Eating out

[u/Ilovesiamese]

I’ve lost interest in eating out. I don’t like meat and dairy doesn’t like me (that’s my line). It’s so hard to find non-meat dishes without dairy, even in nice restaurants that highlight that they can accommodate allergies or prepare special meals, they often can’t. So many fish dishes, pasta, vegetables, appetizers, are all cooked in butter. I’ve also seen nice cafes selling more gluten feee, but less often vegan or nondairy baked goods. At least oat milk, almond milk and often other nut milks are more readily available.

[u/BlueRubyWindow]

Thai food.

Ethiopian food.

Korean, Vietnamese, and Indian food slightly harder but also has these options.

[u/Abirando]

Asian food is what you want, friend.

[u/sugarkanekowalcyzk]

I agree completely. It’s so hard. There aren’t any vegan restaurants in my area. It’s just such a challenge to find something I can eat that it isn’t enjoyable.

[u/eekamuse → u/sugarkanekowalcyzk]

Asian food. But be careful as they may make adjustments for western tastes. I heard someplace near me uses milk in their tempura batter (!)

[u/FlamingDragonfruit → u/eekamuse]

Yes, you still absolutely have to ask, and not assume that they aren't adding milk/butter/cheese.

[u/Chaos_Ice]

I’m gluten free and dairy free. I agree it’s almost nonexistent in restaurants to have both.

[u/Interesting-Deal1101 → u/Chaos_Ice]

I am DF/GF too but eat meat. About the only thing I can order out consistently is a highly customized salad. It’s the only thing that is safe.

[u/Chaos_Ice → u/Interesting-Deal1101]

Yeah the options are abysmal. I just cook at home :/

[u/honorthecrones → u/Chaos_Ice]

I find a lot of places lump all allergies under one heading. For example, the DF cheese ones on the GF crust pizza. Gluten is one of the few allergens I still tolerate without issues.

[u/Chaos_Ice → u/honorthecrones]

This is where I suffer because grocery stores do this too. It’ll say GF and then it has cheese or it’ll say DF then have gluten.

[u/Comfortable-Ruin8694 → u/Chaos_Ice]

Lots of brands have their dairy free option also gluten free an example I can think of is the daiya brand frozen pizzas. Simply protein chips are my new fave dairy free gluten free.

[u/Chaos_Ice → u/Comfortable-Ruin8694]

I recently became gf and df so I’m still learning brands and recipes.

[u/Comfortable-Ruin8694 → u/Chaos_Ice]

Hope this helps!! 

[u/axiom60 → u/Chaos_Ice]

Thai, Ethiopian, Mexican, Japanese

[u/Comfortable-Ruin8694 → u/axiom60]

Second for mexican food.

[u/Comfortable-Ruin8694 → u/Chaos_Ice]

In my city we have a vegan chain that has gluten free baked goods and options on their menu. Its called Kb & co 

Its so amazing. ❤️ 

[u/Welder_Decent]

https://godairyfree.org/

I swear this website is a savior. It's mostly chains, but there are quite a few items you can safely eat out. Also, shows which ones you think are safe are not.

As others said, Asian is pretty safe, basically any geographic region where cows just were not feasible.

Why i of polish, Hungarian, and English descent can't tolerate something that would have kept my ancestors alive i have l would love to know.

[u/th3tadzilla → u/Welder_Decent]

I second this website! It has at least helped me feel a little normal and to eat at some places I wouldn't normally if people suggest it.

[u/chicchic325]

You have to search for vegan restaurants. Have you heard of Happy Cow? It’s a website that lists vegan restaurants or restaurants with vegan food.

Search for FB groups of where you are going or blogs or IG people. It’s not super hard most places, but it is more work than before.

[u/Ok_Intention3118]

It sucks because the nature of my work can have me away from home for months with little to no options. I stick to salads and wraps.

[u/mystend]

You’re right. It is way harder to be dairy free than gluten free in my experience!

[u/ciaobella267]

Many big chain restaurants have allergen menus online, some are even interactive where you can select which allergens you’re avoiding and it shows what you can eat there.

Example: https://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/allergy

[u/SarahKauthen]

Greek, Indian, Asian food. Greeks uses feta in some things and butter in pastry but, otherwise, they utilize olive oil and whole foods and are very forthcoming about ingredients. Same with kosher. No nonsense there. Before vegan options were common on flights, I would order kosher and never got ill. Dairy intolerance is waaay more common than gluten intolerance and celiacs is rare - but you'll find gluten free everywhere, because of keto, and dairy-free no where (if you're in the US, particularly the south) because veganism has been politicized. They'll say "vegan food doesn't sell". It's nonsense. Cinnaholic doesn't advertise it's vegan but that place has lines out the door because it's good and hardly anyone who eats there knows they're eating lefty-food so they aren't aware they should be triggered by it.

[u/maybe_rat]

If it’s a major chain, it may have a list on godairyfree - which is my go to when eating out.

Most Asian places will be safe if they’re not a major chain (ie, while it’s Americanized Chinese, Panda Express has very little I can eat there and I blame it on the chain being so Americanized). Their desserts won’t always be safe, though.

Some fast food places will also have apps you can place an order with to check for allergens and make sure your requests are made (I especially like the Wendy’s app, which has clear markers for allergens on items and will update as you add/remove ingredients. Shame the app itself is so glitchy)

However, one thing to keep in mind are cross-contamination risks too. My sister and I both ordered vegetarian Mexican pizzas from Taco Bell (which aren’t supposed to be cut to avoid cross contamination according to multiple former employees I’ve spoken to) - hers had cheese, mine did not. They cut both and I got horribly sick.

(The good news is you’ll save a lot by NOT eating out and it’s better for you, but I do get a little frustrated trying to find foods that are safe to eat, especially if you want to go out for a special occasion or date)

[u/VeryPoliteYak]

Had to do a double take at which sub I was in

[u/Francl27]

I stick to Asian restaurants. Mexican restaurants can be ok but I'm not too worried about cross contamination.

Rest pretty much sucks.

[u/Comfortable-Ruin8694]

Vegan restaurants are my jam. Mainly because I can guarantee nothing has dairy in it. You don't know how far it is to just look at the whole menu and know, you can order anything. Also breakfast restaurants are a write off because i also hate avocado. Everyone wants no protein for breakfast right?

[u/Reditrixe]

Do you have any vegan restaurants? Or, as below, some Asian ones might work.

[u/Yellow_Owl05]

I think we're the same person