The food is okay, for takeout. Ask them to label things if you order to go.
Extremely disappointing experience. I was told that their tortilla chips are cooked in the same fryer as the churros so they are not safe from cross-contamination. When I asked if they could wipe down the cooktop before making my taco to ensure there’s no cross-contamination, they refused because they were “too busy”. At that point I said “ok so there’s essentially nothing I can eat safely?” and the woman taking my order stared blankly. I was frazzled initially, but ended up, asking to speak to the manager after a little while. At that point, he doubled down and said he had been the one to make the call to say that they would not accommodate me and wipe down the cooktop. He said and I quote “maybe we would be willing to do it if you came back at two or 3 PM on a weekday“. Really shocking attitude that I’ve rarely encountered. I’ve been able to eat at Torchy’s safely many times in the past, so I know they can accommodate it. I made a special trip with friends to come to this new location in the DMV since I don’t live near Rockville and am a lifelong Torchy’s fan. So disappointing
I came here with family after an event, even though I was very hesitant since it’s a chain. Before ordering, I asked if the chips are in a shared or independent fryer; the girl I was ordering from was new and didn’t know, but she happily went to ask. Their chips are in their own fryer, so I ordered chips and guacamole (this item is listed on their gluten-friendly menu that you can find online). I was also able to swap corn tortillas for flour on my daughters’ quesadillas without issue or up charge. When I asked if they had an allergy button to add to our order, again, the girl had to look, but she did find one and noted the allergy with our order.
I wanted to add this review because, even though I did only eat the chips and guac/ queso (that my family ordered), I did not get sick and that alone is worth sharing. There are several tacos and a couple of other items on their gf menu that are probably good, but I wasn’t feeling all that brave last night since I had already gotten sick once this week while eating out. Maybe others will stop by and share their experience, too!
According to the manager of this new location they are "Gluten conscious"*
Keep in mind they have been open less than two weeks. Order issues noted here we're fixed after pointing them out. For the sake of documenting the experience, I am including the entire visit.
The employee who took the order was given a simple task: one of each taco that is gluten free or can be made gluten free. This resulted in an order with 15 tacos. After receiving the order I noted several of the tacos contained gluten ingredients.
The result: more than half the tacos we received contained gluten. Several with known gluten ingredients, and one with jalapeños brined in soy sauce.
The manager and kitchen staff were responsive and did replace all items. This was apparently a training issue with the order taker. The management informed me there is a specific allergen button on the order menu.
Would not trust this location at all. Nothing is marked as gluten free on the board or the menus - person taking my order said she would mark it on the register and I ordered tacos that were listed on the online Torchy's gf menu. One came out with fried shrimp. Had to send it back to be remade with grilled.
Tacos were delicious, but don't recommend at all for safety.
The tacos are really great but stay away from the chips! They told me the chips and queso would be fine but I definitely got glutened from them. I regularly eat Torchy’s when I visit family in Austin with no problems, I think this one needs a bit more knowledge on gluten. I’ve had the tacos at this location before without problems as well so just don’t eat the chips and let them know you have an allergy and you should be okay!
They have a printed gluten free menu. Most items can be made GF with a corn tortilla. Burrito bowls are good, too Chips & queso were great!
All the tacos can have their flour tortillas swapped out for corn tortillas instead
Never had an issue here! I over explain that it’s a severe allergy not preference and I’ve never had a reaction :)
Update: They have a gluten free menu you just have to ask! Most sides can be gluten free, just make sure to specify an allergy—ask for corn tortillas and no chips(shared fryer). I am extremely symptomatic and have had no issues here. Brushfire is my fave with poblano ranch!
They don’t have a gf menu specifically and the clerk at the front counter had to get a manager to figure out what we were asking, but the manager was able to answer our questions. The food was good, the green chile queso was amazing, but there might have been some slight cross contamination with the chips despite the manager assuring us that the chips have a dedicated fryer.
Have eaten here several times with no unhappy tummy reactions. Staff is knowledgeable when you order. They recently redid the menu and are working on a new gf one. When you order they have a gluten allergy warning they add to your order. The queso is gf! Have tried the Democrat and the pork tacos on corn tortillas. Very tasty! Highly recommend 👌
i loved the experience here. i loved torchys before i knew i was celiac, and i love it even more now. The guy taking the order was super helpful and even went to ask the manager about the seasoning on the potatoes, unfortunately they didn’t know if that seasoning had gluten so we just got it without the potatoes. anyways, i felt very safe about it and they even put gluten allergy on the receipt:) i was so happy i could get the trailer park with grilled chicken and corn tortilla
The first 2 times I went were great. I ordered 2 breakfast tacos the first time and the barbacoa and brisket tacos the 2nd time and had no issues. They were curteous and everything came out quickly.
