Updated February 2023! Several years ago, a reader Nancy recommended Bob Evans Restaurants to us. “Bob Evans in Lexington KY was absolutely wonderful. Attributes included: the server knew what to suggest, the server checked it out with the chef, the chef cleaned the grill before cooking.” Bob Evans also offers an allergen menu, which we paired up with information from their current menu and their staff to create this detailed dairy-free menu with custom order options.
Bob Evans Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Allergen Notes & Vegan Options
Though most of their menu options contain milk, Bob Evans restaurants have several dairy-free items and sides to make custom ordering quite easy. They are outlined below. Be aware of special order requirements in parentheses () next to the menu items, and see the Heads Up notes to help fill in the blanks. Please note that this guide is for the U.S. locations. Options may vary in other countries.
Butter Note: Bob Evans loves dairy butter! Always make sure dairy butter isn’t used to grill, toast, finish, or in any way prepare your meal. Most locations should have their dairy-free margarine available, if you are seeking something buttery.
Fryer Note: We have to assume Bob Evans uses shared fryers with items that contain milk. Make sure to verify at your location before ordering any fried food if you are concerned about potential cross contamination with allergens.
Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: All of the items listed below are made without egg, peanut, and tree nut, unless clear in the name or otherwise noted in parentheses. They don’t offer gluten-free bread at Bob Evans, but all of the sauces, meats (aside from the breaded and fried items), and sides listed here are made without gluten. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Bread
- Banana Nut Bread (contains egg, tree nuts)
- Brioche Bread (not the Brioche Buns)
- Sourdough Bread
- Wheat Bread
- White Bread
Heads Up! Their Dinner Rolls, Brioche Buns, and Biscuits (all varieties) do contain milk. Please note, there are some old allergen charts floating around on the internet with outdated bakery / bread information. We update with the most current allergen data available regularly!
Breakfast
- Build-Your-Own Omelet (no butter, sub dairy-free bread for biscuits) (contains egg)
- Rise & Shine Breakfast (no butter, sub dairy-free bread for biscuits) (contains egg)
- Sirloin Steak & Farm-Fresh Eggs (no butter, sub dairy-free bread for biscuits)
- The Big Egg Breakfast (no butter, sub dairy-free bread for biscuits)
- Bacon
- Chicken Sausage
- Ham
- Hash Browns
- Home Fries
- Sausage Links
- Sausage Patties
Heads Up! Eggs are made to order at Bob Evans – just make sure the preparation is without butter or any other type of dairy. Their Oatmeal is made with milk, but you might be able to order it prepared with water. If so, some dairy-free toppings include their Blueberries, Brown Sugar, Chocolate Chips, Cinnamon Sugar, and Margarine.
Burgers & Sandwiches
- All American BLT (contains egg)
- Bacon Burger (no cheese, sub dairy-free bread for bun) (order no mayo for egg-free)
- Burger (no cheese, sub dairy-free bread for bun) (order no mayo for egg-free)
- Dang Hot Chicken Sandwich (no ranch) (contains egg)
- Farmhouse Hand-Breaded Fried Chicken Sandwich (no cheese, sub dairy-free bread for bun) (contains egg)
- Rise & Shine Burger (no cheese, sub dairy-free bread for bun) (contains egg)
Heads Up! Make sure the bread is unbuttered and that the proteins are not grilled with butter. You can also custom order a stripped down Pot Roast Sandwich without dairy (no gravy either!). But the Grilled Chicken at Bob Evans does contain milk.
Other Entrees
- Dang Hot Chicken (no ranch, sub dairy-free bread for rolls) (contains egg)
- Fork-Tender Pot Roast with dairy-free sides (no gravy, sub dairy-free bread for rolls)
- Hand-Breaded Fried Chicken with dairy-free sides (sub dairy-free bread for rolls) (contains egg)
- Hickory Smoked Ham Steaks (sub dairy-free side for mashed potatoes and gravy)
- Homestyle Fried Chicken Tenders with dairy-free sides (sub dairy-free bread for rolls)
- USDA Choice Sirloin with dairy-free sides (no butter, sub dairy-free bread for rolls)
Heads Up! Make sure no butter is for cooking or finishing your meal. See the Farmhouse Sides below for dairy-free side options, and the bread options above. The Grilled Chicken, Slow Roasted Chicken, Turkey, Country Fried Steak, Great Alaskan Cod, Lemon Pepper Sole, and Fried Shrimp at Bob Evans do contain milk.
