Eating out can be difficult if you have a gluten allergy or sensitivity. While some restaurants have made strides by clearly introducing a number of gluten-free options, others require you to do some research before dining in. That research can be a pain, so we’ve compiled a list of gluten-free offerings at both Longhorn Steakhouse and Texas Roadhouse.
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Steakhouses may seem like relatively easy places for people with celiac disease to eat, but in reality, some of these establishments may be considered gluten-free, but are actually gluten-free. There are many foods that are not. If a steakhouse serves prepackaged or processed meat, it may not flag these ingredients as unsafe for celiac disease. Common ingredients used to season meat, such as whiskey, miso, and bouillon, contain gluten. Even if a restaurant serves fresh meat seasoned with salt and pepper, gluten can still sneak into your plate in the form of breadcrumbs, flour, or sauces.
Steak toppings containing soy sauce are not gluten-free unless a gluten-free variety is used. Flour is a common thickening agent, so it may also contain gluten, especially in creamy meat sauces. Before ordering a dish, ask the waiter if the ingredients in the dish are suitable for people with celiac disease.
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LongHorn Steakhouse has a wide selection of gluten-free salads and sides
Like many restaurants, Longhorn Steakhouse’s gluten-free menu consists mostly of salads and sides. There are great options in these categories, including the Longhorn Caesar Salad with Chicken, Shrimp, and Sirloin, and the Grilled Chicken Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette. Of course you have to ask for the salad to be made without croutons. The restaurant also recommends that gluten-free customers request that their food be placed in a separate mixing bowl to prevent cross-contamination.
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Longhorn offers several sides, from simple dishes like grilled sweet potatoes and mushrooms to more flavorful dishes like shrimp and lobster chowder and Southwest Chicken Tortilla Soup without the tortillas. The restaurant’s menu features a number of gluten-free steak dinners. There are also some rib and seafood options, but items like the Longhorn Salmon must be ordered without marinade.
However, other protein options are even fewer. When it comes to burgers and sandwiches, the LongHorn burger is the only gluten-free option offered. It has to be ordered without bread and there are no gluten-free alternatives, so it’s not an option. The restaurant’s Parmesan Crusted Chicken is a popular chicken dish that can be ordered gluten-free at Longhorn Steakhouse. Ask if they make it without breadcrumbs. Although there are some products available for people with celiac disease, the chain doesn’t have a gluten-free kitchen, so there’s always a risk of contamination.
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Texas Roadhouse has a wide selection of gluten-free entrees
Unlike Longhorn Steakhouse, Texas Roadhouse’s gluten-free salad is a slim salad. LongHorn has several dressing options, but the chain’s only dressing options are on grilled chicken salad, grilled salmon salad, or steakhouse filet salad with oil and vinegar. The sides are also pretty pathetic. There’s not much besides the basics like green beans, sweet potatoes, and applesauce.
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However, this restaurant has a decent number of entrees to choose from, for those with gluten allergies. With the exception of prime rib, all Texas Roadhouse hand-cut steaks are celiac-safe. Other options include steak kebabs, grilled BBQ chicken, pulled pork dinner, and grilled salmon and shrimp, although some menu items must be ordered without rice, bread, or fries. Options like pork chops come with sauces that aren’t suitable for those with gluten allergies, but Texas Roadhouse’s sautéed mushroom and jack cheese smother toppings make a good alternative.
Compared to Longhorn Steakhouse, they have a larger selection of burgers and sandwiches. The restaurant also offers two types of cheeseburgers for gluten-free customers, as well as a barbecue chicken sandwich and a mushroom jack chicken sandwich. However, there are no gluten-free bread substitutes. Please note that, like Longhorn, Texas Roadhouse does not have a gluten-free kitchen, so cross-contamination is possible.
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