Gluten-Free at Ted's Cafe Escondido

We were able to get gluten-free chips and they were tasty. The food was, however, just okay.

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

— Very

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

Well, I’ve been eating at Ted’s for years thinking that they really had gf chips and corn tortillas. The last time I was there I was asking about the gf chips and the waiter said that they were fried in the same fryer with gluten items. I thought that can’t be right. So, I went back today and talked to a different waitress and she told me that the gf chips were fried in the same fryer as other items and that their corn tortillas were heated on the same grill as the flour tortillas. I had a few issues with eating there but was assured what I had was gf. I’m very disappointed. I told her that she was the only waitress who’d answered like that and she said that since I had said I have celiac that she didn’t want me getting sick. Please check your local Ted’s to see if they’re the same.

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?

— Some

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

— Excellent

In town for one night with kids and a vegetarian husband. Ted’s was great! I had the chicken tamale with creamy corn and cilantro lime rice. There are separate GF and vegetarian menus. Warning: the chips they bring automatically are not GF due to a shared fryer. They will bring you GF chips if you ask. Chips, salsa, queso, tortillas, and sopapillas are are complimentary and have GF substitutes for free upon request. Lots of options on the kids’ menu, too.

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

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Dedicated gluten-free fryer

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

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

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dairy-free
• Good for dinner
• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Good vegetarian options
• Good with other allergies
• Offers online ordering

GF menu! Cooked chips fresh when ordering gf. It did take longer but well worth it! Tamales were awesome! Waiter was knowledgeable!

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

— Very

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

Absolutely love this place! They have the best Tex-Mex and unlimited cheese dip/chips/tortillas! They take precautions when you inform them you have an allergy. We have always had a food experience here!

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

— Very

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

This teds location is not safe! Neither waitress understood what was gluten free or not, and everything was highly cross contaminated. They were heating the corn tortillas up with the grill, not cleaning it beforehand/or steaming them. The chips were not safe, they are cooked in the same fryer.

Will not be back to this location!

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 an allergen menu with lots of options. Waiter was very knowledgeable

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

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

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

— Excellent

Server was very knowledgeable. GF menu with lots of options. GF chips and GF sopapillas! It was all very delicious. and there was so much food.

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

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

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

— Excellent

The gluten "sensitive" menu is small. The server gave us gluten free corn chips for the salsa and was very understanding. He didn't make me uncomfortable in the least. I had a Build Your Own Bowl with items listed on the gf menu, but I still had a reaction so there must be some cross contamination in the kitchen.

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?

— Average

Server was excellent. Gluten free chips. Even gluten free sopapilla.

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

— Very

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

The food is amazing, but you have to make sure that they do not fry their corn chips either the flour ones. I only know of a few locations that do this, so i would call ahead. I would definitely recommend as long as you go to a location with a separate fryer.

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

— Somewhat

Safety Feature Ratings

• Dedicated gluten-free fryer
• Other dedicated kitchen equipment (oven, toaster, pots, pans, utensils, etc.)
• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

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

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for takeout

This place was great for our daughter! Separate menu for gluten free, they even brought out a basket of chips for her. We know for sure they were gf just by the difference in our basket and hers. She had a great meal and our waiter really understood her need for gf. We left with her belly full and she had no issues. Great place for the whole family to eat.

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

— Somewhat

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Dedicated gluten-free fryer

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

Other Characteristics

• Good for kids
• Good for lunch

My husband is celiac. We were told the chips were gluten free, but he got very sick after eating there. Don’t take the risk.

Celiac friendly?

No

I got glutened but it was 100% my fault, not theirs. I saw the other reviews saying there were gluten free corn chips, so I assumed the table chips were gf because they look like white corn. They are white corn, but they are not gf...you have to special request gf chips. The white corn chips are dipped in flour before they are fried. I was going to check with the staff, but they were so busy I just said “oh they’re probably fine” and that was a huge mistake. However, they do have a good (though limited) gf menu and the staff seemed really knowledgeable. When I asked why the chips were not gf, the staff knew why. Not sure if the rest of the meal was safe since I glutened myself in the beginning, but it’s a nice restaurant!

My waiter went above and beyond to make my experience good! Corn tortillas are so yummy and they even have a gluten free sopaipilla!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

The manager was extremely helpful and explained exactly what I could order that would be GF and DF. I ordered tamales (chicken and beef) and enchilada (chicken and ground beef) - each had either green sauce or the ranchero sauce. The pinto beans, refried beans and rice were safe as well. Their chips and salsa are amazing! The chips are thin and crispy and the salsa is the perfect consistency. Everything was delish and, since I ordered through Uber Eats, it was all delivered right to my hotel room. Such a treat, considering that I am from out of town and haven’t found a ton of reliable GF options in OKC. I will definitely order from here the next time I’m in town.

The gluten free menu is not trustworthy. I’m not going back—I gave more chances than I should have. I ordered tamales with no sauce, rice, and gluten free chips. Also cheese sauce and relish. All of the things I had are on their gluten menu, but I obviously ate plenty of gluten there last night based on my today.

Celiac friendly?

No

I always get the same thing and never have a problem. Gf chips, spinach enchiladas made with corn tortillas and sides of papas and grilled veggies. Even the queso is gf. The fajita meat has gluten but the ground beef doesn't. Our server was very helpful and the food was delicious!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Tight seating and loud, but delicious food. One out two waiters were knowledgeable on the spot, the unknowable happily found out correct answer from kitchen though. Best yellow corn tortillas I’ve ever had, they make them in house fresh! You get free gf chips, corn tortillas, queso and salsa. Ordered a beef and a spinach enchilada with rice and beans, all delicious.

