Swiss Chalet is a casual alpine-style restaurant chain with locations dotted all over Canada. They were one of the first to introduce an allergen guide, over thirty years ago, and are well-loved for their dairy-free menu items, allergy-friendly staff, and reasonably-priced menu.
Swiss Chalet is affiliated with the Canadian fast food chain Harvey’s. But they have a cozier family-style appeal for eating in, if desired. They also offer takeout and delivery. And as you can see below, their menu is loaded with quite a few naturally dairy-free options.
Dairy-Free Menu Guide to Swiss Chalet
Beyond the array of options below, we have been told that their chicken is prepared on a dairy-free and gluten-free work surface. But of course, check with the manager at your location if this is important for you.
Starters
- Chalet Rotisserie Chicken Soup (with crackers)
- Garden Salad (see Dressing Options below)
Dairy-Free Dressing Options: Balsamic Vinaigrette, Italian Dressing, Chalet House Dressing
Surprise Dairy: Oddly, the Chicken Spring Rolls contain milk.
Mains
- Rotisserie Chicken (no sides)
- Quarter, Half, or Whole Rotisserie Chicken Dinner (with Dinner Roll & Chalet Sauce)
- Double Leg Rotisserie Chicken Dinner
- BBQ Ribs (no sides)
- BBQ Ribs (with Dinner Roll & Coleslaw)
- Wings (no sides)
- Wings (with Dinner Roll, Chalet Sauce & Wing Sauce)
- Wings (with Celery & Carrots but no ranch)
- Fish and Chips
- Classic Hamburger
- Lightlife Veggie Burger
WW Menu – At the time of our review, all Weight Watchers versions of the items listed above were also milk-free. This includes their WW Rotisserie Chicken Soup, WW Rotisserie Chicken Dinners, and WW Rotisserie Chicken on Kaiser.
Kids Meals
- Off the Menu Options? At the time of our review, they listed the Kids 1/3 Side Ribs Meal (with dinner roll & coleslaw) and the Kids 1/4 Rotisserie Chicken Meal (with dinner roll & Chalet sauce) as milk-free. But these were no longer on the main menu. You might be able to special order them.
Surprise Dairy: Sorry kids, the Chicken Strips and the Mini Burgers (even without cheese), do contain milk. But they can enjoy the Classic Hamburger and Wings, listed above, instead.
Sides & Extras
- Fresh Cut Fries
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Seasoned Rice Pilaf
- Garden Side Salad (see Dressing Options under Starters above)
- White Dinner Roll
- Multigrain Dinner Roll
- Bacon Strips
Special Order: You can order the Baked Potato sans toppings, and request other dairy-free extras, dressings, seasonings, or sauces as desired.
Surprise Dairy: The Garlic Green Beans do contain milk.
Sauces
- Buffalo Sauce
- Chalet Sauce
- Plum Sauce
- Smokey BBQ Sauce
- Wing Sauces (Mild, Medium, Hot, and Honey Garlic)
Surprise Dairy: They list the Chalet Sauce with the meals as no milk, but state that the Mild Chalet Dipping Sauce contains milk. Be sure to verify your sauces when ordering.
Dessert
- Apple Pie
- Lemon Meringue Pie
- Pecan Pie
Topping Notes: You’ll have to skip the whip and a la mode. The only dairy-free dessert toppings at Swiss Chalet are the Strawberry Topping and Maraschino Cherries. But still, dairy-free pie!
Vegan Options at Swiss Chalet
Swiss Chalet is a meat-heavy restaurant, but they do have some vgan-friendly options. Verify specific ingredients as needed (such as honey or non-vegan derivatives), but the following are made without meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy.
- Garden Salad (possibly with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Italian Dressing, or Chalet House Dressing)
- Lightlife Veggie Burger
- Fresh Cut Fries
- Seasoned Rice Pilaf
- White Dinner Roll
- Multigrain Dinner Roll
- Wing Sauces (Mild, Medium, and Hot)
- Smokey BBQ Sauce
- Plum Sauce
- Chalet Sauce
- Buffalo Sauce
- Apple Pie
Surprisingly Non-Vegan: The Sweet Potato Fries are dairy-free, but actually contain egg, soy, and mustard.
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, and restaurants are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure that 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.
Where to Find Swiss Chalet
At last count, Swiss Chalet had just over 200 locations across Canada. They are heavily concentrated in Ontario, but have a smattering of restaurants in most other provinces. See the website below for addresses and hours.
Website: www.swisschalet.com
