Huhot Mongolian Grill- Would You/have You?

[maddycat]

So we just got a HuHot Mongolian Grill in our area (Madison, WI). Here is what they have listed on their website regarding allergies-

"At HuHot, we are concerned about our customers

[Gentleheart]

I ate frequently at a HuHot before my gluten free days. It was delicious and I really miss it. From what I remember, I don't see any way a celiac person could possibly eat there unless they actually had an entirely dedicated grill just for gluten free, which is unlikely. Also, being a buffet, the sauces are very likely cross contaminated by other customers dragging their spoons full of gluten-containing sauces across the tables of all the other sauces to their bowls. It's just unavoidable the way it is set up. From what I have been told, gluten is very sticky and tenacious by nature. It doesn't just wash off quickly with water or scrape off very easily, especially when cooked on. It would be particularly difficult in this situation because very gluten-containing sauces are constantly being quickly cooked over and over and over again on these same surfaces. I suppose it could eventually burn off under the right circumstances. I don't know the scientific technology regarding burnt gluten. But I have watched those entertaining cooks do their thing at HuHot and I don't see any way they could keep your food honestly uncontaminated for many, many reasons. Just my opinion, but I think it would be a huge gamble. So sorry. It's really good!

[jennyj]

I have eaten at the one in the Kansas City area several times and I love it. I even picked out a sauce I thought was safe and the cook told me that I shouldn't eat it and suggested another one. How sweet.

[brigala]

I would be even more worried about contamination in the buffet line than on the grill. Between the potential for other customers dropping things in the "gluten free" ingredients and the possibility of the grill not coming clean enough, I now avoid all mongolian grill type restaurants.

[Switch2GF]

Hu Hot was one of my past life frequent places while in college in Columbia, MO. I currently live in Kansas City where we have BD's Mongolian BBQ, same setup at HuHot.

BD's is aware of gluten free. They will tell you what sauces are gluten-free, and they will even cook you meal in its own wok in the back. I feel pretty confident eating there!

[Gentleheart]

Hu Hot was one of my past life frequent places while in college in Columbia, MO. I currently live in Kansas City where we have BD's Mongolian BBQ, same setup at HuHot.

BD's is aware of gluten free. They will tell you what sauces are gluten-free, and they will even cook you meal in its own wok in the back. I feel pretty confident eating there!

Well, hey. If they would honestly take my little uncontaminated bowl of fresh vegetables and raw meat, put some honestly uncontaminated gluten free sauce with it and cook it in a separate wok in the back that has never been used to cook gluten before, then that would be WONDERFUL!! But it's also a whole lot of trouble. It's a healthy and delicious way to eat. If I honestly thought I could eat in such a place without getting glutened, I would sure do it. But a lot of things would have to go right and I usually don't expect that much extra effort from the poor restaurant staff. It's a lot to ask. You're very fortunate to have such a place to go to.

[Rissmeek]

Well, hey. If they would honestly take my little uncontaminated bowl of fresh vegetables and raw meat, put some honestly uncontaminated gluten free sauce with it and cook it in a separate wok in the back that has never been used to cook gluten before, then that would be WONDERFUL!! But it's also a whole lot of trouble. It's a healthy and delicious way to eat. If I honestly thought I could eat in such a place without getting glutened, I would sure do it. But a lot of things would have to go right and I usually don't expect that much extra effort from the poor restaurant staff. It's a lot to ask. You're very fortunate to have such a place to go to.

We regularly eat at the Hu-Hot in Topeka, KS. My husband is Celiac and has never had an issue, my father-in-law is vegan and never had any issues either. They clean the grill as well as any other restaurant. The place that they cook their food on is spotless, they each get dedicated cooking utensils and are offered to have fresh sauces brought out just for them. Oh and the first time we went was Father's Day, the place was packed to the brim, if they'll do it then I bet they'll do it any day of the week.

[lisalynn60]

We regularly eat at the Hu-Hot in Topeka, KS. My husband is Celiac and has never had an issue, my father-in-law is vegan and never had any issues either. They clean the grill as well as any other restaurant. The place that they cook their food on is spotless, they each get dedicated cooking utensils and are offered to have fresh sauces brought out just for them. Oh and the first time we went was Father's Day, the place was packed to the brim, if they'll do it then I bet they'll do it any day of the week.

I had no idea that it was possible to ask for "fresh" sauces at Hu Hot, wish I had. I live near the Madison WI Hu Hot but haven't eaten there since being gluten-free. I did eat at a Hu Hot in Bloomington Indiana this past Labor Day weekend with extended family. What a mistake that turned out to be! The area of the sauces was kind of a mess - in retrospect I am almost certain the sauces were cross-contaminated. I was with a bunch of relatives who are also Celiac and several (but not all) of us got sick. To give credit where it's due, Hu Hot did a pretty thorough job of cleaning off half the grill for all 7 of us. But we did wonder about when they cleaned the other half while our food was cooking. Some of the water they squirted on the other side spattered onto our side of the grill, too.

I am now pretty reluctant to try them again. Bummer.

[lynnelise]

I've never tried a Hu-Hot Mongolian grill. I will say the BD's Mongolian is awesome. You tell them it's an allergy bowl and they take it in the back and cook it in a designated area. It takes a little longer but it's worth it!