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Welcome to the second annual gluten-free guide to Austin, SXSW 2011 edition. This post is part of a series called Austin Food Blogger Alliance City Guide 2011. Make sure and check out all the other posts associated with this series. I hope you enjoy your time in Austin. Austin is one of the best cities to dine gluten-free. If you have any questions, feel free to tweet me (@ATXglutenfree) or email me (atxglutenfree@gmail.com).
This guide is a partial list to the gluten-free friendly restaurants that are in Austin. On this list are restaurants, cafes, coffee shops and bars that I frequent often and have had a positive experience at each of these. Since many of these are not certified gluten-free, please be aware of cross contamination.
Certified Gluten-Free Restaurants
Wildwood Art Café (gluten-free, dairy-free options, vegan options, menu available)
Wildwood is the first restaurant in Austin to provide only gluten-free options. Personally, I am not a big fan of their food or service, but if you want a safe option then head there. They have a variety of soups, sandwiches, enchiladas and desserts.
Java Dive (gluten-free, menu available)
Java Dive is located farther out in Lakeway. They are a certified gluten-free restaurant, but also offer gluten-filled foods. I love their gluten-free breakfast options. Their menu has over 10 different kinds of gluten-free waffles!
Food for Life (gluten-free, dairy-free options, menu available)
Food for Life is another gluten-free restaurant that is located far from downtown, in Cedar Park. They are a gluten-free and casein-free environment, and offer many comfort-style gluten-free foods such as: macaroni and cheese, hamburgers and chicken nuggets.
Gluten-Free Friendly Restaurants
In no particular order…
- Whole Foods: Austin is the proud parent of the Whole Foods flagship store. This is a must-see for anyone that is from out of town. It is foodie paradise.
- Apothecary (marked menu items): Apothecary is a quaint wine bar and coffee shop. They offer gluten-free paninis and a variety of salads. Check and see if they are offering their gluten-free bread pudding special.
- Asti
- Juice Box, Soup Peddler: The Soup Peddler offers a variety of soups, some often gluten-free. Make sure and double check.
- Brick Oven South (menu available): Brick Oven South has a full gluten-free menu including pasta, pizza, garlic bread and beer.
- Kenichi
- Lift Café (marked menu items): Lift has great coffee, breakfast and salads. My favorite is their 86 gluten sandwich; an Udi’s bagel with cheese, bacon and eggs.
- Uchi: Hands down one of my favorite restaurants in town.
- Uchiko
- Walton’s Fancy Staple: Great gluten-free flour-less chocolate cake and coffee!
- Chez Zee (menu available)
- Trio (menu available): Trio is an amazing spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner or happy hour. They recently updated their menu and added many more gluten-free options. A must try!
- Maudies (menu available): Maudies is a favorite Tex- Mex restaurant of mine. It is cheap, reliable and they have locations all over town. They recently updated their gluten-free menu and added a new patterned chip basket for the gluten-free chips.
- Daily Juice: Perfect for your SXSW hangover.
- Eastside Café (menu available)
- Barley Swine: Don’t let the name fool you. They have plenty of gluten-free friendly options. A must try is the braised short ribs. Double check before ordering, they change ingredients often.
- Parkside: Parkside is close to my heart. This is where we had our Gluten-Free Pizza Party! Always gluten-free friendly and always delicious.
- The Carillon: Show-stopping gluten-free dishes.
- La Sombra
- Salt Lick: Gluten-free barbecue! Salt Lick’s BBQ sauce and rubs are gluten-free. Their coleslaw, beans and potato salad are gluten-free also. Make sure and say “no bread” when ordering.
- Takoba
- Flipnotics: Great coffee shop with unique atmosphere.
- Gibson Bar: A fun bar on South Lamar, they offer gluten-free beer
- House Wine: A unique wine bar that is located in an old house. Bring gluten-free crackers for their cheese trays.
- Alamo Drafthouse (marked menu items): See a movie and eat gluten-free? Yes, you can do that easy at Drafthouse!
- El Greco Grill (menu available)
- Hai Ky: Get the Pad Thai (with the old sauce, not the new sauce).
- Perla’s
- Fino: One of my favorite menu items is the fried goat cheese.
- Taco Deli (marked menu items): Specify “gluten allergy” when ordering to prevent your corn tortilla being heated on the flour tortilla press.
- Froyoyo (marked menu items)
- The Grove (marked menu items): Wonderful gluten-free pizza.
- Gumbo’s of Westlake (menu available): The Westlake location is the only site with a gluten-free menu.
- Mama Fu’s (menu available): Chinese food, large gluten-free menu.
- PF Changs (menu available)
- Mighty Fine (marked menu items): Specify “gluten allergy” when ordering.
- Peached Tortilla (Trailer): Order the BBQ brisket taco , ask for corn tortilla, sub out the BBQ sauce for the sriracha mayo.
- Local Yolk (Trailer): Gluten-free bread available for their egg-salad sandwiches.
- Mr. Natural (marked menu items)
- Rio’s Brazilian (marked menu items): Their cheese breads are amazing.
