Ultimate PF Chang’s Gluten-Free Menu Guide For 2025
Let’s check out what the PF Chang’s gluten-free menu has to offer, from spicy beef to juicy chicken and Southeast Asian staples, so you can indulge without worry.
Asian cuisine has always been a bit of a sore spot for celiacs like me, and for the last 30 years, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag, given how synonymous wheat and gluten are in Asian foods. 🍚
However, not all is bad news, and some Asian restaurant chains have begun adapting to make their delectable staples fit for all sorts of dietary restrictions, including gluten intolerance. 🥡
There’s no better example here than PF Chang’s, which even has a dedicated gluten-free menu, and some of their menu items can even be made gluten-free upon request, too. 🍜🍤🍱🥟
This includes their delectable lettuce wraps, Mongolian beef, spicy chicken, fried rice, Pad Thai, Singaporean-style street noodles, soups, and more… All made and prepped to be gluten-free!
Of course, it’s not completely without hurdles, as most of PF Chang’s menu is brimming with a flurry of wheat and gluten, and thus, a huge chunk of their menu is hazardous for celiacs. 🥮
Nevertheless, it’s a good start, so follow along and let’s check out and break down their menu, in addition to the official PF Chang’s gluten-free menu, and let’s explore what’s safe to order.
Table of Contents
Disclaimer
With that said, even though there is an official PF Chang’s gluten-free menu that you can order from, PF Chang’s itself doesn’t generally operate dedicated gluten-free kitchens and facilities.
In other words, this means that all their menu items are prepared using shared woks, utensils, and fryers, and PF Chang’s doesn’t certify these dishes to meet the FDA’s <20 ppm standard.
That’s the threshold for something to be considered ‘certified gluten-free, ‘ and PF Chang’s will not necessarily meet those standards, even with menu items that are technically wheat-free.
Personally, I’d suggest taking their menus with a grain of salt, and treat even the most gluten-free items here more like ‘gluten-friendly’ or ‘gluten-sensitive’, owing to cross-contamination.
I’ve learned through experience that even the safest selections can still sometimes pick up any trace of gluten in transit, or while my food is being prepped, so caution is always advised. ✍️📑
It’s also not a bad idea to inform your server or the kitchen staff about your dietary needs, so they can be careful: e.g., wearing fresh gloves, using clean utensils, and wiping prep surfaces.
PF Chang’s Allergen Policy (Gluten-Free)
On the bright side, PF Chang’s does make it a bit easier for you to filter out their menu for all the dishes and meals that you can’t safely order, and figure out what is safe, instead. 🥩🍖
First up, head over to the official PF Chang’s website, and find the nutrition page, which I have linked here for your convenience. Once you’re there, you’ll find three pretty handy links:
- The first link there opens up the PF Chang’s Nutritional Guide, where you can find a detailed breakdown of the nutritional data for every single menu item. This includes calories, fat, fiber, sugar, protein, carbs, cholesterol, and more, so use this if you’re being careful about your diet.
- That second link there opens up the PF Chang’s gluten-free menu, and they make it really easy for celiacs, like me, as well as folks with gluten intolerance or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and simply order straight from this menu, without having to worry about filtering the whole menu.
- Alternatively, the third link opens up the PF Chang’s Allergen Matrix, where you could find the detailed breakdown of every single allergen that’s included in each menu item, if you prefer to filter out the menu manually. For celiacs, avoid any menu item that includes ‘Wheat’ in it.
Additionally, for the sake of completeness, the aforementioned Nutritional Guide and Allergen Guide also include PF Chang’s To-Go service, so check that out here, as well as here, too! 📝
Speaking of, remember to check in and refresh yourself on both the Nutritional Guide and the Allergen Guide, as PF Chang’s will keep them updated and change them every once in a while.
This is usually when there’s a change in the recipes, ingredients, suppliers, or when new menu items get added, so it’s worth double-checking them, especially the allergens, before ordering.
