For people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, eating at restaurants can be challenging. With cross-contamination being a concern, it’s important to find fast food chains that offer gluten-free options. One popular burger restaurant is Five Guys, known for its burgers and fries. But can you eat there gluten-free? Here’s a quick answer:
Yes, Five Guys does offer some gluten-free options for people who need to avoid gluten.
While their menu is not completely gluten-free, there are certain items that can be prepared without gluten exposure. Being aware of what you can and cannot eat at Five Guys is key for gluten-free diners. We’ll break down what’s safe and what to avoid at Five Guys when you need to eat 100% gluten-free.
Gluten-Free Bun Option
The best gluten-free option at Five Guys is to get a burger or sandwich served wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun. All of their meat, vegetables, and condiments are gluten-free. By leaving off the bun and getting it “bunless-style” you can enjoy a lettuce-wrapped burger or hot dog.
Five Guys serves their burgers wrapped in foil, helping to prevent cross-contamination that could occur from placing a gluten-free patty on a shared grill or prep surface. Just request your burger or hot dog to be lettuce-wrapped when ordering.
While they don’t offer a gluten-free bun option, the lettuce wrap keeps your burger gluten-free. You can add all the toppings you’d normally get on a burger, like cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms, etc. The lettuce wrap helps you get the delicious Five Guys burger experience while avoiding gluten.
French Fries
Five Guys uses peanut oil for their french fries, which makes them safe for celiacs as long as they avoid contamination with gluten. Their fries are not coated in any wheat-based batter. They have their own fryers separate from breaded items.
Employees are trained on changing gloves and equipment when preparing gluten-free orders. Make sure to specify that you need gluten-free fries when ordering. As long as they are prepared separately from other items and cooked in clean oil, the fries at Five Guys are gluten-free and celiac-safe.
What to Avoid
While burgers and fries can be prepared gluten-free at Five Guys, there are some menu items that contain gluten and are not safe:
- Buns – All burger and hot dog buns at Five Guys contain wheat and gluten.
- Breaded Items – This includes their chicken sandwiches and chicken tenders which are breaded and fried.
- Milkshakes – Five Guys adds malt powder that contains gluten to their milkshakes.
Stick to the lettuce-wrapped burgers, hot dogs, and fries to keep your meal 100% gluten-free when eating at Five Guys. Also avoid cross-contamination from sandwiches containing buns prepared nearby.
Allergen Information
Five Guys trains their employees on food allergies and safely preparing gluten-free meals. They have allergen guides available in-store you can reference that list ingredients and preparation precautions for common allergens like wheat, peanuts, dairy, etc.
Don’t hesitate to ask your server detailed questions about their gluten-free preparation process before ordering. Most Five Guys locations are accustomed to accommodating gluten-free patrons.
You can also review their allergen information online before dining at: https://www.fiveguys.com/allergens. This outlines their standard allergen practices regarding dedicated fryers, equipment, and ingredient details.
Dedicated Fryers
An important factor when eating french fries gluten-free is whether restaurants use dedicated fryers. This helps avoid cross-contamination from frying gluten-containing items like breaded chicken in the same oil.
Five Guys uses dedicated fryers separate from their breaded products. The fries are only cooked in peanut oil, preventing gluten exposure from other items like chicken fingers shared in the same fryer oil.
These dedicated peanut oil fryers make their french fries safe for those with celiac disease or a gluten allergy, as long as employees follow proper protocols to avoid contamination during preparation and service.
Suggested Gluten-Free Order
When dining at Five Guys, here is a suggested gluten-free order:
- Hamburger or hot dog wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun
- French fries
- Gluten-free toppings like cheese, grilled onions, mustard, ketchup, etc.
- Bunless cheeseburger
- Fries cooked in dedicated peanut oil fryer
- Safe toppings like lettuce, tomato, mayo, etc.
Stick to lettuce-wrapped items and fries cooked in clean, dedicated fryers. Avoid milkshakes and breaded menu items cross-contaminated with gluten.
Kids Meal Options
Kids meals can also be made gluten-free at Five Guys. Order a hamburger or hot dog wrapped in lettuce without the bun. French fries are safe for kids’ meals when cooked in dedicated fryers and avoid contamination.
Avoid kids meal options like grilled cheese or meals that come with milkshakes, as these contain gluten. Stick to lettuce-wrapped burgers, hot dogs, and french fries for gluten-free kids options.
Gluten-Free Condiments
Five Guys offers a variety of gluten-free condiment options to customize your burgers and fries, including:
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayonnaise
- Grilled onions
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Pickles
- Jalapeno peppers
- Green peppers
- BBQ sauce
- Hot sauce
Double check with employees about gluten ingredients in items like BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and special toppings before using. Most standard toppings and condiments at Five Guys are gluten-free.
