Updated February 2023! This Italian restaurant chain, formally known as Johnny Carino’s, was actually founded in Austin, Texas. They serve the classic array of popular Italian-American dishes, including pastas and pizzas. When we first posted about them a decade ago, the dairy-free options were slim. But they now have just enough items to make dining worth while.
Johnny Carino’s Dairy-Free Menu Guide
You’ll have to pass on the appetizers, bread, and desserts at Carino’s, but there are enough dairy-free items on their menu to satisfy most appetites.
Fryer Note: Carino’s does use shared fryers, and they do fry items that contain milk. Check with your server about the best options if concerned about potential cross-contamination with allergens in the fryers.
Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Appetizers
Heads Up! All of the appetizers at Carino’s, including the Calamari, do contain milk.
Johnny’s 15-Minute Wings
- Boneless Wings
- Bone-In Wings
Dairy-Free Wing Flavors: Buffalo, Chipotle, Garlic Teriyaki, Johnny’s BBQ, Sriracha Habanero, Sweet Chili, BBQ Spice, Cajun Seasoning, Crushed Red Pepper, Lemon Pepper
Soup & Salad
- House Salad with House Dressing (no cheese, no croutons)
- Italian Wedge Salad (no cheese, sub dairy-free dressing)
- Johnny’s Chopped Salad (no cheese, no ranch)
Heads Up! All soups at Carino’s contain milk. The candied pecans are made without milk, but the croutons and onion straws do contain milk ingredients.
Entrees
- BBQ Combo (with Chicken Breast, Shrimp, Baby Back Ribs, St Louis Ribs, Pork, Tri Tip Beef, or Brisket) (select locations)
- Seafood Fettuccine with Red Sauce
- Spaghetti with Artichokes (no butter, no cheese)
Heads Up! The Sirloin Steak and all Chicken Specialties at Carino’s contain milk. However, several meat and fish fillets can be prepared dairy-free on request without butter and sauces. Their Classic American Burger also contains milk, even without cheese added. So we believe the buns at Carino’s must contain dairy. Also, they like to sprinkle cheese on everything at Carino’s. Make sure they leave the parma off your meal.
Create Your Own Pasta
- Pasta: All Noodles (no gluten-free option available)
- Protein: Grilled Chicken, Grilled Shrimp, Italian Sausage
- Sauce: Meat Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Spicy Marinara Sauce
Heads Up! The Meatballs at Carino’s do contain milk.
Pizza
Go Cheeseless! According to a Carino’s representatives, their Pizza Dough and Pizza Sauce are dairy-free. So you can customer order dairy-free, cheese-free pizzas. They do not have a vegan cheese alternative at this time.
Kids Menu
- Pasta with Grilled Chicken and Tomato Sauce
- Chicken Nuggets
- Grilled Chicken
- Ribs
Sides
- French Fries
- Rosemary Potatoes
- Vegetable Medley
Heads Up! The Table Bread at Carino’s does contain milk.
Carino’s Vegan Menu Guide
- House Salad with House Dressing (no cheese)
- Margherita Pizza (no cheese; green bell peppers, mushrooms, black olives, and red onions available for topping on request)
- Pasta with Tomato Sauce or Spicy Marinara Sauce
- Spaghetti with Artichokes (no butter, no cheese)
- French Fries
- Rosemary Potatoes
- Vegetable Medley
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 Johnny Carino’s
After many restaurant closings, there are now just over 40 Johnny Carino’s restaurants in the U.S. See the website below for addresses, hours, and online ordering.
Website: www.carinos.com
For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!
