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Your Comprehensive Guide to Gluten-Free, Vegan Fries

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When a French fry craving hits, you need to know where to turn. And while fries might seem like a safe gluten-free, vegan-friendly fast food option, that's not always the case.

Whether there's sneaky wheat hidden in the ingredients list, the fries are cooked in beef fat, or they're made in a shared fryer, it can be tough to determine if your favorite fast food chain's fries are actually a safe option for you to eat.

Seasoned French fries with a text block that says, "Your Guide to Gluten-Free, Vegan Fast-Food Fries".

Your Guide to Gluten-Free, Vegan Fries Across the U.S.

As a self-proclaimed potato-obsessed gal, I've spent far too much time over the years scrolling through Google trying to figure out if a restaurant's fries are gluten-free and vegan-friendly. Because – let's be real – while I always love a good fry, the last thing I'm looking for is unwanted side effects from gluten and dairy consumption.

I've compiled all of my research to create this all-inclusive guide to ensuring your fries keep your tummy feeling content. Get all the deets below on the fries at 45 of America's most popular fast-food chains.

But first, a few notes:

  • There is always a risk of cross-contact when you're not eating at a dedicated gluten-free, vegan restaurant. It's entirely up to you to determine whether you're comfortable with shared fryers and prep spaces.
  • Though my research has been extensive, restaurant procedures can always change. It's important to check with restaurant staff about their cooking protocols when you order.

So here, from A to Z, is your comprehensive guide to gluten-free, vegan fries at nearly all of America's popular fast-food chains. As available, I've linked each restaurant's allergen or nutrition info. I hope this guide helps answer your questions and provide clarity.

Bookmark this page to save yourself from a future of repetitive Googling!

Pro Tip: This article is pretty long — Shorten your scroll and jump directly to your restaurant of choice using this helpful "jump to" feature.

Jump to:

A&W

Possible cross-contact: According to their website, A&W fries are free from gluten and animal-derived ingredients, but they do have a disclaimer that shared cooking surfaces are common and fries may be cooked in the same oil as fish, chicken, shrimp, and other fried menu items.

Arby's

Not gluten-free/possible cross-contact: Arby's serves two varieties of fries: crinkle cut and curly. According to their website, their curly fries contain wheat, and all of their fries are made in the same fryer as items containing egg, milk, and fish.

Backyard Burgers

Not gluten-free/possible cross-contact: Backyard Burgers' allergen list notes wheat as an ingredient in their seasoned fries. In addition, it seems like Backyard Burgers does not use a dedicated fryer.

Bojangles

Not vegan-friendly: Though Bojangles' allergen list appears to determine their fries are gluten-free and vegan-friendly, that is not the case. Bojangles uses beef fat to fry their fries, so you'll want to pass on these.

BurgerFi

Possible cross-contact: BurgerFi fries are inherently vegan and gluten-free, but they do share a fryer with other items, making cross-contact possible.

Burger King

Possible cross-contact: Burger King's fries do not contain gluten or any animal-based ingredients. However, they are made in a shared fryer, so cross-contact with dairy, gluten, and meat is possible.

Captain D's

Not gluten-free/possible cross-contact: According to their allergen chart, Captain D's fries contain gluten and are made using shared equipment.

Carl's Jr. (and Hardee's)

Not all are gluten-free/possible cross-contact: These sister chains offer three types of fries between the two of them and here's what you need to know:

The natural fries at both Carl's Jr. and Hardee's are gluten-free and vegan, but you'll want to stay away from the waffle fries at Carl's Jr. and the curly fries at Hardee's because both are made with wheat. Both chains use shared equipment.

Charleys Cheesesteaks

Possible cross-contact: According to their nutrition menu, the fries themselves are vegan and gluten-free at Charleys Cheesesteaks. However, it seems like they do use a shared fryer.

Checkers (and Rally's)

Not gluten-free or vegan-friendly: Both Checker's and Rally's use milk and wheat in their fries.

Chick-fil-A

Gluten-free/vegan-friendly: FINALLY, our first fully gluten-free and vegan-friendly fries. Chick-fil-A fries do not contain gluten or any animal products. In addition, they use 100% refined peanut oil and have a dedicated fryer for their waffle fries.

Church's Texas Chicken

Possible gluten/cross-contact: According to their allergen chart, Church's fries do not contain any gluten or animal-based ingredients. However, underneath that line, they list "French Fries Alternate", containing wheat. Since this chain only serves crinkle-cut fries, I'm unsure what this means, but personally, I'll be skipping them. Additionally, I could not find any information on whether Church's has a dedicated fryer for their French fries.

Cook Out

Not vegan-friendly: Though they don't have any nutrition information available on their website, others have said that Cook Out fries are made with natural beef flavor, making them unsuitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Culver's

Possible cross-contact: According to their website, Culver's crinkle-cut fries do not contain any gluten or animal-based ingredients. They do, however, include a statement that cross-contact with gluten does occur.

Dairy Queen

Possible cross-contact: Dairy Queen's nutrition info says their fries do not contain any common allergens, including milk or gluten. However, they do note that potential cross-contact with allergens is possible. They use soybean oil for all frying, though it's unclear if they have a dedicated fryer for their fries nationwide, so it's always best to ask!

Del Taco

Possible cross-contact: Del Taco claims their fries are vegetarian/vegan-friendly and gluten-free. However, they do include a notice at the bottom of their allergen list that says they use the same frying oil for all fried menu items, making cross-contact possible.

Five Guys

Gluten-free/vegan-friendly: Five Guys fries contain neither gluten nor animal-derived ingredients. In addition, they have a dedicated fryer for their French fries and use 100% peanut oil, making them a safe gluten-free and vegan option.

