Chuy’s Tex Mex shows Southern Hospitality with a Dairy-Free Menu

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 They do not publish them online, and not every location keeps copies of special diet menus available.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

For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!