Dining Out Choices for People With Heartburn

Eating certain foods in restaurants can trigger heartburn, just like they do at home. However, there are methods you can use to reduce your chances of having acid reflux triggered by what you eat and drink. These include regulating food choices, knowing how the food is prepared, beverage selection, and limiting portion sizes.

The following recommendations on what to avoid and what is better to eat cover many of the trigger foods and safer foods identified by people with heartburn. Keep a food record to identify which are often a problem for you. This will help you make smart choices for a heartburn-free dining experience.

General Dining Guidelines

When you eat out, inquire how the dish is prepared and whether it is served with a sauce or gravy. Ask for a low-fat substitute or for the sauce to be served on the side. Check whether the meal includes any of your trigger foods that you know are often followed by a bout of acid reflux.

Foods to Avoid

These foods are often identified as setting off heartburn:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, iced tea, and cola
• Cheese-intense foods, including sandwich melts (grilled, with cheese)
• Chili
• Chocolate
• Citrus drinks such as orange juice and lemonade
• Citrus fruit and dishes with a lot of them
• Club sandwiches
• Creamy soup
• Foods prepared with butter or oil
• Fried foods, such as burgers, fried chicken, fried fish
• High-fat sauces, salad dressings, gravy, mayonnaise
• High-fat side dishes, such as french fries
• High-fat sauces, salad dressings, gravy, mayonnaise
• Onions
• Peppers
• Tomato-based foods, including catsup

Better Choices

These foods are less likely to set off heartburn.

• Baked potatoes topped with low-fat salad dressing
• Broth-based soups
• Grilled foods
• Lean cuts of meat, white meat
• Low-fat or no-fat salad dressings
• Lighter desserts, such as angel food cake
• Sandwiches with turkey, chicken, or roast beef on whole grain bread
• Steamed vegetables

Type of Cuisine

Dining out at your favorite Chinese, Mexican, or Italian restaurant can mean you have less control over your meal options and it may be harder to prevent heartburn.

If you aren't sure what is in a dish or how the dish is prepared, don't be afraid to ask and request alterations or substitutions. Here are some suggestions for dining out at one of the following specific types of restaurants.

Chinese Restaurants

Asian cuisine can range from mild to very spicy and use preparation styles that are heartburn-friendly or not. It may be best to avoid buffets and instead order off the menu requesting the type of preparation and ingredients that you best tolerate. Use these rules of thumb.

Mexican Restaurants

A typical chain restaurant may have dishes that are heavy on cheese, acidic ingredients, and spices. The basket of fried tortilla chips and salsa is probably best avoided. But you should be able to find choices that are more heartburn-friendly and request mild spices.

Italian Restaurants

Visions of tomato sauce and cheese might come to mind when you think of Italian cuisine. You will need to learn to ask about preparation and sauces that are less likely to trigger heartburn.

A Word From Verywell

In addition to avoiding certain foods, aim to eat half of the meal and take the rest home to eat the next day. Avoid eating at least 2-3 hours before lying down or going to bed.

— ROBERT BURAKOFF, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD