criteria:

1. Clear positions on handling food allergies

Red Robin provides an online allergy tool based on store location

2. Allergy tools or apps that list ingredients and allergens

KFC offers a ‘Special Diets Wizard’ online

3. Updated materials including sesame as the 9^th food allergen per US federal law.

The 9 major food allergens include: Milk, Eggs, Fish, Crustacean Shellfish, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Wheat, Soybeans, Sesame

Our Top 10 Allergy Friendly Fast Food Restaurants for Your Road Trips (2024)

1. CHIPOTLE (Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Shellfish-Free Menu)

We’re big fans of Chipotle. They are the ultimate allergy friendly fast food restaurant. In fact, they explicitly state on their website that they don’t use eggs, mustard, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, shellfish, or fish as ingredients. Their menu is simple, with straight-forward ingredients, making it an efficient choice for us. While we always inquire about ingredient changes, we don’t have any specific allergens to our list. Chipotle’s website has a bold statement that resonates with us: they have options for everyone except those with an allergy to delicious food.

“No matter what your unique dietary needs are, Chipotle has options for you. Unless you have an allergy to delicious food, in which case, we might have an issue.”

– Chipotle allergen and special diet statement

Our Go-To’s at CHIPOTLE (no nuts, sesame, and shellfish allergens):

• Entrée: For Lily’s entree, she opts for a burrito bowl with grilled meat, cilantro rice, black beans and various toppings. She enjoys fajita veggies, guacamole, roasted chili-corn salsa, tomatillo-red chili salsa, fresh tomato salsa, sour cream, cheese, and romaine lettuce
• Sides: As sides, we love their chips paired with fresh tomato salsa and guacamole
• Beverages: As for a refreshing beverage, an ice-cold Mexican Coca-Cola is our preferred choice

Chipotle Allergen Menu Link

Nutrition Calculator

2. RED ROBIN (Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Shellfish-Free Menu)

Red Robin is an allergy friendly fast food restaurant with bottomless options. With its diverse menu options, it feels more like a diner than an average fast food restaurant. Thankfully, it caters to our multiple food allergies as well. When my adventurous eater is in the mood for a crunchy chicken sandwich, she can confidently go for the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, accompanied by their trademarked Bottomless Sweet Potato Fries. What’s even better is that if she chooses a sandwich, she can ask for one free from sesame!

Foods to AVOID at RED ROBIN (with peanut, tree-nut, sesame, shellfish allergies):

• The Classic Sesame Bun: Don’t worry, you can easily swap it out when ordering any of the sandwiches online and in-store. Keep in mind that although burgers are included in the allergy- friendly menu, there’s a warning about cross-contact during cooking of the grilled burger patties.
• Croutons: Be sure to ask for crouton removal from any any salad to avoid tree nuts.

Foods We Recommend at Red Robin (no nuts, sesame, and shellfish allergens):

Sandwiches:

• • Breads & Buns: Croissant, Gluten Free Bun, Pretzel Bun, Wedgie Style
  • Sandwiches & Wraps: BLTA Croissant, Buzzin’ Chicken Sandwich, California Chicken, Crispy Chicken, Keep It Simple Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken, Whiskey River BBQ Chicken, Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Wrap
  • Veggie, Wedgie, & More: Grilled Turkey, Impossible Gourmet Cheeseburger, Vegan Burger, Veggie Burger

Entrees:

• Entrees: Buzz-Style Clucks & Fries, Ensenada Chicken Platter, Arctic Cod Fish & Chips
• Salads without croutons (tree-nuts): Avo-Cobb-O, Caesar Side (no croutons), House, Crispy Chicken Tender, Simply Grilled, Southwest Chicken
• Donato’s Pizza: (Founders Favorite, Serious Cheese, Signature Pepperoni Pizza, Serious Meat, The Works, Very Vegy, Whiskey River BBQ)

Appetizers and Sides:

