How do you spot dietary and allergen clues on a menu?
Learn which printed menu signals are useful and when you still need to ask the restaurant directly.
Printed evidence comes first
Look for a legend explaining symbols such as V, VG, GF, nuts, shellfish, or spice levels. A symbol is reliable only in the meaning the restaurant assigns to it; conventions vary between countries and restaurants.
Check hidden ingredients and preparation
A vegetable dish may use meat stock, fish sauce, butter, or shared frying oil. A short menu description cannot reveal every supplier or kitchen process.
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Sauces, dressings, broths, and marinades
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Breading and shared fryers
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Garnishes and optional toppings
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Possible substitutions or daily specials
Use tags to narrow, then verify
Visual menu tags can help you find likely matches quickly. If a reaction could be serious, show the restaurant a precise translated statement, ask about cross-contact, and follow the restaurant’s answer rather than an AI inference.
AI dish images and labels are decision support only. Confirm allergies and safety-critical dietary needs with the restaurant.