Taco John’s Gluten Free Menu: All 56 Options (See Top 3 Fan Favorites)

Taco John’s gluten free menu has 56 options that include bowls, tacos, sides and a few condiments but it’s worth noting that Taco John’s isn’t certified gluten free and makes no guarantee that there won’t be cross contamination — but this is true for most restaurants.¹

So those with celiac disease should avoid the establishment entirely, but those with minor gluten sensitivities can choose any of the item below while being mindful that the asterisk** means there’s an increased risk for cross contamination — normally due to being fried in a shared fryer.

So take the guess work out of it and see all GF options at Taco John’ alongside the top 3 fan favorites!

Are There Gluten Free Options at Taco John’s?

Taco John’s has several meals and sides as well as many drinks that have no wheat ingredients and no significant risk of gluten contamination. If someone with a severe gluten intolerance visits Taco John’s, they can safely order a burrito bowl with a rice or bean-based side and pair it with a coffee, soda, juice, or water.

That’s a decent selection to start with, but it’s only a fraction of all the items at Taco John’s that don’t have wheat. There are many foods at Taco John’s that fall into a gray area when it comes to gluten.

This is because they’re at a high risk of cross contamination, which can transfer gluten from wheat-based foods to gluten-free foods.

Source: EasyBuy4u via Canva.com²

Some of the most common types of gluten cross contamination arise from poor handling, preparing gluten-free and wheat-based foods on the same surfaces, and frying gluten-free foods with wheat-based foods. Poor handling is always a concern, but the real problem at Taco John’s are the shared fryers.

Tacos and potatoes at Taco John’s aren’t truly gluten free, and they’re both off-limits for someone with celiac disease. However, not everyone that eats gluten free has celiac disease. Some people just have mild intolerances or avoid gluten as a dietary choice to get the health benefits of a gluten free diet.³

Trace amounts of gluten shouldn’t worry these groups, who can comfortably eat a wider selection of foods at Taco John’s. Basically, the Taco John’s gluten-free menu has more options for people who don’t have a severe gluten intolerance.

Are Any Taco John’s Foods Certified Gluten Free?

No foods at Taco John’s have certifications for being gluten free. However, a gluten free certification requires strict testing and strong guidelines against cross contamination through every step of food processing.⁴

While none of Taco John’s foods meet these high requirements, there are several menu items that don’t contain gluten and also don’t have gluten exposure risks during food processing. At this point, the only remaining risk is onsite gluten contamination, and this risk varies between different menu items.

Top 3 Fan Favorites: What Are The Best Taco John’s Gluten Free Options?

The best Taco John’s gluten-free options are the boss bowls, with roasted corn and pepper salsa or pico de gallo. They win on every metric, from taste to gluten content. Not only are there no wheat-based ingredients in the Taco John’s boss bowls, but they’re also unfried.

This eliminates the biggest risk of gluten contamination and helps keep them truly gluten-free. Plus, the boss bowls are low on carbs and high in protein, which makes them a great choice for anyone who’s on keto because they’re tired of being fat.

Source: EasyBuy4u via Canva.com⁵

In particular, the best gluten free boss bowl options are:

1. Beef bowl with pico de gallo
2. Chicken bowl with roasted corn and pepper salsa
3. Beef bowl with roasted corn and pepper salsa

That said, it’s important to note that Taco John’s gluten-free menu doesn’t include steak, as steak preparation at the chain involves wheat-based ingredients. Only the chicken and beef boss bowls are safe, gluten-free options.

Ordering a naked chicken strip without any breading is another option to cut down on gluten, similar to how someone would eat Raising Canes gluten free. In that case, though, the chicken would still pick up gluten from the fryers though.

When it comes to drinks to pair with that boss bowl, some of the best options include:

1. Mocha cold brew
2. Mug root beer
3. Tropicana lemonade

Every drink is on the gluten free menu, which means that there’s juice, coffee, soda, and more. The cold brew mocha tastes great and it’s an excellent way to get more energy around lunchtime.

