Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Pf Chang's

Finally-45

By Finally-45
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

Recommended Posts

Finally-45 Contributor
Finally-45
Posted

I visited a PF Chang's for the first time to try their gluten-free menu. I had the most wonderful waitress who whisked my plate away when she realized they hadn't brought me the gluten-free version of my order. (They'll bring out the gluten-free items on different plates.)

I had had only one bite. Since I've been gluten free for about 6 months, I've of course paid attention to every single thing I eat. I kinda wondered would I ever notice if I even got one bite of gluten-containing food (not bread or anything like that, but soy sauce? Hmmm) would my body tell me. I noticed nothing at first, but about 30min later, I could feel it in my gut and I had a mild diarrhea by morning.

The restaurant apologized and gave me a freebie. I tipped the waitress nicely. But all in all, it was a lesson in the risks we take when we eat out.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


hexon Rookie
hexon
Posted

I visited a PF Chang's for the first time to try their gluten-free menu. I had the most wonderful waitress who whisked my plate away when she realized they hadn't brought me the gluten-free version of my order. (They'll bring out the gluten-free items on different plates.)

I had had only one bite. Since I've been gluten free for about 6 months, I've of course paid attention to every single thing I eat. I kinda wondered would I ever notice if I even got one bite of gluten-containing food (not bread or anything like that, but soy sauce? Hmmm) would my body tell me. I noticed nothing at first, but about 30min later, I could feel it in my gut and I had a mild diarrhea by morning.

The restaurant apologized and gave me a freebie. I tipped the waitress nicely. But all in all, it was a lesson in the risks we take when we eat out.

Yeah, PF Chang's is one of my favorites. Unfortunately they don't have lunch prices for any of their gluten-free options but you can be rest assured they took great care of your food when it comes out on one of those red plates. Just don't eat the fortune cookie, cause they always bring me one...maybe just so I can read the fortune.

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Yeah, PF Chang's is one of my favorites. Unfortunately they don't have lunch prices for any of their gluten-free options but you can be rest assured they took great care of your food when it comes out on one of those red plates. Just don't eat the fortune cookie, cause they always bring me one...maybe just so I can read the fortune.

Nor the soy sauce and mix that is already on the table. Always ask for gluten-free soy sauce. But, eating there is always a treat for me. It's and hour and a half away...therefore the treat. :D

Missandi Newbie
Missandi
Posted

I love PF Changs gluten-free menu! They don't have lunch prices you're right...however their plates are so big in quantity that I will eat half and have the other portion for lunch the next day...dinner that night, etc. And that's awesome...two gluten-free meals that I DIDN'T have to cook - yay!!

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Yes, there's always that niggling worry in the back of my head that I was brought regular food. I still take my chances and eat out sometimes and P.F. Chang's is one of my faves. :)

CeliacAndCfsCrusader Apprentice
CeliacAndCfsCrusader
Posted

One thing I ALWAYS do is ask when my food is put down, "this is gluten free, right?".

If there is any hesitation, it goes back for clarification.

Just recently, I ordered a side of steamed asparagus at one of my favorite local places (Ling and Louies) and it was brought out with soy sauce, possibly gluten-free soy sauce. That's never happened before there (always plain) and it was a "runner", not my server. I firmly explained that if she wasn't 100% sure (and she admitted she wasn't), I wouldn't eat it.

So, it's a pain, but double, triple checking is sometimes necessary.

  • 1 month later...
mommabecky Newbie
mommabecky
Posted

One thing I ALWAYS do is ask when my food is put down, "this is gluten free, right?".

If there is any hesitation, it goes back for clarification.

Just recently, I ordered a side of steamed asparagus at one of my favorite local places (Ling and Louies) and it was brought out with soy sauce, possibly gluten-free soy sauce. That's never happened before there (always plain) and it was a "runner", not my server. I firmly explained that if she wasn't 100% sure (and she admitted she wasn't), I wouldn't eat it.