Freddy's

Possible cross-contact: According to their website, Freddy's cooks their fried food in soybean oil and uses a shared fryer for their fries, onion rings, and chicken strips. Their fries come into contact with chicken, gluten, and whey via the shared oil.

Fuddruckers

Unclear: Fuddrucker's serves tater tots and three types of fries: skinny, wedge-cut, and sweet potato. However, it's incredibly unclear whether any of these items are vegan and gluten-free-friendly. Fuddrucker's doesn't have an allergen or ingredients list online, which makes me uncomfortable with eating there.

In-N-Out Burger

Gluten-free/vegan-friendly: In-N-Out makes fresh-cut fries, cooked in sunflower oil, using a dedicated fryer — making them gluten-free and vegan-friendly!

Jack in the Box

Possible gluten/cross-contact: According to their allergen reference guide, the French fries at Jack in the Box are vegan and gluten-free, but it's important to note that the potato wedges and curly fries do contain wheat.

KFC

Not gluten-free/possible cross-contact: Personally, KFC has always given me the ick — even before I went vegan — so I don't eat there. Generally speaking, when it comes to their fries, though they're technically vegan, the seasoning contains wheat, making them unsafe for people avoiding gluten.

Krystal

Not vegan-friendly/potential cross-contact: According to Krystal's nutritional info, their fries don't contain any of the top eight allergens, but cross-contact is possible. However, based on what I could find online, they use beef fat for frying in at least some locations.

Long John Silver's

Not gluten-free or vegan-friendly: Long John Silver's website does not include allergen information, but multiple other sites claim their fries contain wheat and milk.

McDonald's

Not gluten-free or vegan-friendly: In America, McDonald's fries are made with a beef flavoring that contains wheat, making them unsuitable for vegans, vegetarians, and people needing to avoid gluten.

Mooyah

Not gluten-free/possible cross-contact: Mooyah's allergen menu says their fries are gluten-free, but they don't use a dedicated fryer, so cross-contact is possible. It's also important to note that their sweet potato fries do contain gluten.

Pizza Hut

Not gluten-free/possible cross-contact: According to their interactive food allergen guide, Pizza Hut's fries contain wheat. Additionally, it's unclear if any locations use a dedicated fryer, meaning additional cross-contact may be possible.

Pollo Tropical

Possible cross-contact: Pollo Tropical's nutrition menu states their fries are free of all listed common allergens, though they are made using a shared fryer.

Popeye's

Not gluten-free/possible cross-contact: Popeye's cajun fries contain wheat and are made with a shared fryer.

Portillo's

Not vegan-friendly/possible cross-contact: Portillo's fries are made in a dedicated gluten-free fryer, but the oil is filtered using shared equipment. Additionally, their fries aren't suitable for vegans, as they're made with a blend of vegetable oil and beef tallow.

Raising Cane's

Possible cross-contact: Raising Cane's states their fries may cross-contact with milk, eggs, and wheat since they use a shared fryer. They use a soybean-canola oil blend.

Runza

Possible cross-contact: Though free from animal products and wheat, Runza's nutrition information includes a note that all fried items share a fryer, making cross-contact with egg, milk, fish, shellfish, and wheat possible.

Shake Shack

Possible cross-contact: Shake Shack's fries are free from gluten and animal products and they use soybean oil for all frying. They do, however, use a shared fryer and cross-contact is possible.

Smashburger

Not vegan-friendly: Though they offer a large selection of fries and tots, none of them are vegan-friendly, as all fried items at Smashburger contain beef tallow.

Sonic

Possible cross-contact: The fries at Sonic do not contain any dairy, beef seasoning, or gluten, but they do share a fryer with items containing animal products and gluten.

Steak N' Shake

Possible cross-contact: Steak N' Shake offers two types of fries – cajun and thin n' crispy. Neither of these fries contains gluten or animal-based ingredients, but they are made in a shared fryer with chicken and items containing gluten and dairy.

Taco Bell

Not gluten-free or vegan-friendly: According to Taco Bell's allergen info, their nacho fries contain milk and may contain wheat.

Wahlburgers

Gluten-free/vegan-friendly: Wahlburgers uses canola oil in their fry + tot-dedicated fryers. Their fries do not contain any gluten or animal-based ingredients.

Wawa

Not gluten-free: Wawa fries are made with vegetable oil but contain gluten, as wheat flour is listed on the ingredients list.

Wendy's

Possible cross-contact: According to their website, Wendy's fries do not contain any gluten or animal by-products in their ingredients. However, they are cooked in the same oil as items containing wheat, milk, egg, sesame, soy, and fish.

Whataburger

Possible cross-contact: Whataburger fries are cooked in a soybean-based liquid shortening, but they do not have dedicated fryers for their french fries.

White Castle

Possible cross-contact: According to their website, White Castle has three different French fry recipes in the United States, and the version you'll receive depends on where your White Castle is located. It appears that all three versions are inherently gluten-free and do not directly contain any animal-based ingredients, however, White Castle does state that all fries are cooked in the same oil as items that may contain wheat, eggs, milk, soy, fish, and shellfish.

Wingstop

Possible cross-contact: While Wingstop's seasoned fries are inherently vegan and gluten-free, they do use a shared fryer, making wheat, meat, and dairy cross-contact possible. However, some people claim their specific locations do use a separate fryer. I'd recommend asking your location to confirm this information.

Any Other Gluten-Free, Vegan Fries?

Did I miss any of your go-to fast-food chains? If so, please comment your suggestions below!

Disclaimer: While I'll make every effort to update this list as I become aware of new information, menus can change at any time, and it's always a good idea to confirm this information with your local fast-food chain when visiting.

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