The Most Allergy-Friendly Restaurant Chains in America!
This blog post has been a long time coming. I’ve been waiting to write this since AllergyEats began just about 3 years ago, but I wanted to be sure we had a large enough sample of restaurant ratings by the food allergy community for this list to be relevant and accurate. With total ratings now in the tens of thousands, I am comfortable that hurdle has been met. (As an FYI, AllergyEats is issuing a public press release on this subject today which can be found here: http://www.allergyeats.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/AllergyEats-Release-Best-Rated-Restaurants-FINAL-130213.pdf)
Some may question the relevance of posting a list of the most allergy-friendly restaurant chains. After all, just because a chain is considered allergy-friendly doesn’t mean each individual restaurant in the chain is equally accommodating, especially with some chains having franchised units as well as corporate ones… right?
While the point has some validity – and certainly there are outliers in every case – there is actually an incredibly high correlation in allergy-friendliness ratings among restaurants belonging to the same chain. In other words, if a chain has a high allergy-friendliness rating, generally the bulk of its individual restaurants does as well. And vice versa. (Of course, the chain ratings are actually derived from the individual restaurant ratings, so this makes sense.) There aren’t many chains with an equal distribution of ratings from 1 to 5. Why? My strong belief is that the commitment to allergy-friendliness – or lack thereof – comes from the top. If the owners, CEOs, and managers of restaurants and chains make allergy-friendliness a priority, the culture in each restaurant will likely reflect that. And again, vice versa. This is true not just with allergy-friendliness and not just with restaurants, but with companies of all sizes and in all industries.
Get to the point, you say? So be it.
Restaurant chains were grouped into three categories – Large (over 200 units), Medium (50-200 units), and Small (under 50 units). The following lists the most allergy-friendly chains through January 2013, as a result of diner feedback on the AllergyEats website and free smartphone app. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (least allergy-friendly) to 5 (most allergy-friendly).
Large (over 200 units):
- Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (4.47 rating)
- P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (4.45 rating)
- Chipotle Mexican Grill (4.38 rating)
- Outback Steakhouse (4.34 rating)
- Longhorn Steakhouse (4.30 rating)
Medium (50-200 units):
- Bonefish Grill (4.50 rating)
- Ninety Nine Restaurant (4.22 rating)
- Zpizza (4.22 rating)
- Uno Chicago Grill (4.22 rating)
- Bertucci’s Brick Oven Restaurant (4.13 rating)
Small (under 50 units):
- Burtons Grill (4.88 rating)
- Maggiano’s Little Italy (4.76 rating)
- Not Your Average Joe’s (4.73 rating)
- Legal Sea Foods (4.65 rating)
- Papa Razzi (4.64 rating)
The following restaurant chains (of all sizes) were recommended more often than any other, with the highest number of positive ratings and reviews:
- Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
- Outback Steakhouse
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
- P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
- Not Your Average Joe’s
Of course, we couldn’t present this information if it wasn’t for the dedicated users and raters on our AllergyEats website and free smartphone app sharing their experiences. So thank you all! People are always asking which chains are the most accommodating for diners with food allergies. Now that question can be answered with confidence.
So what do you think? Are you surprised? Did your favorite chain make the list or not? I welcome and look forward to as much feedback as possible on this post. Please share your thoughts in the Reply box below. (Note that you can’t leave comments from the blog home page – you must click on the post title first if you don’t see the Reply area.)
Great things are happening right now at AllergyEats, and you have made it all possible thanks to your participation. Each time you rate a new dining experience, AllergyEats becomes a more powerful tool for the entire food allergy and intolerance community. So if you’ve dined out recently, please take a moment to go to www.allergyeats.com or our free smartphone app and add your ratings. Each one takes just a minute, but means so much.
February 13th, 2013 at 9:47 am
Who were the least allergy friendly? We have been to most of the restaurants listed.
February 13th, 2013 at 10:32 am
I have never been in most of these places and now will have to check them out!
