Updated March 2022! Though they boast a Hawaiian theme, most Islands Restaurants are in Southern California. They have a smattering of locations in other warm weather cities. But if you are near one, they offer a rather expansive list of dairy-free options – with custom order. See our information below regarding recent changes and options from their detailed allergen menu.
Islands Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Vegan, Allergen & Custom Order Info
This menu guide includes dairy-free menu options first, followed by custom order components. 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.
Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: All items listed below are made without egg, peanut, or tree nuts, unless otherwise noted. Most of the items listed with egg can be made egg-free without mayo or aioli. Most menu items at Islands contain soy, primarily due to the use of soy oil. Gluten-free buns are available, and several salads and sides can be custom ordered without gluten. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Butter Note: In late 2020, Islands started cooking and toasting many items with butter, including all of their bread products. They changed their allergen chart to reflect the addition of dairy during that time. It was a trial, and they are not currently doing it as a corporate practice, but that might change, and some locations might still opt to use butter. So be sure to verify “no butter” at the location you visit.
Appetizers
- Chips & Salsa
- Chips & Salsa with Guacamole
- Island Fries
- Poke (Ala Moana only)
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Tempura Green Beans (contains egg)
Heads Up! The Buffalo Wings, Sliders, Tenders, and Flautas at Islands contain milk. You might be able to custom order the Truffle Fries without dairy. They do use shared fryers, so cross-contamination with milk in preparation is always a possibility.
Salads
- China Coast Salad (no fried noodles) (contains egg)
- Chop Chop Salad (no cheese, dairy-free dressing) (contains egg)
- Kaanapali Kobb Salad (no cheese) (contains egg)
Dairy-Free Salad Dressings: Honey Mustard Dressing, Italian Dressing, Kobb Dressing, Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, Sesame Dressing, Thousand Island Dressing (all contain egg except Balsamic and Italian)
Burgers
- Big Wave Burger
- Longboarder Burger (contains egg)
- Hawaiian Burger (no cheese) (contains egg)
- Hula Burger (no cheese) (contains egg)
- Impossible Burger (no cheese) (contains egg)
- Malibu Burger (no cheese)
- Maui Burger (no cheese) (contains egg)
- Pipeline Burger (no cheese)
Heads Up! See the Bread & Bun section below before ordering. Make sure “no butter” is used on your order. All of the patties at Islands – beef, turkey, veggie, and vegan Impossible – are made without dairy. But double check that the cookie process at your location is safe for your needs. See the Bread & Bun section below before ordering.
Sandwiches & Wraps
- Chicken Club Wrap (no cheese, no ranch)
- Shorebird (no cheese) (contains egg)
- Toucan (no cheese) (contains egg)
- The Wedge / BLT (no cheese) (contains egg)
Heads Up! See the Bread & Bun section below before ordering. Make sure “no butter” is used on your order.
Tacos
- Northshore Tacos (no cheese)
- Yaki Tacos (no cheese)
Heads Up! The Fish Tacos can be ordered without dairy, but you need to omit the cheese and the Chipotle White Sauce. They might be able to substitute the Chipotle Aioli for you, or another sauce, which is dairy-free.
Beach Bowls
- Chicken Bowl with Hoisin or Teriyaki
- Grilled Fish Bowl with Hoisin or Teriyaki
- Veggie Beach Bowl with Hoisin or Teriyaki
Gremmie (Kids Menu)
- Jr Plain Dogger (no cheese)
- Jr Wave (no cheese)
Heads Up! The Tenders do contain milk. See the Bread & Bun options below for these items.
Sides & Additions
- Applesauce
- Avocado Slices
- Chili
- Fresh Pineapple
- Fried Egg
- Grilled Chicken
- Guacamole
- Hickory Smoked Bacon
- Island Fries
- Island Slaw
- Sautéed Mushrooms
- Smashed Beans
- Spicy Chicken
- Steamed Veggies (no butter)
- Sweet Potato Fries
Heads Up! The Onion Rings and Island Reds at Islands Restaurants do contain milk.
Bread & Buns
- Corn Tortilla
- Flour Tortilla
- Gluten-Free Bun (contains egg)
- Hot Dog Bun
- Slider Bun
- Kids Bun
- Wheat Bun
- White Bun
Heads Up! In late 2020, Islands allergen menu changed to state that all of their breads, buns, and tortillas contained milk. They didn’t, but they were testing out toasting all of them with butter. They have stopped using butter, for now, on the corporate level. However, this could change, and some locations might still opt to use butter. Be sure to check before ordering. You can order them with “no butter.” The Egg Bread / Texas Toast does contain dairy, regardless of the toasting method.
Sauces
- BBQ Sauce
- Chipotle Aioli (contains egg)
- Hoisin Sauce
- Islands Salsa
- Mayonnaise (contains egg)
- Pico de Gallo
- Pineapple Chili Sauce
- Spicy Soy Aioli (contains egg)
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Yellow Mustard
Heads Up! At last check, the Wing Sauce and Chipotle White Sauce (different from the aioli) contained dairy.
Islands Vegan Menu Guide
- Chips & Salsa
- Chips & Salsa with Guacamole
- Island Fries
- Sweet Potato Fries
- China Coast Salad (no fried noodles, no chicken, sub Italian or Balsamic Vinaigrette)
- Impossible Burger (no cheese)
- Veggie Beach Bowl with Hoisin or Teriyaki
Vegan Components
- Corn Tortilla
- Flour Tortilla
- Hot Dog Bun
- Slider Bun
- Kids Bun
- Wheat Bun
- White Bun
- BBQ Sauce
- Hoisin Sauce
- Islands Salsa
- Pico de Gallo
- Pineapple Chili Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Yellow Mustard
- Applesauce
- Avocado Slices
- Fresh Pineapple
- Guacamole
- Sautéed Mushrooms
- Smashed Beans
- Steamed Veggies (no butter)
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 Islands Restaurants
They did close their Nevada locations, but still have many restaurants in Southern California, and a smattering in Northern California, Arizona, and Hawaii. See the website below for addresses, hours, allergen info, and contact info.
Website: www.islandsrestaurants.com
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Change of Bread
We came in 2021, and they have changed their bread supplier and all bread now contains dairy.
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