The Ultimate Perkins Gluten-Free Menu Guide For 2025
A classic homestyle restaurant and a bakery with a big menu, you can learn what’s safe to order and what to avoid in our Perkins gluten-free guide.
As much as I love homestyle casual dining places, as a strict celiac who’s dining out in a big world built around its love of wheat and gluten, you can never be too careful, even if you’re eating at one of America’s most beloved restaurant chains. 🧇🥞
Perkins is a classic family-style or homestyle restaurant that beautifully combines a comfort food kitchen with a hearty bakery, not to mention offering diners a gigantic menu to choose from… Breakfast staples, sandwiches, and bakery treats, too. 🥧🍳
While some of the other casual dining restaurants that I’ve checked out recently didn’t get good grades on their scorecard when it comes to catering to celiacs, as well as anyone with severe gluten sensitivities or intolerances, Perkins is different. 🍔🍟
Sadly, a big chunk of their menu consists of traditional homestyle food, and as such, they’re brimming with gluten, be it toast, pancakes, and waffles right off the griddle, in addition to most of their breakfast, lunch, and dinner specials and meals. 🥓🧀
Nonetheless, you’re not completely without options, as you can still find a selection of safe sides, plenty of extras, omelets, fresh salads, and some comfort food classics, too. Besides, Perkins even has their own gluten-sensitive menu to pick from! 🥔🍠
So, with that in mind, follow along as our Perkins gluten-free guide walks you through their massive homestyle and bakery-centric menu to see which items are celiac-safe, and which ones you should try to avoid at all costs with a ten-foot pole! 👀
Table of Contents
Disclaimer
That said, however, while Perkins might do their best to cater to celiacs, as well as anyone with a severe gluten intolerance or sensitivity, not to mention wheat allergies, too, it’s wise to approach Perkins’ restaurants with an abundance of caution. ⚠️
Bear in mind that Perkins doesn’t operate a dedicated, certified gluten-free kitchen, and the aforementioned gluten-sensitive menu items aren’t prepared in a proper gluten-free space, so cross-contact can still occur during normal kitchen operations. 🍽️
In other words, even if you order something off Perkins’ menu that might be naturally free of wheat, there’s no guarantee it won’t pick up traces of wheat and glutenous components from nearby items, including malt, barley, rye, and/or oats. 👉🚫🌾
This is owing to Perkins’ heavy reliance on shared kitchen spaces, utensils, cookware, and prep stations, where cross-contamination via trace gluten exposure is something you have to look out for, as Perkins themselves explicitly mention here:
These menu items, as noted, are not prepared with ingredients that contain gluten or wheat when prepared by our standard recipes. However, all of our menu items are prepared in a common kitchen with gluten exposure. Therefore, these menu items may come in contact with ingredients that contain gluten through shared cooking and preparation areas. Due to these circumstances, we cannot guarantee that any menu item can be completely free of gluten. We do not recommend these items for guests with celiac disease. Guests with gluten sensitivities or wheat allergies should exercise caution when ordering and consuming these items.
Therefore, you should treat even the safest items on Perkins’ menu with caution. Plus, like most restaurants, Perkins doesn’t test its menu items to meet the FDA’s very strict <20 ppm gluten threshold for any item to be labeled and certified as “gluten-free”.
So, if you’re dining out at Perkins, remember to inform the staff about your celiac disease or other dietary restrictions, ask them for the gluten-sensitive menu, and take precautions like using fresh gloves, clean utensils, and a wiped-down prep area. 😷🌾🍞
Perkins Allergen Policy (Gluten-Free)
On the bright side, at least Perkins makes it super easy for you to filter through their huge menu to figure out what you could safely order and what you’d have to avoid, and it starts by heading over to the official Perkins website. 🖥️🖱️⌨️
Once you’re on the homepage, scroll down to the website footer, and click or tap on the text that says “GLUTEN-FREE INFORMATION”. This will load up a new tab and open a PDF file, which you can also download for easier reference. 📑
This PDF file is where you’ll find Perkins’ aforementioned gluten-sensitive menu, making it a lot easier for you to order from with its curated selection of gluten-sensitive dishes, instead of having to manually filter through the entire menu. ✍📝
If you prefer the most easy-going approach, that gluten-sensitive menu will work fine, but if you still prefer to look at Perkins’ entire menu, then you can go back to that website footer, and click or tap on “NUTRITIONAL CALCULATOR”. ➖➕➗
Here, you can add any combination of items from Perkins’ menu and take a peek at their nutritional breakdown, which should be handy if you’re very conscious about your dietary intake, but it’s the three links at the bottom that we’re most interested in:
- Print All Menu Items – This loads up a new tab where you can now find a straightforward nutritional information page for every single item on Perkins’ menu, including the amount of calories, cholesterol, fats, sodium, fiber, carbs, sugar, and so on inside every single dish.
- Print Items By Allergen – On the other hand, this print-ready page separates Perkins’ entire menu into different sections by allergen, and a list of which menu items include that specific allergen. If you’re a celiac like me, just avoid every menu item under the “Wheat” section.
- Print Allergens By Item – This is similar to the prior one, but it’s categorized in a way that’s more familiar to us, with a table and columns that list out the allergens that are included in each menu item, and once again, avoid anything here that’s marked as containing wheat.
Breakfast – Omelets, Fresh-Cracked Classics, Egg-Cellent Benedicts & Sunrise Skillets
One of Perkins’ specialities is their breakfast lineup, which is huge and built mostly around eggs, omelets, skillets, and combo plates, though there are a handful of classics here to use biscuits, English muffins, pancakes, or flour-thickened gravy. 🍳🍗🥚
✅ Build Your Own Omelet
✅ Farmer’s Omelet
❌ Granny’s Country Omelet
✅ Meat ‘n Potatoes Omelet
✅ The Everything Omelet
⚠️ Corned Beef Hash & Eggs
❌ Country Biscuit & Eggs Breakfast
❌ Country Fried Steak and Eggs
❌ Country Sausage Biscuit Breakfast
⚠️ Fabulous Five
⚠️ Hearty Man’s Combo
❌ Magnificent Seven
❌ Southern Fried Chicken Biscuit Breakfast
⚠️ Top Sirloin Steak and Eggs
❌ Tremendous Twelve
❌ Triple Egg Dare Ya
❌ Twice as Nice Breakfast
❌ California Avocado Benedict
❌ Classic Eggs Benedict
⚠️ Everything Skillet
⚠️ Spinach & Mushroom Skillet
❌ The Big Country Sunrise Skillet
For context, let’s break down each of these dishes one by one to see what they’re made of:
Build Your Own Omelet: A custom omelet that lets you pick fillings like cheese, vegetables, and meats. By ingredient, this is usually wheat-free. Just remember to ask the staff to skip the toast and prepare it on a clean surface with fresh utensils to lower cross-contact risk.
Farmer’s Omelet: Hearty omelet with diced potatoes, onions, and meats. The recipe is normally free of wheat ingredients. Make sure to check that any sausage or seasoning blend has no wheat, and request separate prep and clean utensils for peace of mind.
Granny’s Country Omelet: This omelet is not safe because the standard build includes biscuit or toast components, and it’s optionally finished with wheat-containing gravy. Avoid it if you must follow a strict gluten-free diet.
Meat ‘n Potatoes Omelet: Omelet served with hash-style potatoes and meat. The ingredient-level risk is low when ordered without gravy. Ask whether potatoes are cooked with gravy or flour-thickened sauces and request isolated plating if needed.
The Everything Omelet: A loaded omelet with multiple fillings. It is generally wheat-free by ingredient when ordered without toast or croutons. Just make sure to ask the staff to omit any bakery add-ons and to prepare it on a clean surface to reduce trace exposure.