Cross-Contamination Risks
While Five Guys makes an effort to accommodate gluten-free customers, there are some cross-contamination risks to keep in mind:
- Shared grill surfaces – Burgers and hot dogs are cooked on shared grills, risk of buns touching lettuce-wrapped items.
- Fryers – Potential for shared fryer oil with breaded items depending on location.
- Prep surfaces – Gluten buns and sandwiches prepped on shared surfaces.
- Toasters – Sandwiches containing buns are toasted in shared toasters.
Employees are trained on gluten-free prep and use dedicated fryers, but human error can always occur. If you are highly sensitive, cross-contamination may still be a concern at Five Guys.
Dining Tips
To make your Five Guys experience as safe as possible for gluten-free dining:
- Study their allergen menu and ingredients lists online first
- Tell the cashier you need a gluten-free meal when ordering
- Request lettuce-wrapped burgers and hot dogs with no bun
- Ask for fries from a dedicated gluten-free fryer
- Confirm gluten ingredients in condiments and toppings
- Check if employees changed gloves and followed protocols
- Avoid busy times with a greater risk of mix-ups
- Know that some cross-contamination may occur
Being an informed gluten-free customer and clearly communicating your needs is key to a safe dining experience at Five Guys.
Gluten-Free Menu Options at Popular Chains
Beyond Five Guys, many popular fast food and fast casual chains offer gluten-free menus today. Here are some other top chains with gluten-free options:
| Restaurant | Gluten-Free Menu Items |
|---|---|
| Chipotle | Corn tortillas, rice, beans, meats, most toppings |
| In-N-Out | Lettuce-wrapped burgers and fries |
| Chick-fil-A | Grilled nuggets and fried options with GF bun |
| Panda Express | Mixed veggies, brown rice, meats |
| Subway | Salads and sandwiches on GF wraps |
Many fast casual options offer gluten-free menus today, giving celiacs and gluten-intolerant customers more choices. Be sure to research the menu and preparation protocols at any restaurant before dining gluten-free.
Is Five Guys Celiac-Friendly?
For those with celiac disease, eating truly gluten-free means avoiding any cross-contamination. So is Five Guys safe for celiacs?
The answer is it can be, but there are some caveats. Five Guys does train staff on gluten-free prep and has dedicated fryers. However, there are still shared grill surfaces that can lead to cross-contamination.
Some celiacs report eating at Five Guys problem-free. But for those highly sensitive, even tiny amounts of cross-contact can trigger symptoms and intestinal damage.
In general, Five Guys tries to accommodate gluten-free needs. But for strict celiacs, the risks of cross-contamination from prep surfaces and grills may make other 100% gluten-free restaurants a safer choice. Use your own judgment based on your sensitivity levels.
Gluten-Free Five Guys Experience and Reviews
Here are some real gluten-free diner reviews on eating at Five Guys:
“I’ve eaten there safely many times. Just get the burger in a lettuce wrap and fries. Never had an issue and I have celiac.”
“I stick to the lettuce-wrapped burgers and watch them make it separately. No problems so far eating here gluten-free.”
“I used to eat there but got glutened a couple times from cross-contamination. Even lettuce-wrapped wasn’t totally safe for my celiac kid.”
“Staff seem well-trained on allergens. I just wish they had a dedicated GF bun option. But lettuce wrap works in a pinch.”
“Not 100% gluten-free like a dedicated place, but they try hard to accommodate. Overall pretty safe if you avoid buns.”
Is Five Guys Gluten-Free Friendly Overall?
In summary, Five Guys makes a strong effort to cater to gluten-free diners. Their lettuce wrap and dedicated fryer options provide tasty and safe menu choices. They also train staff on avoiding cross-contamination and offer allergen info.
However, the risks of cross-contact from shared prep surfaces remain. Gluten-free dining at Five Guys takes some precautions and awareness. For those with celiac, mild sensitivity may be less concerning.
But Five Guys isn’t a 100% gluten-free restaurant, so contamination is possible. The burgers, hot dogs, and fries can be reasonably safe when avoiding buns and breaded items. But caution is still advised for celiacs and those highly sensitive.
Overall, Five Guys is one of the more gluten-free friendly fast food chains compared to others. While not fully gluten-free, they provide viable options for most gluten-free eaters seeking a quick meal. Just opt for the lettuce wrap!
Conclusion
At Five Guys, lettuce-wrapped burgers, hot dogs, and dedicated fryers make gluten-free eating achievable. Avoiding buns and breaded items when ordering and being aware of risks like cross-contact allows celiacs and gluten-intolerant customers to enjoy Five Guys safely.
While not a perfect 100% gluten-free environment, Five Guys serves relatively safe menu options for those needing to avoid gluten. As one of the more gluten-free friendly fast food chains, their accommodation efforts make for a better dining experience compared to other quick burger joints.
The lettuce wrap is the key to enjoying Five Guys gluten-free. Overall, it meets the needs of most gluten-free eaters, especially less sensitive ones, looking for quick and tasty meals that avoid gluten.
