The simple act of finding gluten-free options when eating out is already hard enough, but finding gluten-free food that also tastes good? Sometimes it can feel impossible. When my mom found out that she had celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, we had to quickly adapt and find restaurants that offered more gluten-free options. That’s when we found PF Chang’s gluten-free menu, and ever since then we all eat gluten-free at PF Chang’s since it tastes exactly the same as the regular options.
What I like about PF Chang’s gluten-free menu is that it contains the gluten-free versions of their most popular menu items, so you won’t feel like you’re missing out. Most importantly, their chefs have a designated cooking area where they use gluten-free woks and utensils to ensure as little cross contamination as possible.
#SpoonTip: Alert your server of your gluten allergy and you’ll get gluten-free soy sauce.
1. GF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps
This is a PF Chang’s signature dish that’s great to start off your meal with. I love the fresh crunch of the iceberg lettuce contrasted with the warm, tangy chicken. I also think this is a great, healthy midday snack because it’s packed with protein.
2. GF Egg Drop Soup
PF Chang’s definitely (egg) dropped the mic with this one—pardon the pun, I couldn’t help myself. This soup with carrots and green onions is great for a night in or when you’re feeling a bit under the weather. Sometimes soups aren’t gluten-free because their broths contain flour to give them more texture and density. No flour used in this broth, so there’s no need to worry.
3. GF Fried Rice
The gluten-free version of their fried rice tastes exactly the same as their regular version. You may be thinking, why isn’t fried rice gluten-free if rice and vegetables don’t have gluten? The culprit is soy sauce. All of the dish’s meats are usually fried or sautéed with flour and its contents are tossed in soy sauce that makes it unsafe to eat for those avoiding gluten. Thankfully, PF Chang’s gluten-free soy sauce saves the day and none of the meats and vegetables are fried in flour. It’s tossed with egg, carrots, bean sprouts, green onions, and your choice of vegetables, chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or a combo.
4. White Rice
No need to worry about ordering gluten-free for this staple piece. Simple white rice contains no gluten or any sauces or oils containing gluten so you’re good to go. Make sure you drizzle on some gluten-free soy sauce to top it off.
5. GF Mongolian Beef
These flank steak pieces are covered in a soy glaze that gives them a sweet twist. With the added garlic and snipped green onions, it’s great with some gluten-free fried rice.
6. GF Hokkien Street Noodles
It’s so hard to find gluten-free noodles that don’t fall apart or have a slightly rubbery consistency. Instead of being made from flour, the noodles in this dish are made from rice (and therefore contain no gluten). The noodles are tossed with light curry sauce, chicken, shrimp, egg, onion, and julienned vegetables. They’re so good you’ll forget they’re gluten-free!
7. GF Chicken Pad Thai
Similar to the gluten-free hokkien street noodles, the thick rice noodles in the chicken pad thai taste just as good as their regular menu counterpart. Thai spices, green onions, and crushed peanuts bring this whole plate together.
8. GF Chang’s Spicy Chicken
A simple menu option with some added spice. With green onions and their signature sweet-spicy chili sauce, this dish will go fast.
9. GF Shrimp with Lobster Sauce
This seafood option is a must. Shrimp tossed with Asian mushrooms, chopped black beans, peas, egg, and green onion. The shrimp are cooked in a cornstarch-based marinade, and the sauce contains no gluten either.
10. GF Chocolate Dome
The cherry on top to your gluten-free meal sent from above. There’s no difference between this version and the one on the regular menu. It’s a rich, flourless chocolate cake with fresh berries and caramel sauce that’ll whisk you away.
With so many options, you’re sure to find a few favorites at PF Chang’s. Just remember to tell your server exactly what you’re ordering off of the gluten-free menu so there’s no confusion. Some PF Chang’s restaurant locations have special plates only used for their gluten-free menu items, and whenever we order takeout they write a big “GF” on our boxes containing gluten-free dishes. If you’re even slightly skeptical that your dish isn’t gluten-free, don’t be afraid to double-check with your waiter, they’re very accommodating!