- Snack Bar (marked menu items): Great brunch!
- Snap Kitchen (menu available): Great for picking up food to-go if you are in a hurry!
- My Fit Foods (menu available): To-go foods, like Snap Kitchen.
- Southside Flying Pizza (marked menu items)
- Steeping Room (marked menu items)
- North by Northwest (menu available)
- Iron Cactus (menu available)
- Plucker’s (menu available): Gluten-free wings with over 5 different sauces.
- Wink
- 360 Uno (marked menu items): They offer gluten-free breakfast pizzas!
- Z Tejas (menu available)
- Guero’s (menu available): Their food is not the best Tex-Mex in town, but they do offer a gluten-free menu.
- La Boite (Trailer): Love their macaroons and coffee!
- Counter Culture (Trailer)
- Delish Cupcakes (marked menu items): They offer one or two varieties of gluten-free cupcakes each day.
- Black Sheep Lodge: Chili, burger (without bun) and salads (without croutons) are gluten-free. They also carry Redbridge.
- Leaf
- Vespaio (marked menu items)
- Hotel San Jose: Great place for drinks.
- La Condesa
- Austin Land and Cattle
- Peche: Amazing cocktails!
- Trace
- Congress
- Second Bar + Kitchen
- The Driskill
- Paggi House
- Hopdoddy: Ask for burger without bun or bring your own. Fabulous burgers!
- Frank: gluten-free hot dogs and beer!
- El Arbol
- Fonda San Miguel: A classic interior Mexican restaurant with plenty of naturally gluten-free options.
- Foreign and Domestic
- Jack Allen’s Kitchen (menu available): They have a wonderful brunch!
- Garrido’s: The majority of their menu is naturally gluten-free. They also make their own corn tortillas in house.
- Beet’s Café (marked menu items): Great vegetarian/raw restaurant.
Stores with Gluten-Free Products and Foods
- People’s RX
- Wheatsville
- Randalls
- Whole Foods
- HEB
- Central Market
- Sprouts
Gluten-Free Friendly Restaurants that Deliver
- Eat Out In: BJ’s Brewhouse, Bombay Bistro, Brick Oven South, California Pizza Kitchen, Firebowl Cafe, Galaxy Cafe, Hyde Park Bar and Grill, Mother’s Cafe, My Fit Foods, North by Northwest, PF Changs, Threadgills, Tinos Greek Cafe, Zocalo Cafe.
- Dine on Demand: Iron Cactus, Conscious Cravings, Clay Pit, Zuzu’s, Chili’s, Cantina Laredo, Sagra, Zen, Lion and Rose, Third Base, Tarka Indian Kitchen
- Craig O’s
- Jason’s Deli
- Gatti’s Pizza (6 locations only)
- Austin’s Pizza
Note:
This year’s gluten-free guide is only a partial list of gluten-free friendly restaurants in Austin (Yes, we have that many). If you are looking for a particular kind of food, feel free to email me or leave a comment below and I will be happy to help you. Also, please be aware of cross contamination. Even though a restaurant offers a gluten-free menu; that does not lower your chances of being contaminated. Please dine at your own risk.
To view last year’s Gluten-Free Guide to Austin (2010 edition), click here.
I just wanted to note that Hopdoddy often has gluten-free buns. It’s best to call ahead, but the past few times I’ve been they’ve had them. They are delicious!
It’s such a treat when us gluten-free eaters can eat a cheeseburger with our hands instead of a fork and knife.
P.S. I attended the Gluten-Free Pizza Party last week and I had such a great time. I wanted to thank you for putting that together! Many kudos to you and the other gals!
Hey Caitlin! I’m so glad you enjoyed the pizza party. We had a fabulous time also and can’t wait for our next event.
Regarding Hopdoddy, yes they occasionally have gluten-free buns but recently there has been a problem with CC. They were storing the buns with the gluten buns so make sure and be careful. Until they get that sorted out, I would probably bring in your own bun or order without. It shouldn’t be that much longer before it is all sorted out!
Wonderful list! Just wanted to add a store to your list of stores that carry G-free products – Sunflower Markets (all Austin stores formally Newflower) They have been a good source for prepacked and bulk g-free options.
Yes, thank you Kim. I wrote a partial list, but Sunflower is good for packaged GF products as well. I try and shy away from bulk sections at stores because of CC.
Bulk sections may have cross-contamination issues, but they are the only sources for my homemade granola, which is the only breakfast I really like now that I am gluten-free. So far I haven’t had any issues with my granola as long as I use the packaged gluten-free oats as my base. The rest comes from bins.
And on that note, when I was in last, a Fino manager told me although they can fry the goat cheese in chickpea flour to make it without gluten ingredients, it is fried in shared oil so CC should be an issue. I was sad to hear that.
oh BUMMER! Dang that was my favorite.
i know! and i ate it the time before when i was there. grrrr.
It’s fortunate that you prefaced your remark about Wildwood with the leading word “Personally.” All of my experiences with Wildwood have been great, and equally so for a wide number of my GF friends.
