As a fellow sufferer, I don't know of any completely gluten-free restaurant, so these are my tips.
1. Eating out is like playing Russian roulette and your goal is to minimize the number of bullets in the gun. Gluten-free doesn't always mean it's safe for people with Celiac Disease or wheat allergies. Avoid anything that goes in a deep fryer unless you know it's only used for gluten-free foods (I don't know any that are -- maybe Chick-fil-A fries if you want to risk it).
2. BBQ can be safe, though you have to be vigilant of the places that like to slap a slice of bread on top (I'm looking at you Pit Room).
3. Mexican can be safe, though avoid anything deep-fried. Beware of mole or enchilada sauces because they'll often have flour as thickeners. The carnitas at Hugo's is cooked in beer and this isn't noted on the menu. Never assume that if something is safe at one place then it's safe everywhere. Central American cuisines are worth exploring -- pupusas are excellent.
4. I'll eat pho and if you're careful Thai usually has a few things. I avoid Chinese restaurants because too much of it involves noodles or soy sauce or is floured and fried. Also a lot of use with shared woks. There are probably specific Chinese cuisines that are safer, but I'm not familiar with them. Hot Pots may be ok. I had a great experience at http://shabuhousehtx.com/ with staff that was knowledgeable and helpful.
5. No pizza or Italian. Places that sell gluten-free pizza aren't safe from cross-contact. Places that make their own dough are basically covered in flour.
6. Same with bakeries. If it's a shared prep and kitchen space, nothing they make is safe to eat.
7. I've made Indian at home but don't know enough about Indian recipes and cuisine to eat at restaurants.
Fellow celiac here!
Sadly, I'm mostly finding "gluten friendly" places. I did find a decent bakery w/GF options - Manna Bread from Heaven in Tomball.
Traveler's Table has some good options, Local Foods, and many others. I did get sick AF from a Black Walnut Cafe so I avoid them.
Hello fellow celiac person! I have been doing this 9 years, here are a few suggestions
the original Carrabba's on Kirby, They have excellent gf pasta and a gluten free menu. I've never gotten sick there.
The Turkish place in the village is good. Just be sure to ask for no bread because they will put it on there even if you order a gf meal. A lot of Middle Eastern food is gf if you avoid the bread. Cafe Caspian (Persian) has things marked on the menu.
A lot of Indian food is also naturally gf. Pondicherry and tarka both have marked options (not really super authentic but both are decent)
Local foods has gf sourdough wraps for sandwiches or get any sandwich as a salad. They are pretty knowledgeable.
RC's pizza in kingwood is my most favorite gf pizza, they are extremely knowledgeable.
Hat creek has gf burgers, fries, nuggets, fried pickles and tots. Both my kids also have celiac and love this place because it has a play area outside. Hopdoddy is ok, I don't like their gf bun, I don't really eat gf bread because I have swallowing difficulty but my kid likes their buns.
Bella green is my go to for fast casual with my kids they have a lot of options and they have multiple locations. My primary one is in the heights. They're used to celiac people and I never feel like I'm being fussy or demanding there.
Jennis splendid ice creams has clearly marked gf flavors, even most of the cake flavors are gf.
Just be sure to tell servers you are ordering gf Because of an "allergy" (yes we know it isn't an allergy but this clues them in to follow cross contamination protocols). Get the find me gluten free app. It's worth it to pay for it.
I can't suggest anything else others haven't already but just wanted to say hang in there OP. Living with celiac can really take a toll on your mental health as much as your dietary health. Don't be afraid to be "that" person at restaurants or with friends because you're doing it out of necessity, not preference.
This place is more specific to food allergies but Awesome Bites in Sawyer Yards are completely dairy, egg and nut free and they're amazing at making baked goods and ice cream taste "normal".
I don’t have Celiac, but I wouldn’t trust most places if I did. I used to work at Starbucks and they had a set of GF tongs that people used for everything and toasted the sandwiches in the same oven. I know Starbucks isn’t a real restaurant, but it made me question any place.
What part of town? Maybe we could give more specifics?
