Let`s mention at the beginning that Boston is certainly not the premier location for gluten free food connoisseurs in America. If making a trip specifically for gluten free cuisine, we`d advise that Boston likely wouldn`t even be on a shortlist of places we`d recommend.
However, travel signifies more than just cuisine, and Boston is worth a visit for the history and culture. The intent behind this guide is to aid in finding secure gluten free dining while you’re in Boston.
Just know that you’re probably not going to be amazed by the food (with one exception: Kane’s Donuts).
This guide, which was updated in May 2022 after nearly a week spent in Boston eating our way through the city, will take you through our perspective on (and experience with) the best gluten free restaurants in Boston.
We’ll provide you three categories of gluten free dining establishments:
- Establishments focused solely on gluten free cuisine where every food item on the menu is gluten free
- Specialist gluten free bakeries where everything produced is formulated without gluten)
- Restaurants that can safely serve gluten free meals even though their kitchen prepares mixed dishes
Does this sound pleasant? Let’s explore the best gluten free restaurants and bakeries in Boston!
Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one and make a purchase, I earn a small portion of the sale at no extra cost to you. It goes without saying that I would only recommend something I would use or do myself.
Gluten Free Boston: The Best Gluten Free Restaurants in Boston (+ Gluten Free Bakeries!)
Now we will explore some excellent places to eat while avoiding gluten in Boston.
We feel it important to note that we have visited nearly every gluten free restaurant and bakery listed. If we did not stop by a locale, it will be indicated. Considerable effort was made to inquire about potential issues and a few establishments were excluded since it was felt they may not consistently provide a risk-free meal experience.
With current conditions undergoing constant fluctuation, we do our best to maintain the accuracy of these guides. However, verifying every single restaurant at any given moment is virtually impossible, which is why we need YOUR input!
Have feedback, like a venue no longer utilizing a dedicated gluten free fryer, or a newly opened gluten free bakery? We`d appreciate hearing from you! Simply post a comment below and we`ll be sure to implement any necessary updates.
If you’re curious about our process for discovering and vetting gluten free locations, you can read our gluten free FAQ.
An Important Consideration: While Boston offers many establishments with gluten free options, not all would be advisable for various causes (frequently a lack of procedures to prevent cross-contact with gluten in the kitchen).
As a result, you won’t find on this list places commonly referenced even if they advised me against eating there if experiencing Celiac Disease.
It’s unfortunate to miss out on experiences like gluten free lobster rolls or proper cannoli, but as someone acquainted with the consequences, you certainly don’t want illness to impact your vacation.
Dedicated Gluten Free Restaurants in Boston
🍽️ Afternoon Tea | $$$ | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +44 207 629 8888
Grainmaker
We found Grainmaker so enjoyable that we in fact went three separate times throughout about six days in Boston.
Think of a location similar to Chipotle, but specializing in Southeast Asian flavors instead of Mexican. It`s fast-casual dining where you can choose from their signature bowl options premade or build your own, and they offer excellent vegetarian choices, perfect for us since we don`t consume much meat nowadays.
Most of the bowls utilize a rice foundation, and then you receive a mixture of veggies, a protein, and some other toppings followed by a sauce. They also feature some salad dishes and noodle dishes if a rice bowl isn’t what you’re in the mood for.
We truly enjoyed both options – a peanut lime sauce with sweet potatoes and kale/bok choy – and the curry dish, which was surprisingly spicy (in a pleasant way).
Lastly, but certainly not the least, they have pan-fried potstickers that we enjoyed, particularly when dipped in the somewhat tangy, savory ponzu sauce.
There are a couple of locations in Boston, one in downtown Boston, one west of the city center in Somerville, which we stopped at on the way to and from visiting friends in Vermont.
Poke by Love Art
We weren’t quite certain how we would feel about poke bowls – especially Alysha, who isn’t as keen on the concept of raw fish – but we did some investigation and realized that Poke by Love Art offer a non-fish protein choice (marinated tofu, which is truly great) so we decided to give it a try.
And we went back for more a few days later, which both indicates there really aren’t THAT many gluten free restaurants in Boston, and also that we enjoyed this place.
Additionally, it was literally a block from our hotel (the CitizenM Boston if you’re curious – we absolutely adore CitizenM Hotels and have stayed in three of them in 2022… and it’s only May at the time of writing).
Anyway, onto the poke bowls! We were fortunate enough to have a very friendly staff member discuss the menu on our first visit, and she provided all sorts of opinions and ideas on how to make the most of our bowls.
For example, you are able to replace the protein in any bowl, and you get two servings of it, so you can go half and half if there are different proteins you want to try without additional cost.
