Our Fave Gluten-free Restaurants & Dishes in Chicago

gluten-free restaurants in chicago pancakes from wheat's end

Compiling this list of my favorite gluten-free restaurants in Chicago – as well as the best gluten-free options at other spots – has taken years of interrogating waitstaff, trial and error, and yes, even heartache (I legit cried when Rose’s in Evanston and the Cookie Bar in Ravenswood closed. RIP gluten-free chocolate croissants and bourbon chocolate cake, respectfully.)

As gluten-free restaurants in Chicago continue to multiply and menus continue to diversify, rest assured that my quest for the best gluten-free eats will go on. It’s a delicious job, and someone’s gotta do it. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I’ve focused mainly on the major Midwestern food groups: brunch, pizza and baked goods.

Note: I do not have Celiac Disease, so I can’t speak to whether these dishes are Celiac-safe. It’s always best to call ahead and speak to someone knowledgeable about the restaurant’s protocols for food allergies before you go.

Key:
GF = entirely gluten-free kitchen
POC = person-of-color owned
W = Women-owned
WOC = Woman-of-color owned
Check out our full running and delicious list of women-owned restaurants in Chicago.

Got a favorite that we missed? Let us know!

Fave Gluten-free Restaurants in Chicago

Bright Wok Kitchen
Cuisine: Entirely gluten-free menu of Asian-inspired dishes
Don’t-miss dish: The Crunchy Crave
Don’t-miss dessert: It’s called Magic Cake for good reason
Locations: The Loop, River North
Bonus: GF

Defloured – A Gluten Free Bakery
Cuisine: The most mouth-watering desserts I’ve ever had
Don’t miss: The gluten-free red velvet cake pop is life-changing
Location: Andersonville
Bonus: GF

CheSa’s Gluten Free Food Truck
Owner: Chef Chesareé Rollins, Ph.D.
Cuisine: A range of globally inspired gluten-free delights
Don’t-miss dish: All Hale Kale Salad
Locations: Wrigley Field, Whole Foods, Pete’s Fresh Market salad bars; around downtown during lunchtime
Bonus: GF, WOC

Wheat’s End Cafe
Owners: Susan McMillan and Amelia Fonti
Cuisine: Gluten-free breakfast & bakery
Don’t-miss dish: Popovers with you’ll-want-to-drink-it sausage gravy & eggs
Location: Lakeview
Bonus: GF, W

Best Gluten-free Dishes

11 Degree North
Don’t-miss dish: The Take it Easy arepa is my go-to; all of the arepas are gluten-free.
Location: Lakeview
Bonus: W

Beatrix
Don’t-miss dish: All-you-can-eat chilaquiles bar
Pro Tip: Vigilance pays, so keep an eye out for when the fresh trays arrive.
Locations: River North, Streeterville, Fulton Market

Do-Rite Donuts
Don’t-miss dish: The gluten-free Valhrona chocolate glazed donut is the breakfast of champions.
FAQ: Are these really worth standing in line for? Yasssss.

Flaco’s Tacos
Don’t-miss dish: The Cowboy Tacos are my hands-down fave.
Pro Tip: On Saturdays, the Sangrita (a holy union of sangria and margarita) is on special for $4.
Locations: Water Tower, Printer’s Row, Edgewater

Lady Gregory’s
Don’t miss dish: Gluten-free lobster mac & cheese. I’m not drooling, you’re drooling!
Special shout-out: When I went gluten-free several years ago, Lady G’s, as my partner calls it, was one of the first restaurants I came across with a sizable menu of gluten-free options, including flatbreads and sandwiches.
Locations: Andersonville, Old Town

Lyfe Kitchen
Don’t-miss dishes: I have either the grilled chicken & avocado sandwich or the Margherita flatbread a LOT.
Locations: River North, Streeterville, Gold Coast

Sprinkles
Don’t miss dish: The gluten-free red velvet cupcake gives me hope for the future of our species.
Location: Gold Coast
Bonus: W

gluten-free restaurants in chicago pizza

Sausage and green pepper goodness from Union Squared

Union Squared Pizza
Don’t-miss dish: I deeply cherish both the gluten-free sausage (above) and the pepperoni pizzas, but I’m carnivorous that way. Any of their pies can be made gluten-free.
Pro-tip: They make each pizza to order, so set aside some extra time.
Locations: Revival Food Hall in the Loop, Evanston

Photo: Heaven on a plate, aka, gluten-free pancakes garnished with Nutella from Wheat’s End

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Karen Hawkins is the Founder and Rebelle in Chief of Rebellious Magazine. She is a recovering mainstream media reporter and editor who wants to thank her former boss for naming the online magazine she's always wanted to start when he called her “Rebellious” for taking too many weekends off. When she isn't instigating a media Rebellion, she's thanking her lucky starlets she gets to do whatever she wants on weekends.