Updated February 2025! Butter is big at this international seafood shack. They also defy longstanding culinary rules, and drench many of their fish dishes in cheese and/or creamy sauces. Nevertheless, Red Lobster has several dairy-free sides, and mains that can be custom ordered with simple requests. We have them detailed below, along with allergen notes and a petite vegan menu guide.
Dairy-Free Menu Guide to Red Lobster with Allergen & Vegan Notes
Be aware of special order requirements in parentheses () next to the menu items, and see the Heads Up notes to help fill in the blanks. Please note that this guide is for the U.S. locations. Options may vary in other countries. We’ve included a few notes for Canada, but there might be additional differences.
Fryer Note: Red Lobster uses shared fryers. If concerned about potential cross contamination with milk, ask your server about the preparation of any fried items before ordering.
Butter Note: Dairy butter is definitely prevalent at this establishment. But Red Lobster switches back and forth between using butter with dairy and dairy-free butter alternatives or oil to cook. Always make sure your location doesn’t opt to use dairy butter for all cooking, and that it is not used in your order. Speak with the manager if concerned about potential cross contamination of allergens.
Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: Red Lobster covers their back by simply labeling all menu items with “cross contamination” potential. We have labeled all non-dairy items below which contain egg, gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, or soy. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Starters
- Black Tiger Shrimp Cocktail
- Crispy Dragon Calamari (contains egg, gluten, soy)
Heads Up! The Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops, Crispy Dragon Shrimp, Hand Breaded Calamari, Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp Cocktail, and seasonal Mussels do contain milk. The Sweet Chili Shrimp in Canada is made without milk!
Bowls & Salads
Dairy-Free Salad Dressings: Citrus Vinaigrette, French Dressing, Honey Mustard Dressing (contains egg), Lemon Vinaigrette, Mango Pineapple Vinaigrette, Sesame Dressing (contains gluten, soy), Thousand Island (contains egg)
Heads Up! The Sesame Soy Salmon Bowl does contain milk. The menu salads at Red Lobster are all served with cheese and dairy-based dressings, but you can custom order a salad with a dairy-free dressing and grilled chicken or salmon.
Pasta
Heads Up! It isn’t on the menu, but Red Lobster reportedly has a dairy-free Marinara Sauce. But you can custom order a dairy-free pasta marinara, if desired. Unfortunately, the dairy-free Kung Pao Noodles at Red Lobster were discontinued.
Seafood Entrees
Heads Up! They don’t have any seafood menu items that are dairy-free as is, because butter is used liberally in cooking. But, the Steamed Lobster and all other fish and shellfish at Red Lobster can be custom ordered without dairy. Speak with your server. Some locations might even be able to prepare your fish in a separate pan. At Canadian locations, the Fish & Chips are made without milk, but in the U.S. they do contain milk.
Chicken & Steak Entrees
- Grilled Chicken Tenders (contains gluten)
Heads Up! The Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders now contain milk. They now use dairy butter to cook the steaks at Red Lobster, but you can request no butter. Some locations might be able to accommodate preparation in a separate pan, away from the grill.
Sides
- Baked Potato (no toppings)
- Chesapeake Fries
- Crispy Brussels Sprouts (contains gluten, soy)
- Coleslaw (contains egg)
- House Salad (no cheese, no croutons, dairy-free dressing)
- Orzo Rice (contains gluten)
Heads Up! The Seasoned Broccoli and Roasted Asparagus at Red Lobster are made with dairy.
Kids Menu
- Grilled Chicken Tenders (contains gluten)
- Grilled Chicken (ensure no butter)
- French Fries
- Fruit
- Casco Bay Cooler – Cherry Wave Slushy
- Lemonade, Regular and Raspberry
Heads Up! The Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders now contain milk. They use butter on the grill, but the Garlic Grilled Shrimp can be custom ordered without butter, and they might be able to accommodate allergen preparation in a different pan. The Golden Fried Fish and Popcorn Shrimp at Red Lobster do contain milk.
Condiments
- Barbeque Sauce
- Cocktail Sauce
- Ketchup
- Marinara Sauce (contains gluten)
- Tartar Sauce (contains egg)
Heads Up! The Pina Colada Sauce does contain milk. See the Salad Dressings above for more options.
Blended Drinks
Heads Up! The Smoothies at Red Lobster do contain milk.
Red Lobster Vegan Menu Guide
- Pasta Marinara (custom order)
- House Salad with French Dressing (no cheese, no croutons)
- Chesapeake Fries
- Baked Potato (no toppings)
- Crispy Brussels Sprouts
- Fruit
- Orzo Rice
- BBQ Sauce
- Cocktail Sauce
- Ketchup
- Marinara Sauce
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, food sourcing, and restaurant protocols are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Each location of a chain restaurant has different management and staff, and some might have different owners. This means differences in processes, ingredients used, menu options, and food sourcing can occur. Always verify the safety of your order for your needs at your current location.
Where to Find Red Lobster
They have over 700 locations worldwide. The menu items might vary across countries. The above list is from their U.S. information, which is where the majority of their restaurants are located. See the website below for addresses, hours, and contact information.
Website: www.redlobster.com (for Canada: www.redlobster.ca)
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars (based on 1 review)
I have a question.
February 5, 2024
Is it a company practice to put butter on the food.
Weston Van Hassel
Response from Go Dairy Free
Please read the information provided in the post above!
For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!
