Updated 2021! Thanks to Jenny for emailing this recommendation of Chuy’s:
I went to Chuy’s today- one of my favorite restaurants. I have not been there since the new non dairy diet. They actually have a special non dairy menu. That was awesome! I did not have to worry if something was cooked in butter. I know they have locations in Texas, including Houston and Austin.
And to Andrea for also sharing a recommendation of this dairy free-friendly restaurant:
Chuy’s had a dairy free menu, easy to read and readily available when I asked, that also provides dairy-free sauces so that you can customize your order. Very accommodating.
Their dairy-free menu doesn’t appear to be online, and some readers expressed that it wasn’t available at their local Chuy’s. So we wrote in to ask, and received this response:
Below I have attached our dairy friendly menu. Most of our stores do not carry these menus, but the manager on duty will be able to help you out in picking some menu choices that suit your diet. Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Chuy’s Dairy-Free Menu
They call it a “Dairy Friendly Menu,” which is a little misleading. If you’re on this page, you probably don’t feel very friendly toward dairy! This is Chuy’s Dairy-Free Menu, but they like to make it clear that they aren’t a dairy-free establishment, and like any kitchen environment, potential cross-contamination with an allergen is possible.
Please keep in mind, we do not have separate cooking surfaces or fryers for special foods so there is a risk of cross-contamination. We also use butter on our cook tops so you might want to keep that in consideration.
They might be able to clean the cook top before preparing your meal, if needed. But you will need to check with the manager or cook at the location you are visiting. This menu was sent to us on December 30, 2020.
They also have a gluten-free menu, vegetarian menu, and list meat-free options on their main menu.
Where to Find Chuy’s Restaurants
This Mexican restaurant chain is based in Austin, Texas, but they’ve rapidly expanded over the past ten years. You can find locations throughout the Southern, Central, and Eastern U.S. See their website below for addresses and hours.
Website: www.chuys.com
10 Comments
Thanks, it is updated!
Looks like the dairy free menu has changed! Email them for the latest one.
I found your site on my phone before we went to the restaurant. The waitress seemed confused when I asked for the dairy free menu. When she brought it to me I noticed that they could not guarantee that the dairy free food did not come into contact with traces of dairy since the food is cooked and prepared in the same place. Unfortunately, this meant we could not order as our son is anaphylactic. I notice now that your site shows the disclaimer at the bottom of your attached menu. I was not able to pull that up on my phone last night. That is our problem with going dairy free….it ALL has to be dairy free including no cross contamination.
Hi Angie, I’m so sorry that you had a negative experience at that restaurant and appreciate you sharing. Since allergen cross-contamination is a potential risk in any commercial kitchen, it is something that only the diner can assess themselves in terms of safety. When dealing with a severe food allergy, it’s essential to speak with the restaurant manager at the location (even with franchises, how they enforce allergen policies can differ from location to location) to ensure that you are comfortable with their processes. I almost always call ahead myself. It would be impossible for an outside party to determine if a particular restaurant might be safe for another diner’s needs. We’re not affiliated with Chuy’s, and that menu was provided to us and I share it here for informational purposes only. The fact that some of their restaurants do not provide this menu, and the disclaimer are both included in this post (I have no idea why you couldn’t fully scroll down on your phone! This is a mobile-friendly site). Nonetheless, I am so glad that your son is safe, and I’m sure that many people will appreciate this feedback!
I just called the Chuy’s in Round Rock, and they said I could order anything without cheese or milk… which IMHO does not warrant them being touted as having a “dairy free menu”. That’s the same as any other restaurant…
Hi Jessica, no that doesn’t, but unlike other restaurants, they do actually have a dairy-free menu – https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/55/02/e6/5502e6582639dc3819806e3e01a2699f.jpg
I called the Chuy’s in Orland Park, IL and they didn’t even understand what a dairy free menu was! They said everything is listed on the regular menu, but all of us lactose intolerant people know that is not really the case. It will be a pain ordering.
Hi Kathy, I contacted Chuy’s corporate and they cleared the issue up! See the updated post above, with dairy-free menu, and be sure to ask for the manager!
I just tried the Chuy’s in Austin on N Lamar and when I asked for a dairy-free menu, the hostess and server both looked at me like I was crazy. The manager came over and said something like they used to provide those menus but because they couldn’t guarantee no cross-contamination, they stopped.
Perhaps this differs by location?
In any case, I got the chicken tortilla soup without cheese which as delicious but I couldn’t be absolutely sure it was dairy-free.
Thanks for sharing your experience Johanna!