Corned Beef Hash & Eggs: Corned beef hash with eggs is typically wheat-free by recipe. Also, confirm that there are no added gravy thickeners, and request a fresh scoop and clean plating utensils to avoid cross-contact from nearby bakery items.
Country Biscuit & Eggs Breakfast: This plate is not safe because it includes Perkins’ bakery biscuit. The biscuit contains wheat and is handled on shared bakery surfaces, so avoid it if you require strict gluten-free handling.
Country Fried Steak and Eggs: This dish is not safe since the steak is breaded in wheat-containing batter and fried in shared oil. The breading and fryer practices create an ingredient-level gluten hazard.
Country Sausage Biscuit Breakfast: This breakfast is not safe because it includes a wheat biscuit as a core component. Bakery handling and shared prep surfaces add significant cross-contact risk, so avoid them to be safe.
Fabulous Five: This combo of eggs and sides can be lower risk if ordered without biscuits or pancakes. All you have to do is confirm which sides come standard, ask for no toast, and request separate plating and fresh utensils to reduce cross-contact.
Hearty Man’s Combo: Large breakfast platter with eggs and proteins. It’s also usually wheat-free by ingredient when you skip biscuits and pancakes. Once again, remember to ask the staff to omit bakery sides and to prepare your order away from breaded stations.
Magnificent Seven: This combo is not safe because it typically includes pancakes, biscuits, or other bakery items by default. Those bakery components introduce ingredient-level wheat and carry a very high cross-contact risk.
Southern Fried Chicken Biscuit Breakfast: This plate isn’t safe, as it includes breaded fried chicken and a biscuit, both of which contain wheat and are prepared on shared equipment, so they should be avoided by celiac diners.
Top Sirloin Steak and Eggs: Steak and eggs are usually wheat-free by ingredient. Just verify that any compound butter or sauce does not use flour thickeners, and ask that the steak be plated separately from bakery items to reduce trace exposure.
Tremendous Twelve: This large combo commonly includes pancakes, biscuits, or sandwich components that contain wheat, so it is not suitable for strict gluten-free diets, in addition to folks who are gluten intolerant or have a severe gluten sensitivity.
Triple Egg Dare Ya: This breakfast is not safe in its standard build because it includes pancakes, biscuits, or other bakery sides. Those components mean the plate contains wheat by ingredient or is at high cross-contact risk.
Twice as Nice Breakfast: This pairing often comes with toast, pancakes, or biscuits as standard sides. Because of those bakery elements, treat it as unsafe for strict gluten-free needs.
California Avocado Benedict: Benedicts are served on English muffins, which contain wheat, so this dish is not safe for celiac diners. The muffin and shared assembly areas create both ingredient and contamination risks.
Classic Eggs Benedict: Classic Benedict comes on English muffin halves and is not safe for strict gluten-free diets. The muffin contains wheat, and the dish is assembled in shared prep areas.
Everything Skillet: Skillet of eggs, vegetables, and proteins is usually wheat-free when ordered without biscuits or pancakes. Check that no gravy or flour-thickened sauces are used and request isolated prep if you are highly sensitive.
Spinach & Mushroom Skillet: Skillet with spinach, mushrooms, and eggs is typically low risk by ingredient. Confirm sauces and ask staff to use clean cookware and utensils to avoid cross-contact from flour-thickened pans.
The Big Country Sunrise Skillet: This large skillet commonly includes biscuit or pancake sides and may be finished with gravy, so it is not safe for strict gluten-free diners and anyone who has a severe gluten sensitivity or intolerance.
While most of Perkins’ simple omelets and skillets are naturally wheat-free, make sure you order them without adding on any biscuits, breaded proteins, pancakes, English muffins, or wheat-thickened gravies, as they are available as an option. 🥓🥩🍖
Breakfast – Griddle Greats, Hearty Extras & Build-A-Breakfast
Compared to the egg-based breakfast dishes that we looked at earlier, Perkins’ griddle and bakery-focused breakfast items are where the threat of wheat and gluten now shows up… Pancakes, waffles, French toast, muffins, bagels, and toast! 🥞🧇🍞🥯
❌ Potato Pancakes
❌ Belgian Waffle
❌ Belgian Waffle Platter
❌ Blueberry Pancakes
❌ Brioche French Toast Platter
❌ Brioche French Toast
❌ Buttermilk Short Stack Pancakes
❌ Cinnamon Roll French Toast Platter
❌ French Toast Platter
❌ French Toast
❌ Pigs in a Blanket
❌ Potato Pancake Platter
❌ Biscuits
❌ Breakfast Potatoes
❌ Cinnamon Roll
⚠️ Corned Beef Hash
⚠️ Egg Beaters Exchange
❌ English Muffin
✅ Hash Browns
❌ Muffin, Apple Cinnamon
❌ Muffin, Banana Nut
❌ Muffin, Blueberry
❌ Oatmeal
✅ Sausage, Links
✅ Sausage, Patties
✅ Sausage, Smoked
❌ Sweet Sticky Bun
❌ Toast, Rye
❌ Toast, Sourdough
❌ Toast, White
❌ Toast, Whole Wheat
✅ Turkey Sausage Patty
✅ Two Large Fresh Eggs, Any Style
❌ Bagel
❌ Bagel & Cream Cheese
❌ Buttered Rye Toast
❌ Buttered Sourdough Toast
❌ Buttered Wheat Toast
❌ Buttered White Toast
❌ Pork Scrapple
Just to make sure we didn’t miss anything, let’s check out how these dishes are made:
Potato Pancakes: These are made from shredded potato and a flour binder. Because flour is used in the recipe and they are often handled near bakery stations, this item is not safe for strict gluten-free diets.
Belgian Waffle: Classic Belgian waffles are made from wheat flour. They’re sadly an ingredient-level gluten source and are prepared on shared griddles and topping stations, so avoid them if you have celiac disease.
Belgian Waffle Platter: The platter includes a Belgian waffle and other sides. The waffle contains wheat, and the plate is assembled in shared prep areas, making the whole dish unsafe for strict gluten-free diners.
Blueberry Pancakes: Pancakes use wheat flour and are cooked on shared griddles. The presence of wheat in the batter and common cooking surfaces means these pancakes are not safe for celiac diners.
Brioche French Toast Platter: Brioche bread contains wheat and eggs. The French toast uses bakery bread and shared equipment, so this platter is not suitable for strict gluten diners, either.
Brioche French Toast: Made with brioche slices, which contain wheat. Even when it’s just served alone, this item is an ingredient-level gluten source and should be avoided by people with celiac disease.
Buttermilk Short Stack Pancakes: These pancakes are made with wheat flour and cooked on shared griddles. For its inclusion in the ingredients list and cross-contact reasons, they’re not safe for strict gluten-free diets.
Cinnamon Roll French Toast Platter: The cinnamon roll is baked with wheat flour, and the French toast uses bakery bread. Together, they create an ingredient and cross-contact risk, so this platter is not safe.
French Toast Platter: French toast is made from wheat-based bread and assembled near other bakery items. Due to the wheat bread and the shared prep risks, this platter is not safe for celiac diners.
French Toast: Traditional French toast uses wheat bread and shared griddle space. The item is an ingredient-level gluten source and not recommended for strict gluten avoidance.
Pigs in a Blanket: This item wraps sausage in dough made from wheat flour. Because the dough contains wheat and it is handled on bakery lines, it is not safe for celiac diners.
Potato Pancake Platter: The platter includes potato pancakes made with flour and other sides. The potato pancakes contain wheat by recipe, and the plate is assembled in shared areas, so avoid it if you require strict gluten-free handling.
