Qdoba Gluten-free Menu -is it safe?

What can you order gluten-free at Qdoba? Find out all about the Qdoba gluten-free menu and how to order.

Being gluten-free means learning to read labels and navigating restaurant menus that aren't always the easiest to decide if it's a safe place to eat. The last thing you want to do is spend money eating out, just to get glutened and feel sick for a while afterward. Luckily eating gluten-free at Qdoba is easier than you would think.

A Qdoba Mexican food bag sitting on a table.

Can you eat gluten-free at Qdoba?

Qdoba is actually now one of my go-to places to eat out gluten-free. At first, I was very skeptical of the possibility of being able to eat there but with the correct information, eating gluten-free Mexican food at Qdoba is relatively easy.

What kind of resturant is Qdoba?

Qdoba is a Mexican style, tex-mex restaurant that is similar to Chipolte.

It is important to note that Qdoba is a make-your-own food type of restaurant. You go down the line and tell them exactly what you want and how you want it. This is important because ingredients are out and near each other.

What is gluten-free at Qdoba?

Meats and Protein:

Seasoned Ground Beef
Seasoned Shredded Beef
Grilled Chicken
Pulled Pork
Grilled Steak
Smoked Brisket
Cilantro Lime Shrimp
Plant-Based Impossible Protein

Rice and Beans

Black Beans
Traditional Pinto beans
Brown Rice
Cilantro Lime Rice

Salsa and Sauces at Qdoba:

Black Bean Corn Salsa
Guacamole Mango Salsa (seasonal)
Pico de Gallo
Queso Diablo
Red Chile Sauce
Roasted Chile Corn Salsa
Salsa Roja
Salsa Verde

Toppings at Qdoba:

Smoked Bacon
Bacon Jalapeño Queso
Cotija Cheese
Shredded Cheese
Chipotle Cream Sauce
Chorizo
Cilantro Lime Dressing (seasonal)
Eggs
Fajita Vegetables
Picante Ranch
Pickled Red Onions
Fiery Habanero
Mexican Caesar Dressing
Sour Cream
Three Cheese Queso

Salads at Qdoba:

Paleo Chicken Salad
Citrus Lime Chicken Salad

Note: Make sure to get these salads in a bowl, not in the crunchy tortilla shell, so they are gluten-free.

Side dishes at Qdoba:

Side of beans with cheese.
Apple Sauce

Drinks:

This will vary by location, but they generally serve fountain drinks, teas, and water, all considered gluten-free.

What should you avoid at Qdoba if you are gluten-free?

Burritos - These are made with flour tortillas which are not gluten-free.
Quesadillas - Just like the burritos, these are made with flour tortillas.
Street Style Tacos - Made with traditional flour tortillas.
Crunchy Tortilla Shell - What they serve their taco salads in.
Seasoned Potatoes - For some reason, these are made with wheat, so avoid them. If you are craving seasoned potatoes, check out my skillet potato recipe instead.
Cookies
Double Chocolate Brownies

What should you order with caution when ordering gluten-free at Qdoba?

Corn Tortillas
Tortilla Chips
Tortilla Strips
Street Style Tacos - When made with corn tortillas.
Tortilla Soup Cup

According to Qdoba, their corn tortillas, chips, and strips all have possible contamination because of how they are fried.

If you want to see the full allergen menu for Qdoba, you can find it here.

What is the best thing to order gluten-free at Qdoba?

I've found the safest gluten-free menu item at Qdoba is their burrito bowls. I avoid a few things, but I'll explain why below.

A stack of three burrito bowls from Qdoba sitting on a table.

My standard order at Qdoba.

Steak or Chicken Bowl with the following.

Cilantro Lime Rice
Black Beans
Fajita Veggies
Mild Queso - Sometimes.
Pico de Gallo
Pickled Red Onion
Corn Salsa
Guacamole
Salsa Verde

A steak burrito bowl from Qdoba sitting on a table.

What I avoid at Qdoba, even though it should be safe.

Lettuce
Cheese
Sour Cream

I avoid these menu items because they are served using their hands. Even though the employees have gloves, those gloves can and do touch the flour tortillas before and after grabbing those menu items. The sour cream is a little different because it is in the bottles, but I've seen employees touch their tips on tortillas to shake down the product to dispense it.

For me, avoiding a few typical items is safer than risking getting sick.

What can kids eat at Qdoba that is gluten-free?

I get asked this all the time since my kids do go with me to Qdoba quite often. The truth is the kids' menu items at Qdoba aren't great for being gluten-free. However, you can order a mini bowl (a smaller version of the full-size bowl) for kids. Then you can fix it any way you like, or you know they will eat it. You can also just share a larger regular bowl between kids or with your kids, depending on how much they eat.

My kids are older now, so they get their own regular bowls.

Tips for eating gluten-free at Qdoba.

Tell the person you are gluten-free. - As much as I don't like calling celiac a wheat allergy, the employees react to the word allergy more.
As them to change their gloves. - When I ask, the employees are very nice about changing their gloves and whipping down any surfaces. I've even had an employee lay down a piece of foil under the bowl on the serving line just in case.
Avoid ingredients that are touched or could touch the surface of gluten ingredients. - This reduces the risk of cross-contamination.
Ask for a fresh container. - If there is an ingredient that you really want, say lettuce. You can ask the employee to get it out of a new fresh container. Usually, this is not a problem when I've asked.
Ask for fresh serving utensils. - If I am asking the employees to get a fresh container, I usually also ask them to get fresh serving utensils. While the risk of cross-contamination is low, I prefer to be safe.
Don't go at busy times. - I usually only go to our local Qdoba for lunch, and I always try to get there about when they open. I do this because they aren't usually as busy right then, and I can get the new fresh ingredients for the day with less risk of cross-contamination.
When in doubt, ask an employee. - When I see something new on the line, I'll ask the employees if it is gluten-free. Sometimes they know, and sometimes they have to look it up.
Don't be afraid to speak up for yourself. - If you think something might have gluten, you can always ask them. When if doubt, you can always ask nicely for them to remake your food.
Be friendly. - I get it; sometimes restaurants are not the best at catering to gluten-free as they probably should be. Being friendly and helping the staff understand will go a lot further for your visit and people after you who are gluten-free than being mean about them not understanding what is needed to be gluten-free.

Summary

Is it possible to eat gluten-free at Qdoba? Yes, it's possible and quite easy. Knowing what is gluten-free and what to avoid, you can safely eat gluten-free at Qdoba.

Have you eaten at Qdoba? Let me know in the comments what your experiences and go-to orders at Qdoba are.