Chinese Food

[LDJofDenver]

Well since diagnosis last August I've found a couple gluten-free-friendly restaurants in the Denver area, and also figured out a few safe things I can have at our favorite Mexican restaurant.

I haven't, however, yet tried our favorite Chinese restaurant.

Wondering what everyone's experiences have been with Asian food and typical sauces, etc.

[Tim-n-VA]

P.F. Chang's is one national chain that has a gluten free menu. There have been reports of people getting sick there but I've not had any problems.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

I usually stick to rice and veggie dishes without soy sauce at loads of Asian place.

Good luck!

[mftnchn]

Asia food can be a real challenge. South Asian food uses less wheat, and may be a safer option. I live in Northern China most of the time, and it is very difficult to eat out. There are a few dishes that are safer which by nature don't have gluten, but CC is a major issue in Asian food preparation. Almost alll the sauces in my area contain wheat.

[NJKen]

Unless you go to PF Chang's, you are probably limited to only those entrees with white sauce (made with corn starch). Almost everything else at a typical Chinese restaurant is made with soy sauce, and most Chinese restaurants use soy sauce that has wheat as an ingredient. Some restaurant menus that I've seen have a dieter's menu (intended for people who are trying to lose weight), and some of these entrees are prepared without any sauce. You could bring your own wheat-free soy sauce to use on one of these.

[arc]

I've had good luck with Thai and Vietnamese. The more authentic the better. You have to make sure they don't use soy sauce, though. I wouldn't even attempt Chinese or Korean.

Last summer, my family was at the Oregon State Fair. We were looking to see if there was any possibility of eating there and came across a Thai food booth. I asked the guy at the counter if they used soy sauce and he instantly came back with "you can't have gluten, right?". He showed me all of the sauces they used and they looked safe. We ended up having the chicken skewers (satay), pad thai and fried rice. All of it was excellent, didn't make us sick and wasn't even that expensive. *swoon*

[brigala]

I've had good luck with Thai and Vietnamese. The more authentic the better. You have to make sure they don't use soy sauce, though. I wouldn't even attempt Chinese or Korean.

Last summer, my family was at the Oregon State Fair. We were looking to see if there was any possibility of eating there and came across a Thai food booth. I asked the guy at the counter if they used soy sauce and he instantly came back with "you can't have gluten, right?". He showed me all of the sauces they used and they looked safe. We ended up having the chicken skewers (satay), pad thai and fried rice. All of it was excellent, didn't make us sick and wasn't even that expensive. *swoon*

Do you remember which booth? I will have to look for it this summer!! I brought all my own food to the Oregon State Fair last summer.

We have one chinese restaurant locally that will carefully prepare things gluten-free if you ask, but it sure limits the options... pretty much anything in a white sauce is OK as long as it's not battered. They have an "open kitchen" where you can even watch them cook the food. It kind of works for me to go along and have some steamed rice and broccoli chicken in a white sauce when the family craves Chinese... I bring my own bottle of San-J wheat-free Tamari to add a little flavor to the otherwise low-flavor food.

My husband and I went on vacation to Bend, OR and found an awesome chinese restaurant there that will prepare almost anything on the menu gluten-free!! They even have gluten-free soy sauce available to cook sauces with. The website is Open Original Shared Link . It was delicious! My husband and I both ordered gluten-free so we could share each others' food, and he said it was some of the best chinese food he's had in years (and he's VERY picky -- and not gluten intolerant!).

I also have been learning to make my own chinese food. Sunbird has several seasoning packets which are gluten-free -- Open Original Shared Link . I made General Tso's Chicken a couple weeks ago using their packet, wheat-free tamari, and tossing the chicken in 1/2 corn starch and 1/2 white rice flour instead of regular flour. It was wonderful!

-Elizabeth

[arc]

Do you remember which booth? I will have to look for it this summer!! I brought all my own food to the Oregon State Fair last summer.

I don't remember the exact name but it was the only Thai booth that I saw there. It was kind of centrally located, right by where the Purina dog show was, if you happened to see that.

We took food, too, and ate that for lunch. By dinner time, we were just hoping for something different. The kids were also wanting to try "fair food". Sometimes, it's nice to feel normal, if you know what I mean.

Thanks for the Chinese restaurant recommendation. My wife has family in Redmond, so we get to the area once or twice a year. I'll have to look into it when we are there next.