Going To The Mall Today

[crayola]

I'm probably going to eat at the mall today, and I want to find something that is gluten free. The mall has taco bell, McDonalds, a pizza place, probably a sandwhich place like charlies or something, and a Japense restaurant. I figure the Japanese is my best option, now I've been there quite a few times so I know they are going to have a special which is some sort of chicken (teryaki I believe) and rice and vegtables. Is this gluten free? Are there any other options with rice which are always gluten free at these type of restaurants?

I don't want to have to not eat the whole time I'm there...

[Lisa]

If you're going to a Japanese restaurant for the first time after gluten free and have not talked to the staff prior to eating... I would get steamed veggies and chicken with white rice. Bring your own gluten free soy sauce (LaChoy). There is always a risk for cross contamination and difficulty with a language barrier.

I think that you'll find that dining out takes a bit of research these days.

[missy'smom]

Japanese food, especially at places like the mall, but even at more authentic upscale Japanese, is not any more gluten-free than American food. Sorry to disappoint. My husband is from Japan and I have cooked Japanese at home for years and when I went gluten-free I thought, I'll just switch to Japanese. Unfortunately it isn't that easy. They use processed products that are full of gluten just like ours are. The teriyaki is not safe, it has soy sauce in it and soy sauce contains wheat. Many Japanese dishes contain soy sauce. Don't ever assume that any dish is safe. Always ask. It can be fine at one place and not safe at another because ingredients and recipes vary. I haven't eaten there but your best bet might be Chick-fil-a, they have a gluten-free menu on their website but you still have to ask about cross-contamination. If the Japanese place has plain steamed veg. and unseasoned meat and rice that has been cooked in water not broth, that might be a good choice, as long as CC isn't a problem. Imitation crab meat in sushi rolls is not gluten-free and you have to ask about the seaweed wrap as it can contain seasoning(soy sauce) that isn't gluten-free.