Low FODMAP Denny's: What to Eat at America's Diner With IBS

Low FODMAP Denny's: What to Eat at America's Diner With IBS

By Dr. Onikepe Adegbola, MD PhD — Johns Hopkins-trained physician-scientist

Denny's all-day breakfast menu gives IBS patients a surprising amount of safe options. Eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns — the breakfast basics are inherently FODMAP-friendly. The lunch and dinner menus are harder, but you can still find workable choices. Here's the full breakdown.

Key Takeaways

• Breakfast is your safest bet at Denny's — eggs (any style), bacon, ham, hash browns, and toast are all low FODMAP
• For lunch/dinner, grilled chicken or steak (plain, no sauce) with a baked potato and salad works well
• Avoid pancake batter-dipped items, creamy soups, loaded skillets, and anything with gravy
• Denny's sausage likely contains garlic/onion — stick with bacon or ham
• Digestive enzymes help with hidden ingredients in diner-style cooking

Best Breakfast Orders

• ✅ Two eggs (any style) + bacon + hash browns + white toast — The classic American breakfast. All safe.
• ✅ Build Your Own Grand Slam — Pick eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast. Skip pancakes, sausage, and French toast if you're strict.
• ✅ Egg white omelet with cheese and tomato — Ask for no onion, no mushroom. Cheese and tomato are fine.
• ⚠️ Pancakes (1-2 small) — Contain buttermilk. One is probably tolerated; a full stack is risky.

Lunch/Dinner Options

• ✅ Grilled chicken breast — plain, no sauce — Request salt and pepper only.
• ✅ T-bone or sirloin steak — plain grilled — No garlic butter, no steak sauce.
• ✅ Baked potato — With butter only.
• ✅ Side salad — Oil and vinegar dressing.
• ✅ Steamed broccoli — No butter.

Avoid

• ❌ All skillets (loaded with onion, peppers, cheese sauce, gravy)
• ❌ Moons Over My Hammy (comes with onion-heavy preparation)
• ❌ All soups (contain onion, garlic, cream, or beans)
• ❌ Burgers (patties may contain garlic/onion seasoning)
• ❌ All milkshakes (high lactose)
• ❌ Country gravy (flour, milk, garlic/onion)

Your Best Denny's Order

Breakfast (anytime): "Two eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, and white toast with butter."

Dinner: "Grilled chicken, plain with salt and pepper. Baked potato with butter on the side. Side salad, oil and vinegar."

Pair with FODMAP digestive enzymes for insurance. For more breakfast restaurant guides, see our IHOP guide.

Menu items at Denny's vary by location. This is educational content only. Consult your gastroenterologist for personalized guidance.