Eating out with an egg allergy
Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in young children. Plain eggs are easy to avoid; the hard part is everything egg is quietly used in, from batters and egg washes to sauces and fresh pasta. Here’s where to look and how to order egg-free when you eat out.
Key takeaways
- Egg hides in batters, breading, egg washes, mayonnaise and creamy sauces.
- Breakfast restaurants are trickier because eggs share the griddle with everything else.
- Fresh pasta, some noodles, meatballs and crab cakes often contain egg.
- Vegan dishes are a good place to look, but still mention the allergy.
- Ask about egg wash on breads and buns. It isn’t always on the allergen chart.
Allergy-friendly breakfast out
Breakfast is the hardest meal out with an egg allergy. Eggs are cracked all morning on the same flat-top used for pancakes, hash browns and bacon, and batters usually contain egg.
- Ask whether your food can be cooked in a clean pan instead of on the shared griddle.
- Oatmeal, fruit, yogurt (if dairy is safe), and plain potatoes cooked separately are often the simplest options.
- Ask whether the toast or English muffin contains egg or is brushed with egg wash.
- Check the allergen chart for the specific breakfast items. At chains, recipes are the same at every location.
Safebite filters restaurant menus by your allergens, including egg, and treats “may contain” items as unsafe.
Easier and harder restaurants
Usually easier
- Grills and steakhouses with plain proteins and potatoes.
- Mexican-style bowls, tacos and burritos (check the tortillas and any creamy sauces).
- Many Indian, Thai and Middle Eastern dishes, which are often egg-free, although shared fryers and egg breads still appear.
- Vegan restaurants.
Needs more care
- Breakfast and brunch restaurants.
- Bakeries and dessert shops.
- Italian restaurants with fresh pasta, and restaurants with lots of fried and battered food.
How to order egg-free
- Say “egg allergy” clearly, and mention that it includes egg in sauces, breads and batters.
- Ask about mayonnaise-based sauces and dressings by name.
- Ask whether buns or bread are brushed with egg wash.
- Ask whether your food shares a fryer, griddle or wok with egg dishes.
In Safebite, add egg to your profile and every menu is filtered for it. If you also avoid milk, read eating out with multiple food allergies, which covers kids allergic to milk and eggs.
Egg allergy in children
Many children outgrow an egg allergy, and some can eat egg baked into foods like muffins before they can eat scrambled eggs. That decision belongs to your allergist. Until they say otherwise, treat all forms of egg as unsafe when eating out, because you can’t control how much egg is in a restaurant dish. More tips in our guide to eating out with a child with food allergies.
Frequently asked questions
What are egg-free restaurant options for children?
Plain grilled meats, rice, potatoes, fruit, steamed vegetables and many tacos, burrito bowls and stir-fries can be egg-free. Be careful with breaded and battered foods, pancakes, waffles, French toast, baked goods, fresh pasta, meatballs and creamy dressings, which often contain egg. Check the restaurant’s allergen chart and ask about shared griddles.
Where does egg hide in restaurant food?
Egg is often used in batters and breading, egg washes on breads and pastries, mayonnaise, aioli, tartar sauce, Caesar and other creamy dressings, hollandaise and béarnaise, meatballs, meatloaf and crab cakes, fresh pasta, some noodles, custards, mousse and meringue, and foam on some cocktails.
Are breakfast restaurants safe for an egg allergy?
They can be, but they take extra care. Eggs are cooked on shared griddles, and pancake and waffle batter usually contains egg. Ask whether your food can be cooked in a clean pan, and look at options like oatmeal, fruit, potatoes, bacon or sausage cooked separately, and toast made without egg.
Is egg-free the same as vegan?
Vegan food is made without eggs, so vegan dishes are a useful place to look. But vegan doesn’t guarantee there was no cross-contact with egg in the kitchen, so still mention your allergy.
What should I ask a restaurant about an egg allergy?
Ask whether breading, batter, bread, buns, pasta, sauces and dressings contain egg, whether bread is brushed with egg wash, and whether your food will be cooked on the same griddle as eggs.
Sources and further reading
This guide is general information to help you plan, not medical advice. Talk to your allergist about your own risks, carry the medication they prescribe, and always tell restaurant staff about your allergies before you order. In an emergency, use epinephrine and call 911 (or your local emergency number).