Last Updated April 2021! We’ve created this ever-growing guide to restaurants, bakeries, cafes, ice cream shops, and stores in the Sunflower State that are friendly to dairy-free diners. It’s a collection based on research and reader recommendations (send yours!) that’s divided into Kansas restaurants & shops by city (first) and major chains found throughout the state (second). And we’ve started a section for specialty dairy-free foods produced in this state.
We Update Continuously! You can ignore the original date on this post going forward. We update the information below whenever we’re alerted to a new recommendation, change, or closure.
Photo from Hawaiian Bros
Dairy-Free Kansas: Recommended Restaurants & Shops
We’ve listed these recommendations alphabetically by city and then by the restaurant or shop name. For large chains with locations throughout the state, see the Major Restaurant & Grocery Chains section below. We have dedicated posts with dairy-free details for many of the big guys.
⭐️ = Restaurant is either dairy-free, has a dairy-free menu, has dairy-free labels on their menu(s), or lists top allergens with menu items. (At the time of our last review.)
Garden City
Kansas City
- Emily Kate’s Bakery – This is a custom order gluten-free bakery with a huge menu of vegan treats, including cakes, cupcakes, cookies, cookie sandwiches, cinnamon rolls, brownies, and bars.
See our Dairy-Free Missouri Guide for Kansas City options on the other side of the border.
Lawrence
- Hawaiian Bros ⭐️ – This fast-casual chain is a regional favorite for Hawaiian plate lunches and dairy-free Dole whip. They serve all of the classics, including Kalua Pork, Huli Huli Chicken, and Musubi. Their full menu is “both dairy and nut free!” They also informed us that all items aside from the noodles/pasta are gluten free, and the only items with eggs are the spam musubi and the pasta salad.
- HuHot Mongolian Grill – See our HuHot Dairy-Free Menu Guide for full details.
- Jason’s Deli – See our Jason’s Dairy-Free Menu Guide for full details.
- OO Bakes Gluten Free Bakery ⭐️ – This is a gluten-free and mostly dairy-free bakery inside Checker’s Bakery, recommended by Angela B. They offer a big array of sweet and savory baked goods, from cinnamon rolls to cakes to loaves and buns. They clearly label ingredients, top allergens, and for special diet needs.
Leawood
- Blue Koi – This is the spot for house-made noodles, from-scratch dumplings, and bubble tea. They offer soymilk for making their teas, and most of the dishes at this Chinese restaurant are dairy-free. They also offer some vegan dishes.
- Enjoy Pure Food + Drink – This bright, modern restaurant is counter-serve, but has an upscale feel. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks with a focus on organic, healthy, and wild caught cuisine. The menu is liberally dotted with vegan, gluten-free, and paleo icons, and most of the menu can be made dairy-free on request. They do offer vegan cheese for sandwiches and vegan Caesar dressing for salads.
Lenexa
Manhattan
Olathe
Overland Park
- Freezing Moo – This is a local made-to-order Thai ice cream roll chain. They offer a coconut milk cream base option that is dairy free and vegan, and have an allergen chart for all of their mix-ins and toppings. They also blend milkshakes.
- Hawaiian Bros ⭐️ – This fast-casual chain is a regional favorite for Hawaiian plate lunches and dairy-free Dole whip. They serve all of the classics, including Kalua Pork, Huli Huli Chicken, and Musubi. Their full menu is “both dairy and nut free!” They also informed us that all items aside from the noodles/pasta are gluten free, and the only items with eggs are the spam musubi and the pasta salad.
- Mud Pie Vegan Bakery & Coffeehouse ⭐️ – This neighborhood cafe opened their first location just across the border in Kansas City, Missouri. And now they have a second local home in Overland Park. Their menu includes a big array of muffins, scones, cookies, cakes, cheesy bagels, and more.
- Nekter Juice Bar – See our Nekter Dairy-Free Menu Guide for full details.
- Noodles & Company – See our Noodles & Company Dairy-Free Menu Guide for full details.
- Pie Five – See our Pie Five Dairy-Free Menu Guide for full details.
- Ruchi Indian Cuisine – Shawn emailed this recommendation to us, “this is a delicious Indian restaurant that has a seperate vegan menu (you must ask at the restaurant, as they don’t appear to have it online). I’ve always had a good experience there.” They also have an food Indian market next door.
- Spice n Rice – This Indian restaurant takes great care for dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian diners. Their rice is made with oil, not butter, and they state that 80% of their menu is dairy-free. They also keep vegetarian and omnivorous dishes on opposite sides of their buffet, and clearly label vegan options.
- The Golden Scoop – This nonprofit ice cream and coffee shop has 21 employees, all with special needs, and they put all the profits back into the employee’s paychecks. And they’ve given dairy-free guests an excuse to purchase with some non-dairy flavors crafted in honor of their employees.
- The Mixx ⭐️ – They have labeled dairy-free quinoa bowls on their menu, some vegan sides and wraps, and have a build-your-own salad menu that’s quite extensive.
Prairie Village
Shawnee
- Hawaiian Bros ⭐️ – This fast-casual chain is a regional favorite for Hawaiian plate lunches and dairy-free Dole whip. They serve all of the classics, including Kalua Pork, Huli Huli Chicken, and Musubi. Their full menu is “both dairy and nut free!” They also informed us that all items aside from the noodles/pasta are gluten free, and the only items with eggs are the spam musubi and the pasta salad.
Topeka
Wichita
- Beautiful Day Cafe – This breakfast and lunch spot has several vegan items on the menu, including French toast and biscuits and gravy (weekends only). They can also make many of their menu items “just” dairy-free, on request, and they have many gluten-free choices.
- Churn & Burn – This is a hybrid custom ice cream and coffee shop. They offer soy and coconut milk bases for their made-to-order ice cream, and offer a plethora of dairy-free mix-ins and shake options.
- Freezing Moo – This is a local made-to-order Thai ice cream roll chain. They offer a coconut milk cream base option that is dairy free and vegan, and have an allergen chart for all of their mix-ins and toppings. They also blend milkshakes.
- Green Acres Market – You can do all of your grocery shopping at this local natural grocery chain. They go above and beyond for special diets, both in their product selection and their ready-made deli. They have many vegan and allergy-friendly options, and reportedly offer vegan desserts, like cheesecake. They have a few locations in Wichita.
- HuHot Mongolian Grill – See our HuHot Dairy-Free Menu Guide for full details.
- Jason’s Deli – See our Jason’s Dairy-Free Menu Guide for full details.
Photo from Enjoy Pure Food + Drink
Favorite Restaurant & Grocery Chains found throughout Kansas
Some recommended restaurant and store chains are getting too big for our city listing britches. They have many locations, or are rapidly growing, and you might stumble across them in a number of towns in this state. Click on them for more dairy-free details.
Photo from Mud Pie Vegan Bakery & Coffeehouse
Local Dairy-Free Food & Drink Producers in Kansas
These dairy-free friendly companies don’t have their own retail location, but are in Kansas. So you have a good chance of finding their products at grocery stores, restaurants, and/or other shops in this state. Keep an eye out!
We’re still looking – recommend a company if you know of one!
This Guide is Continuously Updated with Recommendations
We welcome you to recommend other dairy-free friendly restaurants. Leave a comment or contact us and tell us why you like a certain restaurant. Restaurant owners and employees are also invited to reach out and let us know how you welcome dairy-free customers.
Please kindly let us know in the comments if any of these restaurants close. We want to keep this list current for you, but aren’t always notified when a restaurant closes. Let us know and we will quickly update!
This Guide is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, and restaurants are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure that they can accommodate your situation.
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.
For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!