Hi Dru, thank you for your comment. I am glad you and your friends have had a great experience at Wildwood. I too, have also had some good experiences there. This is a personal blog and I’m entitled to my personal opinion with restaurants in town. Unfortunately, Wildwood does not meet my expectations. But, they remain on the list because of their dedication to a gluten-free environment, and because of that I gladly recommend them to others. Best- Jessica
As always, great job! I just wanted to thank you for keeping an eye out for all of us GFers in Austin!
Welcome Kendra. Thank you for your kind words
We find quite a few delectable gluten-free items at Natural Grocers. The Pamela’s GF Agave Sweetened mini-cheesecake is incredible – it never makes it out of the parking lot!
We really enjoy the selection of organic and GF items at Natural Grocers in Austin. The Pamela’s GF mini-cheesecake never makes it out of the parking lot!
Thanks Gretchen and Rita!
Great guide! I have a few more restaurants to visit on my next trip. I can’t wait to try Parkside!!!Thank you for constructing such a thorough list. I visited El Arbol last year and had a great experience…seeing it on your list reminds me that I need to go back! Any chance you have dined in NYC lately? Taking my daughter there for Spring Break, looks like there are many options but would love personal recommendations from you or fans
Parkside is fantastic. You will love it! I have not dined in NYC recently… I was supposed to make a trip but changed last minute.
I love your gluten-free guides! I won’t be able to attend SWSW this year but this list brought back fond memories of eating gluten-free at Mother’s, Austin’s Pizza, and The Salt Lick. Enjoy the festival!
Thank you Claire!
Thanks for the great list! I was at Apothecary recently found out they only have one small surface to cook the sandwiches on. So there’s a huge CC issue. Just be sure to either ask him not to grill it or to scrub down the surface as much as possible.
Hey Anne- Thank you for your comment and letting others know about potential CC. Unfortunately with so many ‘GF friendly’ places in Austin, some have a greater chance of CC than others.
I had a wonderful dinner last night at Cru on Second Street. I asked the waiter about my gluten free issues and he was most accommodating…. i had a phenomenal time and the meal was great with the staff going out of their way in a busy night to make sure I was taken care of.
Wonderful Stephanie… I’ve brought crackers there before for their cheese plates. Great tip!
This is a tremendous resource, thanks so much for taking the time to create it!
Just one question — I like staying close to the action at the convention center and don’t rent a car, but I’m a little overwhelmed by sorting through this many choices (!!!) — is there any way you could say how many of these places are walkable from the ACC?
Hey Andrea- Here are a few choices
Near the convention center (some closer than others)-
Trio, PF Changs, Melting Pot, Iron Cactus, Carmelo’s, Parkside, Trace, Congress, Driskill,
Downtown but you will need to take a pedi-cab, cab or walk a little further:
Frank, Leaf, Lamberts, Kenichi, Waltons, Maudies, Snap Kitchen, Perla’s, Z Tejas, Gueros, Vespaio, Garridos, Whole Foods Flagship (foodie heaven!).
Great list! Just wanted to add that La Patisserie by Luxe Sweets serves up tasty (and cute) macarons that are gluten free!
This is such a great list! Austin is such a great place to be gluten free! I’ve only been once for a couple of days, but hopefully I get to come back someday. Maybe for SXSW one day!
I miss the breakfast tacos at Austin Java and Tamales from Wildwood Art Cafe just thinking about it!
Thanks Adina! You’ll have to come visit one day and we can do dinner or something!
I’m surprised to see that Casa de Luz is missing from this list. They serve vegan gluten free breakfast, lunch, and dinner most of the time. Some of their items are made with spelt – so be sure to check. Their website is casadeluz.org.
Yes, John. Casa de Luz is a great place to eat GF. The list for SXSW was just a basic list of recent favorites and suggestions.
Does anyone know if Iron Works BBQ is Gluten and Dairy Free?
Possibly. They have yet to really confirm anything and are weary because of cross contamination, but I know of some gluten-free people that enjoy their BBQ. I avoid because of the lack of communication. Hope that helps. Salt Lick’s BBQ is GF/DF.
Thank you so much for this site. Looking for graduate schools in areas that are Celiac friendly, and it looks like outside the California Bay area, Austin is it!
Thanks JG- Austin is one of the best gluten-free towns out there. We have so many options and it’s growing every day. Let me know if you have any questions.
Please check out Portabla. Their hot and savory goat cheese and roasted veg GF panini is my favorite but you can get any of their sandwiches on homemade GF bread. They always have the most awesome GF soup that changes daily, too. Wonderful salads as well.
love portabla!!!
Help! I need a restaurant that can serve a gluten/dairy-free traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
Hey Pat- not sure about a traditional thanksgiving dinner but there are some GF friendly restaurants around town offering some gluten-free options. Check out my facebook page for the link that I posted this week…..http://www.facebook.com/atxglutenfree
So glad I found this. We are visiting Austin and this will be super helpful! My 3 year old misses pizza!