Lunch Specials
For a quick and hearty midday meal, the PF Chang’s lunch menu offers a huge variety of tasty, complete meals, and while most of these aren’t gluten-free, a few of them could be. 🍚🥩🍗
❌ Lunch Soup & Salad
❌ Chang’s Lunch Favorites
⚠️ Mongolian Beef Lunch Special
⚠️ Beef with Broccoli Lunch Special
❌ Teriyaki Beef Lunch Special
⚠️ Chang’s Spicy Chicken Lunch Special
❌ Crispy Honey Chicken Lunch Special
❌ Sesame Chicken Lunch Special
❌ Orange Chicken Lunch Special
❌ Teriyaki Chicken Lunch Special
❌ Korean Fried Chicken Lunch Special
❌ Firecracker Shrimp Lunch Special
❌ Miso Glazed Salmon Lunch Special
❌ Mongolian Tofu Lunch Special
Just so we’re sure, let’s check out what these mouthwatering lunch specials are made of:
Lunch Soup & Salad: A cup of Hot & Sour or Egg Drop soup that’s paired with a side salad and ginger-sesame dressing. However, the soup bases and the dressing contain wheat, which will make this hazardous for celiacs and folks with severe gluten intolerance.
Chang’s Lunch Favorites: Two half‑portions selected from various appetizers and entrées, and most of them contain wheat in sauces, batters, or dressings, and they cannot be modified safely.
Mongolian Beef Lunch Special: Tender flank steak that’s been stir‑fried with scallions and garlic in a naturally gluten‑free brown sauce. Just remember to request the gluten‑free soy substitute and a clean wok for a celiac‑safe meal, and with minimal cross-contamination.
Beef with Broccoli Lunch Special: Flank steak and broccoli in a garlic‑ginger sauce that’s made without wheat thickeners. Once again, remember to ask for gluten‑free soy and fresh utensils to minimize cross‑contact, which would make this a fairly safe choice for celiacs.
Teriyaki Beef Lunch Special: Flank steak glazed in sweet teriyaki sauce. The teriyaki sauce will contain wheat, so this particular dish cannot be adapted to be gluten‑free, sadly.
Chang’s Spicy Chicken Lunch Special: Sliced chicken wok‑tossed with dried chilies in a nice chili-garlic sauce that is naturally gluten‑free. Another one of the items here that could be modified to be gluten-free, make sure you specify gluten‑free soy, and clean prep surfaces.
Crispy Honey Chicken Lunch Special: Hand‑breaded chicken in honey‑garlic glaze. The wheat-flour breading here makes this unsafe for gluten‑free diets, and it’s a no-go for celiacs.
Sesame Chicken Lunch Special: Breaded chicken in sesame‑soy sauce. Both the batter and the sauce contain wheat, so this specific dish cannot be modified to be gluten‑free, either.
Orange Chicken Lunch Special: Crispy chicken in tangy orange‑peel sauce. The breading and that accompanying sauce rely on wheat, making this off‑limits if you’re gluten intolerant.
Teriyaki Chicken Lunch Special: Grilled chicken in teriyaki glaze with vegetables and rice. The teriyaki contains wheat, and thus, it cannot be made gluten‑free, even with modifications.
Korean Fried Chicken Lunch Special: Double‑fried chicken wings in Korean‑style sauce. Alas, the breading and the sauce both contain wheat, which makes this unsafe for gluten‑free diets.
Firecracker Shrimp Lunch Special: Lightly battered shrimp in a creamy, sweet‑spicy sauce. The batter and the sauce contain wheat, making this another unsafe pick for celiacs, too.
Miso Glazed Salmon Lunch Special: Salmon fillet with miso‑honey glaze. Miso contains barley malt (which contains gluten), so do avoid this if you’re highly sensitive to gluten.
Mongolian Tofu Lunch Special: Crispy tofu in Mongolian brown sauce. The sauce uses wheat thickeners, and it also cannot be modified to be celiac‑safe and gluten-free, either.