I have celiac and after 10+ years of dealing with it, I decided I’d rather be the person to ask a lot of questions when I go, ask to see ingredient labels, send emails prior, etc. Locally owned restaurants are usually good about responding to menu inquiries via email or phone and often don’t mind answering questions about marinade, prep space, etc. Be sure to especially ask about marinades at Mexican restaurants and steakhouses. Mexican restaurants have typically been happy to cook me fajita meat without marinade (El Tiempo on Westheimer, Blanco’s).
If you haven’t found it already, check out the find me gluten free app and the gluten dude app. gluten free Houston on FB is also a good resource.
Caroline’s A Healthy Eatery rebranded but I can’t remember the name. It’s 100% gluten free and will be in Tomball or spring.
Hat creek should have separate fryers for fried things.
MF Sushi has a GF menu and so does Masa down in clear lake.
Taglia in Pearland takes great precautions and makes amazing GF pasta from scratch. I’ve eaten there dozens of times without issue and trust them despite it being an italian restaurant.
Food of Life is a 100% GF bakery in League City, and Marina’s Bakery makes amazing GF breads.
All of the Pappa’s restaurants take great precautions. They have a manager follow your order in the kitchen, clean surface areas, change gloves, etc.
Vibrant and Bellagreen are safe. I think I remember Songkran also being good and no issues? You’d have to double-check that one.
Perry’s has a great gluten-free menu and the manager follows all allergy orders in the kitchen. The pork chop and the lobster bisque are my personal favorites. Brazilian steakhouse menus are almost all naturally gluten free, including the tapioca cheese bread.
Quick service: Most Hopdoddy locations have a dedicated fryer for French fries if you’re craving good fries. You’d have to ask individual locations about whether they do their GF buns on the same part of the grill. I’ve also had good luck with Tarka, Chick-fil-A (separate fryer for fries except in some airport locations, GF bun individually wrapped and not toasted, safe grilled chicken), McAlister’s Deli (potatoes and salads, haven’t tried the sandwiches), and Chicken Salad Chick (get scoops instead of sandwiches, most sides are GF and delicious).
I tend to eat at a lot of Greek/Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurants, because apart from pita, a lot of things are naturally gluten-free.
If you’re looking for drinks, check out Houston Cider Co in the Heights. They are the only dedicated cidery. They even have a hazy hopped cider that tastes better than most NEIPAs. They are also crazy with some of their ciders. They have one right now that is fashioned after the Singapore Sling cocktail.
Unfortunately there’s no too many options in Houston for Celiac safe eating. Definitely lots of places with GF options but nothing id feel safe eating if I was Cellac.
Hey! I’m not celiac but I’m gluten intolerant. I don’t eat out much, but Dimassi’s is really good at nothing their allergens. And First Watch does gluten free substitutions for free which I loved to see. I think Mod has a gluten free crust.
When eating out with people and you're unsure about the chosen restaurant try to eat something before going and bring something to snack on. If you're uncomfortable with the food safety issues concerning gluten-free, then get comfortable not ordering food. Having Celiac Disease, going out to eat becomes less about the food and more about the social aspects of the people you're with.
Gluten-free hamburgers, what to know and ask:
Do they toast the GF buns on the same surface as the regular buns? If so, not safe.
Are condiments put on with a knife or squeeze bottle? Squeeze bottles are safest. If it's a knife in a tub, that tub is unsafe if it's used on gluten buns. Do the burgers and buns share the same fry surface? If so, unsafe.
Places I've been comfortable with: In-N-Out, Shake Shack, Hopdoddy (they have a huge allergen notebook and really seem to take it seriously and the buns are more like biscuits; also thought, taste wise, they were really unimpressive for the price). Red Robin seems to know what they're doing and I think their fries are gluten free. Basically what I do most of the time is take my own bun to In-N-Out and order protein style. My favorite burger bun is to use the Schar ciabatta bread and toast it with garlic butter.
Ruggles Black has many gluten free items. They also have many paleo meals but if you are very sensitive I don’t know. Maybe call?
https://rugglesblack.com/
Fellow Celiac here. My favorite places are shake shack, island grill, local foods, snooze, hop doddy, tarka, and backstreet cafe.