The Hot Luau dish was undoubtedly the most loved – we’re suckers for a decent increase of zest, and the garlic edamame greens were lovely.
They have a location near North Station and TD Arena that is roughly five minutes away from the North End, and is only a slight detour if you’re following the north end of the Freedom Trail.
Naco Taco (ONLY North Station)
After some consideration, I think we were a little unfair to Naco Taco, a restaurant in Cambridge (across the river near MIT) that is NOT 100% gluten free, but has an outpost at TD Arena that IS dedicated gluten free.
It’s in a large food court that is definitely at its busiest around Bruins and Celtics games.
Our original view of Naco Taco was that it’s not even worth considering as an option, because the food just wasn’t as good as other tacos we’ve had, dedicated gluten free or not.
We went on a non-event day, and the food didn’t taste fresh, and it was pretty bland compared to what we’re used to. Even the tortillas were a little off.
After a few days of thinking and talking about it, we realized that comparing tacos in California (or anywhere on the west coast, really) to tacos in Massachusetts really isn’t fair.
So our revised assessment is that Naco Taco is a good, safe option if you’re going to a Celtics / Bruins game at the arena, or if you’re going to a concert there. Otherwise, it’s probably not worth making a detour for.
Mother Juice
Full disclosure: we passed on eating at Mother Juice. It’s safe and everything is gluten free (though they do use oats), we just weren’t really into the menu options. Juices aren’t our thing, and none of the bowls appealed to us.
It remains a decent choice for a quick, healthy meal. Options include juices, smoothies, and larger items like bowls and toasts to choose from.
The item they were inclined to choose – a taco bowl containing walnut meat – was unavailable on the day of their visit, so they decided against dining there.
Dedicated Gluten Free Bakeries in Boston
There were two bakeries in Boston focused on gluten free options (based on our exploration), and one of them was actually situated in Cambridge, quite a distance away from downtown Boston and the core area where most tourists reside.
Violette Bakery
Violette Bakery is the gluten free bakery situated over in Cambridge, which is a 15-20 minute drive (or a slightly lengthier T ride) away from downtown Boston. Regretfully, we felt it was the better bakery even though it’s undoubtedly the less convenient choice to reach.
If you’re looking for some gluten free snacks, this place offers a variety of choices. They have eclairs, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and cream puffs available. Plus, some other ready-to-bake options and foods like frozen quiches.
Alysha had waived her #glutenfreelife for the morning, and she had gone to the excellent bagel place a few doors down (that definitely does NOT accommodate a gluten free diet), so I was on my own for this outing.
I got a portion of squash and chèvre quiche, an eclair, and a Boston cream puff (which was basically Boston Cream Pie, but in cream puff form).
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 5 am – 11 pm daily
Was it really me who consumed all of that food? Indeed, I had eaten it all although Alysha did have a few nibbles of the eclair and cream puff after I finished them.
It’s worth noting that they do use gluten free oats in some of their products, so if you’re sensitive make sure to ask them to help you figure out what does and doesn’t have oats. The staff were more than pleased to investigate ingredients, in my experience.
Jennifer Lee’s Bakery
This gluten free bakery is inside the Boston Public Market, and has a stand that sells 100% gluten free baked goods like muffins, cupcakes, donuts, cookies, and if you’re lucky, cannoli.
They also happen to be free of all of the top 9 allergens (egg, dairy, peanuts, etc.) which makes them perfect for anyone with multiple intolerances.
They’re also at a wide range of local farmers markets, if you’re able to visit them there. You can locate an up-to-date list on their website.
The tale presented here is fairly comparable to numerous other gluten free companies in the same field – the proprietor was formerly a baker, running their own bakery specializing in items containing gluten. Until being diagnosed with a gluten intolerance.
Unhappy with the gluten free baked goods on the market – particularly with the ones that were also egg and nut free – she set out to create her own.
It is worth emphasizing that I truly admire their mission, which is remarkably similar to our goal here at Wheatless Wanderlust. They state:
“Our goal is to build a place where individuals, particularly kids with food allergies, can walk into, and have the ability to feel “regular” and have the ability to pick out anything they want without anxiety.”
We stopped by a couple of times and I continue to regret it weeks later because they had cannoli the first visit. We had just eaten so I said “we`ll come back another day, I`m sure they`ll still have them.” But they did not.
Narrator: they didn’t.
However, the French toast cupcake we had was good, particularly considering it’s also dairy and egg free, which means the texture is just never going to be as good as some of the other baked goods that contain those ingredients.
Other Gluten Free Restaurants in Boston
Here are some other restaurants in Boston that, while not completely gluten free, have processes in place to ensure safe meals.