• Appetizers: Bar Wings ‘n’ Yukon Chips, Mozzzarella Sticks, Pretzel Bits, Red’s Bold Boneless Wings, Serious Cheese Pizza, Signature Pepperoni Pizza, The O-Ring Shorty or Towering Onion Rings
• Sides: Garlic Fries, Steak Fries, Steamed Broccoli, Sweet Potato Fries, Yukon Chips, Towering Onion Rings

Milkshakes & Desserts:

• Milkshakes: Chocolate, Chocolate Malt, Cookie Magic, Strawberry, Strawberry Malt, Vanilla, Vanilla Malt, OREO Cookie Magic Milkshake
• Desserts:  Cinnamon Sugar Doh! Rings, Gooey Chocolate Brownie Cake

Sauces & Dressings:

French, Baja, Balsamic, Banzai, Beer Cheese Fondue, Blue Cheese, Buzz Sauce, Campfire Mayo, Cheese, Cheesy Bacon Fondue Dip, Chipotle Aioli, Guacamole, Honey Mustard Poppyseed, House Made Salsa, Island Heat, Italian Dressing, Marinara, Oil & Vinegar, Premium Mayo, Ranch, Red’s Secret Tavern, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Scorpion, Smoke ‘n Pepper Ketchup, Sweet & Spicy Ketchup, Sweet & Thick Teriyaki, Tartar Sauce, Thousand Island, Whiskey River BBQ

Red Robin Allergen Menu

Nutrition Menu

3. KFC (Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Shellfish-Free Menu)

KFC is one of our go-to nut allergy-friendly fast food restaurant options. They provide a digital allergen wizard online, which is a fantastic tool for those with allergies. By selecting your allergens, it generates a customized list of safe food options for you. If you’re looking for a peanut or tree nut free meal, avoid desserts which “may contain” tree nuts. Make sure to utilize the digital allergen wizard provided by KFC to find safe and suitable options for your specific dietary needs. It’s a helpful resource to ensure a worry-free dining experience.

Foods to AVOID (if you have peanut, tree-nut, sesame, and shellfish allergies):

• Sandwiches: It’s recommended to avoid any sandwiches due to potential cross-contamination with sesame
• Desserts: KFC’s desserts, such as the chocolate chip cookie and chocolate chip cake, should be avoided as they may contain allergens or have a risk of cross-contamination

Entrees We Recommend at KFC (no nuts, sesame, and shellfish allergens):

• Favorite Meal: The 2 piece Drum & Thigh Combo (Original Recipe)  is a delicious choice. It comes with a biscuit and a side of your choice
• Sides: KFC offers several safe options including Mashed Potatoes and Gravy as well as Whole Kernel Corn
  

KFC Allergen Menu

Full Nutrition Guide

Nutrition Calculator

4. TACO BELL (Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Shellfish-Free Menu)

Taco Bell is a great option for Mexican fast food, especially if you have food allergies, and for us, especially when Chipotle is not an option. They were pioneers in 2005 by posting their full nutrition information and ingredient statements online. Over the years, they have expanded their website to include allergen information and a nutrition calculator, catering to those with food allergies and vegetarians. Just like with Chipotle, we don’t have any specific items to list that we avoid due to our allergies. However, it’s always a good practice to inquire about ingredients in case there are any changes. Keep in mind that regional menus may vary, so it’s advisable to check with your local Taco Bell for specific allergen information.

Foods We Recommend at TACO BELL (no nuts, sesame, and shellfish allergens):

• Entrées: The Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos Supreme –Lily loves Doritos but hasn’t eaten them for a year and a half, since it’s on the no-eat list from her orthodontist. This menu item helps her get her nacho cheese Dorito flavor fix without breaking the rules. It’s a soft taco with a shell made from Nacho Cheese Doritos filled with seasoned beef, sour cream, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and cheddar cheese. Believe it or not, the sodium isn’t as bad as you would think at 360 mg (18% DV).
• The Power Menu Bowl: The power menu bowl looks like a winner and the equivalent version of Chipotle’s burrito bowl with choice of Chicken, Steak or Veggie under 500 calories

