The Salty Iguana

7 ratings
$ • Mexican Restaurant
Reported to have a gluten-free menu
Safety Rating
3 ratings

As rated by the community

17717 E Us Highway 40
Independence, MO 64055

Most Recent Reviews


Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


Waitress was friendly and made sure I got corn tortillas instead of the flour ones they made for me. The food was dry, tough and didn’t have much flavor. My friend and I got sick from it. Very limited gf options. I ordered the only “meal” they offered. Other items were ala carte. On the good side the waitress did know what gf was and knew to check the tortillas before she brought them to me.

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main 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?

— Poor

Updated 3 years ago read full review

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


Beware. Today I ate at the Salty Iguana (this is the 2nd time there that I’ve gotten sick so I will *never* eat there again). Asked the waitress for a GF Menu and then order off of said GF Menu. It specifically says on the GF Menu that you cannot have the enchilada sauce because it contains Flour/Gluten but that you can get enchilada with just cheese. After eating 1 of the enchiladas, I see what looks like Enchilada Sauce on the plate where the enchilada had been on top of. I call her over and ask if that’s Enchilada Sauce and she says she’s not sure and will go ask the Kitchen. Comes back and says she asked the Cooks and yes it’s Enchilada Sauce but “They said they only use a small amount to hold the filling together.” 🙄🙄🙄They use a small amount. Knowing it contains an allergen. You’re kidding me right now. Manager comes over and gets my contact info in the event this turns into me having to be seen/get IV Meds or Fluids. It’s just a frustrating situation. I can understand not being super familiar with Gluten Free, I get that, but to ***knowingly use an ingredient that someone specifies they CANNOT have*** is just unreal. I’m praying my reaction is not as bad as previously. I typically downplay this when I’m ordering because I don’t want to come across as “difficult” but I think I’m going back to spelling it out because this is not fun. Booooooo 🤢😤The Manager and I had a conversation about it and she used an example of when she used to be a vegetarian and how some times eating out she would find meat in her food. I get she was trying to relate but this isn’t even the same and the fact that she thinks it is makes it that much more frustrating. Sigh.

Celiac friendly?

No

Updated 4 years ago read full review

Overall Rating

Review


*** Please write honest reviews so others have up to date information on choices*** Great food, gf blue tortilla chips, good options but I always get the cream cheese burrito with queso added. No rice option. They brought me a flour tortilla once but caught the cooks mistake before they sat it down. overall great.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Updated 6 years ago read full review

This establishment is NOT a dedicated gluten-free facility and may not be safe for those with celiac disease. Please contact the establishment directly to inquire about safety precautions.

Gluten-Free Features

  • Gluten-Free Menu

Categories

  • Dinner
  • Lunch
  • Mexican
  • Restaurant

Photos


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More Reviews


Overall Rating

Review


We recently ate at Salty Iguana for the first time since going GF. The waitress was very knowledgeable about the different options. The chips are NOT cross contaminated. As a matter of fact, our waitress brought out the individual package that the chips came out of. They go from the package to the basket to the table. Not as fresh as their other chips but my daughter didn't complain.

Updated 7 years ago read full review

Overall Rating

Review


offered bean chips NOT cross contaminated. woot

Updated 8 years ago read full review

Overall Rating

Review


Chips are cross contaminated but good options. Waitress didn't seem overly concerned but felt good after eating the food so must not have been contaminated!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Updated 10 years ago read full review

Overall Rating

Review


use no MSG, and reported that they clean surfaces and cook in separate oil. check w/ manager (I did).

Updated 12 years ago read full review

Reviews of this Chain

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


The food tastes good if they actually make it gluten free. Unfortunately they’ve messed up my order multiple times

Staff is not always that nice or friendly with gluten free questions

Safety


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

— Not very

Quality & Quantity


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?

— Average

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


Waiter clearly didn’t have an understanding of gluten free and kept telling me there is “no added gluten” and that oil is gluten free. Very sick today.

Safety


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

— Not very

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main 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?

— Below Average

Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


They have a gf menu which is really instructions about their dishes and how to adapt them to gf. They a regular menu that has gf items marked and they’ll work to accommodate when they can with substitutions. The server was VERY conscientious! She specifically said the chips were gf. The food was good, fresh, kinda Americanized tex-mex. Giving 3 stars for mexican-ish food. I had soft chicken taco and cream cheese chicken enchilada with black beans and guac subbed for rice. Only regret is that I couldn’t have rice, but I appreciate that they advised that it wasn’t safe. I’ll go back and try other items next time.

Safety


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

— Somewhat

Safety Feature Ratings
  • Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Quality & Quantity


Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main 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?

— Average

Other


Other Characteristics
  • Good for lunch
  • Good for takeout
  • Offers online ordering
  • Offers outdoor seating
Celiac

Overall Rating

Review


One of my go-to place for eating out, and one of the only restaurants I feel relatively safe eating. They have yummy GF chips that you can request - the regular tortilla chips are NOT safe. Make sure you mention "allergy," I have mentioned Celiac and the wait staff aren't all educated as to what that means. I have had excellent luck with the Street Tacos with corn tortillas, I've never been glutened by them. The fajitas with corn tortillas are also a good bet. Other items are a bit more risky. I have been glutened by the iguana cheese dip and enchiladas, even after substitutions to make it safe.

Celiac friendly?

No

Overall Rating

Review


You can’t even eat a chip. Sad

Celiac friendly?

No

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