The city of Boston may not be the best gluten-free cities in the U.S. but it’s working on it. The city now has enough gluten-free restaurants that you can eat out safely for each meal and won’t have to worry about where to get food on your trip. From fresh seafood to BBQ brisket, here are some of the best gluten-free restaurants in Boston.
Note: Establishments market with an asterisk (*) are 100% gluten-free.
Violette Gluten Free Bakery*
If you’re looking for a sweet spot in Boston to satisfy your sugar cravings, you’ll find it at Violette Gluten Free Bakery in Cambridge. The dedicated gluten-free bakery conjures up everything you’d hope for and more. Everything from gluten-free cupcakes with buttercream frosting, to cakes, biscotti, macarons, ice-cream sandwiches, cookies, and artisan breads. Beside the sweet stuff, Violette also has an array of savory goodies, making it a perfect spot for a gluten-free lunch near Harvard University. Lunch items includes pizza, paninis, pot pies, empanadas, and more. While exploring Cambridge, don’t miss out on the opportunity to eat at one of the best gluten-free bakeries in Boston.
1786 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA | Visit Website
Mother Juice*
Along the famed shopping street, Newbury street, you’ll find this 100% gluten-free eatery serving up delicious farm-to-table dishes and healthy smoothies and juices. From acai bowls to avocado toast for breakfast and salad bowls or cold pressed juices, everything Mother Juice serves is gluten-free, dairy free, vegetarian, and mostly vegan. The granola and oats are also certified gluten-free! Note that, though you can sit inside and enjoy your meal, Mother Juice is not a sit-down table eatery. Food is ordered at the counter and served in to-go packages. Mother Juice also has two additional locations at Boston Public Market and in Kendall Square.
291 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115, USA | Visit Website
Legal Seafood
Legal Sea Foods in Boston is where all celiacs’ dreams of seafood come true. From gluten-free fish and chips, and lobster rolls to dedicated fryers, a large gluten-free menu, and knowledgeable staff, this Massachusett-born seafood chain knows the key to a celiac’s heart and gut. They really go above and beyond to cater to gluten-free diners. Unless of course you don’t like fresh and delicious seafood, there is no way you can go wrong by eating a meal or two at one of the many Legal Sea Foods in Boston.
Side note: Boston’s Logan Airport also has Legal Sea Foods in almost every Terminal, in case you’re in need of a safe gluten-free option while at the airport.
Various locations | Visit Website
110 grill
110 Grill out in Braintree is one of my favorite gluten-free restaurants in Boston, and it’s worth the commute. The food is exceptional, options are plentiful, and the staff knows their stuff. Everything is made in a dedicated kitchen space, food is brought out only by managers, who them themselves are certified in allergen awareness and food safety, and the staff also receive extensive allergy awareness training. The dedicated gluten-free menu is truly endless, there’s everything from wings and nachos to flatbreads, burgers, and fish and chips! The only problem you’ll have is trying to decide what to get! If you’re struggling to decide, the BBQ chicken nachos are a great appetizer, and either the pulled pork mac & cheese, the meatloaf, or NY steak are terrific mains! There is no other restaurant with this number of delicious and safe gluten-free selections so it’s no wonder it made the list of best gluten-free restaurants in Boston.
170 Forbes Rd, Braintree, MA 02184, USA | Visit Website
El Pelon Taqueria
Just a few blocks from famous Fenway Park, there is a great hole-in the wall gluten-free eatery serving up tasty and authentic Mexican food. For the prices, portion sizes, and location, El Pelon can’t be beat! The menu is mostly gluten-free with the exception of the tortas and flour tortilla dishes! If, however, you do want the burritos or quesadillas you can asked for corn rather than flour tortilla or order it bowl style. The tacos and enchiladas are also full of flavor and not to be missed! I recommend the caramelos, fish tacos, or El Guapo. As for safety, the staff are trained and knowledgeable about cross-contamination. Just let them know you are a celiac, so they can take the proper precautions to keep you safe. El Pelon also has another location in Brighton.
