ShopHouse: Gluten-Free Fast(ish) Food

*This review is not sponsored by ShopHouse*

ShopHouse Kitchens are currently located only in California, Maryland, and Washington, DC.

I’m officially late to the party. Although it opened in 2011, I only just learned about ShopHouse from my sister and mother. I was pumped when I learned about the Southeast Asian-inspired younger sibling of Chipotle that emphasizes the same “commitment to Food With Integrity” and bright, bold flavors as its older brother:

“The food culture of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore is eye-opening and inspiring, with a focus on fresh, expertly prepared, and affordable fare that can be eaten every day. We pay tribute to the region’s flavors by balancing fresh, responsibly sourced ingredients that take hours to prepare and just seconds to come together in any combination you like.”

Have I mentioned that everything (yes, EVERYTHING) in the restaurant is gluten-free and dairy-free?!

It’s not often I have the pleasure of choosing my lunch based on what I would prefer to eat versus what is safe for me to eat. For your reference, I have included the ingredients, spice level, and calories of the meals we ordered, but I encourage you to look at the menu for even more options (spice level and calories provided by ShopHouse menu and nutrition calculator):

What I ordered (2 spice flames, 465 calories):

• Salad
• Pork & Chicken Meatballs
• Kale
• Tamarind Vinaigrette*
• Herb Salad
• Crispy Garlic*
• Crushed Peanuts*

Verdict: Yummy combination, filling but not overly so, perfect medium spiciness, big flavors, just the right amount of sauce

*Recommended by ShopHouse staff

What my husband ordered (2 spice flames, 760 calories):

• Rice Noodles
• Grilled Chicken Satay
• Charred Corn
• Green Curry
• Herb Salad
• Crispy Garlic*
• Crushed Peanuts*

Verdict: He loved it! He says it’s “better than Chipotle” (a BIG compliment in our house!).

*Recommended by ShopHouse staff

What my 2 year-old son ordered (0 spice flames, 700 calories):

• Rice Noodles
• Pork & Chicken Meatballs
• Peanut Sauce
• Crispy Garlic

Verdict: He ate every meatball, but he wasn’t interested in the noodles or sauce on this day. I’ll take it!

*I completely forgot to take a picture of his meal – sorry!

Pros:

• Variety of spice options – bold flavors are available even without heat
• Vegetarian/Vegan options available
• Good portion sizes – the perfect amount of food for one meal
• Relatively inexpensive – each meal was less than $8
• Staff will help you pick good flavor combinations – very helpful on your first trip!
• There is dessert!

Cons:

• Only available in limited markets – according to the website, more locations are coming soon!
• Probably no leftovers – unless your kid is feeling picky that day
• Calories can accumulate very quickly – think strategically if you are tracking calories
• The Coconut Rice & Mango Parfait is good but rich and VERY sweet – don’t let the small size fool you! This baby is dense. I recommend sharing with a friend.
• Not a great option for people with nut allergies – you can definitely find something (all ingredients and allergen information are listed here), but beware if you are sensitive to contamination

What’s your favorite gluten-free fast food?

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