Biscuits: Perkins’ biscuits are made from wheat flour and baked on shared trays. They are a clear ingredient-level gluten source and are not safe for people with celiac disease.
Breakfast Potatoes: These are often seasoned and cooked with other breakfast items. In the allergen guide, they’re listed as unsafe, which likely reflects shared prep or seasoning mixes that contain wheat, so treat them as not safe unless the location confirms otherwise.
Cinnamon Roll: Bakery cinnamon rolls are made with wheat flour and are handled in the bakery area. They are an ingredient-level gluten source and not suitable for celiac diners.
Corned Beef Hash: Corned beef hash is usually prepared from meat and potatoes without wheat ingredients. By ingredient, it is typically safe, but ask staff about seasoning mixes and request separate serving utensils to reduce cross-contact.
Egg Beaters Exchange: Egg Beaters or liquid egg substitutes are wheat-free by ingredient. This is usually a safe choice, though you should confirm they are not cooked on surfaces that handle battered or breaded items.
English Muffin: English muffins are made from wheat flour and often toasted on shared equipment. This is an ingredient-level gluten source and not safe for strict gluten-free diets.
Hash Browns: Plain hash browns are usually just potatoes and oil. By ingredient, they are gluten-free, but fryer or griddle sharing can cause cross-contact, so confirm how they are cooked before ordering.
Muffin, Apple Cinnamon: Muffins are baked goods made with wheat flour and are handled on bakery trays. They are an ingredient-level gluten source and should be avoided by celiac diners.
Muffin, Banana Nut: Banana nut muffins are made from wheat flour and baked in shared bakery areas, so they are not safe for strict gluten-free diets.
Muffin, Blueberry: Blueberry muffins contain wheat flour and are produced on shared bakery lines, which makes them unsafe for celiac diners.
Oatmeal: Depending on the source, oatmeal can be cross-contaminated or made with gluten-containing additives. Since it’s mentioned as unsafe in Perkins’ allergen guide, treat it as not safe unless the location can confirm certified gluten-free oats.
Sausage, Links: Sausage links are generally wheat-free by ingredient. They are a lower-risk option, but ask staff to confirm there are no fillers or seasonings that contain wheat and request separate utensils.
Sausage, Patties: Sausage patties are usually made without wheat ingredients. Of course, you should check the ingredient list and ask for isolated prep if you are highly sensitive to cross-contact.
Sausage, Smoked: Smoked sausage is typically wheat-free by ingredient. Remember to check the ingredient label for binders and ask staff how they are handled in the kitchen to avoid cross-contact.
Sweet Sticky Bun: Sticky buns are bakery items made with wheat flour and sticky toppings. They are an ingredient-level gluten source and are not safe for celiac diners.
Toast, Rye: Rye toast contains wheat or is made in bakery environments that include wheat. As a bakery product, it is not safe for those who must avoid gluten.
Toast, Sourdough: Sourdough bread contains wheat flour and is prepared on bakery trays. It is an ingredient-level gluten source and not suitable for celiac diners, too.
Toast, White: White toast is made from wheat flour and toasted on shared equipment, so it is not safe for strict gluten-free needs and anyone with gluten intolerance or sensitivity.
Toast, Whole Wheat: Whole wheat toast is made from wheat flour and is an ingredient-level gluten source, making it unsafe for celiac diners.
Turkey Sausage Patty: Turkey sausage patties are usually free of wheat ingredients. They are a reasonable lower-risk choice, but confirm there are no wheat-containing seasonings or fillers.
Two Large Fresh Eggs, Any Style: Plain eggs are naturally gluten-free and a safe option by ingredient. Ask that they be cooked on clean cookware and plated separately from bakery items to reduce cross-contact.
Bagel: Bagels are dense bakery products made from wheat flour and often handled on shared equipment. They are not safe for people with celiac disease.
Bagel & Cream Cheese: The bagel contains wheat and is served with cream cheese. Because of the bagel, this combo is an ingredient-level gluten source and not safe.
Buttered Rye Toast: Rye toast with butter still contains wheat or is prepared in bakery environments that include wheat. It is not safe for strict gluten-free diets.
Buttered Sourdough Toast: Sourdough toast contains wheat flour and is handled on shared trays, so it is not safe for celiac diners.
Buttered Wheat Toast: As the name implies, wheat toast contains wheat flour and is unsafe for those avoiding gluten.
Buttered White Toast: White toast with butter contains wheat flour in the ingredients list, and is not safe for celiac diners.
Pork Scrapple: Scrapple is a pork-based loaf that often contains grain fillers such as wheat or cornmeal. It’s mentioned as unsafe in Perkins’ allergen guide, so avoid it unless the location provides an allergen-free formulation.
Unfortunately, most of Perkins’ griddle and bakery breakfast items contain wheat, though a few of the simpler meals make it through okay. Of course, wary of cross-contact, which includes the corn beef hash, plain eggs, sausages, and hash browns. 🥔🍠
Lunch & Dinner – Mega Melts, Starters, Salads, Salad Dressings, Soups & Toppings
While Perkins might be well-known for their breakfast lineup, they don’t mess around when the lunch and dinner crowds hit, with a hearty selection of tasty melts, shareable starters, salads and dressings, soups, and many toppings. 🥪🍔🍟
❌ Buffalo Chicken Melt
❌ Caramel Apple Crisper
❌ Grilled Steak Melt
❌ Strawberry & Cream Cheese Crispers
❌ The Hangover Melt
❌ The O.G. Melt
❌ Chicken Strips
❌ Crispy Fries
❌ Fried Pickles
❌ MozzaSticks
❌ Onion Rings
❌ Pick 3 Sampler
❌ Steak Quesadilla
❌ Chicken Noodle Soup
❌ Honey Mustard Chicken Crunch Salad
❌ Loaded Potato Soup
❌ Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad
❌ Tomato Basil Soup
✅ Chipotle Ranch Dressing
✅ Honey Mustard Dressing
✅ Ranch Dressing
✅ Marinara Sauce
✅ Blue Cheese Dressing
✅ Thousand Island Dressing
✅ Caramelized Red Onions
✅ Cocktail Sauce
✅ Mayonnaise
❌ Onion Tanglers
✅ Tartar Sauce
Just so we know what to look out for next, let’s check these dishes out in more detail:
Buffalo Chicken Melt: This sandwich includes breaded or sauced chicken on toast or a bun. The bread and the breading make it an ingredient-level gluten source, so avoid it if you require strict gluten-free handling.
Caramel Apple Crisper: A bakery-style handheld sandwich made with a wheat-based bread and toppings. The pastry and assembly in the bakery area introduce wheat by ingredient and high cross-contact risk.
Grilled Steak Melt: Melt-style sandwich served on bread. The roll or toast contains wheat, and the sandwich is assembled on shared prep surfaces, which makes this item unsafe for celiac diners.
Strawberry & Cream Cheese Crispers: Fried or baked crispers that include a breaded or pastry element. The coating or pastry contains wheat, and they are handled on shared equipment, so this item is not safe.
The Hangover Melt: A hearty melt that’s built with bread or a bun with multiple fillings. Because the sandwich includes bakery components and shared assembly, it contains wheat by ingredient and should be avoided.
The O.G. Melt: Classic melt served on toasted bread. The toast contains wheat, and the item is assembled near bakery items and shared toasters, so it’s not suitable for strict gluten-free diets and celiacs alike.
Chicken Strips: Breaded chicken strips are coated in wheat-containing batter and fried in shared oil. The breading and fryer practices create both ingredient-level gluten and high cross-contact risk.
Crispy Fries: Seasoned fries that are often cooked in shared fryers. Even though potatoes themselves are wheat-free, shared oil with breaded items produces cross-contact, so treat these as unsafe unless the location confirms dedicated fryers.