Taco Bell Allergen Menu

Full Nutrition Info

Nutrition Calculator

5. CULVERS (Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Shellfish-Free Menu)

An allergy friendly fast food restaurant with friendly service, Culver’s has become one of our favorites. One of the things we appreciate about Culver’s is that they prepare our food cooked to order, ensuring that it’s always fresh. For Lily, her go-to options at Culver’s (without nuts, sesame, and shellfish) include the Crispy Chicken Sandwich (without the bun), Crinkle-Cut Fries, and Chocolate Custard. These items have been safe and enjoyable for us, and we highly recommend giving them a try. Please note that the buns contain Gluten, Milk, Wheat, Soy, and Sesame, so we opt for the gluten free bun due to her sesame allergy. While we haven’t explored the entire Culver’s menu yet, we are confident in the quality and safety of these options. For gluten-free menu options, check out our blog post on Culver’s.

Foods To AVOID at CULVERS (with peanut, tree-nut, sesame, shellfish allergies):

• All of the burger buns except the Rotella’s Gluten-Free Bun
• The Sundaes (toppings)

Foods We Recommend at CULVERS (no nuts, sesame, and shellfish allergens):

Entrees:

• Sandwiches: Any burger with a substitute bun (Rotella’s Gluten Free Bun), Sourdough Melt, Wisconsin Swiss Melt
• Chicken Sandwiches & Tenders: Original or Buffalo Chicken Tenders, Grilled Chicken Sandwich
• Featured Items: North Atlantic Cod Dinner or Filet Sandwich, Northwoods Walleye Dinner or Sandwich
• Home-style Favorites: Beef Pot Roast Dinner, Beef Pot Roast Sandwich, Chopped Steak Dinner, Grilled Reuben Melt

Soups & Salads:

• Fresh Salads: Cranberry Bacon Bleu Salad with Grilled Chicken, Garden Fresco Salad with Grilled Chicken
• Salad Dressings: Buttermilk Ranch, Culver’s Vinaigrette, Honey Mustard, Ken’s Blue Cheese, Country French, Vinaigrette
• Soups: Broccoli Cheese, Chicken Noodle, Chili ,Potato with Bacon, Stuffed Green Pepper, Tomato Florentine, Vegetable Beef, Wild and Brown Rice with Chicken Soup

Sides:

• Sides: Coleslaw, Crinkle Cut Fries, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Sauce
• Premium Sides: Onion rings, Side salad, Chili Cheddar Fries, George’s Chili, Pretzel Bits with Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Sauce, Wisconsin Cheese Curds

Desserts:

• Concrete Mixers: Chocolate with OREO, Cookie Dough, Mint with OREO, Salted Caramel with Brownie or Cookie Dough, Vanilla with OREO
• Cones & Dishes: Chocolate, Vanilla (including most Flavor of the Day options)

Culvers Allergen Menu

Nutrition Guide

6. WENDY’S (Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Shellfish-Free Menu)

Wendy’s had always been a favorite of ours, especially for their delicious chili, fries, and Frosty. However, were disappointed by Wendy’s decision to add sesame into their buns. Like other restaurants, this decision seems to be a way to avoid complying with the spirit of the FASTER Act, which requires sesame to be labeled as a major allergen. It’s unfortunate that Wendy’s has taken this route, as it limits the options for individuals with sesame allergies.

Despite this setback, there is still one bread option that remains available for Lily at Wendy’s – the breakfast biscuits. The breakfast menu at Wendy’s continues to be free from sesame, providing a safe and enjoyable choice for those with sesame allergies. It’s important to note that Wendy’s does have a warning on their website stating that fried foods are cooked in the same oil as menu items that contain wheat, milk, egg, soy, sesame, and fish. We reached out to Wendy’s for clarification on which specific food items contain sesame, but unfortunately, we received a form letter restating the same warning without providing further details.