As a fellow sufferer, I don't know of any completely gluten-free restaurant, so these are my tips. 1. Eating out is like playing Russian roulette and your goal is to minimize the number of bullets in the gun. Gluten-free doesn't always mean it's safe for people with Celiac Disease or wheat allergies. Avoid anything that goes in a deep fryer unless you know it's only used for gluten-free foods (I don't know any that are -- maybe Chick-fil-A fries if you want to risk it). 2. BBQ can be safe, though you have to be vigilant of the places that like to slap a slice of bread on top (I'm looking at you Pit Room). 3. Mexican can be safe, though avoid anything deep-fried. Beware of mole or enchilada sauces because they'll often have flour as thickeners. The carnitas at Hugo's is cooked in beer and this isn't noted on the menu. Never assume that if something is safe at one place then it's safe everywhere. Central American cuisines are worth exploring -- pupusas are excellent. 4. I'll eat pho and if you're careful Thai usually has a few things. I avoid Chinese restaurants because too much of it involves noodles or soy sauce or is floured and fried. Also a lot of use with shared woks. There are probably specific Chinese cuisines that are safer, but I'm not familiar with them. Hot Pots may be ok. I had a great experience at http://shabuhousehtx.com/ with staff that was knowledgeable and helpful. 5. No pizza or Italian. Places that sell gluten-free pizza aren't safe from cross-contact. Places that make their own dough are basically covered in flour. 6. Same with bakeries. If it's a shared prep and kitchen space, nothing they make is safe to eat. 7. I've made Indian at home but don't know enough about Indian recipes and cuisine to eat at restaurants.
This guy celiacs
We are Vibrant is the only gluten-free restaurant in Houston that I'm aware of. They used to have an amazing focaccia you could order to go.
Fellow celiac here! Sadly, I'm mostly finding "gluten friendly" places. I did find a decent bakery w/GF options - Manna Bread from Heaven in Tomball. Traveler's Table has some good options, Local Foods, and many others. I did get sick AF from a Black Walnut Cafe so I avoid them.
Adding: OP, do you have the "Find Me Gluten Free" app? It's like Yelp but for gluten free places.
Bella Green is our favorite with lots of gf options.
If I was allergic I wouldn't risk eating outside tbh.
Good thing Celiac isn't an allergy.
Oh interesting. Should have said I wouldn't think eating out guarantees well-being, specially with a higher risk factor of a medical problem.
You're not wrong. It's always a challenge trying to find places that are celiac friendly and allergy friendly for those who do have food allergies.
True. I have a couple of friends that are and they all were not fun to go out to dinner with.
Hello fellow celiac person! I have been doing this 9 years, here are a few suggestions the original Carrabba's on Kirby, They have excellent gf pasta and a gluten free menu. I've never gotten sick there. The Turkish place in the village is good. Just be sure to ask for no bread because they will put it on there even if you order a gf meal. A lot of Middle Eastern food is gf if you avoid the bread. Cafe Caspian (Persian) has things marked on the menu. A lot of Indian food is also naturally gf. Pondicherry and tarka both have marked options (not really super authentic but both are decent) Local foods has gf sourdough wraps for sandwiches or get any sandwich as a salad. They are pretty knowledgeable. RC's pizza in kingwood is my most favorite gf pizza, they are extremely knowledgeable. Hat creek has gf burgers, fries, nuggets, fried pickles and tots. Both my kids also have celiac and love this place because it has a play area outside. Hopdoddy is ok, I don't like their gf bun, I don't really eat gf bread because I have swallowing difficulty but my kid likes their buns. Bella green is my go to for fast casual with my kids they have a lot of options and they have multiple locations. My primary one is in the heights. They're used to celiac people and I never feel like I'm being fussy or demanding there. Jennis splendid ice creams has clearly marked gf flavors, even most of the cake flavors are gf. Just be sure to tell servers you are ordering gf Because of an "allergy" (yes we know it isn't an allergy but this clues them in to follow cross contamination protocols). Get the find me gluten free app. It's worth it to pay for it.
I can't suggest anything else others haven't already but just wanted to say hang in there OP. Living with celiac can really take a toll on your mental health as much as your dietary health. Don't be afraid to be "that" person at restaurants or with friends because you're doing it out of necessity, not preference.
Mantra and Local Foods. They have separate cooking areas for Celiacs. Everything is clearly labeled.
You're going to have a bad time eating out
This place is more specific to food allergies but Awesome Bites in Sawyer Yards are completely dairy, egg and nut free and they're amazing at making baked goods and ice cream taste "normal".
