This page describes our approach for each restriction, as well as our estimated accuracy.
| Name | Description | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Restrictions | ||
| Gluten-Free | This filter relies on the claims and descriptions from restaurants. This filter shows items which restaurants claim to prepare as gluten-free. We exclude items which are marked as “gluten-friendly” or “gluten-sensitive” as we’ve observed these to be gimmicky terms applied to “low” not “no” gluten foods. We recommend always confirming with the restaurant staff that the items ordered will be prepared without gluten and in a manner which avoids cross-contamination. | ~99% |
| Halal | This filter relies on the claims and descriptions from restaurants. This filter shows items which restaurants claim to prepare as halal. We recognize that different halal practitioners may observe differences in the definition of halal vs. haram, for example in seafood. We recommend always confirming with restaurant staff that your meal will be prepared in accordance with your requirement. | ~99% |
| Heart Healthy | This filter is intended to highlight foods that align with heart-healthy dietary patterns. It prioritizes items that are lower in saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium primarily, and emphasizes those that contain beneficial nutrients such as unsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, lean protein sources, and antioxidants. These components are associated with improved cardiovascular health and reduced risk of heart disease. | ~95% |
| Hide Alcoholic Beverages | For convenience, this filter hides beverages likely to contain alcohol, such as beer, wine, and spirits. This makes browsing for meals easier when searching for foods with a highly restrictive diet. | ~99% |
| Kosher | Adherence to kosher restrictions varies by practitioner. This filter is more suited towards practitioners who adhere to ‘proper’ kosher dietary requirements when dining out. It removes items which may be considered ‘kosher enough’ by some, such as vegan foods. This filter shows items which restaurants claim to prepare as Kosher. Restaurants with many kosher items are likely to have been certified as kosher by the local Vaad. You can confirm certification via vaad.org | ~99% |
| Low FODMAP | FODMAPs (Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) are short-chain carbohydrates that may be poorly absorbed in the small intestine and cause irregular fermentation in the digestive tract for some individuals. This may cause an array of digestive and extra-intestinal symptoms. A low-FODMAP diet reduces intake of these fermentable carbohydrates to identify and manage food triggers in individuals with FODMAP sensitivity. FODMAP triggers vary from person to person. While this filter excludes a wide variety of high-FODMAP foods that may be triggering, it is important to be aware of individual reactions to different foods. We recommend replacing beans with an alternative (e.g., rice), and confirming with staff that they will not include onion/garlic in the dish, what type of tomato they use, among other high-FODMAP ingredients. Additional information regarding the low-FODMAP dietary protocol: Health conditions commonly sensitive to FODMAPs include: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). The low-FODMAP diet is typically implemented in three phases: elimination, reintroduction, and personalization—aimed at identifying individual tolerances while supporting nutritional balance. We recommend working closely with a qualified healthcare professional when adapting any new dietary protocol. | ~88% |
| Low Glycemic Load | This filter is designed to identify foods that are expected to have a lower glycemic impact. These items are generally lower in available (digestible) carbohydrates or primarily contain carbohydrate sources with a lower glycemic index (GI). The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly a food raises blood glucose levels after consumption. Low-GI foods are digested and absorbed more slowly, resulting in a slower and smaller rise in blood glucose. Our filter attempts to account for the ratio of low, medium, and high glycemic index ingredients in order to provide low glycemic load results. | ~96% |
| Low Histamine (use with caution) | Removes foods with high histamine ingredients or histamine-releasing ingredients, including but not limited to: fermented, aged, dried, or cultured foods, soy sauce, shellfish, lentils, raw egg, and a variety of fruits, vegetables and nuts. Because sensitivities vary by individual and many histamine-releasing ingredients may be hidden, we strongly recommend confirming with staff that your meal will be prepared according to your requirements. Additionally, we are not satisfied with the accuracy of this filter, though we believe it is still helpful at narrowing down possible options. | ~81% (use with caution) |
| Low Lactose | Designed for lactose intolerance (not allergies), this filter removes foods which are high in lactose such as milk, cream, and fresh or unaged cheeses. It removes breads which are traditionally prepared with large amounts of lactose, such as brioche. It does not foods with amounts of lactose which are typically tolerable, such as cheeseburgers. It also does not remove sandwiches or other baked goods which may contain lactose depending on which bread the restaurant is using that day. We recommend ensuring any bread/buns in your meal will be suitable for your needs. If you require avoiding dairy strictly, we suggest using the dairy allergy filter, in addition to confirming with staff that your meal will be prepared according to your requirements. | ~96% |
| Organic | Shows only restaurants and meals which claim to use organic ingredients. | ~96% |
| Vegan | This filter relies on the claims and descriptions from restaurants. This filter shows items which restaurants claim to prepare as Vegan; that is, foods which are not sourced from animals. | ~99% |
| IBS Diet (coming soon) | This filter removes high fodmap ingredients and other prominent IBS trigger foods. Note, IBS triggers vary widely from person to person, and many foods can become more tolerable in smaller portions. An elimination diet under the supervision of a nutrition professional (such as a IBS-trained dietitian) can help fine-tune which foods to exclude long-term and which can be safely reintroduced in moderation. | pending |
