O’Charley’s Restaurant & Bar Puts Dairy-Free Entrees on the Grill

Updated February 2022! At first, we were impressed that O’Charley’s had a very detailed allergen menu. But we soon discovered it was quite chaotic, and a bit limited in dairy-free options. They do offer a good selection of surf and turf without any milk, but sides and other dishes a little more effort. Fortunately, we’ve been told by readers that O’Charley’s staff is accommodating. So with the quick dairy-free menu guide below and help from your server, you should be able to enjoy a satisfying dairy-free meal.

O’Charley’s Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Custom Order & Allergen Options

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 peanuts or tree nuts. They use soy oil at O’Charley’s, so almost every menu item lists some form of soy. We have labeled all items below that contain egg or gluten. O’Charley’s vegan options are extremely limited. At this time, a plain baked potato, fresh fruit, and dry toast at brunch are about the only options. They might be able to do a custom order salad, but it will be more like a side.

Appetizers

• Crispy Pickle Chips (contains egg, gluten)

Heads Up! Though not a stand-alone item on the menu, they do have tortilla chips and salsa available. Double check with the staff that these are dairy free if requesting. Unfortunately, the “famous” chicken tenders at O’Charley’s do contain milk.

Entrees (without Sides)

• Top Sirloin
• Baby Back Ribs
• Cedar-Planked Salmon
• Fresh Atlantic Grilled Salmon served Plain, Blackened, Chipotle, or Bourbon-Glazed (bourbon-glazed and chipotle contain gluten)
• Steak & Salmon
• Steak & Baby Back Ribs

Heads Up! The Ribeye is listed as milk-free, but they do top it with butter. Make sure to request “no butter” on any steak or seafood order, just to be certain. Their Louisiana Sirloin and Filet Mignon are also topped with butter. The kitchen might be able to accommodate dairy-free requests for these dishes. The Santa Fe Tilapia can also be made dairy-free on request.

Sandwiches

Heads Up! All O’Charley’s burgers and sandwiches come with cheese. They do have dairy-free bread and buns available, and their grilled chicken is made without dairy, so they can probably customize most of their burgers and sandwiches to be dairy-free on request.

Salad

• California Chicken Salad (no cheese, no pecans)

Heads Up! They have avocado available as a salad add-on.

Dairy-Free Salad Dressings: Balsamic Vinaigrette, Honey Mustard Dressing (contains egg)

Soups

Heads Up! At this time, all soups at O’Charley’s contain milk.

Sides

• Baked Potato (plain)

Heads Up! We’ve been told the kitchen can customize a side salad, broccoli, or asparagus without dairy, on request. The coleslaw and rice pilaf reportedly contain milk.

Fryer Note: All deep fried items at O’Charley’s are listed as containing all eight top food allergens, including the French fries and sweet potato fries. This is likely due to a shared fryer, not necessarily ingredients. Check with the restaurant if fryer cross-contamination is not a concern for you.

Kids Menu

• Grilled Chicken, Kids (no side)
• Hamburger, Kids (no side) (contains gluten)
• Ribs
• Applesauce
• Mandarin Orange Slices

Heads Up! For other side options, carrot sticks can be served with a dairy-free dressing (see above). We’ve been told the kitchen can prepare broccoli without dairy on request.

Sunday Brunch Items

• Applewood Bacon
• Eggs to Order
• Ham Steak
• Wheat Toast (contains gluten)
• White Toast (contains gluten)

Desserts

Heads Up! Unfortunately, there are no dairy-free desserts at O’Charley’s at this time.

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 O’Charley’s Restaurant & Bar

This restaurant chain is dotted all over the Eastern states. See the website below for addresses, hours, and online ordering.

Website: www.ocharleys.com

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