What is gluten free from a Chinese takeaway?

You may be surprised to learn that many of the options on a Chinese takeaway menu are naturally gluten-free; this post will highlight what they are and provide tips on ordering gluten-free Chinese food!

Índice Show

Gluten-Free Chinese Food Options
Gluten-Free Chinese Food to Avoid
Cross Contamination at Chinese Restaurants
Liked this post about ordering gluten-free Chinese?
Make Gluten-Free Chinese Food at Home
Can celiacs have Chinese takeaway?
What Chinese food has gluten?
What sauces are gluten
Does most Chinese food have gluten?

What Gluten-Free Chinese Food Can I Eat?
By www.anyonita-nibbles.co.uk

The gluten-free diet is often categorised by foods you can't eat, but if you're in the mood for a takeaway or planning to visit a restaruant, you'll need this handy list of gluten-free Chinese foods that you can eat! Please be advised:

Every Chinese restuarant or takeaway will differ and one dish that is gluten-free in one restaurant may not be gluten-free in another. Please use this list as a guide only. Double check with the staff before ordering your food.

Gluten-Free Chinese Food Options

These foods are likely to always be gluten-free at any restaurant or takeaway you visit:

Boiled and fried rice (all varieties)
Rice noodle dishes
Prawn crackers (if not fried in a contaminated fryer)
Stir-fried dishes prepared without soy sauce
Chicken and sweetcorn soup
Eggdrop soup
Vegetable and bean curd soup
Dim Sum (when made with rice flour wrappers and not traditional wonton wrappers)
Spare ribs in honey or barbecue sauce
Peking/crispy duck without the pancakes
Roast belly pork
Most meat and vegetable dishes eg. beef with broccoli (so long as the meat is not battered and the sauce is gluten free)
Omelette dishes

Gluten-Free Chinese Food to Avoid

Don't forget that soy sauce contains gluten and other popular Chinese sauces such as oyster sauce and hoisin sauce are often made with soy sauce, so these are unsuitable as well. Fortune cookies and spring rolls also contain wheat unless otherwise stated.

Cross Contamination at Chinese Restaurants

Even when following the above suggestions, there are always things to watch out for. The biggest thing to be careful of when eating gluten-free at restaurants is cross contamination. Many establishments make a token gesture of offering gluten-free menus but if the food is made in the same containers or oil as gluten food, cross contamination is likely and could leave you feeling just as rough as if you had eaten a meal containing gluten.

If you see fried foods on a gluten-free menu in any restaurant, ask the server:

If the food is coated in flour prior to frying. If it is not, it may be safe to eat. If it is, confirm that the flour is gluten-free flour. Common gluten-free flours for deep-frying are: potato starch, corn flour, rice flour and besan flour.
If the food is dipped in breadcrumbs. If it is not, it may be safe to eat. If it is, confirm that the breadcrumbs are gluten-free and that they are made from gluten-free bread. You'll also want to ensure that the food isn't coated in flour before the breadcrumbs are added.
If the food is fried in the same oil as gluten-containing foods. If it is not, it may be safe to eat. If it is, you are likely to be cross contaminated and should avoid eating it.

Liked this post about ordering gluten-free Chinese?

Discover more options on where to eat gluten-free in the UK.

To keep up with the latest gluten-free cooking and baking ideas plus gluten-free food reviews from Anyonita Nibbles Gluten Free, be sure to join our community of over 12,000 followers on Pinterest and follow us on Instagram and use #anyonitanibbles and #whatcoeliacseat to join in the conversation!

If you liked this information, you may want to check out my Coeliac Info filled with tips for transitioning to a gluten-free lifestyle.

Make Gluten-Free Chinese Food at Home

The only way to be 100 percent sure you won't get glutened is to make your own gluten-free Chinese food at home. I was surprised to learn just how easy it is to make gluten-free prawn toast! you'll love this easy recipe and will make it time and time again.

Easy gluten-free orange chicken is another family favourite that can be whipped up in a matter of minutes at home. You can even make delicious better than takeaway gluten-free beef with broccoli at home, too!

Can celiacs have Chinese takeaway?

Chinese. Avoid wheat noodles and soy sauce. Be careful of contamination if dishes that contain gluten are cooked in the same pan as your food. Rice is gluten free and rice noodles are a great alternative to wheat noodles, so ask if these are available.

What Chinese food has gluten?

Hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce and wheat noodles all contain gluten and should be avoided. Noodles used in takeways such as egg noodles or ramen noodles contain wheat and are unsafe for coeliacs. Rice noodles are a safe alternative! Seitan is often used to make mock meat dishes, and it is not gluten free.

What sauces are gluten

Hoisin Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Fish Sauce and other Asian Sauces/Cooking Wines. This can be a bit trickier because it really depends on the brands for these sauces but the good news is you can now find both hoisin and oyster sauce in gluten-free form.

Does most Chinese food have gluten?

A lot of Chinese meals contain rice, which does not contain any gluten. This is because gluten is most commonly found in bread, pasta, and cakes. On the other hand, noodles, another staple of Chinese cooking, do contain gluten. However, some Chinese dishes can be made with gluten-free ingredients.