In short, if you, a fellow celiac, are having lunch at PF Chang’s, just remember to order from the three lunch specials there, which could at least be safely modified to be gluten-free. 🔥🥦🌶️
Appetizers
For a bit of variety, the PF Chang’s appetizers menu spans fresh veggie bites, some hand-rolled delights, and shareable plates, but sadly, only one of these could be made gluten-free. 🥬🍣
⚠️ Chang’s Lettuce Wraps
❌ Edamame
❌ Veggie Spring Rolls
❌ Pork Egg Rolls
❌ Crispy Green Beans
❌ Dynamite Shrimp
❌ Pork Dumplings
❌ Shrimp Dumplings
❌ Crab Wontons
❌ Popcorn Chicken
❌ BBQ Pork Spare Ribs
❌ Northern‑Style Pork Spare Ribs
❌ California Roll
❌ Dynamite Roll
For comparison with the other items here, let’s check out what these appetizers are made of:
Chang’s Lettuce Wraps: Minced chicken or tofu stir‑fried with scallions and water chestnuts in a savory ginger-soy sauce. You could alternatively request the gluten‑free soy substitute and a clean wok, and then serve it over crisp lettuce cups for a safe, celiac‑friendly starter.
Edamame: Steamed young soybeans sprinkled with sea salt. The edamame themselves are gluten‑free, but they’re then served in a shared steamer with other wheat‑seasoned items, which results in pretty high cross-contamination risks.
Veggie Spring Rolls: Rice‑paper rolls filled with vegetables, then served with sweet chili dipping sauce. Though the wrapper is rice-based, the dipping sauce contains wheat, and the rolls often share fryers, which ultimately makes it unsafe for gluten‑free diets.
Pork Egg Rolls: Crispy deep‑fried egg roll wrappers stuffed with seasoned pork and vegetables. The wheat‑flour wrappers and shared fryer oil make these off‑limits for celiacs, too.
Crispy Green Beans: Tempura‑style green beans fried in a wheat batter. The batter contains wheat flour, and they share fryer oil with other battered items, so avoid this one, as well.
Dynamite Shrimp: Lightly battered shrimp tossed in spicy mayo. The wheat‑flour coating and the shared fryer, plus gluten in the sauce, render this item unsuitable for gluten‑free diets.
Pork Dumplings: Steamed or pan‑fried wheat‑wrapper dumplings filled with seasoned pork. Both the wrappers and the dipping sauces contain wheat, and they can’t be made gluten‑free.
Shrimp Dumplings: Wheat‑wrapper dumplings stuffed with shrimp. The wrappers contain wheat, and the shared steamer baskets introduce cross‑contamination, making it a no-go.
Crab Wontons: Deep‑fried wontons filled with imitation crab and cream cheese. The wheat wrappers and the fryer cross‑contact make these hazardous if you’re gluten intolerant.
Popcorn Chicken: Bite‑sized chicken pieces that are breaded and then fried. The wheat‑flour breading and the shared fryer oil mean this dish cannot be made celiac‑safe, either.
BBQ Pork Spare Ribs: Pork ribs glazed in sweet barbecue sauce. The sauce includes soy and wheat, and the ribs share prep surfaces with gluten items, so it’s unsafe if you’re a celiac.
Northern‑Style Pork Spare Ribs: Slow‑braised pork ribs in a five‑spice soy glaze. The glaze contains wheat, and the ribs share saucing stations, so it’s a dangerous combo all around.
California Roll: Sushi roll with crab, avocado, and cucumber wrapped in rice and seaweed. The imitation crab contains wheat, and the pickled ginger or soy dip contains gluten, too.
Dynamite Roll: Spicy shrimp tempura roll topped with spicy mayo. Both the tempura batter and the sauce contain wheat, and no gluten‑free substitute or modification is available.
All in all, it’s not looking good if you’re a celiac or if you have a severe gluten sensitivity, given that there’s only one appetizer here that’s remotely gluten-free, with modifications. 🍤🥟
Soups & Salads
If you thought there’s reprieve for celiacs among PF Chang’s soups and salads, with their warm bowls and crisp greens, I’m sad to report that only a single one here is gluten-free. 🥗🍲🥣
⚠️ Egg Drop Soup
❌ Wonton Soup
❌ Hot & Sour Soup
❌ Asian Caesar Salad
❌ Thai Peanut Salad
❌ Mandarin Crunch Salad
❌ House Salad
Let’s check out these soups and salads in more detail and figure out why most are unsafe:
Egg Drop Soup: Silky broth whisked with beaten eggs, scallions, and white pepper. Just make sure you ask for the gluten‑free soy sauce and a fresh ladle, and with those simple changes in mind, this hearty soup could be ordered and modified safely for celiacs.
