Updated February 2022! White Castle was America’s first fast-food hamburger chain, and they now have locations dotted all over the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. I bet you thought it was McDonald’s, but White Castle beat them by 27 years. They opened their first restaurant location in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. And nearly 100 years later, they beat the gold arches to yet another hamburger chain first: dairy-free cheese on the menu.

In early 2020, White Castle launched dairy-free Good Planet cheddar at its New Jersey  and New York City restaurants. Unfortunately, due to tumultuous times, it has yet to become a permanent and national menu item. Nevertheless, White Castle has many dairy-free options to choose from, and even great options for nut-free, egg-free, and vegan too …

This menu guide includes dairy-free options first, followed by custom order components. 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.

Butter Note: White Castle uses a buttery-flavored oil to cook many items. It is soy-based, and does not contain milk.

Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: At last check, none of the items below contained peanut or tree nuts. Items containing egg are noted below. Gluten-free guests will need to order bunless sliders. The French Fries and Hash Rounds are made without gluten, but do have potential fryer cross contamination as noted. Most menu items at White Castle are noted as “Prepared in Common Kitchen Area and/or Equipment” with milk and other top allergens. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.

Heads Up! The Sausage Patty and Belgian Waffles do contain milk.

Heads Up! The Breaded Chicken Breast at White Castle does contain milk.

Heads Up! The Chicken Rings, Onion Chips, Clam Strips, and Fish Nibblers at White Castle contain milk. In the New Jersey / New York region, the Onion Rings do contain milk, but in other regions, they do not. However, all fried items may be cooked in shared fryers.

Heads Up! As you might expect, the Ranch does contain milk.

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.

There are around 375 White Castle locations in the U.S. See their website below for addresses and hours.

Need dairy free milk shakes !!

Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

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