Gluten-Free at California Tortilla

This location is permanently closed. Please remove from the list.

I’ve eaten here a number of times and haven’t had any problems… but yesterday was astoundingly awful. I ordered a bowl, mentioned my dairy and gluten allergies, and waited a while. I was delivered a burrito in a flour tortilla, and then brought up that I’d ordered a bowl and had a gluten allergy. The guy at the counter proceeded to begin tearing apart the burrito to dump it into a bowl. I was so dumbfounded I asked if that was what he was doing and he confirmed that it was. 😬 I clarified that that would make me quite sick, and the whole thing needed to be remade. If I hadn’t seen that myself, I would have presumed it to be safe to eat. Never again.

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

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the 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

Did not get sick! Great place everything marked and staff knowledgeable!

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

— Somewhat

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?

— Good

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

— Somewhat

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

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

Lots of gluten free options here, and everything is marked. You can choose from menu options or create your own. We opted to create our own burrito bowls. The ingredients were fresh and delicious!

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

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main 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

I have eaten here 2x in the last month or so. Both times the food was tasty and I did not get sick. The service aways seems slow and disorganized, but it's a good option for those with Celiac. Lots of gf options.

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?

— Average

Good food. They don’t have a dedicated GF menu or their GF items marked. Most of their menu is GF, but the risk for cross contamination seemed pretty high. The gluten containing sauce was at the back and I saw drips of it in the other sauces. And with it being all open, subway style, the risk of utensils touching the flour tortillas before serving you is pretty high also.

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

— Not very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the 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?

— Good

Other Characteristics

• Offers online ordering

Washed hands, changed gloves, very knowledgeable and accommodating.

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

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

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 lunch
• Good for takeout

Lots of gluten free options to customize your order. Skip the flour tortillas. Order hard shell for tacos. Store-made tortilla chips are made with white corn. Salads are great. Order burritos in a bowl.

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

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the 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?

— Good

Other Characteristics

• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Offers outdoor seating

Charlie was very helpful and took my son’s order himself. We were thankful!

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

— Somewhat

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

A+++!!! This restaurant was super good! Almost the whole menu was GF. Fried Fish, Shrimp, and Chicken were GF. I had a Shrimp bowl make-your-own. It was simply delicious and very tasty. I had the Chips and Pico which was good. The chips were very tender and the pico was not too spicy. The manager Charlie was so sweet and accommodating. He made sure to help me get what was gf. He even showed me the ingredients menu. I would go here again and again!!! I’m sad they don’t have California Tortilla near me.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

This was a very delicious refreshing stop in my trip to Chattanooga. The manager, Charlie, was very helpful and knowledgeable on what I could eat. I ate created my Bangkok Shrimp bowl complete with mango salsa and fresh chips. Most of the menu was gluten free. My party of 6 enjoyed our gluten free dinner with no fuss. 😀 price was reasonable

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?

— Most/All

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

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Good vegan options
• Offers online ordering

Lots of gluten free options available and staff was knowledgeable about allergens and their 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 staff was friendly and knowledgeable- they also have an allergy menu posted with all their items and what allergen they contain- made ordering easy!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

One of several locations in the DC area. Corn tortillas can be substituted for flour or can get bowls instead of burritos. Lots of options including several sides.

Options are limited for GF. I tend to stick to the tacos and bowls. Their chips are fine too

Food is good but not celiac friendly. Cross contamination has made my daughter sick twice. Also, the staff knowledge of celiac is inconsistent at best. The last time we tried mistakes were made so the manager offered to remake the taco then delivered the GF taco to our table plopped on top of a pile of non GF chips. Not safe for celiac.

Celiac friendly?

No

I had the southwest salad with grilled chicken. Most meats are gluten free. Most salad dressings are gluten free. Order without tortilla strips, fried in common fryer. I asked them to change gloves but they do not have separate prep space or food items. I didn't have a problem but am sensitive not celiac. They are supposed to have several gluten free burritos but I didn't inquire as the salad seemed like the safest bet.

Celiac friendly?

No

Horrible and disrespectful service! Weren't accommodating at all! We actually left before ordering

Celiac friendly?

No

Love this place. Go with the family often Never had an issue and the food is excellent

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Definitely study the online menu before ordering as there are items you can not have if you are celiac. No dedicated fryer so stay away from the chips. Was able to get a burrito bowl and it was good. The staff was not that knowledgeable but tried their best to accommodate.

Just ok food, decent option if you want a Mexican for lunch. chicken is alright and most food there is GF

Cashier was friendly and helpful. Immediately called the GM, Peter, over to ensure we could get food without cross-contamination. They had a list of their foods and what allergens were in them. I forgot to ask if the chips were made in a dedicated fryer and after starting to prep our food, Peter caught it and told us the fryer isn't dedicated! Wow! Thanks for catching my miss! Great taste, excellent service, definitely GF friendly! We will go back every time we visit Lancaster! Thanks!!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

great nachos

Good food and friendly service! However when it comes to being GF friendly, not so much. Here is the reply I received when we contacted corporate: "Although we have menu items that are gluten-free, we cannot guarantee that cross contamination won’t occur" Stacey Kane, VP of Marketing, California Tortilla Group, Inc., 20 Courthouse Square, Suite 206 Rockville, Maryland 20850 301.545.0035

Celiac friendly?

No

This is my favorite place for gf fast food.