Eating out can be a delightful experience, but for those with allergies or specific dietary requirements, it can sometimes feel like navigating a minefield. Understanding what’s in your food is crucial, and thankfully, many restaurants are becoming more transparent about their ingredients. If you’re planning a visit to The Waffle House, you’ll be pleased to find a comprehensive menu that details allergens and dietary information, helping you make informed choices. This guide will walk you through the Waffle House menu, ensuring you can confidently select dishes that align with your nutritional needs and preferences.
Understanding the Waffle House Menu: Bases and Waffles
The foundation of any great waffle dish starts with the waffle itself. At The Waffle House, you have a few choices for your base, each with its own dietary considerations.
The classic Waffle (Plain/White/Spelt) is a popular choice, but it’s important to note that it contains gluten, eggs, and milk. For those who are vegetarian and not concerned about these allergens, this is a suitable option.
For customers seeking alternatives, the Vegan & Gluten Free Waffle is an excellent option. The Waffle House takes cross-contamination seriously, using a dedicated iron for this batter and deep cleaning all irons daily. This waffle is made without gluten-containing ingredients and is entirely vegan.
Sweet Indulgence: Toppings and Sweet Treats
Once you’ve chosen your waffle base, the fun begins with toppings! Let’s explore the sweet options and their nutritional profiles.
Classic Toppings
For a simple yet satisfying topping, Ice Cream is a go-to. However, it contains milk and is therefore not suitable for vegans or those with dairy allergies. It is vegetarian and free from gluten-containing ingredients.
Whipped Chantilly Cream offers another creamy delight, also containing milk and suitable for vegetarians and those avoiding gluten.
For a vegan ice cream option, Judes Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream is available. This topping is vegan, free from gluten-containing ingredients, but does contain soya.
Sweet Topping Sensations
Moving into more elaborate sweet toppings, it’s crucial to consider the ingredients if you have allergies. Remember, the allergens listed in this section do not include the waffle base itself.
Banoffee is a popular choice, but it contains milk and soya. It is vegetarian and free from gluten-containing ingredients but also lists fruit as a minor allergen.
The Banana Flapjack topping is more complex, containing a wide array of allergens including gluten, milk, tree nuts, peanut, sesame, soya, fruit, and oats. It is vegetarian, but those with multiple allergies should be particularly cautious.
A simple Banana topping is a naturally vegan and gluten-free choice, with fruit listed as a minor allergen.
Chocolate Sauce is a classic, but contains milk. It is vegetarian and free from gluten-containing ingredients.
Pecan Nut and Butterscotch Sauce combines nutty and sweet flavors, but contains milk and tree nuts (pecan nuts specifically). It is vegetarian and free from gluten-containing ingredients.
For chocolate lovers, Death by Chocolate is rich and decadent, containing eggs, milk, and soya. It is vegetarian and free from gluten-containing ingredients.
Dutch Apple offers a fruity and vegan option, with fruit as a minor allergen and free from gluten-containing ingredients.
Deconstructed Cheesecake is a more complex sweet topping, containing gluten, milk, and tree nuts (almond). It also lists fruit and oats as minor allergens. While vegetarian, it can be prepared without nuts upon request.
Toffee Sauce is a simple sweet sauce containing milk, vegetarian, and free from gluten-containing ingredients.
Chocolate Mousse is a rich and airy option, containing milk and soya, and is vegetarian.
The Flapjack topping, similar to the banana flapjack, contains gluten, milk, tree nuts, peanut, and oats, and is vegetarian.
Butterscotch Sauce is a simple sweet sauce containing milk, vegetarian, and free from gluten-containing ingredients.
Another Chocolate Sauce option is listed, again containing milk, vegetarian, and gluten-free.
A simple banana waffle topping is vegan and lists fruit as a minor allergen.
Greek Yoghurt provides a lighter, tangy topping, containing milk, vegetarian, and gluten-free.
Light Bites and Savory Options
The Waffle House menu isn’t just about sweet treats; there are also savory and lighter options to consider.
Light Bites for a Quick Snack
Garlic and Cheese is a savory light bite, containing milk and garlic as a minor allergen, and is vegetarian.
Salmon Arancini is a more complex option, containing celery, gluten (barley, wheat), eggs, fish, milk, soya, rice, and onion. This is not suitable for vegetarians or those with multiple allergies.
Lemon Hummus is a vegetarian option containing sesame and garlic as a minor allergen.
Mixed Olive Antipasti is a vegan light bite with garlic as a minor allergen.