Bertucci’s does have a top-down commitment to food allergy safety that I’ve seen first hand.
I’m surprised Ruby Tuesday didn’t make a list because they also have a careful set of protocols and allergy menus.
I emailed Chipolte once to ask if they had any items safe for a soy allergy. I got a reply in the negative but I was impressed that it came from the founder of the company. (or at least from his email address!)
I am so surprised by some of these and will have to check them out! Thanks!
February 13th, 2013 at 10:40 am
Check out Swiss Chalet in Canada. It must be among the best for allergy information on its website and in its restaurants! Workers there were knowledgeable, aware and even double-checked with chefs! Food is good, too.
February 13th, 2013 at 11:04 am
We just took our son to TGI Fridays and they have an entire menu that lists allergens! Just ask your server.
I have found that Chilis is one of the worst for allergies.
February 13th, 2013 at 11:53 am
I’ve had very positive experiences at Chili’s nationwide as well.
February 13th, 2013 at 12:17 pm
I’m surprised that Chilli’s is not on the “Most Allergy-Friendly” list. I’m a sensitive Celiac and have never had a problem with their gluten-free menu selections.
February 13th, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Hi-
Not sure if this is all sites but wanted to comment that we went to a Longhorn Steakhouse here in Southern Maine recently and right off the waiting area is the bar and people were eating and shelling peanuts all over the place in the bar area and waiting area. My son freaked out as we never experienced that there before.
February 13th, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Wow! I am actually quite shocked. With the amount of peanuts and soy that are used in Asian cuisine, I would have assumed P.F. Chang’s China Bistro to be COMPLETELY off limits.
Of course, I will have to do more research and find out what precautions are taken to avoid cross-contamination, but its nice to see that they are among the leading restaurants in food allergy awareness.
I am also surprised that Cheesecake Factory didn’t make it to the top of the list. Since they use mainly canola oil for everything they cook, plus the fact that they cook everything from scratch has made them my favorite go-to restaurant with my severe nut and soy allergies.
I eat many items there with no reaction, as long as I notify my server of all my allergens and derivatives before the order is placed.
Thank you for updating us! Looking forward to seeing more restaurants added to this list!
February 13th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Red Robin is listed on two of the lists above. That’s quite shocking. There is so much MSG in their seasoning salt (that they put on everything) that I have MSG reactions just from breathing the air! Since the seasoning has hydrolyzed soy protein and is so widely used in their menu, no one who is allergic to soy could safely eat there. It may be safe for some allergies, but not MSG and soy allergies!
February 13th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Just for the record, I have a dairy allergy and Chipotle stores their cheese next to the guacamole. Twice I’ve had a server – after alerting them to my allergy – try to serve me guac that had cheese spilled into it. When I pointed it out and reminded them I have an allergy to dairy, they simply swirled it in deeper – as if hiding it from view made it safe to eat!
When I told corporate about it – I have to say the response was pretty lame. Ultimately, after much back and forth they simply said if I want guac just ask the staff to open a new batch for me.
Seems crazy. But people need to know that – in my experience – there’s a training issue still.
February 13th, 2013 at 4:39 pm
I generally love Chipotle but I did notice the last time I went that they did not change gloves between orders which could cause cross-contamination. So now I tell them to please change their gloves.
February 13th, 2013 at 5:42 pm
I am surprised about PF Chang’s. We went to Pei Wei Asian Diner in Paramus, NJ which is owed by PF Chang’s. We told them my son has peanut allergies and to make sure they made everything without peanuts. When we got the take out home it was COVERED in peanuts. We called to complain and got a very lame response. Thank God I opened the containers before my son got to them.
February 13th, 2013 at 6:48 pm
I really wish this had been titled allergy aware instead of allergy friendly because Longhorn Steakhouse is definitely not allergy friendly to a person with a peanut allergy the same way Red Robin is not for someone with an MSG allergy. I think that all of these restaurants made the list because they train their staff and take extra precautions in the kitchen to prevent cross-contamination; they provide allergy listed menus etc. but to blanket label a restaurant as “allergy friendly” is a little dangerous/risky.
