Are There Any Foods At Mexican Restaurants That Are Generally Safe?

[Sarah8793]

I know to be certain I need to ask them at the restaurant, but I need a starting point of foods that lend themselves in a mexican restaurant to be gluten free. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Sarah

[tarnalberry]

corn-based tacos or tostadas are often a starting point, and enchiladas can be (but you have to be careful about enchilada sauces, they shouldn't be thickened with wheat, but they can be).

[Sarah8793]

corn-based tacos or tostadas are often a starting point, and enchiladas can be (but you have to be careful about enchilada sauces, they shouldn't be thickened with wheat, but they can be).

Thanks a bunch Tiffany!

[Lymetoo]

They usually have steak. I think it's called carne asada. There's also carne guisada, but I think that one could have wheat in the gravy. I wonder if the rice is safe?? The beans??

[tarnalberry]

They usually have steak. I think it's called carne asada. There's also carne guisada, but I think that one could have wheat in the gravy. I wonder if the rice is safe?? The beans??

Be careful of the carne asada - it's often marinated, and *sometimes* (not often) it's got soy sauce in the marinade. (I know... I know...) The rice is *often* safe, but sometimes made with broth for flavor, and you have to check on the spices they use as well. That's the trouble with some mexican restaurants - there are a _lot_ of shortcuts they can use that make it much harder for us to figure out if something's gluten-free.

[jkmunchkin]

There is a Mexican restaurant in my town that I love. I always get the enchiladas (without the sauce becausse it is thickened with flour). I forget exactly what they call the dish but it is 3 enchiladas - 1 chicken, 1 beef and 1 cheese. They serve it with rice and refried beans and it's awesome!!!

Even though I know it's made with corn tortillas I always triple check and let them know of my needs just to be safe.

And make sure to check the chips that most mexican places put on the table at the beginning of the meal as a lot are thrown in the fryer (where any of the flour tortillas would be thrown aswell).

Enjoy!!

Oh and for anyone in the Westchester/Rockland area, the place I go to is called Santa Fe in Tarrytown. The first time I went there I was actually thrilled to have the owner ask me on the way out if I had a gluten intolerance. I just figured him and the wait staff thought I was crazy because I had never been there before so I was kinda nervous and asking the same questions about 7 times to make sure my food was safe. But to my delight he totally knew why I was asking repeatedly what had flour, if chips went in the fryer, etc.

[Lymetoo]

So.....are Chinese food restaurants totally out of the picture?? What if I bought safe soy sauce and then did the Mongolian BBQ????

[jkmunchkin]

So.....are Chinese food restaurants totally out of the picture?? What if I bought safe soy sauce and then did the Mongolian BBQ????

Well there is PF Chang's which is Asian Fusion type Chinese food and they have a gluten-free menu. Other than that, there are a few random Chinese restaurants with gluten-free menus. Not sure where you live but in Rye Brook, NY (Westchester) there is a place called Ray's Cafe that has a gluten-free menu and it is fantastic. They have more the typical Chinese food like Beef & Brocoli

There is also a place in Wantagh, NY (Long Island) that someone posted about the other day. Hoping to check it out at some point.

I don't think I would trust a Chinese restaurant without a gluten-free menu. Of all the different types of cuisine this one probably has the highest risk of cross contamination since just about everything they cook contains wheat. That said I did go to my favorite Japanese Hibachi place once with my gluten-free soy sauce and they made my food in the back in a clean pan and I was fine. I felt safe doing it because I doubt a lot of stuff gets cooked in those pans other than special situations like this considering all the cooking is done on those big grills at the table.

I've heard of people doing the same at Mongolian BBQ places.

[Lymetoo]

Well, no I'm not anywhere near New York!! How about Branson, MO??!! Chinese food has been one of my "safest" low carb places to eat. I have to avoid most carbs due to my Lyme disease/yeast problems.

Concerning the Japanese place...We have one here that cooks the food in front of you on the "grill"....I don't think they cook ANY gluten foods....just veggies and meats........If I call them, does that sound like a safe bet???

Thanks!

[jkmunchkin]

Well, no I'm not anywhere near New York!! How about Branson, MO??!! Chinese food has been one of my "safest" low carb places to eat. I have to avoid most carbs due to my Lyme disease/yeast problems.

