| Author | Message | ||
| anonymous Unregistered guest |
These are the MSG-free restaurants (according to their management) in the Seattle's Puget Sound area where we have eaten with success. The reason I've listed the cities is because the same chain restaurant that's MSG-free in one location is not always MSG-free in another. Café Veloce (Kirkland) Nasai Teriyaki (Kirkland) Thai Grill (Bellevue) Olive Garden (Kirkland/Southcenter) Red Robin (Southcenter/Bellevue) California Pizza Kitchen (Bellevue) Piatti (University Village) Cheesecake Factory (Seattle/Bellevue, except beef sandwiches) P. F. Chang (Bellevue) Azteca (Kirkland) Teak House (Normandy Park) Even though they say they say their food is MSG free we still ask anyways just in case they have made changes to their food ingredient or suppliers. If you have any other restaurants in the Seattle area to add to the list, please do so. Thanks. | ||
| Deb A. Unregistered guest |
I hope you're not suggesting that we can eat most of the foods prepared at these restaurants. That would be nice, but most of the sauces, breadings, soups, seasoning salts, dressings, etc. contain MSG, unless made from scratch...and then some of them do, too. You may not be as sensitive as some of us are. I ordered a clam chowder in La Conner after the waitress assured me there was no MSG and that it was made from scratch. Then I asked if the soup base was made there. She went and asked and came back, saying it was sent to them frozen and it DID contain MSG. Close call. I'm lucky if I can find one entree at almost any given resaurant. I know the manager at our Red Robin, and they use MSG in many items, including their special salt used on their home fries and many items. Unfortunately, if one asks a waiter about MSG use, or makes a phone call to a restaurant, most will not know the 70 + aliases for glutamate rich additives used today...they just know MSG. Soy sauces, teriyaki sauce, and other fermented bean and fish sauces all contain huge amounts of free glutamate and pure MSG. Soybeans and other high protein substances, used to create these sauces, are extremely high in naturally occurring glutamate. The fermentation and other processes used to produce them, breaks down the bound glutamate into free form glutamate, which enters the bloodstream immediately. I once ordered the Oriental salad at Red Robin and fell ill for days...didn't know about MSG at the time. But some people have told me that they have had success with a couple of their burgers, but they carefully instruct the waiter how to prepare them, sans the sauce and salt. Like you, Mike and I have found a few places where, by trial and error, we can eat a couple of safe items. We can order the veggie pizza at a local family run place. Maybe you could share just what items you have safely eaten at these places. I sure would appreciate that information, since we go to Seattle a couple times a year....load up at Trader Joe's, too!  | ||
| Anonymous Posted From: 24.64.228.197 |
I got SO sick eating fries at the Cheesecake Factory after I spoke with the manager first about MSG and all its other names. Fat lot of good that did. I would second Deb's cautions at any chain restaurant. But if you can eat at these places successfully, lucky you! Enjoy! | ||
| anonymous Unregistered guest |
I have gotten sick at the the Olive Garden, Red Robin, and Cheesecake Factory in the Puget Sound. Even after asking for no seasonings, spices or condiments on my burger at Red Robin I was still sick all night. If you are willing to drive about 20 minutes from Seattle to Renton, try Little Peking. (3217 NE Sunset Blvd, Renton, WA 98056, (425) 255-1678) The sesame chicken is MSG and soy sauce free, but avoid the soup and sauce that goes with the egg rolls. | ||
| Melinda Unregistered guest |
I would not be able to eat at any of the above mentioned restaurants either, however I have found a few that serve food I can eat and here is my list...it's short as I rarely eat out, but may be of interest: Chinooks (Seattle) and Anthony's (Seattle and Edmonds): I have eaten the fresh salmon with steamed veggies and a salad (no dressing) with no reactions. I've had a few bites of the calamari and no reactions, but not sure it truly is safe. My favorite is the Mountain Berry Cobler for dessert but whenever I eat some of it, I don't feel that well, but it's not a full blown msg reaction and I only eat a small amount. Hales Ale House (Seattle/Ballard): They serve Painted Hills beef and I had a burger sans the bun and a dry salad with no reaction. Eat Local (Seattle/Queen Anne): I have not eaten here yet, but just got a flyer in the mail and they serve all organic foods and all meat is free range or grass fed. This does not mean to say there's no msg in their dishes, but I'd doubt they add it - would need to of course ask how food is prepared and go simple. At least with an organic menu, you know you aren't getting pesticides. Again, I rarely eat out as the foods I do order are simple and cheaper to make at home because I never order special dishes - just meat, veggie and salad. But if going out with family, friends, on a date or such....good to know of safe places to go | ||
| Deb A. Unregistered guest |
We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary by spending the weekend at a B&B outside of Leavenworth, WA...a Bavarian style village in an alpine setting. The innkeeper asked if there were special instuctions for the breakfasts, and she got an earful, taking careful notes. But we also did well at a sausage house on the main strip of the village...have done fine there before..all but one of the various kinds are MSG and nitrate free...made fresh in Seattle. Even enjoyed the fresh made lemonade w/o a problem. Then we found a barbecue place in Cashmere, WA, down the road from Leavenworth, called Country Boys...and they assured me there was no MSG or seasoning salt or other "junk" in their sauce. We ordered the pulled pork and baby back ribs..and sides of baked beans (made from soaked beans and no MSG or seasoning salts) and ribboned fries..made on the site from whole potatoes. I could NOT believe it, but I got no reaction. It was great food and the fresh made lemonades (lemons, water and sugar) were bottomless! Just to let my fellow Washingtonians know there are more places that are becoming aware of real food vs. processed. The place was packed, too...and the town is tiny..home of Aplets and Cotlets. I was thrilled to not have to cook the whole 3 days...only made a chicken salad one day with food brought from home. What a great weekend! |