So, it's a pain, but double, triple checking is sometimes necessary.

I go to the Lansing PF Changs and they will serve me a lunch portion with the lunch portion pricing? wonder why they are different than some of yours? I think I just had to ask but it wasn't listed on the menu.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


JNBunnie1 Community Regular
JNBunnie1
Posted

I go to the Lansing PF Changs and they will serve me a lunch portion with the lunch portion pricing? wonder why they are different than some of yours? I think I just had to ask but it wasn't listed on the menu.

My PF's (in CT) has the lunch prices on their gluten-free menu. And some items were recently added as well. I like PF's because when they do have a runner bring the food, they always say "Here's you gluten free - whatever" when they put it down. Always on the special plate. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside!

Darn210 Enthusiast
Darn210
Posted

I have learned at PF Changs . . . if it's not on the menu, just ask.

They've changed their menu recently (at least locally) and something was removed. I asked the waiter about it and he said they would still make it.

Just because lunch prices aren't on there, it doesn't hurt to ask if they would do it.

Eleanor Creasey Rookie
Eleanor Creasey
Posted

P.F. Chang's is my favorite! They are a roll model for restaurants that want to truly have a gluten-free menu & trained staff! :)

  • 3 months later...
SanAntonioGF Newbie
SanAntonioGF
Posted

Unfortunately, the LaCantera restaurant in San Antonio doesn't understand the importance of gluten free. I ordered gluten-free lettuce wraps, gluten-free pork/beef fried rice and a gluten-free chocolate dessert. I noticed that gluten-free dessert did not contain a gluten free label. I was assured by the take out cashier it was gluten-free. Like everyone else who accidently gets gluten, I had the diaherra and bloating about 30 minutes after the meal. It's now 3 days later. I'm still bloated and in a fog. I have $30 worth of take out in my refrigerator that I won't eat. Has anyone else in San Antonio had problems with the LaCantera restaurant?

brendygirl Community Regular
brendygirl
Posted

The CLEVER thing about PF Chang's is that the gluten free items come on a DIFFERENT PLATE (i believe it has their logo around the edge and maybe is a different shape,too) so even YOU can tell if they brought you the right or wrong version (not 100% foolproof, but better than most)! I wish EVERY place would do this! It's a sign to all servers not to "helpfully" add an egg roll or something to the plate, too (as in other restaurants where a "helpful" server will add the "forgotten" bread stick onto my salad, for example).

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Thye don't do that with the things that are always gluten-free - egg drop soup or the 2 gluten-free desserts. They are made the same for everyone. Some may put the egg drop soup bowl on a gluten-free plate.

ChristineWas Rookie
ChristineWas
Posted

I love the separate plate. And the gluten free chocolate dome is amazing. I have been glutened just about every time I have taken the risk of eating out, but never at PF Chang's. I'm learning not to take those risks anymore, but I intend to keep this place as an option for those scenarios where eating out is hard to avoid.

LauraB0927 Apprentice
LauraB0927
Posted

I LOVE PF Changs - its the only place I go to eat where I not only feel "normal," but I am completely at ease because I never had an issue there. The one by me (Hackensack, NJ - well its about 40 mins away but worth the drive!!) is very careful and everyone is so knowledgeable. If I had one closer to my house my wallet would be in even bigger trouble - can't get enough of those lettuce wraps....(salivating)

  • 2 weeks later...
Lizanne Newbie
Lizanne
Posted

Thanks for the info on PF Changs. I think I will eat there this weekend for the first time. I already viewed their gluten free menu online and thought they had a large selection of items to choose from. I get nervous trying new places but know I have to expand from the 2 restaurants I have trusted since finding out I have Celiac Disease in July.