Fried Pickles: Pickles coated in batter and deep-fried. The batter contains wheat, and these are usually fried in shared oil, so this starter is not safe for strict gluten avoidance.
MozzaSticks: Breaded, fried cheese sticks with wheat-containing coating. The batter and shared fryer make these an ingredient-level gluten source and unsuitable for celiac diners.
Onion Rings: Batter-coated and fried rings that use wheat in the coating. Shared fryers and baskets mean both ingredient-level wheat and high cross-contact risk.
Pick 3 Sampler: Sampler platters commonly combine several fried and breaded items. Because it bundles wheat-containing components and shares fryers and utensils, the sampler is not safe for strict gluten-free diners.
Steak Quesadilla: Flour tortilla folded with steak and cheese. The tortilla contains wheat, and the item is prepared on shared surfaces, making it unsafe unless a certified gluten-free tortilla is available.
Chicken Noodle Soup: Traditional chicken noodle soup contains wheat pasta or noodles and is therefore an ingredient-level gluten risk. So, avoid it if you follow a strict gluten-free diet.
Honey Mustard Chicken Crunch Salad: Salad topped with breaded chicken pieces or crunchy coated toppings. The breaded components and shared prep areas introduce wheat and cross-contact risks, so this salad is not safe.
Loaded Potato Soup: Creamy soup that often uses flour-based thickeners or includes croutons. Because it frequently contains wheat in the ingredients list, avoid it unless the staff confirms a wheat-free recipe.
Southwest Avocado Chicken Salad: A salad that may include tortilla strips or seasoned chicken with wheat-containing coatings. The default build here is marked unsafe, so confirm ingredients before ordering or skip it.
Tomato Basil Soup: Many house tomato soups use thickeners or are cross-contaminated in shared kettles. Since this one is flagged as unsafe in Perkins’ allergen guide, don’t assume it is gluten-free without explicit confirmation.
Chipotle Ranch Dressing: Typically, it’s a creamy dressing made without wheat ingredients. Still ask for sealed portions and confirm pumps are cleaned to reduce cross-contact from shared dispensers.
Honey Mustard Dressing: Honey mustard dressing is usually wheat-free by recipe. Request sealed packets or a fresh pour to minimize any trace contamination from shared ladles or pumps.
Ranch Dressing: Standard ranch is normally free of wheat ingredients. Just to be extra safe, you should ideally prefer sealed single-serve portions or freshly poured ramekins to lower cross-contact risk.
Marinara Sauce: A tomato-based sauce that’s normally wheat-free. Just remember to confirm that there’s no added thickener containing wheat and ask for a clean scoop or sealed cup if you are very sensitive.
Blue Cheese Dressing: Blue cheese dressings are generally wheat-free by ingredient. You could also request sealed portions and check for shared ladles or topping stations to reduce trace cross-contact.
Thousand Island Dressing: This creamy dressing is usually made without wheat. You might prefer sealed packets or freshly poured servings to avoid cross-contact from shared containers.
Caramelized Red Onions: Cooked onions finished in a pan. By ingredient, these are usually wheat-free, though confirm they are not finished with a flour-thickened glaze and request separate prep if needed.
Cocktail Sauce: Cocktail sauce is typically free of wheat ingredients. Sealed portions are the safest option to avoid contamination from shared ladles or topping bins.
Mayonnaise: Plain mayonnaise is naturally wheat-free and a low-risk condiment. Ask for single-serve packets when possible to avoid shared utensils and cross-contact.
Onion Tanglers: These are crispy, breaded onion strings. The breading contains wheat, and they are fried in shared oil, so avoid them if you must follow a strict gluten-free diet.
Tartar Sauce: Tartar sauce is usually wheat-free by ingredient. Request sealed portions or a fresh ramekin to reduce cross-contact from shared containers.
Given that most of Perkins’ sandwiches and fried starters contain wheat, not to mention the melts and sampler platters, too, due to their inclusion of bread, batter, or fried coatings, it’s best to simply skip this part of their menu. 🥗🍲🥣🧀
Lunch & Dinner – Comfort Classics, Burgers, Handhelds, Supper Skillets & Sides
Alternatively, Perkins’ typical lunch and dinner menu also covers even more burgers, melts, classic proteins, skillet-style meals, and a long list of sides, though most of the sandwiches and breaded entrees, as you’d expect, contain wheat. 🍖🥩🍗🥓
❌ BBQ Tangler Burger
❌ Big BLT
❌ Chicken Strips Melt
❌ Country Club Melt
❌ Patty Melt
❌ Pot Roast Melt
❌ Reuben Melt
❌ The Breakfast Burger
❌ The Classic Burger
❌ The Classic Cheeseburger
❌ Triple Decker Club
❌ Breaded Fantail Shrimp
✅ Crimini Mushrooms
❌ Chicken Strips Dinner
❌ Classic Pot Roast Dinner
❌ Country Fried Steak Dinner
❌ Double Catch
❌ Fish ‘n Chips with Garden Salad
❌ Grilled Cajun White Fish & Shrimp
❌ Grilled Garlic White Fish & Shrimp Dinner
⚠️ Grilled Pork Chop Dinner
⚠️ Grilled Salmon Dinner
❌ Holiday Turkey and Dressing Dinner
❌ Jumbo Shrimp Dinner
❌ Meatloaf Dinner with Vegetable Option
⚠️ Tilapia Grille
⚠️ Top Sirloin Steak Dinner
❌ Top Sirloin Steak with Shrimp Dinner
❌ Turkey & Dressing Dinner
❌ Hibachi Fried Chicken Skillet
❌ Hibachi Grilled Shrimp Skillet
❌ Steak & Peppers Skillet with Breakfast Potatoes
✅ Baked Potato
✅ Baked Potato, Loaded
❌ Garden Salad
✅ Garlic Mashed Potatoes
❌ Gravy, Brown
❌ Gravy, Cream
❌ Gravy, Turkey
✅ Grilled Asparagus
❌ Herb Rice Pilaf
✅ Loaded Mashed Potatoes
❌ Mac & Cheese
❌ Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
✅ Potato Add-On, Fully Loaded
✅ Potato Add-On, Loaded
✅ Potato Add-On, Ultimate
✅ Sauteed Spinach
To compare against the rest, let’s break them apart and see how these dishes are made:
BBQ Tangler Burger: This burger is built on a wheat bun with BBQ-glazed toppings and is assembled on shared prep surfaces. The bun and any BBQ sauces with hidden thickeners create ingredient-level gluten risk, so avoid them if you require strict gluten-free handling.
Big BLT: Classic BLT comes on toasted bread. The bread contains wheat, and toasting is done on shared equipment, so the sandwich carries both ingredient-level gluten and cross-contact risk for celiac diners.
Chicken Strips Melt: This melt includes breaded chicken placed on toast or a bun. The breading and the bread mean ingredient-level gluten is present, and shared fryers and assembly stations increase cross-contact risk.
Country Club Melt: Club sandwiches use multiple slices of bread and are toasted on shared toasters. The bread and shared prep surfaces make this item unsafe for strict gluten avoidance.
Patty Melt: Patty melts use rye or other sandwich bread and are grilled on shared griddles. The bread plus shared cooking surfaces introduce both ingredient-level gluten and cross-contact hazards.
Pot Roast Melt: Melt-style sandwich with pot roast and melted cheese on bread. The roll or toast contains wheat, and assembly is shared, creating a clear gluten risk for celiac diners.
Reuben Melt: Reubens are served on rye or marble bread and are grilled on shared surfaces. The sandwich contains wheat in the ingredients list and should be avoided by anyone needing strict gluten-free meals.
