Gluten-Free Fast Food in Portland
So, you're in East Vancouver, or Beaverton, and you're hungry. What the heck are you going to do? Risk fast food? Why not? Tacos, baby! With this handy list, you're (almost) guaranteed to not be unknowingly glutened.
Baja Fresh
I'm not a fan. The
ingredient statement on the website is not nearly detailed enough, and the fryer is cross-contaminated. My opinion is that the bare burrito is probably the safest. Don't eat the chips. Corn tortillas are warmed on the same grill as are the flour tortillas.
Burgerville
My ex-favorite fast food establishment has failed me, mostly. They do offer a handy
list of ingredients on their website. The sandwiches are out, of course, and I wouldn't recommend ordering them without the bun, either. (I've worked in fast food before, and I know how sloppy people can be that don't know any better and aren't paid enough to care.) The Rogue River Smokey Blue Salad appears to be the only good bet, as long as you get a different dressing - both the raspberry vinaigrette, which comes with the salad, and the honey lime vinaigrette have gluten. The other dressings appear to be safe. If you can do dairy, the shakes and smoothies are gluten-free. Also, every location at which I've inquired so far uses a dedicated fryer for the potato products, so hashbrowns and fries should be safe, but be sure to ask, particularly during onion-ring season.
Cha! Cha! Cha!
With a handful of locations around the city, Cha Cha Cha serves up traditional taqueria fare at reasonable prices. I haven't checked on fryer contamination yet, but I always order the tacos anyway. No reports of accidental glutening from the tacos so far. As is always prudent, stay away from fried foods and the enchilada sauce.
Chipotle
Although difficult to find on the website, Chipotle publishes
allergen information on their products. However, here's your easy rule of thumb - don't have the wheat tortillas, and you're home free! Everything else is good. However, the company makes this statement: "If you are highly sensitive and would like us to change our gloves, we would be happy to do that at your request. Additionally, since there is always the slight possibility of cross-contamination in our restaurants because our folks work with wheat tortillas all day long, we encourage you to consider carefully your dining choices." Gotta love these people. I like the bowl, and typically get some chips on the side.
El Burrito Loco
3126 NE 82nd Ave., Portland, OR 97220 503.252.1343
The Loco was one of my regular stops for a long time. I've verified that the fryer is cross-contaminated, so the only thing left is tacos! I'm sure that the corn tortillas are warmed on the same grill as everything else, but it's worth the risk. The veggie tacos are good, except that they make their "avocado sauce" with mayonnaise.
La Bonita Taqueria
2839 NE Alberta St., Portland, OR 97211
Practially right next door to Taqueria La Sirenita (see below), this place is probably a better bet. For one, the staff is generally the members of the family that owns it, and they all speak English very well. They're also pretty hip, and could most likely help with questions relating to gluten much better. That being said, I haven't been there since the no-gluten diet, so I have no advice other than to ask them about cross-contamination and hope for the best.
Laughing Planet
Several locations in Portland, one in Eugene
Mostly a burrito-inspired, order-at-the-counter type of joint, it's a laid-back place to grab a quick bite to eat. There are plenty of gluten-free options on the menu, and they keep a binder of all menu item ingredient lists within close reach. Note that the chipotle salsa DOES have gluten in it, even though the ingredient list I consulted said it didn't. I actually had the gal at the counter grab the can of chipotle peppers from the back just to prove it, which, I must say, she was more than happy to do.
Ole! Ole!
The lost brother of Cha! Cha! Cha!, this traditional taqueria serves up comida at reasonable prices. I haven't checked on fryer contamination yet, but I always order the tacos, which have been just fine so far. Together with its brother, it's one of the only places where I can just order something off of the menu.
Taco Bell
www.tacobell.com
Taco Bell publishes a detailed ingredient statement on their website that clearly notes, in big bold type, which products contain gluten (almost all of them). However, it's been helpful for us to know what we can have there for when we're in a pinch, because you can always find a Taco Bell. We usually order the pintos & cheese and/or the bean tostada. The rice uses and the chips are fried in oil that is also used for frying gluten-containing products. The tostada shell comes pre-fried, and should be fine.
Taco del Mar
www.tacodelmar.com
One of my favorites! They have a gluten statement on their website, and other than the usual suspects, you'll want to steer clear of the cod and enchilada sauce. The company makes this disclaimer: "Every effort was made to identify menu items that do not wheat/gluten. Occasionally alternate suppliers and brands are used or products are reformulated - which may result in different ingredients. At Taco Del Mar, we make every attempt to keep our gluten-free list current, but we welcome your request to check the ingredient labels on any products in the shop you visit. Since this is a restaurant environment, wheat-free/gluten-free ingredients may come in contact with ingredients that contain wheat & gluten. For instance, a corn tortilla may be placed on a work surface that has been used roll a flour tortilla." In fact, this last part always happens. I simply order the Baja Bowl and that solves the issue.
Taco Time
www.tacotime.com
They publish a limited allergen statement on the website, but it notes that everything fried in oil is subject to cross-contamination, and I've seen that this is so. You should be safe with crispy tacos (check that the shells come pre-fried and are not fried in the store), rice, and beans. Keep in mind that the side of beans comes with sauce and cheese on it, but the sauce appears to be gluten-free.
Taqueria La Sirenita
2817 NE Alberta St., Portland, OR 97211 503.335.8283
One report of glutening from the mysterious red-coated chicken. Although I haven't checked on it, I'm quite confident that the fryer is contaminated, but fried food isn't really their thing anyway. (Oh, how I miss the relleno burrito!)