10 Philly Restaurants Great for Gluten-Free Dining
Fantastic Philly restaurants where you can eat pasta, fried chicken, and vermicelli platters without having to worry about the wheat situation.
Water fern dumplings at Gabriella’s Vietnam in Easy Passyunk. / Photograph by Ted Nghiem
Dining with gluten allergies and sensitivities can be complicated and even downright depressing. But, if you know where to look, Philly has plenty of spots where people with celiac disease or who are otherwise gluten-avoidant can let loose without worrying about the wheat situation. Find the best ones below.
Gabriella’s Vietnam, East Passyunk
Gabriella’s is the type of place where your entire crew could have a gluten-free meal without even realizing it. Gluten-free dishes are clearly marked on the menu, with options including Vietnamese street snacks you won’t find at many other spots in the city, including a vermicelli platter with blood sausage and kumquat, shrimp-and-pork rice cakes that come out in small individual bowls, wok-fried lemongrass tofu, and more. 1837 East Passyunk Avenue.
P.S. & Co., Rittenhouse
P.S. & Co. keeps a completely vegan and gluten-free kitchen, which means you can graze without giving dietary restrictions a second thought. It’s an all-day affair with amaranth porridge for breakfast, tempeh tacos for lunch, and an array of sweet treats, from rose pistachio scones to chocolate caramel tarts. 1706 Locust Street.
Front Street Cafe, Fishtown
Sometimes a well-marked menu is the difference between a stressful GF meal and a relaxing one, which is why Front Street Cafe should be your go-to for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Look for huevos rancheros and quinoa oat porridge at breakfast (trust us, it’s not your morning instant oats). At dinner time, try the parmesan-crusted eggplant or chicken tenders. 1253 North Front Street.
Tulip Pasta and Wine Bar, Fishtown
Repeat after us: Gluten-free pasta. Half of the pasta menu at this celebrated new restaurant can be made without gluten. Go get yourself some duck-fat carbonara and tagliatelle with Pennsylvania bison ragù. Don’t leave without trying a gluten-free s’mores semifreddo. 2302 East Norris Street.
Fox & Son, Center City
Fox & Son Fair Foods in Reading Terminal Market offers a completely gluten-free menu inspired by county fairs. Think corn dogs, cheese curds, Frito pie, and funnel cake. The real star, though, is the selection of fancy corn dogs, which includes perfect monstrosities like a sweet potato-battered corn dog topped with pork chorizo and sour cream. There’s no halo of health happening here, just joy-sparking snacks. 51 North 12th Street.
Beef rendang at Kampar / Photograph Neal Santos
Kampar, Bella Vista
Ange Branca is back on the scene. With her new restaurant, Kampar, the celebrated former chef-owner of East Passyunk’s Sate Kampar is serving a lot of gluten-free Malaysian fare. Recommendations include nasi lemak, beef rendang, and Wagyu beef with taro dumplings and vegetables. 611 South 7th Street.
Middle Child, Fishtown and Washington Square West
This is Philadelphia, which means everyone gets a hoagie, including our gluten-sensitive brethren. For $2.50 extra, you can get almost any of MC’s sandwiches on gluten-free bread. And while they do have gluten in the building, the team is sensitive about wiping down kitchen surfaces before constructing your sando to make it as safe as possible. 1232 North Front Street and 248 South 11th Street.
Mission Taqueria, Rittenhouse Square
If you’re looking for a place for gluten-free dining without making a big deal about it to everyone in your group, go to Mission Taqueria. The entire menu — including the churros — is completely gluten-free. It’s easy for Mission to pull this off without a lot of fanfare or questions because their tortillas are made with Oaxacan corn, and everything else is just delicious. 1516 Sansom Street, second floor (above the Oyster House).
Doro Bet, West Philly
The crispiest, juiciest fried chicken just so happens to be gluten-free at Doro Bet, where the kitchen batters its deep fried birds in teff flour. The shawarma salad is also safe here, as are the doro wot and doro tibs, which come with gluten-free injera. 4533 Baltimore Avenue.
Okie Dokie Donuts, South Philly
Okie Dokie Donuts are so good that many people don’t even know they’re gluten-free. The shop rotates their menu regularly to include creative, seasonal flavors like key lime pie, Mexican chocolate, and strawberry rhubarb. In case you’re looking for other GF baked goods, check out Flakely or Taffets. 1439 Snyder Avenue.