February 14th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Just a heads up for anyone with a Soy allergy- KFC uses soybean oil to fry everything in. Also, some of these places listed as allergy friendly,aren’t for Latex Allergies. Some of them I have encountered using latex gloves to handle food, as well as latex balloons in the establishment for decorations or to hand out to patrons.
February 14th, 2013 at 1:55 pm
I want to try to respond to some of these great comments.
Mrsdocrse, I had someone of the AllergyEats Facebook page ask me the same question (will AllergyEats share the LEAST allergy-friendly chains). Here was my answer: “Oh Kim, what a way to put me on the spot! I’ve been debating that, but have decided not to because I really want to help incent restaurants to improve and I think calling them out in a big way like that may push them away. Of course, I take seriously the obligation to inform you all as well, so I do occassionally write-up negative restaurant experiences as I did with Applebee’s years ago and recently did with a few restaurants that refuse to make substitutions. In addition, the information is still all out there on the AllergyEats site. But at the end of the day, I’d much rather help convert an Applebee’s, for example, to allergy-friendliness than tar them and push them away.” I hope you respect this opinion.
Rachel, many restaurant chains now have allergen lists online and in binders within the restaurants. I do have to caution you however not to rely solely on these books. Some may be out of date. The kitchen may have made a “minor substitution” that day. But most importantly, the books don’t tell you if the restaurant understands cross-contamination. In fact, some doctor/advocates I know very much DISLIKE these lists because they feel they provide a false sense of security. I agree to the extent diners don’t follow “proper protocol” and ask ALL the usual questions. To back up my claim, I will say that some of the LEAST allergy-friendly chains have allergen lists online and in their units! In one more egregious case, the chain doesn’t even notify the individual restaurants when the lists are updated! The restaurants need to think to check the website and print off the lists themselves. So what happens when the list in the restaurant in our of date? Bottom Line: Don’t let lists fool you. Restaurants are no more allergy-friendly or gluten-free-friendly due to the existence of allergen lists or gluten-free menus.
Rachel, Brian, and Edie, I love that you all mentioned Chili’s back-to-back, but with differing opinions. That’s what AllergyEats is all about – the aggregation of everyone’s experiences and the wisdom of the crowds! (In fact, Chili’s is pretty high in terms of allergy-friendliness relative to the restaurants you’d think of as it’s primary competitors, but not high enough to make this exclusive list.)
Cindy, I believe Longhorn was ceasing the practice of having peanuts everywhere. I could be wrong or it could be a restaurant-level decision, but I think that’s definitely the exception rather than the rule. I’ll look for someone to correct me if I’m wrong.
Bethany, you’re the second person that’s made this comment about Red Robin (the first was on Facebook and then Cristin followed up as the third). I can’t say that every restaurant on this list would be appropriate for individuals with any allergy, but again these lists were developed based on the cumulative feedback from tens of thousands of AllergyEats raters. Overall, Red Robin seems extraordinarily capable of serving individuals with most food allergies, but your point is not only well-taken, but also a good reminder that some restaurants and some allergens (think Five Guys and peanut allergies) don’t go together even if the restaurant is well-trained at accommodating other allergies. Thanks for your comment.
And lastly, to the many of you who unfortunately had negative experiences at some of the restaurants on the list, here again is how I addressed two individuals’ disappointment with one of the restaurants via Facebook: “Unfortunately, even the best not only make mistakes, but may have outlier units – one of the key reasons individual restaurants are rated on AllergyEats. No chain has a perfect rating and even Disney World (“the gold standard”) periodically has an incident. That’s the hard part for all of us – no matter how good the restaurant, we always have to keep our guard up and even then there’s always a chance. With AllergyEats, we’re trying to help everyone minimize this risk by making the world aware of those restaurants that “get it” and those that don’t. So if you haven’t before, please rate your experiences on either the AllergyEats website or smartphone app. It’s important that all voices are heard for every restaurant.” Realize that NONE of these top restaurants got a 5.0 rating, i.e. none are perfect. I would expect that there would be negative experiences at some of these; however, I have a feeling I’d hear a lot more if a restaurant like Applebee’s was on the list. Overall, again based on your feedback, the restaurants on this list had an overwhelming bias toward positive diner experiences. But again, ALWAYS keep your guard up.