Savory Topping Selections
Similar to the sweet toppings, remember that the allergens listed for savory toppings exclude the waffle base.
Hummus & Avocado is a vegan and gluten-free savory topping, containing sesame, sulphites, and garlic.
BBQ Pulled Pork is a flavorful savory option, free from gluten-containing ingredients, but contains celery, eggs, mustard, peanut (may contain), pork, garlic, onion, and chili peppers.
Cheese Sauce and Chestnut Mushrooms is a vegetarian savory topping containing gluten, milk, mustard, peanut (may contain), and soya.
Shredded Ham Cheese Sauce and Chestnut Mushrooms adds ham to the previous option, containing gluten, milk, mustard, peanut (may contain), soya, and pork.
Buttermilk Chicken is a savory and substantial topping containing gluten, eggs, milk, mustard, peanut (may contain), sesame, garlic, onion, and chili peppers.
The Waffle House Beef Burger is a hearty option containing celery, gluten (wheat), eggs, milk, mustard, peanut (may contain), garlic, and onion.
Fish and Waffle Chips is a play on the classic fish and chips, containing celery, gluten (wheat), eggs, fish, milk, soya, garlic, and onion.
Garlic Butter is a simple vegetarian and gluten-free savory topping containing milk and garlic.
Waffle Chips themselves are vegetarian and contain eggs and onion.
Plain Chips are a versatile side, vegan and gluten-free, containing no dairy ingredients.
Breakfast Bliss: Starting Your Day Right
The Waffle House also offers breakfast toppings to kickstart your morning. Again, allergens listed do not include the waffle base.
Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Eggs is a protein-rich breakfast option, free from gluten-containing ingredients, but contains eggs, fish, and milk.
Mushrooms and Scrambled Eggs is a vegetarian and gluten-free breakfast option, containing eggs and milk.
The Veggie Breakfast is vegetarian and free from gluten-containing ingredients, but contains eggs, milk, soya, sulphites, and onion.
Sausages, Beans and Cheese is a heartier breakfast, containing gluten (wheat), milk, soya, pork, and onion.
Eggs Benedict features poached eggs and hollandaise, containing eggs, milk, soya (if with shredded ham), pork, and onion. It is free from gluten-containing ingredients.
Eggs Royale is a variation with smoked salmon, containing eggs, fish, milk, and onion, and is gluten-free.
Turkish Style Poached Eggs offer a flavorful and vegetarian option, free from gluten-containing ingredients, containing eggs, milk, soya, and sulphites. It can be prepared without dairy upon request.
The Bacon Waffle Stack contains milk (from butter on the side) and pork. It can be made gluten and dairy-free by using the vegan waffle mix and omitting butter.
Blueberry and Bacon is a sweet and savory combination, containing pork and free from gluten and dairy ingredients.
The Waffle House Big Breakfast is a substantial meal containing gluten (wheat), eggs, milk, sulphites, and pork.
Breakfast Beans contain gluten (wheat), soya, sulphites, and onion.
Simple Scrambled Eggs are vegetarian and gluten-free, containing eggs and milk.
Smoked Bacon is free from gluten and dairy ingredients, but contains sulphites and pork.
Field Mushrooms are a simple vegetarian and gluten-free side.
Cumberland Sausage contains gluten (wheat) and pork.
Waffle Hash is a more complex breakfast item, containing gluten (wheat – trace), eggs, fish (trace), garlic, onion, and chili peppers.
Special Dishes: Unique Flavors and Considerations
Finally, the “Specials” section offers unique dishes with their own allergen profiles. Remember, allergens listed here do not include the waffle base.
White Chocolate and Passion Fruit Choux Waffle contains gluten, eggs, milk, pork (gelatine), and fruit.
Braised Ox Cheek Benedict contains eggs, milk, soya, garlic, onion, and chili peppers.
English Onion Soup contains celery, gluten (wheat), milk, soya, and sulphites, and also contains alcohol.
Creamy Garlic Mushrooms contains milk, tree nuts (walnut), and garlic.
Beef Goulash contains milk, garlic, and onion and can be prepared without dairy upon request.
Important Allergy Information and Disclaimer
The Waffle House kitchen handles allergens, and while they take precautions, no dish can be guaranteed completely allergen-free. If you have allergies, intolerances, or dietary needs, always inform your server before ordering. This menu information is a guide to help you make informed decisions. If in doubt, always ask a staff member for clarification.
By understanding the Waffle House menu and paying attention to the allergen and dietary information provided, you can enjoy a delicious and safe dining experience tailored to your needs.
