No Way Jose’s Mexican Cantina

I've eaten here several times as a celiac and get the Chicken Picante and Queso. The corn chips have never caused a reaction but I know everyone one is different.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Gluten free menu. Several options. Delicious!

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Margarita was amazing! There was a gluten free menu but the staff had no knowledge on cross contamination. After requesting confirmation on cooking methods and glove change requests staff was still hesitant to help. Because of all this, I felt unsafe even trying to eat here. Would not recommend for celiacs.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Poor

Had a gluten free menu - wait staff not very educated on cross contamination and could not verify if tortilla chips have a designated fryer so I just did not eat them. Had steak and chicken fajitas with corn tortillas and did not react! Good experience but could definitely be better! They have nachos on the gluten free menu but also a warning statement for fried foods so that’s concerning

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

Other Characteristics

• Good for kids
• Good for lunch

Told the server my daughter and I were gluten free. He said the chips were corn when I asked if they were gluten free. My guess is they were fried in the same oil. My daughter and I both got steak fajitas. They were really good. However, I definitely got glutened somewhere in there. My daughter doesn’t have symptoms yet but we have very different celiac issues.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Son enjoyed the steak in his steak tacos. My husband enjoyed a mixed plate with corn tortillas. The carnitas were a little too seasoned for my husband’s taste. Overall an authentic Mexican meal in Gatlinburg and safe for my husband and son (they both have celiac).

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

I had the steak nachos. Did not react at all, but the queso here is very spicy! I’m from Louisiana and eat spice with everything but this seemed excessive. Still I ate it and it was tasty!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Unsafe for celiac all meat is cooked in soy sauce

Celiac friendly?

No

The manager actually came out and warned me not to even eat here if I have celiac.

Celiac friendly?

No

Friendly, knowledgeable, good variety. Very pleased.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Food was subpar and both people In our party didn’t feel well after eating. Wait staff was short tempered. Not impressed.

They have a gf menu but...they do not have a dedicated fryer. Server said it was just for chips but she checked again and they corn and flour tortilla chips in it.

I had the fajitas and they were excellent. The waiter volunteered that the chips are gluten free in a dedicated fryer. There were plenty of gf options.

Gluten Free options are tough in Gatlinburg. Experience has has shown Mexican restaurants can usually accommodate. Visited this location for lunch and did they did have a separate GF menu. The chips are not GF as they're cooked in a shared fryer. The server was only partially knowledgeable and some in-depth questions were needed to get her to see the light. Had no issues with the fajita's & sides of beans/rice - my daughter & I are both celiac but are relatively asymptomatic..

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Knowledgeable and excellent service. Visited this restaurant 3 days in a row while on vacation because it was safe! I am a celiac. Be sure to let your wait staff know of your gf needs!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Great service, Great food!

After speaking to the manager and finding out that the only safe food items for Celiacs were the guacamole and plain, not even warmed corn tortillas, we left. The GF menu is lovely to look at, but not truly GF at all.

Celiac friendly?

No

Don’t do it. They have no idea what GF is. The girl had no idea what GF is. I was so scared and yes what they call GF made me so sick. Ended in the hospital. Just don’t chance it

Celiac friendly?

No

Could only have the guacamole and gluten free tortillas. I am thankful the manager informed me before I got sick. They do have a gluten free menu, but they cook it all on the same grill. Also, chips are not in a dedicated fryer so couldn't even have those.

Celiac friendly?

No

They do have a decent GF menu but, I did have a reaction. I had the carnitas, which I have to say weren't good. I won't be going back.

I can not recommend this place enough!!! Seriously, if I could give it 10 stars I would! They had a separate GF menu available with quite a few choices! Our waitress, Jacki, was AMAZING!! She was very careful to write down which people at the table needed GF, and even went back to the kitchen to ask about a few items she wasn't 100% sure about. I ended up having the chicken fajitas that came with white corn tortillas, rice, refried beans, pico, lettuce, shredded cheese, and sour cream. They bring all the items to your table, and you build the fajitas yourself. I usually react within 10-20 minutes after even the smallest cross contamination, and here I am 24 hours later and completely reaction free! First time that's happened after eating out in a long time! The chips and salsa are even GF too!!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Great selection, designated GF menu. Waitress seemed very knowledgeable of menu. We had fajitas and a side of guacamole salad. They did bring the quac salad with fried flour tortillas in the side so we had to send it back. They brought out a fresh batch and got it right the second time.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Although this place says it's gluten free w/ a menu it is NOT. Their chicken is marinated in butter and soy sauce- beware! I explained it is not gluten free and the management agreed and said she was not sure why it was on the menu or why they hadn't taken it off. I ordered chips and guacamole since they also claim to have a dedicated fryer for the chips, but I got sick anyway. I ended up with that and a crappy iceberg salad with mushy tomatoes and nothing else. My advice go somewhere else!

Celiac friendly?

No

good gluten free menu, waitress new all about gluten free, such good food, cheep

It's hard to eat out in this area and I felt very comfortable here. They don't season their fajitas much, but I was just happy to eat out without going to the grocery store. The salsa is more a pico consistency and I ate bowls of that stuff!

We had luck here despite others reviews. They have a decent gf menu. Daughter had sour cream enchiladas and enjoyed they. Also very happy to find out they use a dedicated fryer for their chips so she was able to enjoy the chips and salsa with the family. Had some issues with the waiter not being very knowledgeable but husband tracked down the manager who was very knowledgeable and nice about all our questions. Son is severely allergic to nuts too. We are a train wreck when eating out 😜

Celiac friendly?

Yes

my son and I both ordered GF entrees. They were great. We REALLY liked the refried beans. I think they were black, not pinto. We also liked the flan. great place!

Not great but not bad and convenient as it's right across from Ripley's Aquarium. I didn't get sick! The chips, salsa, rice, beans (no cheese bc I don't do dairy) are GF! The GF menu is small but there were a lot of choices IMHO. One of the owners has celiac so the staff was very knowledgeable. The food was meh but I could eat a lot of it and I didn't get sick.

Celiac friendly?

No

Food was not good at all. Then I got really sick. I would not recommend this place at all, Celiac or not.

Celiac friendly?

No

Good food. GF menu. There is no dedicated fryer so the chips are not gluten free- the menu says they are.

I give this restaurant 5 stars for being celiac friendly, but 3 for food quality. My meal was so-so, BUT I could eat with my family and my server took great care to make sure there was no cross contamination (and there wasn't!).

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Pretty big GF menu and it was delicious.

Celiac friendly?

Yes