Updated January 2023! Years ago, we received recommendations for Chuy’s from two different readers, Jenny and Andrea. Both raved about the detailed dairy-free menu at this “fine” Tex Mex chain. Chuy’s doesn’t publish their allergen menus online, and some readers complained that their local restaurant didn’t have the dairy-free menu. So we inquired with Chuy’s, and they sent it to us. Years have passed, and they still update that dairy-free menu regularly. But now, we find out additional information to make it even more detailed and helpful for you!
Dairy-Free Menu Guide to Chuy’s Tex Mex Restaurants
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.
Dairy-Friendly Menu: Most of their stores do not carry these menus, but we keep a copy below! We have also created this more detailed guide based on the 2023 menu at Chuy’s. The Dairy-Friendly Menu below is from 2022 – Chuy’s nutrition team is currently updating it, but provided us with the current menu details. There have been some slight changes in the menu offerings.
Butter Note: They do use butter on the cook tops at Chuy’s Tex Mex, and do not have separate cooking surfaces. Be sure to speak with the staff if you are concerned about the risk of cross-contamination before ordering.
Fryer Note: If you are concerned about potential cross-contamination in shared fryers, find out if any items in your order might be fried. They do use common fryers at Chuy’s Tex Mex.
Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: Chuy’s also offers gluten-free and vegetarian menus on request, but you do need to contact them directly for these. They do not publish them online, and not every location keeps copies of special diet menus available. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Appetizers
- Chips and salsa
- Guacamole
- Nachos (no cheese)
- Panchos (no cheese)
Heads Up! Yes, the Nachos at Chuy’s are still interesting without cheese. They are topped with refried beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, jalapeños. The Panchos are topped with all this, plus chicken or beef and guacamole.
Soups and Salads
- Mexi Cobb Salad (no cheese)
- Taco Salad (no cheese)
- Tortilla Soup (no cheese)
Dairy-Free Salad Dressings: Cilantro Vinaigrette, Salsa Fresca
Entrees
- Crispy Tacos (no cheese)
- Soft Tacos (no cheese, sub corn tortilla)
- Tacos al Carbon (no cheese, sub corn tortilla)
- Fajitas (no cheese, no sour cream, sub corn tortilla)
- Custom Enchiladas with Dairy-Free Sauce (no cheese)
- Veggie Enchiladas (no cheese)
Heads Up! See the Dairy-Free Protein and Sauce options below for custom ordering these entrees. The Flautas cannot be custom ordered without dairy – they are pre-rolled daily. The Burritos at Chuy’s also contain milk. The Flour Tortillas, both taco and burrito size, contain both milk and eggs.
Sides
- Mexican Rice
- Refried Beans
Kids Menu
- Cheeseburger (no cheese, no dessert)
- Fries
- Rice & Beans
Heads Up! The Kids Chicken Tenders do contain milk.
Proteins
- Fajita Beef
- Fajita Chicken
- Grilled Shrimp
- Ground Beef
- Roasted Chicken
Heads Up! The Battered and Fried Shrimp do contain milk.
Sauces
- Chipotle
- Hatch Green Chile
- Ranchero
- Red Chile
- Tex-Mex
Heads Up! As mentioned, they are updating the “dairy friendly menu” shown below. The Green Chile and Tomatillo Sauces now contain milk, according to their corporate. The Queso, Boom Boom, Creamy Jalapeno, and Deluxe Tomatillo sauces still contain milk, too.
Chuy’s Tex Mex Vegan Menu Guide
Vegan Appetizers
- Chips and salsa
- Guacamole
- Nachos (no cheese)
Vegan Entrees & Sides
- Mexi Cobb Salad (sub beans for meat, no cheese)
- Taco Salad (sub beans for meat, no cheese)
- Guacamole Soft Tacos (no cheese, sub corn tortilla)
- Crispy Tacos (no cheese, sub beans for meat)
- Tacos al Carbon (no cheese, sub corn tortilla, sub beans for meat)
- Veggie Enchiladas (no cheese)
- Mexican Rice
- Refried Beans
Vegan Sauces
- Ranchero
- Tomatillo
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 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
12 Comments
Hi! I noticed on the list Chuys provided under “proteins” it doesn’t list fajita beef/chicken. But on your list for proteins, it does. Were you all able to confirm the fajita beef/chicken is safe? Thanks!!!
Hi Allysa, that is an old image. The company didn’t have a new one out when we spoke. Our guide is the correct information and all verified by the company at the time we wrote it.
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!