The Breakfast Burger: Burger served with breakfast-style toppings on a bun. The bun contains wheat, and the burger is assembled near bakery or grilled stations, so this item is not safe for strict gluten avoidance.
The Classic Burger: Classic burger comes with a wheat-based bun. Unless you remove the bun and insist on isolated prep, this remains an ingredient-level gluten risk because of shared toasters and assembly surfaces.
The Classic Cheeseburger: Same as the Classic Burger but with cheese. The bun and shared prep practices produce ingredient and cross-contact risks, so avoid unless the location can confirm safe handling and provide a certified gluten-free roll.
Triple Decker Club: Multi-layer club built on three slices of bread. The amount of bakery product and shared assembly make this an ingredient-level gluten source and not suitable for celiac diners.
Breaded Fantail Shrimp: Breaded shrimp use wheat-containing coatings and are fried in shared oil. The breading and fryer practices create both ingredient-level gluten and very high cross-contact hazards.
Crimini Mushrooms: Sautéed or roasted crimini mushrooms are typically wheat-free by ingredient. Just confirm that they’re not breaded or finished with flour-thickened sauces and request separate prep to avoid cross-contact from nearby fried items.
Chicken Strips Dinner: Breaded chicken strips are coated in wheat-containing batter and cooked in shared fryers. This is an ingredient-level gluten hazard and not safe for anyone requiring strict gluten-free handling.
Classic Pot Roast Dinner: Pot roast entrées often include gravy or are prepared with flour-thickened sauces. Because many pot roast recipes use gravy with wheat thickeners, treat this as unsafe unless staff confirm a wheat-free gravy.
Country Fried Steak Dinner: Country-fried steak is breaded and fried with wheat in the coating. The breading and shared fryers mean ingredient-level gluten is present, and the dish is not safe for celiac diners.
Double Catch: Mixed seafood plates are often breaded or served with battered items and shared fryers. When breading or batter is involved, this becomes an ingredient-level gluten risk and should be avoided.
Fish ‘n Chips with Garden Salad: Traditional fish and chips use battered fish fried in shared oil and are served with breaded sides. The batter and fryer cross-contact make this an unsafe choice.
Grilled Cajun White Fish & Shrimp: Although it’s listed as grilled, many preparations include seasoned or lightly breaded shrimp. The default here is flagged as unsafe, so confirm ingredients and request fully grilled, unbreaded proteins with isolated prep to be safe.
Grilled Garlic White Fish & Shrimp Dinner: This plate is marked unsafe in the allergen guide, likely due to shrimp or prep methods that involve wheat-based marinades or shared fryers. Ask staff for an unbreaded, grilled-only preparation and separate plating if possible.
Grilled Pork Chop Dinner: A simple grilled pork chop is usually wheat-free by ingredient. Make sure you verify that no flour-based sauces or coatings are used and request that it be cooked on a clean grill and plated separately from breaded items.
Grilled Salmon Dinner: Grilled salmon is typically wheat-free by recipe. Confirm that any glazes or compound butters do not use flour thickeners and ask staff to prepare them away from the bakery or fried stations to reduce cross-contact.
Holiday Turkey and Dressing Dinner: Dressings and stuffing often contain breadcrumbs or wheat-based fillers. Because of the dressing component, this entire plate is flagged unsafe for strict gluten-free diets.
Jumbo Shrimp Dinner: If the shrimp are breaded or served with batter, they contain wheat. Perkins’ own allergen guide flags this as unsafe, so avoid them unless the shrimp are confirmed grilled and handled in an isolated prep area.
Meatloaf Dinner with Vegetable Option: Meatloaf recipes frequently include breadcrumbs or fillers that contain wheat. This dish is marked unsafe in the official allergen guide. For that reason, unless the staff confirms a wheat-free recipe.
Tilapia Grille: Grilled tilapia is usually wheat-free by ingredient. Ask that it be prepared without any flour-thickened sauces and that staff use clean utensils and separate plating to reduce cross-contact from nearby fried foods.
Top Sirloin Steak Dinner: A plain top sirloin steak is typically free of wheat ingredients. Verify that any finishing sauces or compound butters are wheat-free and request separate prep to avoid trace contamination.
Top Sirloin Steak with Shrimp Dinner: This combination is flagged as unsafe in the allergen guide, often because the shrimp are breaded or sauced with wheat-containing ingredients. So, remember to confirm each component’s prep before ordering.
Turkey & Dressing Dinner: Similar to the holiday plate from earlier, the dressing commonly contains wheat-based breadcrumbs or fillers, so this is an ingredient-level gluten risk and not safe for strict gluten avoidance.
Hibachi Fried Chicken Skillet: Fried chicken in a skillet is usually breaded or coated and cooked with wheat-based batters, so this is an ingredient-level gluten hazard and should be avoided.
Hibachi Grilled Shrimp Skillet: Although “grilled” suggests a safer method, this skillet is flagged unsafe, likely due to marinades or added components that include wheat or because it’s cross-contacted with fried items.
Steak & Peppers Skillet with Breakfast Potatoes: This skillet is listed as unsafe in the allergen guide, possibly because breakfast potatoes or skillet toppings are finished with gravy or the skillet shares prep with breaded items. Confirm specifics before ordering.
Baked Potato: Plain baked potato is wheat-free by ingredient and a reliable lower-risk side. Request plain toppings or sealed condiments to avoid cross-contact from gravy or breadcrumb toppings.
Baked Potato, Loaded: A loaded baked potato can be safe if the toppings are wheat-free. Make sure to ask the staff to omit any breadcrumb or fried toppings and provide separate prep to minimize trace contamination.
Garden Salad: This salad is flagged unsafe, often because of included croutons, pre-mixed dressings, or shared salad bars. Ask for no croutons and request a sealed dressing to lower cross-contact risk if you still want to order it.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Plain garlic mashed potatoes are usually wheat-free by ingredient. Confirm no gravy or flour-thickened sauces are added and request a clean serving scoop to avoid cross-contact.
Gravy, Brown: Brown gravy commonly uses wheat flour as a thickener. This is an ingredient-level gluten source and should be avoided unless staff confirm a wheat-free alternative.
Gravy, Cream: Cream gravies often contain wheat thickeners. So, treat the cream gravy as an ingredient-level gluten risk unless the restaurant confirms it is made without wheat.
Gravy, Turkey: Turkey gravy is frequently thickened with flour. Because of the likely use of wheat thickeners, this gravy is not safe for strict gluten-free diets, as well.
Grilled Asparagus: Simple grilled asparagus is typically wheat-free by ingredient. Ask for plain preparation and separate plating to avoid cross-contact from shared grills or topping stations.
Herb Rice Pilaf: Rice pilaf may include flavor packets, broths, or seasonings that contain wheat. Since this item is flagged as unsafe in the allergen guide, avoid it unless the kitchen can confirm a wheat-free recipe.
Loaded Mashed Potatoes: Loaded mashed potatoes can be safe when the toppings are wheat-free. However, remember to ask the staff to exclude any breadcrumb or fried garnish and request isolated prep to reduce cross-contact.
Mac & Cheese: Traditional mac and cheese contains wheat pasta. This is an ingredient-level gluten source and not suitable for celiac diners unless a certified gluten-free pasta is used and dedicated prep is confirmed.
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy: When gravy is included, this becomes an ingredient-level gluten risk because gravies commonly use wheat as a thickener. You can order the mashed potatoes plain to avoid this hazard.
Potato Add-On, Fully Loaded: Fully loaded potato add-ons can be safe if all toppings are wheat-free. Verify each topping and ask that staff avoid breadcrumb or fried garnishes to reduce cross-contact.
Potato Add-On, Loaded: Similar to the fully loaded option from earlier, so once again, make sure to confirm that the toppings are wheat-free and request separate prep to avoid contamination from bakery or fried stations.
