Updated February 2023! The dairy-free options aren’t expansive at this Mexican restaurant chain, but we do appreciate that On The Border offers both an allergen chart and ordering recommendations for each top allergen. We pooled information from both, and from corporate, to give you a bigger picture of the dairy-free options at On The Border.
On The Border Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Vegan & Custom Order Options
The allergen menu at On The Border looks simple but can feel limiting for dairy-free diners. But it’s really about understanding your basic options at this restaurant. Knowing that you want corn tortillas (not flour tortillas), beans without cheese on top, and cilantro lime or Mexican rice will help you gain your bearings. From there, most of the grilled meats are dairy-free, along with the sauteed veggies, chips, salsa, guacamole, and vinaigrettes. Now we’re talking options! We’ve broken it all down below. 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 of the following are made without egg, peanut, and tree nuts, unless otherwise noted. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Starters
- Chips & Salsa (see Heads Up below)
- Guacamole
- Guacamole Live!
Heads Up! On the Border warns that the Tortilla Chips are cooked in a shared fryer with items containing milk.
Salads
- Fajita Salad with Chicken or Steak (no cheese)
- Grande Taco Salad with Chicken Tinga or Ground Beef (no tortilla shell, no cheese, no lime crema)
Dairy-Free Salad Dressings: Lime Vinaigrette, House-made Salsa, Smoked Jalapeño Vinaigrette
Fajitas
- Border Smart Chicken Fajitas (sub dairy-free side)
- Border’s Best Lunch Fajitas with Grilled Chicken or Steak (choose dairy-free tortillas, condiments, and sides from below)
- Classic Fajitas with Grilled Chicken, Carnitas, Steak, or Portobello & Vegetable (choose dairy-free tortillas, condiments, and sides from below)
Heads Up! The Homemade Flour Tortillas at On The Border contain milk, but their Corn Tortillas are listed as dairy-free (and top allergen free).
Mesquite Grill
- Bolder Border Bowls with Grilled Chicken, Shrimp, Steak, or Portobello & Vegetables (no cheese, no lime crema)
- Carne Asada (no garlic butter)
- Mexican Grilled Chicken
Heads Up! You might be able to order a dairy-free Burger and Fries with no cheese and with dairy-free sauces. At last check, their bun contained egg, but not milk. Check with the staff before ordering.
Tex Mex Faves
- Birria Tacos (no cheese, sub corn tortillas)
- Brisket Tacos (no cheese, no jalapeno BBQ sauce, sub corn tortillas)
- Chicken Tomatillo Tamale with Salsa Verde (seasonal)
- Dos XX Fish Tacos (no cheese, no red chile sauce, sub corn tortillas)
- Honey Chipotle Shrimp Tacos (no ranch, sub corn tortillas)
- Tacos al Carbon (no cheese)
- Tacos al Pastor (sub corn tortillas)
Heads Up! The Homemade Flour Tortillas at On The Border contain milk, but their Corn Tortillas are listed as dairy-free (and top allergen free). The custom order options were shared from corporate with our specific questions. And fried items might be cooked in shared fryers with items containing milk. Always speak with the staff at your location to find out what is suitable for your needs.
Kids
- Soft Corn Taco with Grilled Chicken (no cheese, choose dairy-free sides)
- Border Blast – Blue Raspberry or Cherry
Heads Up! The Chicken Strips at On the Border now contain milk.
Sides & Add-Ons
- Avocado Slices
- Black Beans (no cheese)
- Chipotle Ribs
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Corn Tortillas
- French Fries (see Heads Up below)
- Grilled Shrimp Skewer
- Guacamole
- House Salad (no tortilla strips, no cheese)
- Jalapeno Sausage
- Mexican Rice
- Pico de Gallo
- Refried Beans (no cheese)
- Sautéed Vegetables
Heads Up! The French Fries at On the Border are cooked in a shared fryer with items containing milk. Though they aren’t included on the allergen guide, corporate stated the flour tortillas are also dairy-free. The crispy corn shells are also made without milk, but are fried in shared fryers.
Sauces
- Chile con Carne
- Honey Chipotle Sauce
- House Made Salsa
- Lime-Cilantro Chimichurri
- Pico de Gallo
- Red Chile Sauce
- Roasted Red Chile-Tomatillo Salsa
- Salsa Verde
Heads Up! The Jalapeno BBQ Sauce, Creamy Red Chile Sauce, and Ranch Sauces at On the Border contains milik.
On the Border Vegan Menu Guide
- Chips & Salsa (see note below)
- Guacamole
- Guacamole Live!
- Fajita Salad with Portobello & Vegetables (no cheese)
- Grilled Portobello Mushroom Border Bowl (no cheese, no lime crema)
- Classic Fajitas with Portobello & Vegetables (choose vegan tortillas, condiments, and sides)
Vegan Sides & Extras
- Avocado Slices
- Black Beans (no cheese)
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Corn Tortillas
- French Fries
- Guacamole
- House Salad (no tortilla strips, no cheese)
- Mexican Rice
- Refried Beans (no cheese)
- Sautéed Vegetables
Vegan Dressings & Sauces
- House-made Salsa
- Lime-Cilantro Chimichurri
- Lime Vinaigrette
- Pico de Gallo
- Red Chile Sauce
- Roasted Red Chile-Tomatillo Salsa
- Salsa Verde
- Smoked Jalapeño Vinaigrette
Vegan Kids Menu
- Border Blast – Blue Raspberry or Cherry
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 On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina
They have over 150 restaurants in the U.S. and a smattering in South Korea. See the website below for addresses, hours, and contact information.
Website: www.ontheborder.com
Everything is cooked with butter even if they don’t say so
Ordered fajita tacos on corn tortillas with no cheese with double cilantro lime rice. Apparently they cook the cilantro lime rice with butter. Don’t do it.
Response from Go Dairy Free
We did verify with the company that the information above is correct. According to the company, using dairy butter is not a corporate policy. As mentioned above, management and owners of individual locations can take liberties, so it is important to always check. If the staff states they use butter, ask them to verify the ingredients. Often staff will misrepresent a dairy-free buttery spread or cooking oil as simply “butter” when asked. And always make sure you verify your allergen needs when ordering.
For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!