Javamom Newbie
Javamom
Posted

Had a great experience at PF Changs! The server made a rather comical error though. The gluten-free menu stated that the entrees came with brown or white steamed rice, or you could sub gluten-free fried rice instead for a dollar more. We went for the sub, or so we thought. The server didn't know the gluten-free menu very well (I am hoping his mistake was not intentional anyway) instead of giving us the add on, he ordered us full orders of gluten-free fried rice. We had food covering every surface of the table!! LOL It was delish and we took home the extra, but next time, I will point to the add-on item on the menu.

By contrast, we went to Red Lobster and ordered all of the "safe" items. My dinner glutened me (hence I am up at 5AM on a Sunday). The only difference between my dinner and my gluten-free husband's dinner: a baked potato with butter and sour cream. I have no idea what or how, but I am paying the price for it.

I truly believe that I am going to have to limit my going out to places only like PF Chang's, or my weekends (the times we like to dine out as a family) are going to be painful.

Lizanne Newbie
Lizanne
Posted

Had a great experience at PF Changs! The server made a rather comical error though. The gluten-free menu stated that the entrees came with brown or white steamed rice, or you could sub gluten-free fried rice instead for a dollar more. We went for the sub, or so we thought. The server didn't know the gluten-free menu very well (I am hoping his mistake was not intentional anyway) instead of giving us the add on, he ordered us full orders of gluten-free fried rice. We had food covering every surface of the table!! LOL It was delish and we took home the extra, but next time, I will point to the add-on item on the menu.

By contrast, we went to Red Lobster and ordered all of the "safe" items. My dinner glutened me (hence I am up at 5AM on a Sunday). The only difference between my dinner and my gluten-free husband's dinner: a baked potato with butter and sour cream. I have no idea what or how, but I am paying the price for it.

I truly believe that I am going to have to limit my going out to places only like PF Chang's, or my weekends (the times we like to dine out as a family) are going to be painful.

Glad to hear about the positive experience at PF Changs. I tried to go last night but the wait was too long. I will attempt to go there next weekend. Went to my usual Uno, I have eaten there the most since being diagnosed.

Sorry about your experience at Red Lobster. It's so unfair how we have to suffer from eating food, especially when we are careful about it. Hope you feel better soon.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,397
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Megannnnn
    Newest Member
    Megannnnn
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Coeliac UK Research Conference 2025

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Thanks for sharing this!
    • Scott Adams
      Shingles - Could It Be Related to Gluten/ Celiac

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had the same thing happen to me at around your age, and to this day it's the most painful experience I've ever had. For me it was the right side of my head, above my ear, running from my nerves in my neck. For years before my outbreak I felt a tingling sensation shooting along the exact nerves that ended up exactly where the shingles blisters appeared. I highly recommend the two shot shingles vaccine as soon as your turn 50--I did this because I started to get the same tingling sensations in the same area, and after the vaccines I've never felt that again.  As you likely know, shingles is caused by chicken pox, which was once though of as one of those harmless childhood viruses that everyone should catch in the wild--little did they know that it can stay in your nervous system for your entire life, and cause major issues as you age.
    • trents
      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      By trents · Posted