Extra shots of vanilla or mocha syrup are available, but the standard cold brew is flavorful enough that extra syrup isn’t necessary.

Brisk raspberry iced tea is another good option for a light, flavorful drink if someone doesn’t want to consume a lot of caffeine. When it comes to the soda options, some people are sure to be disappointed that there’s Pepsi but no Coke, but they can always give Mug root beer a try instead.

Best Gluten Free Sides at Taco John’s

There’s more variety when it comes to gluten free sides, with several bean and rice sides being the main options. The winner on this front is the cilantro lime rice, with its refreshing combination of citrus and savory flavors.

It’s a great companion to the boss bowls, which have a heavier, more meaty flavor.

Another great gluten free side at Taco John’s are the beans and rice, a Latin American classic. While most people think of rice and beans as each being staples, this dish goes to show that the two food items bring out the best in each other.

Consider pairing them with the mild sauce to add a little kick, or try the super hot sauce for a more potent spicy taste.

The best gluten free sides at Taco John’s are:

1. Cilantro lime rice
2. Beans and rice
3. Refried beans
4. Black beans

The most popular Taco John’s side, Cheesy Bacon Ranch Loaded Potato Olés, is almost a recommendation. They taste great, but they’re not entirely a safe gluten free option.

Are the Potatoes at Gluten Free at Taco John’s?

On first glance at the Taco John’s allergen menu, it appears that all variations of the popular Potato Olés are gluten free. While this indicates that they have no ingredients with gluten, it doesn’t take cross contamination into account.

Cross-contamination complicates the issue of whether Taco John’s potatoes are gluten-free, similar to the problem with Whataburger fries gluten content.

Potatoes and other fried foods are at a uniquely high risk of cross contamination, since Taco John’s uses shared fryers for potatoes, tacos, and breaded foods. The gluten from the breaded food stays in the fryer oil and contaminates any foods that come in contact with it.

However, the trouble is quantifying this gluten contamination to know if it’s a problem or not. Even someone with celiac disease can tolerate up to 10mg of gluten per day, which rules out wheat-based foods and makes even minor cross contamination risky.⁶

However, it’s impossible to predict the amount of gluten contamination from cooking in shared fryers to know if it’s under that 10mg threshold.⁷

A medium order of Potato Olés would likely have anywhere between 5 and 20 mg of gluten, and even a small order could have more than 10mg. If a person with celiac disease eats Taco John’s potatoes and doesn’t get sick, that just means they were lucky.

On the other hand, even 20mg of gluten is going to be inconsequential to people with mild gluten intolerances. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is up to seven times as common as celiac disease, so it’s worth noting that most gluten-free people can consider trying the potatoes at Taco John’s.

Is There Gluten in Taco John’s Tacos?

There’s no gluten in Taco John’s tacos, but there is gluten on it. That might sound strange, but it’s because of the gluten in the frying oil.

Just like the Taco John’s potatoes, the tacos pick up unknown traces of gluten from the frying process. People with severe gluten intolerance can try to make the tacos gluten free with a menu hack, though.

Can You Make Taco John’s Tacos Gluten Free?

The hard-shell crispy tacos at Taco John’s only have gluten because they fry the shells. An unfried taco should be gluten free, but it’s also unclear how good that would taste. Another way to try to enjoy a gluten free taco would be to substitute a piece of lettuce for a tortilla.

The beef or chicken filling and cheddar cheese sauce, wrapped in a piece of lettuce, should make for a gluten free lunch. This trick is also applicable for eating Burger King gluten free or gluten free White Castle, since their sliders are only gluten free with a lettuce wrap bun.

However, offering these sorts of lettuce wraps isn’t any sort of official Taco John’s policy. It’s basically up to the discretion of the staff, and it might be an awkward way to eat a taco.

If that doesn’t work out or if asking for custom accommodations seems like too much trouble, stick to the boss bowls. That, or try alternatives like homemade tacos or the Taco Cabana gluten free options.