Happy eating to all!
Paul
February 14th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
I have to agree…Chili’s has been a wonderful place for us to visit in Arizona and California. Someone mentioned that some chains only train their staff but don’t offer safe enough choices. I agree to some extent. However, a well trained employee will double check for updated allergy friendly options and make the kitchen staff aware of the situation.
Thank you for the compiled list. Any information is a helpful in trying to decide where to investigate and try next
February 14th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Cheesecake Factory – nuts all over the menu.
PF Changs – Asian food, really? Many food allergy deaths are from asian restaurant cuisine.
Paul, are you concerned about liability?
February 14th, 2013 at 7:41 pm
I understand the surprise over P.F. Chang’s, but they have always had a stellar reputation in the food allergy community, and this confirms that. Again, remember that this is based on the wisdom of the crowds, not any one individual trying to be an expert.
Legal Sea Foods made the list too and I can tell you that they accommodate fish and shellfish allergies tremendously, so while I understand that many people with peanut or soy allergies might want to avoid all Asian restaurants, P.F. Chang’s seems capable of accommodating as well.
I don’t worry about liability. I worry every day about fatalities and other serious reactions. I think the work of AllergyEats is one small step toward reducing this number. That said, I always caution everyone to use proper protocol EVERY time they dine out, and if people are not comfortable in a restaurant like P.F. Chang’s, they simply shouldn’t go there.
I don’t in any way mean to be argumentative, but I’ve also never heard the statement that many food allergy deaths are from Asian restaurants. As I think about it, most stories I’ve heard are either shellfish, teenagers of any allergies, and that’s about it. I’d love to know where to find this so I can verify it. It’s important knowledge to have if you’re right.
Please keep rating restaurants. This list will be updated every year. With more ratings, the ensuing lists – whether they show similar results or not – will become even more trustworthy every time. Just a matter of statistics.
February 14th, 2013 at 7:58 pm
OMG…Yes, many deaths from Asian restaurants? Do you follow the news on this?!
You should really educate yourself on that before promoting ANY Asian restaurant!
By liability, I meant you are implying restaurants are “safe” when in fact they may not be.
I don’t think safety is a matter of statistics…allergies are so individual. Eating out is always a big risk.
February 14th, 2013 at 8:01 pm
One second google search:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/20/katelyn-carlsons-family-s_n_838110.html
February 14th, 2013 at 8:05 pm
http://foodallergyfeast.blogspot.com/2013/01/another-heartbreaking-food-allergy.html
February 14th, 2013 at 8:06 pm
http://nonutsmomsgroup.weebly.com/1/post/2012/02/remembering-those-we-have-lost-to-food-allergies.html
February 14th, 2013 at 8:08 pm
http://foodallergymemorial.blogspot.com/p/memorials-2005-2012.html
February 14th, 2013 at 8:09 pm
All that in 5 minutes of simple google searching.
Just google “Food allergy Death” chinese food
“Peanut allergy death”
etc
February 14th, 2013 at 10:13 pm
Recommendations from Dr. Robert Wood and Dr. Scott Sicherer – the leading pediatric food allergists:
“Avoid High Risk Foods – Ethnic Foods, especially Asian”
Source: (about mid-document)
http://www.childrensnational.org/files/PDF/ForDoctors/cme/GrandRounds/Wood-_Peanut_Allergy_DC_Childrens.pdf
February 14th, 2013 at 10:16 pm
Book: Tree Nuts: Composition, Phytochemicals, and Health Effects
edited by Cesarettin Alasalvar, Fereidoon Shahidi
The establishments most commonly associated with food allergy incidents include restaurants and establishments serving or catering Asian foods, ice cream shops, and bakeries. .