Concerning the Japanese place...We have one here that cooks the food in front of you on the "grill"....I don't think they cook ANY gluten foods....just veggies and meats........If I call them, does that sound like a safe bet???

Thanks!

Unfortunately I don't know anything about MO. Sorry.

As for the Japanese places, you need to bring your own gluten-free Soy Sauce and have them make it in a safe pan in the back. If it's like any of the hibachi places here they pour the soy sauce on the food as they're making it on the grill. Regular soy sauce has wheat in it.

[steveindenver]

I ate at a Mexican place last week and they totally took care of me. The waiter suggsted I do grilled chicken (as the steak was marinated). Then I did the veggie fajitas (with the grilled chicken) and the corn tortillas. It was a fantastic meal and no problems.

[Sarah8793]

I ate at a Mexican place last week and they totally took care of me. The waiter suggsted I do grilled chicken (as the steak was marinated). Then I did the veggie fajitas (with the grilled chicken) and the corn tortillas. It was a fantastic meal and no problems.

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

Sarah

[floridanative]

I found the staff at my local cheap Mexican place are the most uninformed place I've been regarding Celiac/gluten. I had to insist the server took my gluten-free dining card back to the cook (manager was not in) when she insisted I could have the enchiladas. I knew they were corn tortillas but the sauce was the question. My book 'Let's Eat Out!' says to make sure and check the enchilada sauce, esp. in the US. Well sure enough the server came back to say I could not have their sauce which is on everything I like but the taco salad. So all I have now is the cheese nachos (ded. fryer for corn chips) and the taco salad without the shell - they serve it in a bowl for me.

[jabberwife]

I'm just recently dx'd so I can't answer this personally--but my dad has been dx'd for more than 10 years. We eat pretty often at TRUE mexican restaurants--taquerias--and he has no problem. He'll get like a beef or chicken taco plate (always corn tortillas) and the rice and beans are great. The authentic places though don't use as many shortcuts as the Tex-Mex and fast food places do--so there's less likely to be some wheat in sauces and soforth. The downfall? You have to speak pretty good Spanish if you want to ask questions!

[Sarah8793]

I'm just recently dx'd so I can't answer this personally--but my dad has been dx'd for more than 10 years. We eat pretty often at TRUE mexican restaurants--taquerias--and he has no problem. He'll get like a beef or chicken taco plate (always corn tortillas) and the rice and beans are great. The authentic places though don't use as many shortcuts as the Tex-Mex and fast food places do--so there's less likely to be some wheat in sauces and soforth. The downfall? You have to speak pretty good Spanish if you want to ask questions!

I think TRUE Mexican restaurant is the key. I called my favorite mexican restaurant (than I used to eat at pre gluten free) and asked about their chips. Manager said the chips were gluten free but when I asked about using a dedicated fryer, he said no they don't. Soooo, the chips are not gluten free. Thanks again for the ideas!

Sarah

[janek49]

I recently went into a Mexican restaurant in a small town in New Mexico -- a state where refried beans are a pretty standard dish. I was explaining about the need to avoid "flour" (it's easier than trying to explain what gluten is to people who have never heard the word), and asking my usual questions about what they thicken their chili sauces with (which was flour, as is typical here in New Mexico); the cook explained that she could just put chopped green chili on top of the enchiladas. Something possessed me to ask about the beans, which I was told were refried, and I asked if there was any flour in them, fearing a flour roux base might have been used. Sure enough -- the refried beans had flour in them. The upshot of all this is that Mexican restaurants have become one of the places I have learned to strike off my lists of restaurant possibilities first.

[Sarah8793]

I recently went into a Mexican restaurant in a small town in New Mexico -- a state where refried beans are a pretty standard dish. I was explaining about the need to avoid "flour" (it's easier than trying to explain what gluten is to people who have never heard the word), and asking my usual questions about what they thicken their chili sauces with (which was flour, as is typical here in New Mexico); the cook explained that she could just put chopped green chili on top of the enchiladas. Something possessed me to ask about the beans, which I was told were refried, and I asked if there was any flour in them, fearing a flour roux base might have been used. Sure enough -- the refried beans had flour in them. The upshot of all this is that Mexican restaurants have become one of the places I have learned to strike off my lists of restaurant possibilities first.

Thank for sharing this. I never would have thought about refried beans having flour in them It pays to ask.

Sarah

[Rikki Tikki]

Wow Janeek, I didn't know that, thanks for the information and welcome to the board