Making Informed Choices

While Wendy’s may not be as allergy-friendly as we had hoped due to the addition of sesame in their buns, we appreciate the availability of breakfast biscuits as an alternative option. We encourage you to exercise caution and reach out to Wendy’s directly for more information regarding their specific ingredients and potential cross-contamination risks. As always, it’s essential to stay informed and make choices that prioritize your family’s health and safety when dining out.

Foods To AVOID at WENDY’S (with peanut, tree-nut, sesame, shellfish allergies):

• Breakfast: Home-style French Toast Sticks and croissant breakfast sandwiches (sesame)
• Lunch/Dinner: All Sandwiches (bread has sesame)

Foods We Recommend at WENDY’S (no nuts, sesame, and shellfish allergens):

• Breakfast: The honey butter biscuits and any breakfast biscuit sandwiches (sausage/bacon, egg & cheese, honey butter chicken biscuit)
• Lunch/Dinner: Chili, Chicken fingers, Parmesan Caesar, Taco, or Southwest Avocado Salad
• Dessert/Bakery: Wendy’s Frosty, Oatmeal bar, Chocolate chunk cookie, and Sugar cookie (no nuts or tree nuts)

Wendy’s Allergen Menu

Nutrition, Allergens & Ingredients Guide

7. PANERA BREAD (Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Shellfish-Free Menu)

Panera is an allergy friendly fast food restaurant with something for everyone. We don’t go to Panera frequently, but despite my daughter’s food allergies, we’ve discovered several options available. Here’s a breakdown of  what we’ll avoid and some she’s excited to try. For gluten-free menu options, check out our blog post on Panera Bread’s Gluten-Free Menu.

Foods To AVOID at PANERA BREAD (with peanut, tree-nut, sesame, shellfish allergies):

• Breads with sesame: Everything/sesame bagels, Sandwiches on brioche bread (Whole Grain Lahvash Wrap, Brioche Roll, Sandwiches that “may contain” sesame including Chef’s Chicken Sandwich, Toasted Frontega Chicken)
• Baked Goods: Bear claw (tree nuts), Pecan Braid
• Salads with nuts: Citrus Asian Crunch
• Dressings/Sauces with sesame: Lemon Tahini, Tangerine Soy Ginger, Teriyaki, Asian Sesame, Hummus

Foods We Recommend at PANERA BREAD (no nuts, sesame, and shellfish allergens)

Breakfast:

• Bakery: Plain bagel/cream cheese, chocolate croissant, or French baguette
• Beverages: Hot chocolate, Strawberry Smoothie with Greek Yogurt (Frozen)

Lunch/Dinner:

• Salad/Bowls: Chicken Caesar or Chicken Baja Bowl
• Soup: Homemade Chicken Noodle, Cream of Chicken with Wild Rice, Turkey Chili with Beans
• Mac & Cheese: Mac & Cheese or Broccoli Cheddar
• Flatbread Pizzas: Margherita, Cheese, Pepperoni, Chipotle Chicken & Bacon

Panera Allergen Menu

Nutrition Link to PDF

Gluten Conscious Menu

8. CRACKER BARREL (Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Shellfish-Free Menu)

Cracker Barrel is an allergy friendly fast food restaurant with southern charm. Over the years, it’s become one of our family’s favorite places to go. In fact, it’s become a holiday tradition to stop in when we’re all together for a casual breakfast or lunch over the holidays. Although Lily hasn’t been as much as I have, she has plenty of options to try here too despite her food allergies. 