Potato Add-On, Ultimate: The ultimate add-on can be made safe if it does not include wheat-containing toppings. Always check the topping lists first before ordering, and ask for isolated assembly when possible.
Sauteed Spinach: Sauteed spinach is usually wheat-free by ingredient. Just confirm that no flour-thickened sauces are used and request clean cookware and utensils for a lower cross-contact risk.
On the other hand, if you’re a celiac, Perkins’ lunch and dinner steaks, simple grilled fish, as well as their plain potatoes and some veggie sides, can be lower risk, but be on the lookout for cross-contact from shared fryers, toasters, and grills. 🍔🥪🍤🍟
Kid’s Menu
For all the young’uns here, Perkins’ kids’ menu mixes familiar favorites and small portions from the adult plates, though a lot of the kid-friendly items use bakery bread, pancakes, or breaded proteins, which, of course, contain wheat. 🍦🍨🍧🍪
✅ Ice Cream Sundae, Hot Fudge
✅ Ice Cream Sundae, Strawberry
❌ Kids’ Brioche French Toast
❌ Kids’ Chicken Strips
❌ Kids’ Classic Cheeseburger
❌ Kids’ Egg, Hash Browns, and Toast
❌ Kids’ Grilled Cheese Sandwich
❌ Kids’ Mac & Cheese
❌ Kids’ Perky Bear Pancakes
❌ Kids’ Rainbow Pancake Breakfast
❌ Kids’ Silver Dollar Pancake Short-Stack
❌ Kids’ Treats – Sugar Cookie
❌ Kids’ Treats – Chocolate Chip Cookie
❌ Kids’ Turkey Dinner
❌ (Option) Breakfast Potatoes
❌ (Option) Chicken Noodle Soup
❌ (Option) French Fries
❌ (Option) Garden Salad
✅ (Option) Hash Browns
❌ (Option) Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
✅ (Option) Tomato Basil Soup
❌ (Option) White Toast
✅ Strawberry Go-Gurt
For context, let’s break each of these dishes down one by one to see how they’re made:
Ice Cream Sundae, Hot Fudge: Ice cream with hot fudge is wheat-free by recipe and ingredient. Shared scoops and topping stations can transfer crumbs, so make sure to ask staff to use a freshly cleaned scoop or a sealed cup to lower cross-contact risk.
Ice Cream Sundae, Strawberry: Similar to the hot fudge sundae, the base ingredients do not contain wheat. Request a freshly cleaned scoop and a clean serving dish to reduce the chance of trace contamination.
Kids’ Brioche French Toast: This uses brioche bread, which contains wheat, and it’s also prepared on shared griddles and near bakery items. So, don’t order this if you must avoid gluten completely.
Kids’ Chicken Strips: Breaded and fried tenders are coated in wheat-containing batter and cooked in shared fryers. They are an ingredient-level gluten source and are not safe for strict gluten-free diets.
Kids’ Classic Cheeseburger: The burger comes on a wheat bun and is assembled near other bakery items and grills, creating both ingredient-level gluten and cross-contact risk. Skip this completely if you’re a celiac.
Kids’ Egg, Hash Browns, and Toast: The toast contains wheat, and the plate is assembled on shared prep stations. The toast makes this plate unsafe unless you substitute and confirm separate handling.
Kids’ Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Grilled cheese uses wheat bread and is prepared on shared griddles. The sandwich is an ingredient-level gluten source, and it’s not safe for celiac diners.
Kids’ Mac & Cheese: Traditional mac and cheese is made with wheat pasta. This is an ingredient-level gluten risk unless the restaurant supplies a certified gluten-free pasta and can confirm isolated prep, which currently isn’t available at Perkins.
Kids’ Perky Bear Pancakes: Pancakes are made from wheat flour and cooked on shared griddles. Consequently, they’re not safe for strict gluten-free diets.
Kids’ Rainbow Pancake Breakfast: These themed pancakes use wheat flour and are prepared with other bakery items, so they are not suitable for people with celiac disease.
Kids’ Silver Dollar Pancake Short-Stack: Small pancakes still use wheat flour and shared cooking surfaces. So, avoid this if you need strict gluten-free handling.
Kids’ Treats – Sugar Cookie: Sugar cookies are baked with wheat flour and handled in the bakery area, making them an ingredient-level gluten source.
Kids’ Treats – Chocolate Chip Cookie: Chocolate chip cookies contain wheat flour and are baked/handled on shared bakery lines, so do not order them if you must avoid gluten.
Kids’ Turkey Dinner: This meal typically includes dressing or stuffing that contains wheat breadcrumbs, so it’s marked unsafe in the official allergen guide by ingredient and should be avoided for strict gluten-free diets.
(Option) Breakfast Potatoes: These are listed as unsafe in Perkins’ allergen guide, likely due to shared-seasoning mixes or batch prep that introduces wheat. Do not assume they are safe without checking with staff.
(Option) Chicken Noodle Soup: This soup contains wheat noodles and is a major gluten source in the ingredients list. Avoid it if you must follow a strict gluten-free diet.
(Option) French Fries: Marked unsafe in the allergen guide because many locations use shared fryers with breaded items. Make sure to confirm the fryer practices before ordering. Otherwise, you should treat them as unsafe.
(Option) Garden Salad: This option is flagged as unsafe in the allergen guide, often because of croutons or pre-mixed dressings and cross-contact on salad bars. Ask for no croutons and a sealed dressing if you want to attempt this, but confirm with the staff first.
(Option) Hash Browns: Plain hash browns are usually just potatoes and oil and are lower risk by ingredient. Still ask whether they share fryers or spatulas with breaded items and request isolated prep if possible.
(Option) Mashed Potatoes & Gravy: The gravy commonly uses wheat as a thickener, so this option is not safe by default unless the kitchen can confirm a wheat-free gravy.
(Option) Tomato Basil Soup: By ingredient, this soup is typically wheat-free. Ask staff to confirm there are no wheat thickeners and request a fresh ladle and a clean bowl.
(Option) White Toast: White toast is made from wheat flour and toasted on shared equipment, creating an ingredient-level gluten risk.
Strawberry Go-Gurt: Factory-sealed yogurt is naturally wheat-free and one of the lowest-risk snack options for kids. Sealed packaging removes most cross-contact concerns.
Sadly, if you’re planning on ordering anything here for your kids, it might be worth skipping the kids’ menu and ordering from the adult-friendly menus instead, as most of Perkins’ kids’ menu items are wheat-based and unsafe for celiacs. 🍔🥪🍟🍗
Bakery & Desserts – Ice Cream, Cakes, Mammoth Muffins, Cookies & Pies
Perkins’ bakery and dessert section is almost entirely built from wheat-based bakery goods, cakes, pies, cookies, muffins, and dessert pastries, and to make matters worse, they’re also prepared in cross-contaminated shared bakery areas. 🍧🍨🍦🍮
❌ Carrot Cake
❌ Chocolate Walnut Brownie
❌ Eclair
❌ Fudge Brownie Supreme
⚠️ Ice Cream Sundae, Hot Fudge
⚠️ Ice Cream Sundae, Strawberry
❌ Malt, Chocolate
❌ Malt, Strawberry
❌ Malt, Vanilla
❌ New York Cheesecake
⚠️ Shake, Chocolate
⚠️ Shake, Strawberry
⚠️ Shake, Vanilla
❌ Sweet Sticky Bun
❌ Chocolate Overload Cake
❌ Chocolate Peanut Butter Drop
❌ Raspberry Lemon Drop
❌ Chocolate Chocolate Chip Mammoth Muffin
❌ Cranberry Orange Mammoth Muffin
❌ Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin
❌ Muffin, Apple Cinnamon
❌ Muffin, Banana Nut
❌ Muffin, Blueberry
❌ Pineapple Upside Down Mammoth Muffin
❌ Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mammoth Muffin
❌ Pumpkin Doughnut Mammoth Muffin
❌ Raspberry and Cream Muffin
❌ Chocolate Chip Cookie
❌ Crazy Cookie
❌ Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie
❌ Mini Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie
❌ Mini Sugar Cookie
❌ Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie
❌ Sugar Cookie
❌ Apple Pie
❌ Caramel Apple Pie
❌ Cherry Pie
❌ Homestyle Apple Pie
❌ Lemon Meringue Pie
❌ Pumpkin Pie w/Whipped Cream
❌ Pumpkin Pie
❌ Southern Pecan Pie
❌ Wildberry Pie, No Sugar Added
❌ Banana Cream Pie
❌ Chocolate French Silk Pie
❌ Coconut Cream Pie
❌ Heath Crunch Cheesecake Pie
❌ Key Lime Pie
❌ Peanut Butter Silk Pie
Just to make sure that we got this right, let’s check each dessert in much more detail:
Carrot Cake: Traditional layered carrot cake is baked with wheat flour and frosting. The cake and the frosting are prepared on shared bakery lines, making this an ingredient-level gluten source and unsafe for celiac diners.
