Is Portillo’s Beef Gluten Free? What You Need To Know Before Eating Here
If you have celiac disease or are avoiding gluten for other health reasons, eating out can be tricky. A favorite Chicago-style restaurant many wonder about is Portillo’s. With so many bun-clad hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches on the menu, is anything at Portillo’s gluten-free?
We did some investigating into Portillo’s ingredients and kitchen protocols and have the inside scoop for you. Keep reading to learn what’s gluten-free at Portillo’s which menu items to avoid, and how to safely enjoy their food if you’re gluten-free.
Gluten-Free Portillo’s Menu Options
While Portillo’s serves up some of the most iconic Chicago food around, a lot of their menu contains gluten. Breads, buns, fried items battered in flour, and thickening agents like wheat flour in sauces are some common culprits.
However, there are still plenty of delicious gluten-free choices at Portillo’s if you know what to order. Here are the safest Portillo’s picks if you’re avoiding gluten:
- Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken (no dressing)
- Char-Grilled Chicken or Italian Sausage “Nudie”
- Chili or French Fries
- Tamale with Chili
Portillo’s salads, as long as you avoid the dressings, offer a fresher gluten-free choice. Opt for grilled chicken on a Greek salad for a satisfying meal. With tomatoes, onions, olives, and feta cheese on a bed of lettuce, it offers plenty of flavor without needing dressing.
Getting a hot dog or Italian sausage without the bun as a “nudie” sandwich is another simple gluten-free option. Just meat and toppings, no bread. Add some celery salt and hot peppers for the full Chicago taste.
For gluten-free side dishes, both their chili and French fries are safe as well Their fries have a dedicated fryer. Tamales steamed in corn husks also make a filling gluten-free meal paired with chili
What to Avoid at Portillo’s
Now that you know what you can eat, here are the Portillo’s menu items to avoid if you’re gluten-free:
- Sandwiches – Italian beef, hot dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches
- Pizza, pasta, salads with croutons or wheat-based dressing
- Ribs with BBQ sauce
- Most desserts – cakes, cookies
- Malts and shakes
Obviously, anything served on bread or a bun is off the table, including their famous Italian beef and Chicago-style hot dogs. Even if you remove the bun, cross-contamination is likely.
Fried foods like chicken tenders and chops are battered in flour. Sauces and dressings often contain wheat flour or malt vinegar. Breads, desserts, and shakes also contain gluten, so it’s safest to avoid those.
How to Order Gluten-Free at Portillo’s
If you want to safely enjoy Portillo’s gluten-free menu items, keep these tips in mind when ordering:
- Tell your server you need to order 100% gluten-free due to an allergy. This helps prevent cross-contamination.
- Opt for grilled chicken or sausage with no bun or sauce.
- Request fries from a fresh basket, prepared separately from gluten menu items.
- Ask for chili, tamales or salad with no croutons or dressing containing gluten.
- Avoid breaded, fried menu items cooked in shared oil.
- Skip desserts and shakes, which all contain gluten.
- Check that utensils, dishes and prep surfaces have been sanitized before cooking.
Be very clear with your order. For example, say “Greek salad with grilled chicken, no croutons, dressing on the side”. Make sure utensils are clean and prep surfaces sanitized to prevent CC. It’s also safest to get fries from a fresh fryer basket.
While Portillo’s does offer gluten-free choices, cross-contamination is a risk due to shared cooking equipment and prep areas. If you have celiac or are highly sensitive, tell your server the extent of your gluten allergy when ordering.
Is Portillo’s Beef Gluten-Free?
Portillo’s is beloved for their Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches. The tender, thinly sliced beef is soaked in a spice-filled broth then served juicy on a bun. But is something as simple as roast beef gluten-free?
According to Portillo’s ingredients information, their beef contains no gluten. However, cross-contamination is still a concern. The beef is roasted in shared ovens, stored in shared containers, and soaked in broth that likely contains gluten.
While the beef itself may not contain gluten, coming in contact with flour-dusted surfaces and utensils means it’s not guaranteed GF. Your safest bet is avoiding the Italian beef sandwiches altogether and choosing grilled sausage or chicken instead.
Portillo’s Gluten-Free Dressings
Adding salad dressing can seem like an easy way to enjoy Portillo’s signature flavors without gluten. But some of their dressings and sauces do contain wheat, barley malt, and other glutenous ingredients.
To be safe, here are the only Portillo’s dressings that are gluten-free:
- Honey mustard
- Hot giardiniera
- House dressing
- Lite Italian
- Ranch
Avoid these dressings which contain gluten:
- Blue cheese
- Caesar
- Balsamic vinaigrette
- 1000 Island
- Creamy garlic
Check the Portillo’s website for their latest ingredient info. When in doubt, opt for oil and vinegar rather than relying on the pre-made dressings, even ones labeled gluten-free. Manufacturing processes can change.
Is Portillo’s Fully Gluten-Free?
The bottom line: Portillo’s is not an entirely gluten-free restaurant. Their kitchen contains shared prep areas, fryers, equipment, etc. While they offer some gluten-free menu items, the risk of cross-contamination is high.
If you have celiac disease or are highly sensitive, there is a good chance you could get “glutened” eating at Portillo’s. Even menu items listed as gluten-free may come in contact with gluten during processing and cooking.
For those with milder sensitivities or who don’t react strongly to small amounts of CC, Portillo’s can be enjoyed moderately safely. Adhere to our tips above and know there is always some risk of reaction.
Safer Gluten-Free Fast Food Options
If the cross-contamination risk seems too high at Portillo’s, you have plenty of other gluten-free fast food options. Here are some of our top safer picks:
- In-N-Out Burger – Protein burger wrapped in lettuce, fries
- Chick-fil-A – Grilled nuggets and sandwiches, waffle fries
- Five Guys – Lettuce wrap burger, Cajun fries
- Chipotle – Salad, tacos, bowls
- Panera Bread – Broth bowls, salads
- Subway – Salad, veggies sandwich on GF wrap
These spots have dedicated gluten-free prep areas and are well-versed in food allergy protocols. While no restaurant is 100% gluten-free, these fast food chains make it easier to eat GF.
The Takeaway on Eating Gluten-Free at Portillo’s
At the end of the day, those with celiac disease or who are highly gluten-sensitive will probably want to avoid Portillo’s. The risk of cross-contamination from breaded, fried items and gluten-laden sauces is very high in their kitchens.
Someone who is less sensitive may be able to tolerate small amounts of CC and enjoy some of their gluten-free menu options in moderation. Be very careful in ordering and ask plenty of questions to ensure proper precautions are taken.
We hope these tips help you make an informed decision on whether Portillo’s fits into your gluten-free diet or not. Their food is undeniably tasty, but gluten safety should always come first. Stay tuned for more gluten-free restaurant guides to come!