Foods To AVOID at CRACKER BARREL (with peanut, tree-nut, sesame, shellfish allergies):

• All fried and grilled items (cross-contamination risk)
• All Cracker Barrel sandwiches (sesame) and Multi-grain toast (sesame)
• Loaded baked sweet potato (pecans)

Foods We Recommend at CRACKER BELL (no nuts, sesame, and shellfish allergens)

• Breakfast: Buttermilk biscuits, Hashbrown Casserole, The Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich
• Lunch/Dinner: Chicken & Dumplings, Meatloaf, Roast Beef Chicken Pot Pie
• Sides: Buttermilk Biscuits, Corn Muffins, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Turnip Greens, Cole Slaw, Fried Apples, Mac & Cheese, Dumplings, Sweet Whole Baby Carrots, Whole Kernel Corn, Country Green Beans, Fresh Steamed Broccoli
• Desserts: Double Fudge Coca-Cola Cake, Peach Cobbler

Cracker Barrel Allergen Menu

Nutrition Guide

9. OLIVE GARDEN (Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Shellfish-Free Menu)

Olive Garden is an allergy friendly casual restaurant that seems to be leading the way. Over the past couple of years, the OG has redeemed itself in the eyes of the allergy community when they reversed their decision to add sesame into their buns to avoid complying with the spirit of the FASTER Act. What a difference a year makes, as Olive Garden is now being hailed for their switch to a fan favorite–their sesame-free breadsticks.

Foods To AVOID at OLIVE GARDEN (with peanut, tree-nut, sesame, shellfish allergies):

• All fried appetizers and foods (cross-contamination)
• Bread (Croutons  which contain sesame)

Foods to Try at OLIVE GARDEN (no nuts, sesame, and shellfish allergens):

• Entrees/Pasta: Create your own pasta (angel hair, fettucinne, rotini, rigatoni, small shells, or spaghetti) with meat sauce with a side of broccoli
• Sauce Options: 5 cheese, marinara, meat tomato, meatballs
• Dessert: Black Tie Mousse Cake (V), Chocolate Brownie Lasagna, Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping (V)

Olive Garden Allergen Menu

Nutrition Guide

Gluten Sensitive Menu

Pork & Alcohol Chart

Vegetarian & Vegan Menu

10. MOD PIZZA (Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Shellfish-Free Menu)

MOD Pizza is an allergy friendly fast food restaurant for pizza made to order (MOD). With the made on demand (MOD) concept, we can manage ingredients on our individual pizzas and salads for food allergies. Ready to eat in 3-5 minutes, MOD Pizza is fast and the cost is the same regardless of the number of toppings you order.

Foods To AVOID at MOD Pizza (with peanut, tree-nut, sesame, shellfish allergies):

• Pizza: Tristan (Mozzarella, asiago, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, pesto sauce)
• Salad: Caesar and Greek (unless we remove croutons and substitute dressing), croutons, balsamic, balsamic fig glaze, blue cheese, Caesar, Italian, Ranch dressings, Sri-Rancha, Greek Herb & Tahini Dressing (sesame cross-contamination)
• Beverages: Caramelized pear ice tea, black tea (tree nuts)
• All desserts: (same equipment as peanuts, tree nuts)

Foods to Try at MOD Pizza:

• Pizzas: Maddy (classic cheese), MadDog (mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, ground beef, red sauce), Dillon James (Mozzarella, asiago, fresh chopped basil, garlic, sliced tomatoes, red sauce)
• Salad: Garden or Italian Chop
• Salad Dressings: Red wine vinegar, sherry dijon, zesty roma, extra virgin olive oil

MOD Pizza Allergen Menu

Nutrition Guide

We hope this post has been useful to you! Thanks for stopping by and reading. Please feel free to provide any comments or suggestions below in the comments box. Happy road-tripping!

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• Waffle House Allergen Menu
• Bojangles Gluten-Free Options, Allergen Menu, and Nutrition Facts
• Panera Bread Gluten Free Menu
• Is Culver’s Custard Gluten Free?

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Pat S

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Hello! I'm Pat, and I'm thrilled you've visited our site! Here we honor the many kids facing food allergies fearlessly. Alongside my foodie teen, Lily, who deals with multiple food allergies, we share our exciting food discoveries from travels and everyday life. Join us as we navigate life with food allergies, providing resources and promoting safe dining options. Let's inspire a new generation to make informed choices for our health, well-being, and communities, while having fun along the way!

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