Updated February 2022! 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
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: 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. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Starters
- Chalet Rotisserie Chicken Soup (with crackers)
- Garden Salad (see Dressing Options below)
Dairy-Free Dressing Options: Balsamic Vinaigrette, Italian Dressing, Chalet House Dressing
Heads Up! The Chicken Spring Rolls at Swiss Chalet contain milk. The Wings reportedly contain milk, but their information is conflicting.
Burgers & Sandwiches
- Classic Hamburger
- Lightlife Veggie Burger
- Crispy Chicken Sandwich
- Rotisserie Chicken on a Bun
- Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich
- Smoky BBQ Rib Sandwich (no cheese)
- Southern Canuck (no cheese)
Heads Up! At last check, the buns at Swiss Chalet, but not all breads, were made without milk. Verify that the bun on your burger or sandwich is dairy-free and toasted without butter before ordering. The Fish Sandwich, where available, can most likely be ordered without dairy.
More Mains
- Rotisserie Chicken (no sides)
- Quarter, Half, or Whole Rotisserie Chicken Dinner (with Dinner Roll & Chalet Sauce)
- Double Leg Rotisserie Chicken Dinner
- Chalet Seasoned Crispy Chicken
- BBQ Ribs (no sides or with Dinner Roll & Coleslaw)
- Fish and Chips (regional)
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.
Heads Up! The Chicken Strips do contain milk. On the Starter Menu, Swiss Chalet lists the Wings and Crispy Wings as containing milk, but on the Main portion of the menu, they are listed as not containing milk. We are doing our best to verify which is correct, but in the mean time, we must assume they both contain milk.
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.
Heads Up! Sorry kids, the Chicken Strips and the Mini Burgers (even without cheese), do contain milk. But they can enjoy the Classic Hamburger and share a larger order of Ribs.
Sides
- Cole Slaw
- Fresh Cut Fries
- Garden Side Salad (see Dressing Options under Starters above)
- Market Vegetables
- Seasoned Rice Pilaf
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Multigrain Dinner Roll
- White 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.
Heads Up! The Garlic Green Beans do contain milk.
Sauces
- Buffalo Sauce
- Chalet Sauce
- Chalet Seasoned Mayo
- Plum Sauce
- Smokey BBQ Sauce
- Wing Sauces (Mild, Medium, Hot, and Honey Garlic)
Heads Up! 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!
Swiss Chalet Vegan Menu Guide
- Garden Salad (possibly with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Italian Dressing, or Chalet House Dressing)
- Fresh Cut Fries
- Market Vegetables
- 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
Heads Up! The Sweet Potato Fries and Veggie Burgers are dairy-free, but do contain egg.
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 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
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