14 Vancouver Restaurants With Gluten-Free Menus That Slap (Plus: Our Fave Gluten-Free Grocery Staples)

If you don’t tolerate gluten, you’re in the right place. Restaurants and bakeries across Vancouver are proving that you don’t need wheat or grain protein to have a good time (or doughy, delicious foods). Read on for a rundown of local bakeries that kick GF ass, local restaurants that have the gluten-friendliest menus in town and a list of gluten-free grocery items you’ll want to save for your next shopping trip.

5 Vancouver Bakeries with Gluten-Free Treats

Lemonade

Like actual lemonade, everything in this Cambie bakery is celiac-friendly. The tarts and pastries (like the lemon meringue tart pictured above) aren’t just delicious, they’re beautifully decorated and very Instagram-worthy. Fresh breads, croutons, bagels and pizza crust are on offer too. 3385 Cambie St., lemonadeglutenfreebakery.ca

Gluten-Free Epicurean

Blink and you’ll miss this humble spot: Gluten-Free Epicurean is tucked in that weird triangular bit of East 15th Ave between Kingsway and Fraser (along with another local gem, Savio Volpe, which shockingly is quite gluten-friendly, too—just ask your server). The salted rosemary olive oil chocolate chip cookie might be the most elegant and balanced gluten-free treat in town. Plus, the freezer is stocked with take-and-bake lasagnas, pie crusts, cinnamon buns and more. 633 E 15th Ave., glutenfreeepicurean.ca

Marie’s Guilt-Free Bakery

As far as we’re concerned, any food that’s delicious is guilt-free—but Marie’s goods are free of gluten, too. This Langley-based bakery is a usual suspect at local farmer’s markets and an excellent spot to get all the dough-y basics you desire: think breads, English muffins, dinner rolls and pizza crusts. mariesguiltfreebakery.ca

Virtue Natural Bakery

This honourably titled bakery is actually named after founder Lisa Virtue, and the gluten-free goods on offer are, indeed, virtuous. There’s fudge brownies, apple crisp and almond butter cups, as well as muffins and scones that change on the daily. 2245 West Broadway, virtuenaturalbakery.ca

Edible Flours

If you’re visiting Virtue, you might as well head over to Edible Flours—it’s directly across the street. Edible Flours is a vegan bakery and not 100-percent gluten-free, but many of the menu items do fit the bill. GF picks include Nanaimo bars, s’mores bars, chocolate banana loaf and coconut raspberry squares. Their custom cakes are totally stunning… perfect for your newly diagnosed friend’s celiac reveal party. 2280 W Broadway, ediblefloursbakery.com

10 Vancouver Restaurants Serving Gluten-Free Dishes

Saan Saan Cafe

No restaurant quite beats grandma’s cooking… but the Saan Saan Cafe menu is not only influenced by family dinners in the owner’s grandparents’ home, the restaurant itself is located in the exact same spot. Saan Saan serves up classic Hong Kong dishes and baked goods (wok fried rice, house-made curry fish balls, black sesame caramel cookies) and is totally gluten-free. 227 Main St., saansaan.ca

Gluten Free By Jany

This restaurant could technically also fit in the bakery category, but Jany offers high-protein breakfasts and lunches, too—it’s a place to go for hearty and filling meals, not just a sweet treat. The menu includes a turkey panini, chicken pesto panini and garlic tofu panini (all on gluten-free cibiatta, of course) as well as wraps, crepes and chicken pot pies. 1939 Cornwall Ave., glutenfreebyjany.com

Ignite Pizzeria

This is a no-brainer if you’re feeding a crowd, gluten-friendly or not. Ignite’s award-winning gluten-free pizza dough can be added on to any order (and they have vegan pies, too) so you can order stone-fired pizzas to suit a variety of dietary needs. The parma proscuitto (mozzarella, parma prosciutto, fior di latte, fresh arugula) is a classic. Multiple locations., ignitepizzeria.com

Jungle Room

Jungle Room is known as a lush, moody cocktail bar with unique drinks and a very pretty interior, but it has a surprising number of gluten-free items on its menu: the beef koftas, chicken karaage, pan-seared prawns, saffron potatoes and beef tataki are all GF, as are all of the desserts on offer. Cheers to that. 961 Denman St., jungleroom.ca

Chickpea

Chickpea is a vegetarian Main Street mainstay, and like many plant-based haunts, the restaurant is quite gluten-friendly, too. Build your own rice bowl, salad or hummus platter and choose from flavour-packed GF proteins like falafel, crispy fried cauliflower, butternut squash, smoked tofu and truffled “n’oysters” (that’s oyster mushrooms—no shellfish are harmed in the making of this meal). 4298 Main St., ilovechickpea.ca

Pacific Rim Lobby Lounge

Another wild card—and a fancypants one, at that. The Pac Rim Lobby Lounge’s Japan-influenced menu clearly also has some gluten-free influence. With loud-and-proud letters to signify dishes that fit into certain diets (V for vegan, VE for vegetarian, GF for gluten-free and so on) it’s easy to pick out the perfect meal…make sure you get a chili salmon maki with avocado, cucumber and spicy mayo to snack on while deciding. 1038 Canada Pl., lobbyloungerawbar.com