| Allergens | ||
| Alpha Gal | Alpha gal syndrome (AGS) is characterized by an allergy-like reaction to the sugar molecule galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose. This sugar is present in mammals (other than humans and some monkeys and apes). It is also present in carrageenan, which is an additive in many foods processed foods. Some people also react to gums such as Guar, Gellan or Xanthan. Individual sensitivities vary and can also change over time. Our team found AlphaGalInformation.org to be the most helpful source of information in addition to AGS communities. This filter removes foods which contain mammal products, or are known to be processed via mammal products. We have attempted to remove top gelatin, carrageenan, and dairy offenders in addition to direct sources of red (mammalian) meat. We have not attempted to remove foods in which gelatin or carrageenan may be present in minute amounts, such as in bouillon or the fining of beer, wine, juices or oils. We have also not attempted to remove foods with gums such as Guar, Gellan, Locust Bean, or Xanthan; nor Glycerin, Magnesium stearate, or several other relatively less common sources of potential AGS reaction. When using this filter, we recommend taking extra caution regarding hidden sources of gelatin and dairy such as sauces, dressings and dips. If considering ordering fried foods, we recommend asking staff if the fryer oil contains mammal fats e.g., beef tallow. LocalFats.com/cooking is a community effort to catalog restaurants by their cooking oils. | ~93% |
| Dairy | This filter shows items that are likely to be prepared without milk or milk-derived ingredients (such as cheese, butter, cream, or whey). Because dairy can be a hidden ingredient in a variety of food items, we strongly recommend confirming with restaurant staff that your meal meets your needs and is prepared without cross-contact. Milk protein allergies can be severe and even airborne exposure may pose a risk for some individuals. | ~98% |
| Egg | This filter shows items that are likely to omit egg or which restaurants identify as prepared without eggs or egg-based ingredients. Because egg can be a hidden ingredient, especially in breads, pastries (including egg washes), sauces and dips, we strongly recommend confirming with restaurant staff that your meal meets your needs and is prepared without cross-contact. Egg allergies can be severe and even airborne exposure may pose a risk for some individuals. | ~97% |
| Fish | This filter lists items that are likely to not contain fish or fish derived ingredients, including, but not limited to worcestershire sauce, and fish sauce. Fish can appear in unexpected places, such as sauces or dressings. Please confirm with restaurant staff that your selection is suitable and prepared to avoid cross-contact. Fish allergies can be severe and even airborne exposure may pose a risk for some individuals. | ~97% |
| Peanut | This filter relies on restaurant-provided descriptions which indicate they are likely peanut-free or are described as strictly peanut-free. However, due to the severity of peanut allergies and the risk of cross-contact in shared kitchens, we strongly recommend confirming with the restaurant staff whether peanuts are used in the kitchen and whether your food can be prepared safely. This filter does not attempt to remove foods which may contain refined peanut oil, because refined peanut oil used in cooking is typically refined such that protein content is negligible. If you are sensitive to refined peanut oil, LocalFats.com/cooking is a community effort to catalog restaurants by their cooking oils. | ~95% |
| Sesame | This filter lists items that are expected to not contain sesame or sesame based ingredients, including sesame oil which is typically not highly refined and hence contains the sesame proteins which trigger allergy symptoms. We recommend exercising extra caution with dressings, sauces, and dips which may contain hidden sesame, and requesting sesame-free crackers or breads when ordering items which would include these; in addition to confirming with restaurant staff that your selection is suitable and prepared to avoid cross-contact. | ~99% |
| Shellfish | Displays meals which are typically prepared without shellfish or shellfish-containing ingredients such as oyster sauce, xo sauce, and kimchi. With severe allergies, it’s important to confirm with restaurant staff whether your selection can be prepared without shellfish and free from cross-contact. | ~97% |
| Soy Oil and Lecithin | This filter displays foods which restaurants describe as not containing soy protein, soy oil, and soy lecithin. With severe allergies, it’s important to confirm with restaurant staff whether your selection can be prepared without soy and away from cross-contact. | ~95% |
| Soy Protein | This filter displays foods which are expected to not contain soy protein ingredients. Soy protein is common in sauces, marinades, processed foods, and some meat alternatives, so it’s important to confirm with restaurant staff whether your selection can be prepared without soy and away from cross-contact. This filter does not exclude all soy oil and soy lecithin ingredients. See “soy oil and lecithin free” for more information. | ~99% |
| Tree Nut | This filter shows dishes that restaurants indicate are typically prepared without tree nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, or pistachios). This filter does not remove tree nuts, or shea nuts which are considered tree nuts by the US FDA. This filter also does not remove nutmeg. Since tree nuts may be present in sauces, desserts, garnishes, or hidden in many dishes, and because cross-contact may be a risk in some kitchens, we recommend discussing your allergy with restaurant staff before ordering. Tree nut allergies can be severe and even airborne exposure may pose a risk for some individuals. | ~96% |
| Wheat | This filter shows items which restaurants claim to prepare without wheat ingredients. It is not synonymous with gluten-free, as gluten-free items exclude other grains beyond wheat. For allergic individuals, we recommend verifying with restaurant staff that your dish is truly wheat-free and is not at risk of contamination from shared fryers, prep surfaces, or utensils. | ~95% |