This post is sponsored by Nima Sensor and contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosures.
Pei Wei is a fast-casual pan-Asian restaurant with national presence. The restaurant has always had a few safe gluten-free options. While the gluten-free menu was small, most of us were happy to have something to order.
However, in 2018, Pei Wei expanded its once limited gluten-free menu to offer many gluten-free selections.
I now have no doubt that you’ll find something you love at Pei Wei now.
In this article, I’ll share:
- What’s gluten-free at Pei Wei, including a look at Pei Wei’s expanded gluten-free menu
- How several of Pei Wei’s dishes stood up to the Nima Sensor test for hidden gluten. The Nima Sensor is a portable gluten-detecting tool that I use to test for hidden gluten in food. I’ll share more about the Nima Sensor below.
Free Download: Printable Gluten-Free Safe Dining Card
What’s Gluten-Free at Pei Wei?
When you arrive, ask your server for Pei Wei’s gluten-free menu. There are several dishes that can be made gluten free, including:
- Gluten-Free Mongolian
- Gluten-Free Fried Rice
- Gluten-Free Kung Pao
- Gluten-Free Ginger Broccoli
- Gluten-Free Sweet & Sour
- Gluten-Free Pei Wei Original (formerly known as Pei Wei Spicy)
- Asian Chopped Chicken Salad
- Miso Side Salad
- Vietnamese Chicken Salad Rolls
- Edamame
- Cauliflower rice ($2 upcharge)
When placing your order, it’s important to tell your server that you want your dish prepared gluten free. They will then prepare it in a separate area and dedicated gluten-free pan.
I used to love the Pei Wei Original, but I just recently tried all the new dishes and now have a new, conclusive favorite… the Gluten-Free Kung Pao Chicken.
Related Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Out Gluten Free
This dish is so savory (vs. sweet) and delicious. I’m so excited that Pei Wei expanded its gluten-free offerings to include savory options.
How Items on Pei Wei’s Gluten-Free Menu are Prepared
Pei Wei says it coats the protein (chicken or shrimp) in its gluten-free orders in potato starch (instead of wheat flour) and then cooks it in fresh oil in dedicated gluten-free pans. This means the protein will still have a crispy outside – yum – but will be gluten-free safe. Whew!
Furthermore, Pei Wei uses gluten-free soy sauce when cooking its gluten-free menu items. In fact, the restaurant only uses gluten-free soy sauce in all its dishes, gluten-free or not. This offers a little extra reassurance that there’s no gluten cross contamination.
Related Reading: What’s Really Gluten Free at the Cheesecake Factory?
On top of having plenty of satisfying gluten-free options, you can feel good about eating at Pei Wei because of its clean-label initiative known as “The Wei Forward.”
The company says it is committed to using minimally-processed, fresh ingredients as evident by its latest offering, cauliflower rice.
In fact, The Wei Forward’s principles include:
- Use Fresh and Whole Food – This means Pei Wei is committed to using quality meats and it freshly slices 20+ different kinds of vegetables daily.
- Be Clean and Transparent – Pei Wei says 30 percent of its rice bowls are entirely free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, and that number will be up to 61 percent by the end of 2019.
- Offer Food that is “Made for You” – Pei Wei says that it will customize any dish – and that includes ensuring its gluten sensitive customers get a meal that meets their dietary preferences.
However, since getting my Nima Sensor, I’ve wondered if Pei Wei is really gluten-free. I’ve always felt fine eating there, but you just never know if gluten might be lurking in your food. I decided to put the restaurant to the Nima Sensor test once and for all!
Related Reading: 13 Things You Need to Know about the Nima Sensor
What is a Nima Sensor?
A Nima Sensor is a portable device that detects gluten in a small portion of the food you test. You simply add a pea-sized amount of food to the Nima Sensor capsule, put the capsule in your Nima Sensor, and within 1-2 minutes, Nima will tell you if it found gluten or it’ll display a smiley face, which means it’s free from gluten.
Remember, Nima only tests a small portion of your food, and it cannot detect soy sauce or other fermented foods, so you must be vigilant when ordering and before eating anything, especially if you are highly sensitive to gluten or have celiac disease.
Related Reading: Is the Nima Sensor Accurate?
You can shop for a Nima Sensor on Amazon.
Pei Wei vs. Nima Sensor
Here are the Nima Sensor results of the various dishes I tested for hidden gluten at Pei Wei. A smiley face means it’s Nima approved and free from gluten.
Gluten-Free Pei Wei Original Chicken:
Gluten-Free Kung Pao Chicken:
You can watch me test these dishes on Facebook Live here:
Eating Out With Confidence
I am dedicated to help you eat out with confidence. That’s why I wrote the book on how to safely eat out when you can’t eat gluten.
Related Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Out Gluten Free
Leave a Comment