Wonton Soup: Savory broth studded with pork‑and‑shrimp wontons. The wheat‑flour wrappers and the shared broth station introduce gluten, and sadly, it cannot be made gluten‑free.
Hot & Sour Soup: Tangy‑spicy broth with tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and egg. Thickened with wheat‑based starch and seasoned with soy sauce containing wheat, it’s unsafe for celiacs.
Asian Caesar Salad: Crisp romaine tossed in a creamy ginger‑garlic dressing with Parmesan and wonton strips. The dressing and the crispy strips both contain wheat, making it a no-go.
Thai Peanut Salad: Mixed greens with shredded cabbage, carrots, and cilantro, drizzled in a sweet‑savory peanut dressing. The dressing uses soy sauce with wheat, with no GF options.
Mandarin Crunch Salad: Greens topped with Mandarin oranges, almonds, crispy noodles, and sesame‑ginger dressing. The fried noodle garnish and dressing both contain wheat, too.
House Salad: Seasonal greens, cucumbers, carrots, and tomato with a choice of dressings. Most dressings contain wheat or barley‑malt vinegar, but the crouton‑free salad still risks cross‑contamination, meaning that there’s no guaranteed gluten‑free option.
So, if you were hoping that a bunch of soups and salads are naturally gluten-free, you’re quite wrong here, I’m afraid, with PF Chang’s offering just one, singular celiac-safe option. 🍄🥚🧄
Main Entrees
On the other hand, if you’re after something a bit more satisfying and filling, the main entrées at PF Chang’s encompass a wide array of different wok-tossed classics, though not all are safe.
Like the others that we’ve looked at thus far, most of PF Chang’s menu items contain wheat or soy sauce (which has gluten), though a few here can be modified to be gluten-free. 🌶️🍯🥩
⚠️ Mongolian Beef
⚠️ Beef With Broccoli
⚠️ Chang’s Spicy Chicken
⚠️ Chicken With Broccoli
❌ Black Pepper Chicken
❌ Salt & Pepper Prawns
❌ Pepper Steak
❌ Teriyaki Beef
❌ Kung Pao Beef
❌ Sesame Beef
❌ Kung Pao Chicken
❌ Crispy Honey Chicken
❌ Sesame Chicken
❌ Orange Chicken
❌ Teriyaki Chicken
❌ Sweet & Sour Chicken
❌ Korean Fried Chicken
❌ Crispy Honey Shrimp
❌ Firecracker Shrimp
❌ Miso Glazed Salmon
❌ Buddha’s Feast | Stir‑Fried
❌ Mongolian Tofu
❌ Ma Po Tofu
❌ Mongolian Trio
❌ Teriyaki Trio
Let’s find out what these entrées are made of, and figure out what makes them (un)safe:
Mongolian Beef: Tender slices of beef wok‑seared with scallions in a savory‑sweet glaze. All you need to do is ask for gluten‑free soy sauce and rice wine substitutes to make it safe.
Beef With Broccoli: Sliced beef and crisp broccoli florets in a light garlic‑soy sauce. Again, ask for gluten‑free soy sauce to enjoy this stir‑fry without worrying about traces of gluten.
Chang’s Spicy Chicken: Crispy‑tossed chicken bites coated in a bold, chili‑garlic sauce. Swap in PF Chang’s gluten‑free soy sauce and some cornstarch batter for a celiac-safe, fiery kick.
Chicken With Broccoli: Tender chicken breast and broccoli in a garlic‑ginger sauce. Simply ask for the gluten‑free soy sauce and a clean wok to keep this entrée safe from contamination.
Black Pepper Chicken: Chicken wok‑tossed with bell peppers and onions in a black‑pepper oyster sauce that contains wheat, and sadly, it can’t be modified to become gluten-free.
Salt & Pepper Prawns: Lightly battered prawns fried with chili and scallions. The wheat flour coating and shared fryer oil make this unsafe for gluten‑free diets and for celiacs alike.