92 Peterborough St, Boston, MA 02215, USA | Visit Website
Davio’s
The upscale northern Italian steakhouse serves handmade pasta, perfectly cooked steaks, and fresh seafood in their open kitchen restaurant in Boston. Davio’s has been serving the gluten-free community for over 10 years and takes great pride in providing safe gluten-free food to their customers. The separate gluten-free menu for lunch, dinner, and brunch is filled with options to choose from, whether you go for their signature steaks, gnocchi pastas, or lobster from the raw bar, you won’t be disappoint with a visit to Davio’s. Davio’s has multiple locations around the U.S. including restaurants in NYC, Philly, and Atlanta.
75 Arlington St, Boston, MA 02116, USA | Visit Website
Tavern in the Square
Tavern in the Square is a great gluten-free friendly restaurant right in the heart of Boston in North Station. The menu is filled with plenty of options which are clearly marked as gluten-free. These include items that you wouldn’t normally see listed as gluten-free, such as wings, tater tots, fried chicken, fish & chips, fried pickles, and more. Best of all they are all fried in a dedicated gluten-free fryer! You can swap for gluten-free buns on the burgers and a gluten-free pizza crust, making your options at Tavern plentiful. The only thing they are slacking on is gluten-free beer options, which there is only one of, the Glutenberg. Nonetheless, it’s still a good spot to have lunch in Downtown. Tavern in Square also has a small location at South Station with a handful of gluten-free options, in case you are in need of snack before your train ride.
120 Beverly St, Boston, MA 02114, USA | Visit Website
Blue Dragon
The chef-owner of Blue Dragon, Ming Tsai, also happens to be the national spokesperson for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, and has personally helped create the Massachusetts’ food allergy safety law. This means you can rest assured that your dining experience at Blue Dragon will be a safe one with attentive staff catering to your dietary needs. The upscale restaurant in the Fort Point neighborhood serves Asian dishes with a twist, all in a nut-free kitchen. Though the dedicated gluten-free menus both for lunch and dinner are small, they pack quite a punch when it comes to flavor and quality. The crispy buttermilk tempura is perfectly fried and both the fried chicken and the dragon burger are exceptional!
324 A St, Boston, MA 02210, USA | Visit Website
Sweet Cheeks Q
One of the best BBQ joints in Boston also happens to be one of the best gluten-free restaurants in Boston. Just two blocks from Fenway Park, you can have yourself a nice southern style BBQ with fall-off-the-bone meat! Speaking of meat, all of their meats, including BBQ staples like brisket and pulled pork, along with the BBQ sauces are all gluten-free. The only exception is the fried chicken and the pork belly. As for the setting and decor, don’t expect white table cloths, fancy plates or utensils, because at Sweet Cheeks slabs of meat are served on a tray, while sides come in a bucket or tin cup. And while you might want to just lick your fingers clear, they do have napkins!
Gluten-free sides here include traditional favorites like coleslaw, BBQ beans, collard greens, and potato salad. Unfortunately, they don’t have gluten-free biscuits, but you can make do by adding another pound of BBQ to your tray like I do :). When it come to safety, the staff knows exactly what you can and cannot eat and are aware of cross contamination. Definitely don’t miss out on Sweet Cheeks Q when visiting Boston!
1381 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215, USA | Visit Website
Luke’s Lobster
The seafood chain, Luke’s Lobster, is a great gluten-free friendly eatery which serves seafood rolls. They serve crab rolls, shrimp rolls, and the fan favorite, lobster rolls. All are served on gluten-free bread. When you order your rolls, the staff takes the time to tell you the precautions they take to avoid cross-contamination and that though they can’t guarantee cross-contamination won’t occur, they have served many celiacs without issue. Besides amazing seafood rolls, they also serve a great clam chowder.
Celiac Note: The rolls are pressed on a shared grill (hence why they’re called gluten-free friendly rolls) however, the staff does clean down the grill properly before making gluten-free lobster rolls. If you want a safer option, I would recommend getting the lobster roll served salad style or don’t get it toasted. Luke’s also has locations in Seaport, Downtown Crossing, as well as in other cities around the U.S.