      Keep us posted.
    • Clear2me
      Gluten free nuts

      By Clear2me · Posted

      Thanks for the info. I recently moved to CA from Wyoming and in that western region the Costco and Sam's /Walmart Brands have many nuts and more products that are labeled gluten free. I was told it's because those products are packaged and processed  in different  plants. Some plants can be labeled  gluten free because the plant does not also package gluten products and they know that for example the trucks, containers equipment are not used to handle wheat, barely or Rye. The Walmart butter in the western region says gluten free but not here. Most of The Kirkland and Members Mark brands in CA say they are from Vietnam. That's not the case in Wyoming and Colorado. I've spoken to customer service at the stores here in California. They were not helpful. I check labels every time I go to the store. The stores where I am are a Sh*tshow. The Magalopoly grocery chain Vons/Safeway/Albertsons, etc. are the same. Fishers and Planters brands no longer say gluten free. It could be regional. There are nuts with sugar coatings and fruit and nut mixes at the big chains that are labeled gluten free but I don't want the fruit or sugar.  It's so difficult I am considering moving again. I thought it would be easier to find safe food in a more populated area. It's actually worse.  I was undiagnosed for most of my life but not because I didn't try to figure it out. So I have had all the complications possible. I don't have any spare organs left.  No a little gluten will hurt you. The autoimmune process continues to destroy your organs though you may not feel it. If you are getting a little all the time and as much as we try we probably all are and so the damage is happening. Now the FDA has pretty much abandoned celiacs. There are no requirements for labeling for common allergens on medications. All the generic drugs made outside the US are not regulated for common allergens and the FDA is taking the last gluten free porcine Thyroid med, NP Thyroid, off the market in 2026. I was being glutened by a generic levothyroxin. The insurance wouldn't pay for the gluten free brand any longer because the FDA took them all off their approved formulary. So now I am paying $147 out of pocket for NP Thyroid but shortly I will have no safe choice. Other people with allergies should be aware that these foreign generic pharmaceutical producers are using ground shellfish shell as pill coatings and anti-desicants. The FDA knows this but  now just waits for consumers to complain or die. The take over of Wholefoods by Amazon destroyed a very reliable source of good high quality food for people with allergies and for people who wanted good reliably organic food. Bezos thought  he could make a fortune off people who were paying alot for organic and allergen free food by substituting cheap brands from Thailand. He didn't understand who the customers were who were willing to pay more for that food and why. I went from spending hundreds to nothing because Bezo removed every single trusted brand that I was buying. Now they are closing Whole foods stores across the country. In CA, Mill Valley store (closed July 2025) and the National Blvd. store in West Los Angeles (closed October 2025). The Cupertino store will close.  In recent years I have learned to be careful and trust no one. I have been deleberately glutened in a restaurant that was my favorite (a new employee). The Chef owner was not in the kitchen that night. I've had  a metal scouring pad cut up over my food.The chain offered gluten free dishes but it only takes one crazy who thinks you're a problem as a food fadist. Good thing I always look. Good thing they didn't do that to food going to a child with a busy mom.  I give big tips and apologize for having to ask in restaurants but mental illness seem to be rampant. I've learn the hard way.          I don't buy any processed food that doesn't say gluten free.  I am a life long Catholic. I worked for the Church while at college. I don't go to Church anymore because the men at the top decided Jesus is gluten. The special hosts are gluten less not gluten free. No I can't drink wine after people with gluten in their mouth and a variety of deadly germs. I have been abandoned and excluded by my Church/Family.  Having nearly died several times, safe food is paramount. If your immune system collapses as mine did, you get sepsis. It can kill you very quickly. I spent 5 days unconscious and had to have my appendix and gall bladder removed because they were necrotic. I was 25. They didn't figure out I had celiac till I was 53. No one will take the time to tell you what can happen when your immune system gets overwhelmed from its constant fighting the gluten and just stops. It is miserable that our food is processed so carelessly. Our food in many aspects is not safe. And the merging of all the grocery chains has made it far worse. Its a disaster. Krogers also recently purchased Vitacost where I was getting the products I could no longer get at Whole Foods. Kroger is eliminating those products from Vitacost just a Bezos did from WF. I am looking for reliable and certified sources for nuts. I have lived the worst consequences of the disease and being exposed unknowingly and maliciously. Once I was diagnosed I learned way more than anyone should have to about the food industry.  I don't do gray areas. And now I dont eat out except very rarely.  I have not eaten fast food for 30 years before the celiac diagnosis. Gluten aside..... It's not food and it's not safe.  No one has got our backs. Sharing safe food sources is one thing we can do to try to be safe.        
    • Mmoc
      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      By Mmoc · Posted

      Thank you kindly for your response. I have since gotten the other type of bloods done and am awaiting results. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.