The Cheesecake Factory has a Well-Rounded Menu of Dairy-Free Dishes

Updated August 2023! Despite their name, The Cheesecake Factory has quite a few options for dairy-free diners. I’ve actually tried several of them, without incident, and have found the staff to be quite helpful. Many of you have also written in to share positive experiences at The Cheesecake Factory locations in North Carolina, Minnesota, Nebraska, and beyond. Sure, the cheesecakes are off limits, but all of the menu items below were recently reported as dairy free. And we’ve added a separate vegan menu!

The Cheesecake Factory Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Gluten-Free & Vegan Options

The menus at The Cheesecake Factory are HUGE. Consequently, their allergen information is a bit to work through. But we organized it into this tidy dairy-free menu guide. 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.

Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: We have noted which dairy-free items contain egg, and which items are listed as gluten-free. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.

Table Bread

Heads Up! Some of the Cheesecake Factory breads that you can buy at grocery stores are made without milk, but they are a different recipe from the bread at the restaurant. At last check, the classic brown table bread at Cheesecake Factory contained milk. However, some locations serve the sourdough and wheat baguette (listed below in the breakfast menu), which are made without milk. But the options and bread sourcing do vary by location, so be sure to check with your server on the options.

Small Plates & Snacks

• Crispy Fish Mini Tacos (Marina Del Rey only) (contains egg)
• Korean Fried Cauliflower (no ranch) (see Heads Up below)
• Little House Salad
• Mini Crabcakes (Hawaii only) (contains egg)
• Thai Chili Shrimp (contains egg)

Heads Up! We did confirm with corporate that the Korean Fried Cauliflower itself (without the ranch dipping sauce) is dairy-free by ingredients. It might also be egg-free, but check with your server. The Crispy Crab Bites and Avocado Tacos do contain milk.

Appetizers

• Ahi Poke (Hawaii only) (contains egg)
• Ahi Poke Nachos (contains egg)
• Avocado Eggrolls (contains egg)
• Chicken Pot Stickers (contains egg)
• Roadside Sliders
• Spicy Ahi Tempura Roll (Hawaii only) (contains egg)
• Spicy Tuna (contains egg)
• Thai Lettuce Wraps with Grilled Avocado or Satay Chicken Strips

Heads Up! The Chicken Pot Stickers used to contain milk, but according to The Cheesecake Factory, they are now dairy free. The Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes and Pretzel Bites at The Cheesecake Factory do contain milk, even when ordered without toppings or dips. See the Appetizer Salads in the salad guide below.

Salads (Appetizer & Lunch sizes)

• California Chopped Salad (contains egg; gluten-free)
• Chinese Chicken Salad (contains egg)
• Factory Chopped Salad (no cheese)
• Luau Salad (Hawaii only) (contains egg)
• Santa Fe Salad (no cheese, verify dairy-free vinaigrette)
• Seared Tuna Tataki Salad (Hawaii only)
• Sheila’s Chicken and Avocado Salad
• Skinnylicious Asian Chicken Salad (contains egg)
• Small Green Salad (gluten-free)
• Thai Chicken Salad
• Tossed Green Salad (no croutons)
• Tossed Green Salad –  Gluten Free version
• Vegan Cobb Salad

Dairy-Free Salad Dressings: Balsamic Vinaigrette, Chinese Plum Dressing, Citrus Honey Dressing, Shallot Vinaigrette, SkinnyLicious Mustard Vinaigrette, SkinnyLicious Sesame Soy Dressing, Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette, Thai Vinaigrette, Thousand Island Dressing (contains egg)

Dairy-Free Salad Additions: Avocado, Chargrilled Steak, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Salmon, Grilled Shrimp

Heads Up! The Caesar, Cilantro, and all Ranch Dressings at The Cheesecake Factory do contain milk. We verified that they tortilla strips on the Santa Fe Salad are made without milk, but verify that your order is made with the dairy-free spicy peanut vinaigrette (or other dairy-free dressing), and not the cilantro dressing.

Soup

Heads Up! The Cheesecake Factory used to list the Mexican Chicken and Vegetable Soup as dairy-free, but now the company says it contains milk.

Burgers & Sandwiches

• BBQ Kalua Pork – Gluten Free version (Hawaii only) (contains egg)
• Grilled Chicken and Avocado Club (no cheese) (contains egg)
• Impossible Burger
• Impossible Burger – Gluten Free version (contains egg)
• Old-Fashioned Burger (sub dairy-free bun) (contains egg)
• Old-Fashioned Burger – Gluten Free version (contains egg)
• SkinnyLicious Hamburger (contains egg)
• SkinnyLicious Impossible Burger (contains egg)
• The Club Sandwich (contains egg)

Heads  Up! The gluten-free buns are dairy-free, and some locations offer dairy-free white bread and baguette for sandwiches. Some locations also offer a vegan brioche bun and vegan cheese, used for the Impossible burger, as an option. Double check what bread and bun options are offered at your location, and make sure they do not use a dairy butter on toasted breads. Different locations can have different protocols.

Flatbread Pizza

Heads Up! Unfortunately, the pizza dough at The Cheesecake Factory does contain milk. So none of the pizzas can be ordered without dairy.

Pasta

• Shrimp with Angel Hair (no butter)

Heads Up! The marinara sauce (used on the Kids Marinara and the Shrimp pasta above) is made without milk, but all other Cheesecake Factory sauces are listed as containing milk, including the Pasta Pomodoro sauce. You can order a stripped down Evelyn’s pasta with no cheese, sauce, or basil oil, and order grilled meat or seafood as an add on.