Pepper Steak: Strips of beef and green peppers in a peppery brown sauce that’s thickened with wheat starch, which is unsafe for celiacs, as well as folks with a severe gluten intolerance.
Teriyaki Beef: Beef strips glazed in a sweet teriyaki sauce made with wheat‑containing soy, and unlike the few gluten-free options here, this one cannot be made gluten‑free, unfortunately.
Kung Pao Beef: Stir‑fried beef with peanuts and vegetables in a spicy sauce that has since been thickened with wheat flour, thus making it quite unsafe for strict gluten‑free diets or celiacs.
Sesame Beef: Crispy‑tossed beef glazed in a sweet‑savory sesame sauce that contains wheat, and once again, that ought to make it unsuitable for celiacs, or if you’re gluten intolerant.
Kung Pao Chicken: Diced chicken, peanuts, and chilies in a tangy sauce made with wheat soy, and sadly, it cannot be modified or updated safely to fit strict gluten-free diets.
Crispy Honey Chicken: Breaded chicken bites coated in honey sauce containing wheat flour, which makes it pretty unsafe and dangerous for gluten‑free diets, as well as celiacs.
Sesame Chicken: Crispy chicken pieces tossed in sweet sesame sauce with wheat‑based soy, and as with most other entrées here, there are no gluten-free alternatives, either.
Orange Chicken: Breaded chicken in a sweet citrus sauce thickened with wheat, and it cannot be made gluten‑free, nor are there gluten-free substitutes or options for it.
Teriyaki Chicken: Chicken glazed in wheat‑based teriyaki sauce, which makes it unsuitable for strict gluten‑free diets, in addition to anyone here with high gluten sensitivity.
Sweet & Sour Chicken: Breaded chicken tossed in a sweet‑tangy sauce thickened with wheat flour, which also cannot be modified safely or changed to become gluten-free.
Korean Fried Chicken: Double‑fried chicken bites in a spicy glaze that contains wheat, and it comes with a pretty high risk of cross-contamination from the shared fryer oil, too.
Crispy Honey Shrimp: Breaded shrimp coated in honey sauce containing wheat flour, and it’s unmodifiable to make it gluten-free and celiac-safe, even with a special order.
Firecracker Shrimp: Crispy shrimp in a spicy‑sweet sauce made with wheat soy, and like most other dishes here, there are no gluten-free options or alternatives available.
Miso Glazed Salmon: Salmon glazed in miso sauce made with barley (which does contain gluten), and you should 100% avoid this if you’re on a strict gluten-free diet.
Buddha’s Feast | Stir‑Fried: A medley of vegetables and tofu in a sauce thickened with wheat starch, with no gluten-free modifications or special orders available, either.
Mongolian Tofu: Crispy tofu in Mongolian sauce containing wheat soy, and it also cannot be modified safely to turn it into a gluten-free meal, unlike the first few that we looked at.
Ma Po Tofu: Silken tofu and ground pork in a spicy bean sauce that uses wheat flour, which is unsafe for celiacs and folks with severe gluten intolerance, not to mention the cross-contact.
Mongolian Trio: A combination of beef, chicken, and shrimp all prepared in a huge variety of different wheat‑based sauces, and as you might imagine, it can’t be modified.
Teriyaki Trio: Beef, chicken, and shrimp glazed in teriyaki sauce made with wheat soy, and as with the others here, it can’t be modified to become gluten-free or celiac-safe.
In short, most of PF Chang’s entrées are a strict no-go zone for celiacs, with only a few of them capable of being modified to become gluten-free with a special, custom request. 🍖🍲🥫🍗
Noodles & Rice
There is some good news here at least, as most of the noodles and rice items in the PF Chang’s menu can be made gluten-free, with celiac-safe wok‑stirred noodles and rice bowls. 🍚🥢🍜
⚠️ Fried Rice
❌ Signature Lo Mein
⚠️ Pad Thai
⚠️ Singapore Street Noodles
Then again, just to make extra sure, let’s check out what these dishes are made out of:
Fried Rice: Wok‑tossed jasmine rice with egg, peas, carrots, and scallions, but remember to ask for gluten‑free soy sauce and omit any wheat‑containing add‑ins to make it celiac-safe.