Chocolate Walnut Brownie: Brownies use wheat flour and are baked on shared trays. This dessert contains wheat in the ingredients list and is not suitable for strict gluten-free diets.
Eclair: Eclairs are choux-pastry-filled desserts made with wheat flour and prepared in the bakery area. They are an ingredient-level gluten source and should be avoided.
Fudge Brownie Supreme: A premium brownie dessert made with wheat flour and chocolate layers. Because it is a bakery product prepared on shared equipment, it is not safe for those avoiding gluten.
Ice Cream Sundae, Hot Fudge: Although ice cream itself may not contain wheat, the hot fudge sundae at Perkins is prepared at dessert stations that handle bakery mix-ins and cookie crumbs. While not inherently safe, you should be very careful.
Ice Cream Sundae, Strawberry: The strawberry sundae is prepared on shared equipment and topping stations that handle bakery items. Because topping contamination is possible, this sundae should be approached with an abundance of caution.
Malt, Chocolate: Malts are made in shared blenders and may use mix-ins or powders that contain wheat. Because of cross-contact risk at the dessert station, this malt is unsafe.
Malt, Strawberry: Strawberry malts are blended in shared equipment and topping areas that handle cookie or bakery mix-ins. Due to cross-contact potential, treat this as unsafe.
Malt, Vanilla: Vanilla malts are prepared on shared dessert equipment. Even if the base ingredients are wheat-free, the shared prep and topping stations create cross-contact risk.
New York Cheesecake: Cheesecake is made with a wheat-based crust and is prepared in the bakery area. The crust makes this an ingredient-level gluten source and not safe for celiacs.
Shake, Chocolate: Shakes are blended in shared blenders and topping stations. Because blenders and equipment often carry cookie or bakery residues, this shake is a cautionary.
Shake, Strawberry: Strawberry shakes are made on common dessert equipment that can be contaminated by bakery items. Due to cross-contact risk, be careful when ordering this.
Shake, Vanilla: Vanilla shakes are prepared using shared blenders and utensils that may contain crumbs from cookies or pastries, so be wary of high levels of cross-contamination.
Sweet Sticky Bun: Sticky buns are bakery items made with wheat flour and sugary glazes. They are baked on shared trays, making them an ingredient-level gluten source.
Chocolate Overload Cake: A multi-layer chocolate cake made from wheat flour and baked in the bakery. This dessert is an ingredient-level gluten source and unsafe for celiac diners.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Drop: Large cookie-style bakery item made with wheat flour. It is baked and handled in the bakery area, creating ingredient and cross-contact risk.
Raspberry Lemon Drop: A pastry or muffin-style dessert made with wheat flour. Because it is produced in the bakery, this item contains wheat and is not safe.
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Mammoth Muffin: Mammoth muffins use wheat flour and are baked on shared lines. The bakery handling makes these unsafe for strict gluten-free diets.
Cranberry Orange Mammoth Muffin: This large muffin is made with wheat flour and bakery equipment. It is an ingredient-level gluten source and should be avoided.
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin: Muffins are made from wheat flour and prepared in bakery areas that handle many wheat products, making them unsafe for celiac diners.
Muffin, Apple Cinnamon: Apple cinnamon muffins use wheat flour and are baked on shared trays. They are an ingredient-level gluten source and not safe for celiacs.
Muffin, Banana Nut: Banana nut muffins are baked goods containing wheat flour and shared bakery handling. They are not suitable for strict gluten-free diets.
Muffin, Blueberry: Blueberry muffins are made with wheat flour and are produced on common bakery lines, so they are unsafe for celiac diners.
Pineapple Upside Down Mammoth Muffin: Large bakery muffin made with wheat flour and baked in the bakery area, creating ingredient-level gluten exposure and cross-contact risk.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mammoth Muffin: A bakery muffin with wheat-based batter and cream cheese filling. It is prepared in shared bakery spaces and is not safe for strict gluten avoidance.
Pumpkin Doughnut Mammoth Muffin: This doughnut-style bakery item contains wheat flour and is handled with other bakery goods, making it unsafe for celiacs.
Raspberry and Cream Muffin: Muffins with wheat flour and creamy fillings are bakery products prepared on shared lines and are an ingredient-level gluten source.
Chocolate Chip Cookie: Classic cookies are baked from wheat flour and handled on shared bakery trays, so they are not safe for celiac diners.
Crazy Cookie: Specialty cookie made with wheat flour and bakery handling. It is an ingredient-level gluten source and should be avoided.
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie: Even mini cookies use wheat flour and are produced on shared lines, so they are unsafe for strict gluten-free diets.
Mini Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie: These cookies contain wheat in the recipe or are cross-contaminated in bakery production. They’re not safe unless specifically mentioned to be gluten-free.
Mini Sugar Cookie: Small sugar cookies are baked with wheat flour and handled in bakery areas, making them unsuitable for celiac diners.
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie: Full-size oatmeal cranberry cookies contain wheat and are produced in the bakery, so avoid them if you must avoid gluten.
Sugar Cookie: Sugar cookies are straightforward bakery items made with wheat flour and baked on shared trays, so they are not safe for strict gluten-free diets.
Apple Pie: Pie crusts are made with wheat flour, and pies are assembled in the bakery. This is an ingredient-level gluten source and not safe for celiacs.
Caramel Apple Pie: Like other pies, the crust contains wheat and is prepared in the bakery area, making it unsafe for strict gluten-free diets.
Cherry Pie: Traditional cherry pie uses a wheat-based crust and shared bakery prep, so it is not safe for celiac diners.
Homestyle Apple Pie: Bakery-style pie with wheat crust and shared handling. This dessert contains wheat in the ingredients list and should be avoided.
Lemon Meringue Pie: The pie crust contains wheat flour, and the dessert is assembled in the bakery, making this unsafe for strict gluten avoidance.
Pumpkin Pie w/Whipped Cream: Pumpkin pie crusts use wheat flour. Because this is a bakery item, it is an ingredient-level gluten source and not safe.
Pumpkin Pie: Standard pumpkin pie uses a wheat-based crust and shared bakery prep, so it is not suitable for celiac diners, either.
Southern Pecan Pie: Pecan pies are baked on wheat crusts and prepared in the bakery, which makes them unsafe for those avoiding gluten.
Wildberry Pie, No Sugar Added: Even no-sugar-added pies typically use wheat-based crusts. The crust and bakery handling make this an ingredient-level gluten source.