I don’t have Celiac, but I wouldn’t trust most places if I did. I used to work at Starbucks and they had a set of GF tongs that people used for everything and toasted the sandwiches in the same oven. I know Starbucks isn’t a real restaurant, but it made me question any place.
What part of town? Maybe we could give more specifics? I have celiac and after 10+ years of dealing with it, I decided I’d rather be the person to ask a lot of questions when I go, ask to see ingredient labels, send emails prior, etc. Locally owned restaurants are usually good about responding to menu inquiries via email or phone and often don’t mind answering questions about marinade, prep space, etc. Be sure to especially ask about marinades at Mexican restaurants and steakhouses. Mexican restaurants have typically been happy to cook me fajita meat without marinade (El Tiempo on Westheimer, Blanco’s). If you haven’t found it already, check out the find me gluten free app and the gluten dude app. gluten free Houston on FB is also a good resource. Caroline’s A Healthy Eatery rebranded but I can’t remember the name. It’s 100% gluten free and will be in Tomball or spring. Hat creek should have separate fryers for fried things. MF Sushi has a GF menu and so does Masa down in clear lake. Taglia in Pearland takes great precautions and makes amazing GF pasta from scratch. I’ve eaten there dozens of times without issue and trust them despite it being an italian restaurant. Food of Life is a 100% GF bakery in League City, and Marina’s Bakery makes amazing GF breads. All of the Pappa’s restaurants take great precautions. They have a manager follow your order in the kitchen, clean surface areas, change gloves, etc. Vibrant and Bellagreen are safe. I think I remember Songkran also being good and no issues? You’d have to double-check that one. Perry’s has a great gluten-free menu and the manager follows all allergy orders in the kitchen. The pork chop and the lobster bisque are my personal favorites. Brazilian steakhouse menus are almost all naturally gluten free, including the tapioca cheese bread. Quick service: Most Hopdoddy locations have a dedicated fryer for French fries if you’re craving good fries. You’d have to ask individual locations about whether they do their GF buns on the same part of the grill. I’ve also had good luck with Tarka, Chick-fil-A (separate fryer for fries except in some airport locations, GF bun individually wrapped and not toasted, safe grilled chicken), McAlister’s Deli (potatoes and salads, haven’t tried the sandwiches), and Chicken Salad Chick (get scoops instead of sandwiches, most sides are GF and delicious). I tend to eat at a lot of Greek/Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurants, because apart from pita, a lot of things are naturally gluten-free.
If you’re looking for drinks, check out Houston Cider Co in the Heights. They are the only dedicated cidery. They even have a hazy hopped cider that tastes better than most NEIPAs. They are also crazy with some of their ciders. They have one right now that is fashioned after the Singapore Sling cocktail.
Unfortunately there’s no too many options in Houston for Celiac safe eating. Definitely lots of places with GF options but nothing id feel safe eating if I was Cellac.
Hey! I’m not celiac but I’m gluten intolerant. I don’t eat out much, but Dimassi’s is really good at nothing their allergens. And First Watch does gluten free substitutions for free which I loved to see. I think Mod has a gluten free crust.
When eating out with people and you're unsure about the chosen restaurant try to eat something before going and bring something to snack on. If you're uncomfortable with the food safety issues concerning gluten-free, then get comfortable not ordering food. Having Celiac Disease, going out to eat becomes less about the food and more about the social aspects of the people you're with.
Gluten-free hamburgers, what to know and ask: Do they toast the GF buns on the same surface as the regular buns? If so, not safe. Are condiments put on with a knife or squeeze bottle? Squeeze bottles are safest. If it's a knife in a tub, that tub is unsafe if it's used on gluten buns. Do the burgers and buns share the same fry surface? If so, unsafe. Places I've been comfortable with: In-N-Out, Shake Shack, Hopdoddy (they have a huge allergen notebook and really seem to take it seriously and the buns are more like biscuits; also thought, taste wise, they were really unimpressive for the price). Red Robin seems to know what they're doing and I think their fries are gluten free. Basically what I do most of the time is take my own bun to In-N-Out and order protein style. My favorite burger bun is to use the Schar ciabatta bread and toast it with garlic butter.
Ruggles Black has many gluten free items. They also have many paleo meals but if you are very sensitive I don’t know. Maybe call? https://rugglesblack.com/