February 14th, 2013 at 10:19 pm
A girl dies after eating Chinese food at a North Carolina shopping mall in 2005. A Massachusetts boy dies after one bite of a cookie at a friend’s house in 2006. A girl dies after consuming a burrito at a shopping center near her home in Esquimalt, Canada, in 2007.
What do these tragedies have in common? Each fatality was a teenager with a severe food allergy. And none of the victims was carrying self-injectable epinephrine, the drug that might have saved their lives.
The combination of adolescence and anaphylaxis is a dangerous mix that can turn deadly, according to Scott H. Sicherer, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. The reason? The risk-taking behaviors commonly associated with adolescence.
February 14th, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Source: Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Author: Kirsi M. Järvinen
Medscape
Most reactions in children occur at home, whereas most reactions in adults occur in restaurants followed by home and work or school…
Among reactions in food establishments, most occurred in Asian food restaurants, ice cream parlors and bakeries/doughnut shops.
Just spend a few minutes on google.
February 15th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
AllergyMom, with all due respect, I don’t feel the need to defend my education of this subject. I also don’t feel the need to defend the information I have and will continue to provide. And lastly, the suggestion that I don’t care about the safety of this community is simply absurd and does not merit a response. (And as an aside, I never use the phrase “allergy safe” – no restaurant, or almost anyplace, is “allergy safe” – I only say “allergy-friendly.”) I’m sorry you feel that our community’s collective reference to P.F. Chang’s as allergy-friendly is a mark of my ignorance on the subject of dining out with food allergies. That’s disappointing given how much we seem to help so many.
Now I’m not going to allow this to get personal (though I’ve allowed you to post how many links and personal jabs in there?), but I don’t believe the information you’re providing makes your point. Yes, some individuals die from chinese restaurants, but as you show, some die from chinese food outside restaurants, some die from other restaurants, some die at school, some die at parties, some die at home, etc. Official stats say 100 people die each year of anaphylaxis. I think the number is at least 2-1/2x that as many of these tragedies do not have anaphylaxis listed as the cause of death, but one of the results of anaphylaxis. Further, the “100″ number is outdated.
So even if we assume 250, you’ve basically demonstrated that these deaths can happen anywhere and you’ve shared maybe 5 or 6 stories of individuals dying in the US due to Chinese restaurants.
So should we avoid ALL restaurants? Some do, and I totally respect their decision – it is not for me to tell others what to do. But should we ALL avoid restaurants, as well as parties, schools, home-cooked meals, etc.? Of course not. Some parties? Yes. Some meals? Yes. And yes, even some “allergy-unfriendly” schools. But at the end of the day, we simply can’t avoid food and that is why we always have to be vigilant, careful, and prepared with Epi’s, etc.
Look, as a whole, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY caution many people from eating at an Asian restaurant (those with peanut, tree nut, and soy allergies in particular). HOWEVER, I don’t think it is correct to thus assume that all Asian restaurants are the same. P.F. Chang’s obviously goes to great lengths to assure their food-allergic guests an accommodiating meal… and it shows via the comments from our entire community of food-allergic individuals! As I mentioned earlier, Legal Seafoods also does an outstanding job for those with fish and shellfish allergies, yet I GENERALLY wouldn’t recommend those with a shellfish allergy visit a seafood restaurant! Etc. The point is that it IS possible for a committed restaurant to buck the general assumptions and thus we should look to judge each individual restaurant on its own merit. Lacking such information, I believe generalities are appropriate.
That all said, I totally respect your opinions and your belief that many should avoid P.F. Chang’s and all Chinese restaurants, though I paritally disagree with it. I’m happy to continue the conversation if we can keep it civil and factual. But to Google every individual death due to Chinese food doesn’t make your point, in my opinion. Google “food allergies” and “schools” and see what comes up. Or even “food allergies” and “seafood”. You understand what I’m saying.