Just don’t forget to ask for gf on chips and tortillas while being seated.

Celiac friendly?

No

They have a gluten sensitivity menu, not gluten free. They do not say gluten free they explain. We were having dinner with friends there. Yes, we both got sick.

Celiac friendly?

No

Waitstaff not knowledgeable and instead of asking just left it at, "I don't know". We ordered GF chips and they brought the regular first. Halfway through meal the manager came out to ask how sensitive and turns out the "GF" chips made in a shared fryer. Glad he told me so I stopped eating them when I did but not the good for celiac. Mild symptoms but still, poor service and poor education.

Celiac friendly?

No

Their “gluten free” chips ARE NOT celiac safe. They are fried with everything else. Yellow corn tortillas are safe but NOT the white corn so be sure to specify. Decent selection and as long as I avoid the chips and make sure all tortillas are yellow corn, I don’t have any issues.

The staff was super knowledgeable and eager to make sure I had a wonderful meal—which I did! Tons of yummy choices. I will definitely eat here again the next time I’m visiting Lawton.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

They bring out GF chips and the best is GF sopapillas.

I have been to Ted’s countless times before my Celiac diagnosis and loved it. I had plans to meet some friends for the first time since my diagnosis at the Outlet Shoppes location so I called the manager to get an idea what I could expect and order. He basically said they can’t guarantee anything to be gluten free at all. He did not give me any options or ideas about what I could order. He really said nothing at all besides they can’t guarantee anything to be GF. Needless to say, we went to BJs instead where they were much more helpful. I’m very sad to report this because I was a loyal customer for over 20 years! Try Alfredo’s Mexican where they have a gluten free menu and dedicated fryer.

Celiac friendly?

No

My husband has painful reactions to wheat. We explained this to the waitress, she said the manager would come see us. After a moment he showed up and explained exactly how to order to prevent being dosed with wheat/gluten and how they minimize cross contamination. What a blessing!!! Definitely a favorite!!!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

After telling the waitress 3 times from arrival to order that I was GF, I received the white corn tortillas from the “not safe” list of their allergy menu. After speaking with the manager and getting the GF corn tortillas, my meal came out - with my cheese enchilada made from the same white corn tortilla I mentioned above. The reason I didn’t give it one star is that they at least have GF menu and the manager was concerned after the fact.

Celiac friendly?

No

Ok so there is a gluten sensitive menu, but I did not get the feeling that most of them have a clue what gluten is.....

They were very knowledgeable about celiac. They made sure everything was gluten free and prepared correctly.

Ask for gluten free chips. I get shredded beef enchiladas on corn tortillas and have never gotten sick. Cheese dip is GF as well.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Separate gluten free menu. GF chips. Possible to get a good meal GF and CF.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

The Norman location does not have a dedicated fryer, so all chips are unsafe. The only thing I felt comfortable eating was the tortilla soup, but be sure to specify no chips in the soup.

Celiac friendly?

No

Good selection of GF items. They will even make you your own GF chips! The staff we have had has been very knowledgeable about what to order.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

i have celiac and have eaten here 3 times so far with no issues. MOST of the staff is knowledgeable about gluten and CC. i say most because i think we had a "new" waitress one visit but one of the experienced staff jumped in to assist her. They have a gf menu and the food is delish

Celiac friendly?

Yes

very friendly staff. extreamly knowledgeable about foods. ensured I had all the i formation to make my selection. yummy!!

Celiac friendly?

No

They have a GF menu but it is limited. we were wanting Faijtas or street tacos but the marinade has gluten. :( They have GF chips.

bar staff was knowledgeable and accomodating. In addition to gluten, I have a dairy allergy. still was able to choose a yummy Mexican meal. Did not get sick!

Teds has always been one of my favorite restaurants. I was so sad that there gluten free menu didn't have my favorite meal on it. I did ask for a gluten free menu when I walked in the door and the hostess went above and beyond to help me create my favorite meal using the items they have that are gluten free. I am so impressed and so happy that they are so helpful and kind.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

The only reason this restaurant has a higher then 1 star rating is non celiac individuals are rating it high. Apparently eating gluten free is still trendy... This restaurant caters to those individuals. Beware.

Celiac friendly?

No

The staff seemed very knowledgeable, and they had several choices. I have eaten there several times, and never an issue. And yes, I ate lots of GF chips.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

If you have reactions to MSG don't go here at all. My only options for food was scoops of guacamole, corn tortillas and steamed veggies. Since I have other food sensitivities it was not good. My husband had the fajitas and the quality was terrible! Save yourself some time and go somewhere else.

Celiac friendly?

No

Don't have GF menu, they give you a complicated list to cross reference. Waiter was not helpful either.

Celiac friendly?

No

Very knowledgeable and friendly! They even have gluten free tortilla chips that are good!!!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

The manager was friendly and immediately offered us special gf tortilla chips. I asked if they were fried in a shared fryer. He said they were, but that it wasn't a problem because "the oil is kept extra hot so it doesn't have cross contamination". We turned down the chips, which he was polite about but clearly thought strange, and overall we didn't feel confident in feeding our celiac child.

Celiac friendly?

No

NOT for anyone with Celiac. They don't have dedicated fryers, so even their "Gluten Free" chips aren't really Gluten Free. They have a "gluten sensitive" menu that basically caters to Gluten Free hipsters. Very limited options for things that are truly GF. If you're Celiac or have a Wheat allergy, I wouldn't trust it here.

Celiac friendly?

No