The Taco John’s Gluten Free Menu

Since cross contamination is a complicated problem at Taco John’s, the gluten free menu includes all foods without wheat ingredients. However, those that stand at a high risk of gluten contamination have an asterisk** to underline that there’s a higher risk of gluten consumption from them.

Source: Anna_Po via Canva.com⁸

This risk isn’t enough to offset the health benefits of a gluten free diet for a non-celiac, but it’s too great for someone with celiac disease to take. On the other hand, items with no asterisk should be entirely gluten free.

Gluten Free Boss Bowls

The standout item on the Taco John’s gluten-free menu is absolutely the boss bowls. In particular, consider trying the beef bowl with pico de gallo.

t’s a favorite of Taco John’s fans in general, but it’s a real number-one choice when it comes to enjoying Mexican food without gluten. Just remember to avoid the steak boss bowl, which includes wheat ingredients and gluten.

1. Boss Bow With Beef
2. Roasted Corn & Pepper Salsa
3. Boss Bowl With Chicken
4. Pico de Gallo

Gluten Free Tacos

Taco John’s tacos don’t have wheat in their ingredients, which is an improvement next to many chains that include wheat even in their corn tortillas. However, Taco John’s still fries them, which adds gluten contamination.

Consider trying to order taco filling in a lettuce wrap to avoid the gluten contamination that normally comes with the tacos.

5. Crispy Taco, Beef*
6. Crispy Taco, Chicken*
7. Cheddar Cheese Sauce

GF Sides

The Taco John’s glutren free options do not include Potato Olés because they all have the same level of gluten contamination, which comes from frying in a shared fryer. While most gluten sensitive people don’t need to worry about these gluten traces, celiacs should steer clear.

Unfortunately, there are no special steps to take or requests to make to cut down on gluten contamination for potatoes.

The only way to remain totally gluten free is to opt for a bean or rice side instead.

8. Super Potato Olés, Beef*
9. Super Potato Olés, Chicken*
10. Junior Potato Olés*
11. Cheesy Bacon Ranch Loaded Potato Olés*
12. Super Nachos, Beef*
13. Super Nachos, Chicken*
14. Chips & Nacho Cheese*
15. Chips*
16. Potato Olés*
17. Junior Potato Olés, Small*
18. Potato Olés, Medium*
19. Potato Olés, Large*
20. Refried Beans
21. Rice & Beans Side Salad
22. Black Beans
23. Cilantro Lime Rice

An asterisk** symbolizes that there’s cross contamination.

Drinks That Are GF

24. Cold Brew, Plain
25. Cold Brew, Mocha
26. Cold Brew, Vanilla
27. Extra Shot of Vanilla Syrup
28. Extra Shot of Mocha Syrup
29. Tropicana Orange Juice
30. Chocolate Milk
31. Pepsi
32. Diet Pepsi
33. Mist Twst
34. Mountain Dew
35. Diet Mountain Dew
36. Tropicana Lemonade
37. Dr Pepper
38. Mug Root Beer
39. Wild Cherry Pepsi
40. Lifewater
41. Yumberry Pomegranate
42. Brisk No Calorie Peach Iced Green Tea
43. Brisk Raspberry Iced Tea

GF Condiments

44. Chipotle Lime Sauce
45. Creamy Italian Dressing
46. Guacamole
47. House Dressing
48. House Salsa
49. Jalapeño Ranch Sauce
50. Nacho Cheese
51. Pico de Gallo
52. Ranch Dressing
53. Roasted Corn & Pepper Salsa
54. Sour Cream
55. Super Hot Sauce
56. Mild Sauce

Taco John’s Sample Order That’s Free of Gluten

If anyone’s looking for ideas on a good gluten free order at Taco John’s, consider starting out with the beef boss bowl with pico de gallo. Get some super hot sauce and sour cream on the side to balance each other out, and round it out with a rice and beans side salad.

Between the boss bowls and sides, Taco John’s gluten free options are abundant although there is a chance for cross contamination.