Respectfully,
Paul
February 15th, 2013 at 11:31 pm
This is what I was responding to:
You said, “I don’t in any way mean to be argumentative, but I’ve also never heard the statement that many food allergy deaths are from Asian restaurants. As I think about it, most stories I’ve heard are either shellfish, teenagers of any allergies, and that’s about it. I’d love to know where to find this so I can verify it. It’s important knowledge to have if you’re right.”
And I gave you information from leading pediatric food allergy doctors recommending against Asian restaurant foods, and other examples of people that died after eating from Asian restaurants.
There were no “personal jabs”, just the info you asked for and a statement that this was all easily found in a quick google search.
February 18th, 2013 at 6:46 pm
I for one appreciate the work that Allergy Eats does to make restaurants aware and more proactive about food allergies and intolerances. This kind of list is a “attaboy” gold star to chains that are trying to do the right thing. They should be applauded and encouraged to continue and get even better. Yet, consumers need to use common sense and know that NO “list” is perfect and certainly this list isn’t saying that all chinese restaurants have trained staff and procedures. However, Blue Ginger in Wellesley is very well known for accommodating food allergies. Personally, we have found that Not Your Average Joes and Burtons Grill are extremely accommodating for a range of food allergies and intolerances. There are a few restaurants on this list that we avoid, but clearly many people have had good experiences. So that is really a good thing. Of course, anytime you add a second or third food allergy, or intolerance, in the mix, the choices narrow. How the kitchen prepares and segregates the food is hugely important, so kitchen set up, procedures and staff training is very important. The biggest challenge we have had is at our daughter’s school. That to me is where allergy and institutional training must improve, regarding nutrition and food safety. I find it a little shocking the argumentative hostility of the posts by AllergyMom, above. We all know restaurant chains, or types of cuisine, that generally are better to avoid, due to dietary and allergy issues. 1000 people may be responding about gluten or dairy (or both) intolerances and be fine with restaurants that another 1000 people find less accommodating, or less able to accommodate, for soy or peanut allergy (or both). Another 1000 may react to MSG and another allergen. The only way to narrow down your specific personal needs, to match with restaurants, is to use the Allergy Eats site and use the allergy checklist when searching for restaurants. That is why everyone needs to fairly review and contribute to the site. I also write on Open Table, when we eat out, especially for restaurants not part of a chain. What most of us can agree on, is that Allergy Eats has raised awareness in a very positive way!
March 3rd, 2013 at 3:00 pm
If you are allergic to peanuts, there are 2 Asian cuisines that should be “safer”, not fool proof by any means, but safer. Japanese tend not to use peanuts, or tree nuts in any form, and Vietnamese use much less peanuts, tree nuts than do Thai and Chinese. They are soy heavy, however some Vietnamese foods are prepared with fish sauce rather than soy, but still if soy is your allergen, I’d steer clear of all Asian restaurants.
Gluten free dining is easier in Thai than the others as most of their noodles are rice based. Sauces tend to be corn starch based rather than flour. Some thick chewy noodles do contain flour, so be sure to question them closely as to the contents of the noodles. Pad Thai and the like are all rice based.
Egg allergies can be tricky in Thai as they tend to add eggs to many of their stir fries, request that it be made without the egg, but look closely at the dish before trying. Japanese tend to use eggs as a component in items, ie to stick the panko to katsu.
I’m gluten, egg, dairy, shellfish allergic, so for me Asian is the easiest “safest” cuisine for dining out.
March 15th, 2013 at 7:59 pm
This is SUCH an awesome resource, thanks for sharing! Some of my favorite eaterys are on here, so YAY!
March 26th, 2013 at 9:25 am
[...] Look for Allergy Friendly restaurant recommendation. Some great places to look are: AllergyEats, Allergic Living’s Dining Out Forum, AllerDine, and Nosh (a new app). AllergyEats published a list of the most allergy friendly chains in America, which you may find useful and can find here. [...]