Signature Lo Mein: Soft wheat‑based noodles stir‑fried with vegetables and sauce, though this contains wheat flour, and it also can’t be made gluten‑free, or are there GF alternatives.
Pad Thai: Rice noodles with egg, bean sprouts, peanuts, and tamarind sauce, and ensure they use gluten‑free tamari or soy sauce, as well as a clean wok to keep the cross-contact risks low.
Singapore Street Noodles: Rice vermicelli tossed with shrimp, chicken, egg, and curry spices, but make sure you ask for the optional gluten‑free soy sauce, and confirm no shared noodle strainers to avoid cross‑contact, too.
So, with the exception of just one dish here, at least this part of the PF Chang’s menu gives you a bit more variety, though remember to specify the gluten-free versions to your server. 🥡🎑
Shareable Sides
Ah, but we’re back on the non-gluten-free train once more, as all of PF Chang’s very crispy and wok‑tossed vegetable sides are brimming with gluten, and they can’t be modified. 🥒🥗🥦
❌ Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
❌ Chili‑Garlic Green Beans
❌ Korean‑Style Cauliflower
❌ Cold Cucumber Salad
Let’s take a closer look at these sides and figure out why they’re such a bad option for celiacs:
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts: Crispy roasted Brussels sprouts tossed in a spicy Kung Pao sauce containing soy sauce (wheat) and peanuts, making this unsafe for gluten‑free diets.
Chili‑Garlic Green Beans: Wok‑tossed green beans in a chili‑garlic sauce made with wheat-based soy sauce and shared sauce prep stations, rendering it unsuitable for celiacs.
Korean‑Style Cauliflower: Tempura‑style fried cauliflower florets coated in a Korean chili glaze that lists wheat in both the batter and the sauce, making it off‑limits for those avoiding gluten.
Cold Cucumber Salad: Chilled cucumber ribbons dressed in a sesame‑soy vinaigrette containing wheat‑based soy sauce, and prepared on shared equipment, so it’s unsafe for gluten‑free diets.
With this in mind, if you’re a celiac, and if you’re gluten intolerant, avoid PF Chang’s shareable veggie sides, and consider ordering something else from their menu; a safer option. 🍅🥕🥬
Dessert
For a sweet end to your visit to your local PF Chang’s, celiacs aren’t going to find much in their dessert menu, but at the very least, there’s a singular, gluten-free option available. 🍫🍮🍰
❌ New York‑Style Cheesecake
❌ The Great Wall of Chocolate
❌ Banana Spring Rolls
❌ Key Lime Pie
❌ Red Velvet Cake
❌ Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Pie
⚠️ Chocolate Soufflé
Let’s now take a deeper dive into PF Chang’s sweet treats and see what they’re made of:
New York‑Style Cheesecake: Creamy cheesecake filling over a traditional graham‑cracker crust that’s made with wheat, making it unsafe for gluten‑free diets, and it can’t be modified.
The Great Wall of Chocolate: Multi‑layered chocolate mousse and cake tower built on a wheat-flour sponge base, rendering this dessert off‑limits to celiacs, or if you’re gluten intolerant.
Banana Spring Rolls: Sliced bananas wrapped in wheat‑flour spring roll wrappers, and they’re then fried to a crisp, which contains gluten and wheat at every bite; again, not safe for celiacs.
Key Lime Pie: Tangy lime custard nestled in a wheat‑flour pastry crust, so this one is unsuitable for anyone avoiding gluten, and it can’t be modified to become gluten-free, either.
Red Velvet Cake: Moist red velvet layers baked with wheat flour and topped with cream cheese icing, making it downright hazardous for celiacs, or if you’re highly sensitive to gluten.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Pie: Rich chocolate and peanut‑butter filling in a wheat‑flour cookie crust, which contains gluten throughout the entire pie, and a no-go for celiacs.
Chocolate Soufflé: Light, airy chocolate soufflé dusted with cocoa, which could be prepared gluten‑free upon request by omitting any wheat‑based thickeners and cooking it in a clean ramekin.
