If you suffer from Celiac disease and need to eat a gluten-free diet, you might have a hard time when you eat out since not a lot of restaurants cater to your diet.
Here in Charlotte, though, there are many restaurants that you can frequent and enjoy. Here are the 12 best gluten-free places in Charlotte:
Basil Thai is a contemporary restaurant with a great atmosphere and even better food. They serve up a refined and authentic Thai cuisine that you can customize to your level of spice, from 0 to 5.
They have fantastic gluten-free options—Thai food is actually one of the best cuisines to eat if you are gluten or lactose intolerant.
Why we like it:
The restaurant’s focus is the kitchen, so it is in the center of the room with glass walls so you can see and hear the kitchen at work.
2. Pure Pizza
Pure Pizza’s mission is to only use the freshest ingredients in their pizza. They are a farm-to-fork restaurant, meaning they partner with local farmers and focus on sustainability within the community.
The owners care about organic, non-GMO, and local food, so you can easily find vegan, vegetarian, organic, and gluten-free options on their menu.
Why we like it:
Pure Pizza has won a ton of awards and been featured in magazines for their food, including Top Best Pizza in All 50 States, Forbes Magazine Travel Guide, and PBS Best Pizza in NC.
Related post: 11 Places to Snag The Best Pizza in Charlotte
Midwood Smokehouse is a fantastic restaurant where you can satisfy all your BBQ cravings. Not only do they have an extensive normal menu, they also have a separate menu for gluten-free that has multiple options.
Most restaurants only feature a few items as gluten-free, so Midwood is a great option for when you’re trying to decide what to eat.
Why we like it:
They have many options for alternative diets, not just gluten-free. Even though this is a BBQ restaurant, vegetarians and vegans can still find something on the menu to enjoy.
4. Bernardin’s
Bernardin’s is all about fine dining. They offer meals such as duck confit, surf n turf, and escargot. On every menu they have gluten-free options available, which are still elevated and delicious.
They didn’t just add a few gluten-free options for those with Celiac disease, but really designed a fantastic menu that serves meals that just happen to also be gluten-free. It’s a very well-planned menu.
Why we like it:
Have you ever wanted to try wild game meats like kangaroo or emu? Bernardin’s has these meats regularly on their menu.
5. O-ku
O-ku Sushi offers authentic Asian cuisine with only the freshest ingredients. The chef sources fresh fish from some of the world’s best markets such as New Zealand, Norway, and Hawaii.
They know how to do sushi here—they create such inventive sushi rolls and plates that you’ll want to come back regularly to see what’s new.
Why we like it:
The staff are well-informed about celiac and pay extra attention to your meal when you ask for gluten-free. You can rest easy knowing that they’re extra careful of how they prepare it.
Related Post: 11 Spots to Satisfy Your Sushi Craving in Charlotte
6. Kid Cashew
Kid Cashew serves up classic American cuisine with a great atmosphere and friendly service. They prepare all of their meals fresh and have an expansive menu so you can easily find gluten-free options.
They even have specific vegan and gluten-free menus to choose from.
Why we like it:
Their menu has so many different types of cuisines and cultures, like Mediterranean and Southern comfort food. It’s also an affordable restaurant that doesn’t skimp out on quality!
Burtons Grill prides itself on their consistency and integrity. It’s their mission to deliver quality meals to every guest.
Their restaurant creates almost everything from scratch, which means you can customize meals to fit your dietary restrictions. The staff are also trained to follow strict allergy protocols, so you know you can trust them with your food.
Why we like it:
They’re committed to service gluten-free and allergy friendly meals. They have protocols in place whenever someone requests it where they use designated cookware and special plating to prepare your food.
The manager even delivers it to you to avoid any potential contamination!
8. Flower Child
Flower Child is one of the best gluten-free restaurants in Charlotte. Their entire mission is to share healthy food with the community.
They make everything on their menu from scratch and use fresh ingredients from local farms. They offer meals for all kinds of diets, like vegan, paleo, and gluten-free.
Why we like it:
Affordable plant-based menus are rare. Even better, Flower Child doesn’t skimp on the servings, so you get a lot of value for your dollar!
Deejai Thai offers a traditional Thai and Asian cuisine. From sushi to peanut noodles and everything in between, they do it all and they do it well.
Their serving sizes are huge, prices affordable, and the staff is incredibly friendly. Thai cuisine is a fantastic option for when you’re gluten-free, so you’ll have the entire menu to choose from.
Why we like it:
They have different spice levels for you to choose from, so you’re in control of how hot you want your food to be.
10. Yafo Kitchen
Yafo Kitchen is a blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors that put the spotlight on homemade dishes with simple ingredients.
They pride themselves on their authenticity, with daily baked breads and juices, as well as vegetarian and vegan menu options. They only use hormone-free meat and fresh ingredients.
Why we like it:
Their portion sizes are massive and at a reasonable price. It’s a fast-casual restaurant that still maintains a homemade feel.
11. Living Kitchen
Living Kitchen is an organic, plant-based restaurant that is dedicated to serving delicious foods to vegans and meat-eaters alike.
Everything on their menu is made from scratch using only the best organic ingredients. They offer many different cuisines and plant-based versions of classics like pizza and burgers.
Why we like it:
They also offer some grab-n-go options for when you’re in a rush during your lunch break. It’s a great casual eatery that will make you feel good about putting something healthy in your body.
12. Mama Ricotta’s
Italian food is one of the most comforting cuisines to eat. It also is one of the worst for those who suffer from Celiac. Rest assured, you can get your linguini and penne all made with gluten-free options.
Mama Ricotta’s uses family recipes and makes most of their items from scratch. They import a lot of ingredients straight from Italy, too.
Why we like it:
It is one of Charlotte’s most loved Italian restaurants, and has been serving food for over 20 years now. It is consistently voted Best Italian Restaurant in the city.
Remember it’s important to check with the restaurants specifically if the products have been cross-contact with other non-gluten foods.
Are you getting hungry? The next time you decide to eat out, try one of these great gluten-free restaurants in Charlotte, NC, and see what the craze is all about.