Banana Cream Pie: Cream pies use a wheat crust and are assembled in the bakery area, so they are not safe for strict gluten-free diets.
Chocolate French Silk Pie: Rich pies are made with wheat crusts and are prepared in bakery stations, creating ingredient-level gluten exposure.
Coconut Cream Pie: Coconut cream pies use wheat-based crusts and shared bakery handling, so they are unsafe for celiac diners.
Heath Crunch Cheesecake Pie: Cheesecake pies include wheat-containing crusts or toppers and are prepared in bakery areas, making them not safe.
Key Lime Pie: Key lime pie is built on a wheat or graham crust and assembled in the bakery, which creates an ingredient-level gluten risk.
Peanut Butter Silk Pie: Rich peanut butter pies use wheat-based crusts and are prepared in the bakery, so they are not safe for strict gluten avoidance.
While there are a couple of naturally wheat-free desserts and sweet treats here, mainly the ice cream and not much else, you should consider skipping them entirely, mostly due to the moderate to high levels of cross-contamination at play. 🧁🍰🎂
Drinks
Like most restaurants, beverages are generally quite safe gluten-wise, and the same could be said for Perkins’ drinks selection, with all of their beverages being naturally free of any wheat ingredients, but be wary of cross-contamination. ☕🍵🥤🍹
✅ Orange Juice
✅ Tomato Juice
✅ Apple Juice
✅ Cranberry Juice
✅ Coffee
✅ Decaf Coffee
✅ Hot Tea
✅ Iced Tea
✅ Hot Chocolate
✅ Chocolate Milk
✅ Milk
Just to be extra sure, let’s check out what each of these refreshing beverages is made of:
Orange Juice: Factory-sealed orange juice is naturally gluten-free and has the lowest risk. If it’s freshly squeezed or dispensed from a container, ask that the pitcher or the dispenser be cleaned and kept away from bakery areas.
Tomato Juice: Tomato juice is gluten-free by recipe and ingredient. You should prefer sealed containers when available, and if it is poured from a dispenser, ask the staff to wipe the nozzle first.
Apple Juice: Sealed apple juice is safe for celiac diners. If it’s served from a fountain or dispenser, request a fresh pour from a clean spout to reduce any remote risk of cross-contact.
Cranberry Juice: Cranberry juice contains no wheat ingredients. Bottled service is ideal, or even from a can, but freshly poured juice is also low risk when handled cleanly.
Coffee: Plain brewed coffee is gluten-free. The main risks are flavored syrups, shared steam wands, or cookie crumbs around the station. Ask for plain coffee or confirm that any flavorings are gluten-free.
Decaf Coffee: Decaffeinated coffee follows the same rules as regular coffee. Request plain decaf and avoid flavored shots unless you confirm they are gluten-free.
Hot Tea: Hot brewed tea is naturally gluten-free. If you use add-in syrups or mix-ins, check their ingredients. Ask for a fresh pot if you are worried about shared teapots or nearby baked goods.
Iced Tea: Iced tea is gluten-free by ingredient. For fountain or pitcher service, ask staff to wipe the nozzle or pour from a clean pitcher to lower any cross-contact chances.
Hot Chocolate: Hot chocolate mixes are usually wheat-free, but shared steam wands, topping stations, or cookie mix-ins can cause contamination. Ask staff to use a cleaned pitcher and avoid add-ins unless sealed.
Chocolate Milk: Packaged chocolate milk is safe when factory-sealed. If it is prepared from a shared dispenser or with flavored syrups, confirm the process and request clean equipment.
Milk: Plain milk in sealed containers or cartons is one of the safest options. If milk is poured from a bulk dispenser, ask that the spout be cleaned first.
Typically, if and when possible, my advice would be to pick factory-sealed bottles or cans, or even single-serve cups for the lowest possible cross-contact risk, but otherwise, you could ask the staff about the shared dispensers, blenders, or steam wands. 🧃🧊
To Sum Up
As a whole, I’d give Perkins a pass as a recommended spot for celiac diners, mainly because they include a handy gluten-sensitive menu, albeit rather small compared to the rest of the menu, but it’s nevertheless a really cool touch. 📑
Of course, that’s not to say that you can simply dine at Perkins without a single worry in the world, as there are genuine hazards to look out for if you’re a celiac, or if you have a severe gluten intolerance or sensitivity, as well. 🍔🥪🍟
For starters, a sizeable chunk of their menu is off-limits to celiacs, most notably due to their heavy inclusion of wheat and glutenous components, whether you’re looking at the lunch, dinner, or breakfast menus, and everywhere else, too. 🥓
From skillets to pancakes and waffles, to breaded proteins, sandwiches, and their desserts, too. As a result, it does restrict you to a much tinier portion of Perkins’ menu that’s actually safe for celiacs, and it’s not a huge amount. 🥞🧇🥩
Nonetheless, at least you still have safe options, from plain egg-based breakfast dishes to a couple of their delicious sides, extras, and classic comfort foods, which is enough for me to give Perkins a cautionary recommendation. 👍👍👍
In the meantime, if you want recommendations on other restaurants with plenty of gluten-free items, make sure to stay tuned to us here at Great Without Gluten for even more celiac-friendly and gluten-free eating out guides! ✍📝
And, while you’re here, you might also want to check out my other gluten-free menu guides and some tasty gluten‑free recipes!
If you’re craving other fast-food or casual dining chains and gourmet meals, do check out my other celiac-friendly, gluten-free dining out guides to Arby’s, In-N-Out, Del Taco, Noodles and Company, California Pizza Kitchen, Raising Cane’s, Baskin-Robbins, El Pollo Loco, Zaxby’s, Rainforest Cafe, Bojangles, Smashburger, Golden Corral, and more! 🍔🍟🍗
Stay safe and gluten‑aware, my celiac friends! 💖🥗
Frequently Asked Questions
While working on this Perkins gluten-free menu guide, I came across some very interesting questions floating around social media and some foodie forums, particularly on Reddit, so I thought I’d try and answer those questions here:
Does Perkins have gluten-free options?
Perkins does have a tiny selection of gluten-sensitive menu items. Most of these are simple proteins, eggs, vegetables, and some sides. Still, you should approach them with caution, as their use of shared grills, fryers, and prep spaces poses a huge cross-contamination risk.
Are there gluten-free breakfast options at Perkins?
Yes, but they’re limited. You can safely order eggs cooked any style, some meats, and a few sides like fruit or unseasoned vegetables. Otherwise, their pancakes, French toast, waffles, muffins, and anything from the griddle are generally made with wheat, so avoid them.
Are Perkins’ fries gluten-free?
No. Perkins’ fries aren’t safe for celiac diners and anyone with a severe gluten intolerance or sensitivity because they’re cooked in shared fryers (with shared fryer oil) with breaded items. Even if the ingredients don’t contain any wheat, the shared oil makes them unsafe.
What gluten-free desserts can I get at Perkins?
Dessert choices for gluten-free diners are extremely limited. Most of Perkins’ pies, cakes, muffins, and cookies contain wheat. Your safest options are ice cream and sundaes, but be wary of any bakery add-ins, and choose only the plain hot fudge and strawberry topping.
Is Perkins safe for people with celiac disease?
Perkins can work for some celiac diners, but you’ll need to be cautious. They use shared prep surfaces, fryers, toasters, and utensils, so cross-contact is a real possibility. Stick to simple grilled proteins, eggs, or sealed drinks, and let your server know to be extra careful.
Photo Credit
Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Hi, I am Becky. I am a passionate recipe maker and having been a coeliac (celiac) for 30+ years I focus on gluten-free recipes. My blog is my online cookbook of gluten-free tasty recipes. You can follow me on X: @beckygwg
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