While this doesn’t look that great, at least celiacs and people with gluten intolerance could still enjoy some dessert, even if it’s just a single one, when you’re dining out at PF Chang’s. 🥧🎂
Kids
Other than that, PF Chang’s offers a delectable selection of child‑friendly entrées, but most are breaded or have been sauced with wheat‑based ingredients, except for just one. 🍗🍯🍊🍜
❌ Kids Honey Chicken
❌ Kids Sweet & Sour Chicken
❌ Kids Orange Chicken
❌ Kids Teriyaki Chicken
❌ Kids Teriyaki Beef
❌ Kids Lo Mein
❌ Baby Buddha’s Feast Stir‑Fried
⚠️ Kids Fried Rice
Just so we’re absolutely certain that these are safe, let’s find out what they’re made of:
Kids Honey Chicken: Bite‑sized chicken pieces tossed in honey‑glaze sauce, which contains wheat‑based thickeners, making it unsafe for celiacs and for folks with gluten intolerance.
Kids Sweet & Sour Chicken: Breaded chicken in sweet and sour sauce, with wheat flour in the coating and sauce, so avoid this you need to maintain a very strict gluten‑free diet.
Kids Orange Chicken: Crispy chicken gilded with orange‑soy sauce that contains wheat, thus rendering it unsuitable for gluten‑free diets, and it can’t be modified otherwise.
Kids Teriyaki Chicken: Grilled chicken glazed in teriyaki sauce made with soy and wheat, which makes this dish unsafe for celiacs, so avoid this if you’re highly sensitive to gluten.
Kids Teriyaki Beef: Strips of beef coated in teriyaki sauce that happens to list wheat among its ingredients, so it’s off‑limits for strict gluten‑free diets, not to mention for celiacs, too.
Kids Lo Mein: Stir‑fried noodles in a savory sauce, but the egg noodles contain wheat flour, making this dish unsafe for gluten‑free diners, and it can’t be changed to become GF.
Baby Buddha’s Feast Stir‑Fried: Assorted vegetables and tofu in a soy‑garlic sauce containing wheat, and like most others here, you can’t make a special request to modify it.
Kids Fried Rice: Traditional fried rice with eggs, peas, and carrots, and this dish could also be prepared gluten‑free upon request by using a gluten‑free soy substitute and a clean wok.
If your kids are dining out at PF Chang’s, I certainly hope they’ll be okay with just the fried rice, as it’s the only kid’s menu item here that could be modified to become gluten-free. 🍚🥢🥡
Beverages
Whether you’re after fruit-infused lemonades to classic teas and soft drinks, I think it’s safe for celiacs to reliably bet on PF Chang’s drinks menu, at least the non-alcoholic ones. 🥤🧃🍵🍹
✅ Pomegranate Lemonade
✅ Peach Boba Breeze
✅ Strawberry Cucumber Limeade
✅ Freshly Brewed Iced Tea
✅ Lemonade
✅ Bottled Water
✅ Coca‑Cola Soft Drinks
✅ Pot Of Full Leaf Tea
For the sake of completeness, let’s just double-check that these drinks are properly celiac-safe:
Pomegranate Lemonade: Hand‑shaken with real pomegranate juice and freshly squeezed lemon, which thankfully contains no gluten ingredients, and it’s naturally wheat-free.
Peach Boba Breeze: Iced tea blended with peach flavor and tapioca pearls. The tapioca is gluten‑free, but ask the staff to rinse the shaker and straws to minimize cross‑contact.
Strawberry Cucumber Limeade: Made with fresh strawberries, cucumber, and lime juice. All these individual components and ingredients are naturally gluten‑free and wheat-free.
Freshly Brewed Iced Tea: Brewed on‑site from premium tea leaves, which are gluten‑free by ingredient, though you may want to request a quick spigot wipe, just to be extra safe.
Lemonade: Classic lemonade from freshly squeezed lemons, sugar, and water, which are all naturally gluten‑free, though just confirm with the staff that the dispensers are clean.
Bottled Water: Factory‑sealed and free of any gluten risk, and since it’s factory sealed, it’s probably the safest option here, especially when it comes to cross-contamination.