Kids
- Homestyle Fried Chicken Tenders (see dairy-free sides and desserts below)
- Lil’ Farmer Breakfast (no butter, sub dairy-free bread for hotcakes)
Heads Up! The Turkey and the Burger Buns do contain milk.
Soup
- Hearty Beef Vegetable Soup
Heads Up! Their Chicken-N-Noodles soup does contain milk.
Salad
- Bob Evans Wildfire Chicken Salad with Fried Chicken (no cheese, no tortilla strips, sub dairy-free bread) (contains egg)
- Chicken Salad Fruit Plate (contains egg; seasonal)
- Cobb Salad (sub fried chicken, no cheese, sub dairy-free dressing, sub dairy-free bread) (contains egg)
- Farmhouse Garden Salad (no cheese, no croutons)
Dairy-Free Salad Dressings: Colonial Dressing, French Dressing (contains egg), Honey Mustard Dressing (contains egg)
Heads Up! The Croutons, Roasted Pecans, and Tortilla Strips at Bob Evans do contain milk. The Italian Dressing also surprisingly contains milk.
Shareables & Sides
- Bacon
- Baked Potato, Plain
- Chicken Sausage
- Coleslaw (contains egg)
- Farmhouse Garden Salad (no cheese, no croutons)
- French Fries
- Fresh Fruit
- Golden Brown Home Fries
- Green Beans with Ham
- Hash Browns
- Hickory Smoked Ham
- Sausage Links
- Sausage Patties
Heads Up! Their Bread Dressing and Glazed Carrots do contain milk. The Broccoli and Corn are buttered, but you might be able to order them without butter.
Dessert
- Banana Nut Bread (contains egg, tree nuts)
- Triple Berry Pie (seasonal)
Heads Up! The other pies at Bob Evans, including the Apple Pie, do contain milk.
Other Sauces, Condiments, and Toppings
- Bacon Bites
- Blueberries
- Brown Sugar
- Chocolate Chips
- Cinnamon Sugar (contains gluten)
- Cranberries, Dried
- Cranberry Relish
- Margarine
- Mayonnaise (contains egg)
- Pickle
- Powdered Sugar
- Sauce, Chocolate
- Sauce, Tartar (contains egg)
- Sauce, Wildfire
- Syrup, Vanilla
- Syrup, Vanilla Sugar-Free
- Topping, Blueberry
Heads Up! As noted, all of the Gravies, plus the Roasted Pecans, Tortilla Strips, and Croutons contain milk. The Hollandaise, Lime Cream, and Caramel Sauces also contain milk. See the dairy-free Salad Dressing options with the Salads above.
Bob Evans Vegan Menu Guide
- Brioche Bread (not the Brioche Buns)
- Sourdough Bread
- Wheat Bread
- White Bread
- Baked Potato, Plain
- French Fries
- Shredded Hash Browns
- Golden Brown Home Fries
- Fresh Fruit
- Farmhouse Garden Salad with Colonial Dressing (no cheese, no croutons)
- Cranberry Relish
- Wildfire Sauce
- Triple Berry Pie
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, food sourcing, and restaurant protocols are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Each location of a chain restaurant has different management and staff, and some might have different owners. This means differences in processes, ingredients used, menu options, and food sourcing can occur. Always verify the safety of your order for your needs at your current location.
Where to Find Bob Evans Restaurants
This home-style restaurant chain operates over 400 locations, primarily in the East North Central, mid-Atlantic, and Southern United States. See the Bob Evans website below for locations, phone numbers, hours, and full menus.
Website: www.bobevans.com
Very informative
Very informative
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5 Comments
Bob Evans recently changed their menu. Now, your only options are basically soup or eggs.
I’m surprised Bob Evans is on this list. They are nothing but dairy.
Hi Paula, please note that these are reader recommendations from people like you. Your own comments about your experience at Bob Evans, good or bad, are welcome here!
I ate at a Bob Evans tonight in Powell, OH, after reviewing their allergen menu. The server had no idea what to suggest, did not have a copy of the allergen menu on site- and ended up serving me a hamburger with the bun slathered in butter. This was after I told her I was allergic to dairy. Not a good experience!
What a bummer! Thanks so much for sharing your experience at that restaurant Megan – I’m sure it will help many!