The usual points about eating outside gluten free apply here – it’s up to you to communicate your dietary needs to the server and restaurant staff, and your experience may differ from mine.
Let’s be honest, things are constantly changing in kitchens, and service largely depends on chance factors like which server or line cook you end up with that day, outside your control.
Eating out comes with an inherent risk. You need to clearly communicate your needs to staff everywhere, but it’s especially important here. Make sure to:
- Be certain to notify the server that you have Celiac Disease and require gluten-free foods. Some indicate a “gluten allergy,” which seems to work as well, but places that do not comprehend “Celiac” likely do not have processes to minimize cross-contact either.
- Kindly ask them to assist you in determining what is safe for your diet.
- Confirm with the server upon the arrival of your food that your meal is verified to be gluten free.
More Gluten Free Travel Guides for the USA
Planning a trip to the United States, but need to eat gluten free? We’ve written extensive travel guides to recommend the best gluten free restaurants and bakeries located throughout many of our favorite American cities to help you find quality places to dine free of gluten.
Gluten Free Options in Seattle, Washington
Gluten Free Suggestions in San Francisco, California
Eateries Without Gluten in Los Angeles, California
Gluten-free options in Santa Barbara, California
Dining establishments without gluten in San Diego, California
Gluten Free Options in Sacramento, California
Gluten Free Eateries in Boston, Massachusetts
Kane’s Donuts
If you’ve followed us for any amount of time, the chances are good that you’ve noticed that we have a somewhat unhealthy obsession with gluten free donuts.
Donuts are the top food classification, especially donuts that are ACTUALLY fried, rather than just a cake baked in the shape of a donut.
You know who offers amazing gluten free fried donuts? KANE`S. I had wanted to try this place for several years after seeing gluten free social media personalities make the pilgrimage there, and FINALLY went this year. Not just once or twice, but three times (over five days).
Now, this is a combined facility, meaning they also offer donuts that are NOT gluten free. Which is usually a strong no for me – I don’t deal with combined bakeries.
However, my acquaintance Jennifer from the Nomadic Fitzpatricks participated in assisting them in developing a gluten-free environment enabling the production of donuts that would be safe for people with Celiac disease.
It involves completely separate food preparation areas for baking the gluten free donuts, separate transportation, and a well-trained staff to actually serve the donuts.
Whenever I placed an order (on three separate occasions), I observed the staff member taking my request immediately swap gloves as soon as I mentioned “gluten free”, and the gluten free pastries are stored in a separate area of the kitchen.
They offer flavors ranging from unusual ones, like apple cider and maple bacon, to core flavors you`d anticipate like glazed, cinnamon sugar, and chocolate coated. Additionally, a few filled doughnuts (we appreciated the jelly filled, though the vivid red color of the jam is constantly a bit alarming).
The gluten free donuts are notably smaller than the regular donuts, and they also charge significantly more for them.
However, they`re included among the top tier gluten free donuts we`ve ever had, up there with establishments such as Petunia’s Pies and Pastries in Portland and Bigwig Donuts in Salem, Oregon.
They’re worthy of waiting for, spending extra money on, and making a trip to Boston.
Carolicious
Another aspect about our travels you may know if you`ve been following along is that we are completely enamored with arepas, specifically the Venezuelan variation, which essentially resembles a corn flatbread sandwich stuffed with ingredients like cheese, plantains, avocado and different types of meat.
After searching online for “coffee in Boston” and “gluten free donuts in Boston,” I queried “arepas in Boston.” Happily, I found Carolicious!
All of their ciders are also gluten free, and you can purchase a selection of 5 classic varieties, 5 experimental kinds, or all 10 to sample. Naturally, we opted for trying all 10.
The MIT spot is more convenient for people in Central Boston, but it’s also closed on weekends. The brewery location is open on weekends, but when I checked, the brewery had zero gluten free beverage choices.
While not entirely gluten-free, they come as close as possible and could easily answer my questions about keeping the lone gluten-containing menu item separate.
They offer an appetizer referred to as tequenos, which are rather like mozzarella sticks in that they’re filling filled with cheese. Regretfully, the filling is not non-wheat.
However, they are cooked in the air fryer, which is completely separate from the way they cook anything else in the kitchen. They were also more than ready to change their gloves when I asked them to just to be entirely safe.
Our preferred is typically anything with fried sweet plantains, and we liked the pabellon here. We also make an effort to try the Reina pepiada, which is a combination of mayonnaise, avocado, cheese, and chicken.
After the occurrence, we realized that it’s definitely not avocado season in May in Massachusetts, and the filling suffered for it.
The other thing that we enjoyed is the basil spread that gets added to all the arepas. It’s delicious, and we’d get a bottle of it if they sold it.