75 Exeter St, Boston, MA 02116, USA | Visit Website
Inna’s Kitchen
Inna’s Kitchen is a Jewish restaurant in Newton serving up dishes like blintzes, falafel, potato latkes, and more. It has a focus on gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free dishes. Their kitchen is a dedicated gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free space. However, they do sell non-gluten-free items such as pita bread. Nonetheless, the staff takes celiac disease and cross-contamination very seriously and take the proper precautions to serve safe food to celiacs. As for the food, I highly recommend opting for their specialty and my favorite, the shakalatkes which is a mixture of shakshuka from the Middle-East and potato latkes from Eastern-Europe. It’s divine! You also can’t go wrong with the falafel plate or the gluten-free challah french toast. The challah bread is one of the best I’ve had. If you want food for later, they have a fridge full of frozen meals like homemade soup, pot pie, blintzes, knishes, lasagna, and more. So, even when you are not at Inna’s you can still enjoy their delicious gluten-free dishes. Inna’s Kitchen also has a stall at the Boston Public Market where they sell prepared food from breakfast to dinner.
547 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA, 02459, USA | Visit Website
Benevento’s
If you’re in the mood for Italian while exploring Boston, then head over to Benevento’s in the North End, to get your fix. It’s one of the best gluten-free friendly restaurants in Boston for an Italian dinner. Though there is not a separate menu, Benevento’s offers gluten-free alternatives for most of the items on their menu. Any of their specialty pizzas can be made on a gluten-free crust, while pasta dishes are easily subbed for gluten-free pasta or gnocchi. To avoid cross contamination the gluten-free pizza is made in a separate metal tray. Though the gluten-free pizzas are decent, I prefer the pastas dishes especially the gluten-free gnocchi with the vodka sauce and the lobster ravioli. When it comes to gluten-free pasta, Benevento’s does it well. You won’t want to pass-up a meal there.
111 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113, USA | Visit Website
Papa Razzi
Another gluten-free restaurant on Newbury Street, Papa Razzi is a haven for anyone craving safe gluten-free Italian food. The small chain, Italian scratch kitchen has a separate gluten-free menu with plenty of options from appetizers to dessert and they even have warm gluten-free rolls. For starters, dig your teeth into the cheesy mozzarella sticks, then eat your way through the mushroom & goat cheese ravioli smothered in sherry cream sauce as a main. Another Italian classic that you can’t go wrong with is the chicken parmesan with a flavorful tomato sauce and fresh, melted mozzarella cheese. If any of those don’t float your boat, you can always opt for one of the gluten-free pizzas. The fig and prosciutto pizza has a very unique flavor and is highly recommended. Safety wise, the staff members are knowledgeable about both cross-contamination and celiac disease. A stop at Papa Razzi for a gluten-free brunch or dinner is a great addition to a day exploring Newbury street.
159 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116, USA | Visit Website
Myers + Chang
The South End’s upscale Asian-fusion restaurant, Myers + Chang, serves up the flavors of Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and beyond, so if you’re craving fresh, flavorful, and safe Asian dishes, run don’t walk to Myer + Chang. Eating here with allergies or dietary restrictions is a piece of cake. Besides having knowledgeable staff, Myers + Chang also has dedicated menus free of meat, gluten, shellfish, and nuts, as well as allergy serving color coded plates and bowls. Though there is a dedicated gluten-free menu, it’s not extensive. Nonetheless, there are enough dishes to choose from. Favorites include the chicken and broccoli chow and nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice).
1145 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118, USA | Visit Website
Dig Inn
Dig Inn is a healthy alternative fast food chain serving fresh seasonal farm-to-table food that everyone will want to devour. The food is hearty yet healthy and delicious. Though the menu changes frequently, it is always properly labeled with which items contain gluten (usually not many) and the staff are very knowledgeable about cross contamination and helpful when it comes to multiple allergies. Dig Inn is a great option for a quick service gluten-free meal that can be customized to your preferences and allergies! Dig Inn has three locations in Boston and several in NYC.
Various Locations | Visit Website
There you have it, the best gluten-free restaurants in Boston! Let us know how your trip went. We’d love to hear your thoughts on how celiac friendly Boston is!