Juke Fried Chicken

Juke Fried Chicken could scream its gluten-free status from the rooftops, but instead, the fact that this Chinatown spot’s crunchy, flaky batter is made without gluten isn’t common knowledge. That might be because gluten-free foods have a bad reputation… but come on, Juke, you have the chance to change hearts and minds. 182 Keefer St., jukefriedchicken.com

Nook

Nook is a neighbourhood favourite… in a lot of neighbourhoods (there’s five locations). This cozy Italian spot can sub gluten-free quinoa pasta in any dish, from creamy cacio e pepe to bold and beautiful bolognese. Multiple locations,  nookrestaurants.com

Maxine’s

This West End spot might be better known for gorgeous interior than a GF menu, but here’s a secret: the fried chicken with calabrian chili honey is gluten-free, and made with Vancouver-born Good Flour Co. flour. It’s a secret that our editorial director (and gluten-free foodie) Anicka is determined to spill at any given opportunity. Ask her about it, we dare you. 1325 Burrard St., maxinescafebar.com

Folietta

Folietta was dreamed up by Wentworth Hospitality Group (the same GF-conscious greats behind Maxine’s) and just opened earlier this year. Diners have waxed poetic about the gluten-free calamari (FYI, the fryer isn’t 100% gluten-free) and the just-as-good-as-glutinous GF pasta options. Psst: try the gluten-free all’arrabiata. 1480 Nanaimo St., folietta.com

Where to Get Gluten-Free Groceries in Vancouver

For Bread: Little Northern Bakehouse

Gluten-free eaters bow down to this Abbotsford bakery. They have a variety of soft, scrumptious breads on offer, and even sell whole grain, white and sweet Hawaiian breads in wide-slice, which seems like their answer to the age-old question, “why is gluten-free bread always so freaking small?” Find it all over the Lower Mainland.

For Bagels: O’Doughs

O’Doughs chewy cheerful bagels hail from Toronto. Flavours include original, pumpernickel, sesame and everything, and your purchase does some good, too—O’Doughs supports charities like the Daily Bread Food Bank and Toronto’s Out of the Cold foundation. It’s available at Nesters.

For English Muffins: Kinnikinick

Edmonton-based Kinnikinick’s goods aren’t just gluten-free—they’re free from dairy, nuts, peanuts and soy, too. Take that, allergens. The brand is available at Save on Foods and Superstore.

For Pasta: Rummo

Rummo’s gluten-free pasta is made from corn and brown rice (and steam, a method the brand calls “Metodo di Lavorazione al Vapore,” which is probably Italian for “gluten-free sauna”). Bonus: it’s at Costco.

For Flour: Cloud 9

Cloud 9 started in New West and is now based in PoCo, but the brand’s gluten-free flour is everywhere (it’s not as messy as it sounds). You can sub it in 1:1 for regular flour, so you don’t need to worry about gluten or math. It’s also available at Costco.

For Hamburger Buns: The Grain Escape

Don’t settle for a “lettuce bun.” You’re kidding yourself. This Abbotsford-based bakery makes hamburger (and hotdog) buns that are both soft and sturdy; game-day ready for beef and weiners alike.  Find them at Fresh St. Market.

For Crackers: Raincoast Crisps

Your fancy aunt has been serving this Vancouver-born brand (now owned by Dare and made in Ontario) on cheeseboards for years. Raincoast offers lots of gluten-free flavours including cranberry, salty date and rosemary raisin. They’re made with almond flower and in stock at Whole Foods.

For More Crackers: Hippie Snacks

These crackers are a bit more like chips (aka, excellent on their own) and made in Burnaby. The “Crunchers” as they call them come in dill pickle, BBQ and salt and vinegar, all at Whole Foods. Our advice? Stick to these ones and steer clear of the supremely inferior avocado crisps.

For Oats: Anita’s Organic Mill

This Chilliwack-based mill offers both old-fashioned and quick oats. It’s part of the Nature’s Path family (you know, where the world’s messiest granola bars come from). These oats are excellent for a classic morning oatmeal, or whatever performative overnight oat monstrosity happens to be trending right now. IGA has ’em.

For Pizza Crust: Carbonaut

Mama mia, that’s-a gluten-free-a pizza! (Sorry, Italians). Carbonaut hails from Abbotsford and makes a freezer-aisle pizza crust that’s made from potato starch and chickpea flour (we’ve been burned by the soggy cauliflower crust one too many times). Find it at Loblaws.

For Beer:  Whistler Brewing

Whistler Brewing is the only local brewery that makes GF beer—there’s the Forager lager and the Forager pale ale, and both are quite hoppy. A bit further afield, there’s Grey Fox Brewing in Kelowna (a totally gluten-free brewery). Grey Fox and Whistler Brewing’s GF brews are available at BCL.

For Frozen Waffles: Wholesome Heart Foods

“L’eggo my Wholesome Heart Foods” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, but don’t sleep on (or through) these gluten-free toaster waffles. They’re bright and colourful thanks to flavours like banana spinach and mixed berry, making them a great hack for feeding picky kids (just don’t tell them about the spinach). The company is based in Vancouver, and you can find them at Save on Foods.