Q’s Nuts
This isn`t as much a dining establishment as an enjoyable snack stop located right in the Boston Public Market. Somehow, my mother came across their nuts – labeled gluten free – in Seattle last Christmas, and I entirely consumed a sample bag of them within about two hours.
You know who offers amazing gluten free fried pastries? KANE’S. I’d heard great things about this spot for several years after seeing gluten free social media stars make the journey there, and FINALLY visited this year. Not just once or twice, but three times (in five days).
They’re labeled gluten free, and they have some fun sweet and savory flavor combinations, like Mexican Hot Chocolate and Rosemary Sea Salt.
La Famiglia Giorgio’s
Heads up! I’m going to go on a bit of a rant here before we get to the actual food at La Famiglia Giorgio’s.
We have mixed emotions regarding numerous Italian restaurants in the North End. On one hand, it’s an entertaining environment and there`s demonstrably an important history of Italian immigrants that settled in the North End. Celebrating their heritage is excellent!
On the other hand, having spent nearly six weeks eating our way through Italy last fall, the cuisine here makes us a little melancholy. It should really be referred to as `Italian-American.`
We`ve become quite skilled at making Italian pastas at home, especially the classic varieties originating from Rome such as carbonara, amatriciana, cacio e pepe, and pasta alla gricia, plus bolognese sauce bearing little resemblance to my mother`s version.
If there`s one lesson I feel I`ve gained from conversing with food enthusiasts in Italy, participating in local walking tours, and connecting with friends who`ve relocated there, it`s that cream should NEVER EVER be included in a traditional carbonara, as is customary.
And if a recipe calls for cream, choose a different one. That may be a bit more extreme than how I truly feel, but the core idea is valid.
What`s featured on the menu here? Carbonara. What ingredient in it is listed? Cream.
If you’re looking for authentic Italian food, this probably isn’t it. If you’re looking for solid Italian-American dinner with a nice ambiance and friendly staff, that’s where this place succeeds.
The other place this shines is their consideration with readying gluten free dishes for gluten free diners. After calling a different place, who essentially said “we’re satisfactory with cross-contact,” I appreciated the level of detail that I got from La Famiglia Giorgio’s when I asked about their protocols.
Separate pasta water, separate prep spaces, and separate pans for pizza (it does enter a shared oven, but it’s on a separate metal tray).
The eatery offered many handcrafted gluten free pastas that I had not heard of before, such as the one the server advised paired well with the spicy pizzaiola sauce we selected.
We would focus on the gluten-free pasta here, where we think their offerings truly stand out.
As mentioned above, not the most authentic, but if you’re looking for a fun night out and good pasta, it’s definitely worth your time.
Yellow Door Taqueria
I debated including Yellow Door Taqueria on my list, because there aren’t really that many gluten free options here that are safe for those with celiac disease.
The first thing you need to know is that you MUST explain to your server that you have Celiac Disease, and you need assistance discovering menu selections that are free from cross-contact with gluten (which generally originates from the shared fryer).
The reason it’s on the list is because of the competence with which they handled my questions, assisting me sort through the menu to figure out what was gluten free, and what was contaminated by cross-contact in the shared cooking equipment.
The fundamental lesson is that the chips ARE NOT risk-free (which is a little unfortunate, particularly since they’re labeled gluten free), and all of the tacos are safe (they’re on homemade corn tortillas) except for the Baja fish taco, which they can prepare grilled instead if you’re really craving a fish taco.
They also boast an excellent selection of cocktails with a emphasis on tequila and mezcal varieties.
The taco caveat also applies here – if you’re from California and you’re expecting the same level of tacos, you’re probably going to be let down. That being said, the tacos were good, even though they’re a bit expensive.
Planning a trip to Boston? Be sure to check out our guide to crafting an amazing Boston weekend itinerary.
If you’re attempting to determine where to reside, don’t neglect our comprehensive guide to the top locations to lodge in Boston, where we cover our favored picks regarding neighborhood with pros and cons, neighborhood highlights, and some interesting places to stay that we selected.
Additional Northeast USA Travel Guides
If you find this guide helpful, you won’t want to miss our other northeast travel guides!
New York City
- A Perfect Long Weekend in New York City: A 3-Day Itinerary
- Where to Lodge in New York City: The Best Neighborhoods and Accommodations
- Gluten Free Dining Options in New York City: Top Restaurants and Bakeries
Boston
- Spending a Weekend in Boston: A Model 2 Day Itinerary for the City
- Locations to Lodge in Boston: A Complete Guide to the Best Areas
- Gluten Free Options in Boston: A Thorough Guide for Celiacs
Philadelphia
