Red Lobster Shells Out Several Simple Dairy-Free Options

Updated January 2023! Butter is big at this international seafood shack. They also defy longstanding culinary rules, and drench many of their fish dishes in cheese and/or creamy sauces. Nevertheless, Red Lobster has quite a few dairy-free options, both on the menu and with simple custom order requests. We have them all detailed below, along with allergen notes and a petite vegan menu guide.

Dairy-Free Menu Guide to Red Lobster with Allergen & Vegan Notes

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. Please note that this guide is for the U.S. locations. Options may vary in other countries. We’ve included a few notes for Canada, but there might be additional differences.

Fryer Note: Red Lobster uses shared fryers. If concerned about potential cross contamination with milk, ask your server about the preparation of any fried items before ordering.

Butter Note: Many of the foods at Red Lobster are cooked without dairy butter (with oil or a dairy-free butter / margarine). But dairy butter is definitely prevalent at this establishment. Always make sure your location doesn’t opt to use dairy butter for all cooking, and speak with the manager if concerned about potential cross contamination of allergens.

Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: Red Lobster covers their back by simply labeling all menu items with “cross contamination” potential. We have labeled all non-dairy items below which contain egg, gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, or soy. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.

Starters

• Signature Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail

Heads Up! The Crispy Green Beans, Calamari, Coconut Shrimp, and Mussels do contain milk. The Sweet Chili Shrimp in Canada is made without milk!

Bowls & Salads

• Sesame-Soy Salmon Bowl (contains gluten, soy)

Heads Up! In Canada, the Sesame-Soy Salmon Bowl does contain dairy. The menu salads at Red Lobster are all served with cheese and dairy-based dressings, but you can custom order a salad with a dairy-free dressing and grilled chicken or salmon.

Dairy-Free Salad Dressings: French, Honey Mustard (contains egg), Thousand Island (contains egg)

Pasta

Heads Up! It isn’t on the menu, but Red Lobster reportedly has a dairy-free Marinara Sauce. But you can custom order a dairy-free pasta marinara, if desired. Unfortunately, the dairy-free Kung Pao Noodles at Red Lobster were discontinued.

Seafood Entrees

• Atlantic Salmon, Grilled (contains soy)
• Atlantic Salmon, Broiled
• Atlantic Salmon, Blackened
• Bay Scallops, Broiled (contains soy)
• Bay Scallops, Crispy (contains gluten)
• Rainbow Trout, Grilled
• Wild-Caught Flounder, Broiled (contains soy)

Heads Up! The Steamed Lobster and Snow Crab Legs at Red Lobster can be custom ordered without dairy. Speak with your server. At Canadian locations, the Fish & Chips are made without milk, but in the U.S. they do contain milk. All Shrimp preparations in the main entrees and Endless Shrimp at Red Lobster contain milk, but you can custom order plain cooked shrimp.

Chicken & Steak Entrees

• Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders (contains gluten)
• Steak, Filet Mignon (contains soy)
• Steak, NY Strip (contains soy)
• Steak, Sirloin (contains soy)

Heads Up! They have reportedly stopped using dairy butter to cook the steaks at Red Lobster, but verify at your location before ordering. Some managers might opt to use real dairy butter.

Sides

• Baked Potato (no toppings)
• Crispy Brussels Sprouts (contains gluten, soy)
• Coleslaw (contains egg)
• House Salad (no cheese, no croutons, dairy-free dressing)
• Orzo Rice (contains gluten)
• Sea-Salted Fries

Heads Up! The Broccoli at Red Lobster can be custom ordered without milk. In Canada, you can also order Green Beans without milk.

Kids Menu

• Chicken Tenders (contains gluten)
• Grilled Chicken
• French Fries
• Fruit
• Casco Bay Cooler – Cherry Wave Slushy
• Lemonade, Regular and Raspberry

Heads Up! The Petite Maine Lobster Tail can be custom ordered without dairy. Ask your server.

Condiments

• BBQ Sauce
• Cocktail Sauce
• Ketchup
• Marinara Sauce (contains gluten)
• Pico de Gallo
• Tartar Sauce (contains egg)

Heads Up! The Pina Colada Sauce does contain milk.

Red Lobster Vegan Menu Guide

• Pasta Marinara (custom order)
• House Salad with French Dressing (no cheese, no croutons)
• Baked Potato (no toppings)
• Crispy Brussels Sprouts
• Fruit
• Orzo Rice
• Sea-Salted Fries
• BBQ Sauce
• Cocktail Sauce
• Ketchup
• Marinara Sauce
• Pico de Gallo

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 Red Lobster

They have over 700 locations worldwide. The menu items might vary across countries. The above list is from their U.S. information, which is where the majority of their restaurants are located. See the website below for addresses, hours, and contact information.

Website: www.redlobster.com (for Canada: www.redlobster.ca)

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