Coca‑Cola Soft Drinks: Fountain‑poured sodas (Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, etc.) with no gluten ingredients, though you might want to ask for a nozzle wipe before filling, just in case.
Pot Of Full Leaf Tea: Loose‑leaf tea steeped to order, which naturally contains no wheat or gluten, but ensure that the pot and the filters are cleaned between uses, too.
Other than the risks that come with cross-contamination and using shared dispensers, most of the drinks at PF Chang’s are pretty safe for celiacs and folks with gluten intolerance. 🍸☕️
To Sum Up
In summary, the majority of PF Chang’s menus are entirely out of bounds for celiacs, which, once again, is not too surprising, given that they specialize in Asian food. 🥡🍚
As such, most of their entrées, appetizers, soups, salads, sides, desserts, and their kids’ menus contain traces of wheat and gluten aplenty, with very few celiac-safe options otherwise! 🍱
However, it’s not all bad, and I do appreciate that PF Chang’s makes a great effort in making it easier for celiacs, as well as those with gluten sensitivities and intolerance, to dine there. 🍣
Between the readily accessible PF Chang’s gluten-free menu and how visibly they highlight all those items that could be modified to become gluten-free, they make it far less daunting. 🥟
Plus, all those menu items that could be, via a special request, made gluten-free, they’re quite heavy, filling, and satisfying dishes, too, so as a celiac, you aren’t just stuck ordering sides. 🍛
With a bowl of warm, spicy beef or chicken, and a plate full of rice, and perhaps even noodles and desserts on the side, a trip to PF Chang’s does not have to leave you starving for more!
In the meantime, if you want recommendations on other restaurants with an equally decent selection 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 eating out 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 Starbucks (UK), Costa Coffee, Jack In The Box, Jersey Mike’s, Dairy Queen, Shake Shack, Cracker Barrel, Wingstop, Culver’s, Chili’s, First Watch, Potbelly and more! 🍔🍟🍗
Stay safe and gluten‑aware, my celiac friends! 💖🥗
Frequently Asked Questions
As I was working on this PF Chang’s gluten-free guide, I came across a handful of interesting questions posted on social media and elsewhere, so here’s my attempt at answering them:
Does PF Chang’s offer gluten‑free menu options?
Yes! PF Chang’s provides a decent number of naturally gluten-free dishes that can be modified upon request, thus making them gluten-free and celiac-safe, and some of these dishes include the Mongolian Beef, Chang’s Spicy Chicken, Egg Drop Soup, and loads more. Of course, ensure that you let the server know about your specific dietary needs and preferences.
Which PF Chang’s appetizers are gluten-free?
The only appetizer in the PF Chang’s menu that could be made gluten‑free upon request is the Chang’s Lettuce Wraps (which is prepared with gluten‑free soy sauce if you ask for it). All their other starters and appetizers rely on wheat‑based wrappers, batters, or shared fryers, and it’s best to avoid them if you’re strictly gluten‑free or if you’re gluten intolerant.
What entrées at PF Chang’s are safe for a gluten‑free diet?
The few gluten-free entrées at PF Chang’s include the Mongolian Beef, the Beef with Broccoli, the Chang’s Spicy Chicken, and the Chicken with Broccoli, which can be ordered upon request to make these gluten-free. Of course, remember to ask your server to use gluten‑free sauces and to prepare these dishes in a clean wok or pan to minimize cross‑contact.
Can I get gluten‑free rice or noodles at PF Chang’s?
Yes! PF Chang’s Fried Rice, Pad Thai, and Singapore Street Noodles could be made gluten‑free upon request by using gluten‑free soy sauce and ensuring no cross‑contact with wheat‑based Lo Mein or wheat-based sauces, thus reducing cross-contamination. For context, either corn-based or rice‑based starches are used instead of wheat flour in these modifications.
How do I avoid cross‑contamination at PF Chang’s?
It’s always a good idea to communicate your dietary restrictions to your server and let them know that you want to order only gluten-free items from their menu. You could also ask that your meals be cooked in a clean, dedicated wok and pan, and the kitchen staff use separate utensils and serving spoons, and substitute gluten‑free soy sauce in sauces and marinades.
Photo credit
Injustifiiable at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Becky Terrell ✍️
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