The last time I went I stated gluten allergy and she put it on the order. I ordered the fresh avocado and the barbacoa to go. When I got back to work to eat them I noticed the fresh avocado was actually fried. I ate it anyway and oh boy was I hurting later. Normally just a little bit of gluten doesn't bother me so I don't know if there was more than just the avocados that were contaminated or what. They title their gluten free menu as gluten conscious so maybe that should have told me to double check. I will eat there again but will be a lot more cognizant as the food is really good and the staff is friendly.
We attended the soft opening (it officially opens in just a few days on May 15, 2024). They confirmed they have a dedicated gluten free fryer for the chips. We've had luck at other locations with their gluten sensitive menu (avoiding chips at locations that don't have a dedicated fryer) and this one was just the same. They did mention that the potatoes recently changed to hashbrown style and those are not fried in the dedicated fryer, so just be aware of that potential if they don't switch back to diced potatoes.
The app has a lot more diet and allergen information and clear options than ordering in person. Even if you're eating there, you could review it ahead or grab a table and order on your phone, especially if you're avoiding dairy and soy. Those are much harder to identify on the in-store menu.
This is my go-to chain restaurant if I need to pick up fast food. The kids love the tacos, and we have yet to have any cross-contamination issues in the four years since my son’s diagnosis. Not one accidental gluten incident. Corn tortillas don’t fall apart after the first bite like most corn tortillas which is key for my son. Great option to have in our area.
Summary -
Yummy but had issues ordering from the gluten conscious menu and chips are in shared fryer.
Story -
When I asked the server about gluten they immediately brought over the manager. Manager was great! They brought me the “gluten conscious” menu, explained that the chips are fried separately but the oil from both fryers are combined (so not GF but listed on the menu). I ordered the baja shrimp taco and the brisket taco on corn tortillas, mentioning the gluten allergy/menu to the server.
When the food came out, the shrimp was breaded and fried (so not GF), so we sent back with the server to redo. Then we realized that my partner’s burrito had vegan meat instead of the beef he ordered (burritos are not GF). He mentioned to manager who happened to walk by. Manager went back to kitchen and didn’t come back out until our food was out and correct. Everything was really good, including the mexican rice and street corn sides.
We tried to pay but the manager comped our meal. Very nice!
There is a bar and specialty cocktails but we didn’t try any.
I told the server I had celiac disease, explicitly asked her to indicate that I was GF on my ticket, and she did not. She also told me the chips are cooked in the same fryer as everything else, so I did not have any. Anyway, I ordered the airstream salad with the grilled chicken and have been sick all day :(
The person behind the counter seemed a bit unsure in dealing with gluten free requests, but then she also couldn't tell me what white wine they had, so she must have been new. Be sure to look at the "gluten conscious" menu to know your options before you order. That said, the chips are made in a dedicated fryer, and the queso and GF tacos we picked were great.
I don’t have any trouble finding something gluten free, and my whole family liked it.
Menu posted over ordering area is not marked GF but website has a complete GF menu that we used to pick out our order. Watch out when ordering off the overhead board since some tacos are made with corn tortillas and some with flour. Not the best spot for sensitive celiacs, but plenty of options for those who are avoiding gluten but not as sensitive. Tacos were good with some interesting ingredients, service was quick, and atmosphere was casual and friendly.
I've ordered here about once a week for the last 6 months or so. Three times, I've gotten flour tortillas when I ordered corn. (Online orders) I'm not highly allergic, so I just dump the contents on a plate and eat it with a fork. (And toss the flour tortilla) From now on, I'm checking before I leave the store. I'll eat here again, but writing this review so you all know to be careful.
Server told me that they can sub corn for flour tortillas on any taco. Mentioned cross contamination in the fryer, told me they could find workarounds for friend ingredients. Added gluten allergy to my slip, double checked they had. Tasty! There wasn’t a separate GF menu in person, but the server was knowledgeable.
Warning!!!! I asked today if the chips are cooked in a separate fryer from the fried chicken they use on some tacos. The cashier wasn’t sure, so she went to the back and asked and told me that they DO fry them both in the same fryer. She said they use a separate basket. (Which obviously doesn’t help anything.) She said she was told the risk of cross contamination was like 1%. The reason I asked is that my celiac daughter has gotten sick the past two times we have eaten there (we were originally told the chips were gf and fried separately). We are so sad to lose this option as my daughter loves the chips and queso. I do know they can make some things gf, but the chips are not safe.