Entrees / Specialties

• Island Style Ahi Poke Bowl with Kale-Cashew Salad or White Rice (Hawaii only) (contains egg)
• Korean Fried Chicken (contains egg)
• Orange Chicken
• Seared Ahi Tuna (contains egg)
• Sesame Crusted Fresh Hawaiian Fish – Ahi, Mahi, or Salmon (Hawaii only) (contains egg)
• Tacos, Baja Chicken (no cheese, no cilantro lime sauce in rice)
• Tacos, Grilled Fish (no cheese, no cilantro lime sauce in rice)
• Tacos, Tempura Fish (no cheese, no cilantro lime sauce in rice)
• Tacos, Steak (no cheese, no crispy onions, no cilantro lime sauce in rice)
• Thai Glazed Salmon (Puerto Rico only)

Heads Up! Some locations can easily accommodate dairy-free custom orders of the Shrimp Scampi, Fresh Grilled Salmon, and Steak entrees. The Thai Coconut Lime Chicken, Bang Bang Chicken & Shrimp, Crispy Pineapple Chicken and Shrimp, Fish & Chips, Fried Shrimp Platter, Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo, Jamaican Black Pepper Chicken and Shrimp, Herb Crusted Filet of Salmon, and Miso Salmon do contain milk. The Baja Tacos contain milk in the baja sauce, so they aren’t easy to order without dairy.

Kids’ Menu

• Kids’ Pasta with Marinara Sauce – Regular or Gluten-Free
• Kids’ Roadside Sliders
• Kids’ French Fries
• Kids’ Fresh Fruit

Side Dishes

• Black Beans (Puerto Rico only)
• Broccoli (gluten-free) (contains egg)
• French Fries (gluten-free)
• Plantains (Puerto Rico only)
• Rice and Beans (Puerto Rico only)
• Steamed White Rice (Puerto Rico only)
• Sweet Potato Fries (gluten-free)

Heads Up! The Fresh Corn, Green Beans, Grilled Asparagus, and Sautéed Spinach are all made with dairy. You might be able to order them dairy-free with no butter and no cheese.

Breakfast / Brunch Items

• Bacon (gluten-free)
• Bagel (contains egg)
• Ham (gluten-free)
• Sliced Tomatoes (gluten-free)
• Sourdough Baguette
• Wheat Baguette
• White Toast

Heads Up! All brunch mains at The Cheesecake Factory contain dairy. They list several dairy-free omelette toppings on their allergen menu, but the omelettes themselves contain dairy. Their Potatoes, Wheat Toast and English Muffins also contain milk. Some locations might source their bread products locally, so verify that the baguettes and other breads for brunch are dairy-free before ordering. You can custom order one of their Farm Fresh Egg breakfasts using the items above. Just be sure to clarify no dairy butter used in preparation.

Iced & Frozen Drinks

• Frozen Iced Mango (gluten-free)
• Peach Smoothie (gluten-free)
• Strawberry Fruit Smoothie (gluten-free)
• Tropical Smoothie (gluten-free)

The Cheesecake Factory Vegan Menu Guide

Vegan Greens (Appetizers and Salads)

• Little House Salad
• Sheila’s Avocado Salad (no chicken, sub vegan dressing)
• Skinnylicious Asian Lettuce Wrap Tacos with Grilled Avocado (no chicken)
• Small Green Salad (gluten-free)
• Thai Lettuce Wraps with Grilled Avocado (no chicken)
• Thai Salad (no chicken)
• Tossed Green Salad (no croutons)
• Vegan Cobb Salad

Vegan Salad Dressings

• Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Chinese Plum Dressing
• Shallot Vinaigrette
• SkinnyLicious Mustard Vinaigrette
• SkinnyLicious Sesame Soy Dressing
• Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette
• Thai Vinaigrette

Other Vegan Main Dishes

• Evelyn’s Favorite Pasta (no cheese, sauce, or basil oil)
• Impossible Burger
• Kids’ Pasta with Marinara Sauce
• SkinnyLicious Impossible Burger (no mayo)
• Veggie Burger (no aioli, no cheese or sub vegan cheese, sub vegan bun) (contains egg)

Vegan Sides & Breads

• Black Beans (Puerto Rico only)
• French Fries (gluten-free)
• Fresh Fruit
• Plantains (Puerto Rico only)
• Rice and Beans (Puerto Rico only)
• Sliced Tomatoes (gluten-free)
• Sourdough Baguette
• Steamed White Rice (Puerto Rico only)
• Sweet Potato Fries (gluten-free)
• Wheat Baguette
• White Toast

Vegan Specialty Drinks

• Frozen Iced Mango (gluten-free)
• Peach Smoothie (gluten-free)
• Strawberry Fruit Smoothie (gluten-free)
• Tropical Smoothie (gluten-free)

Heads Up! The Korean Cauliflower contains both milk and egg. They might be able to cook it without the batter for you, but this isn’t standard. Avocado Toast is no longer on the menu, but some locations might be able to accommodate, particularly at brunch.

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 The Cheesecake Factory

They operate about 300 restaurants, primarily in the U.S., but with some international locations. See the website below for addresses, hours, and contact information.

Website: www.thecheesecakefactory.com

Corrections

Rated 4.0 out of 5

December 1, 2022

Hi, I work At the Cheesecake Factory and am dairy free. If you get The Korean Cauliflower without the side of ranch it is dairy free.

Also their wheat baguette and sourdough baguettes are the same as what is served on the table. The wheat baguette/wheat table bread contains dairy. The sourdough (baguette/table bread) is vegan.

L

Response from Go Dairy Free

We did confirm the Korean Cauliflower is dairy-free without the ranch, but the information we have above is correct on the breads, according to the company. The breads can vary by location, which we have also outlined above. This might explain the discrepancy you have seen at your location. Please note that in many cases, the wheat baguette served for breakfast is different from the table bread. It just depends on the location.

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