The Best Wheat and Gluten Free Restaurants in Toronto
Eating rice pasta, spelt pancakes or gluten free chocolate cake may not be on most people's culinary to-do lists. But for those with a wheat intolerance or celiac disease, finding places in Toronto to get a safe, tasty meal with items like this on the menu is not a task taken lightly.
Luckily, there are now more wheat and gluten free options than ever. There are a couple of web sites that make the search for wheat and gluten free foods a little easier. Two to check out are Gluten Free Ontario and Toronto Celiac. And there are a number of specialty food purveyors like Molly B's, Gluten-Free Toronto and Goodbye Gluten that do custom orders or bake stuff available at health food stores across the city.
Yet despite the progress and the general feeling that most people are actually now at least familiar with the term gluten, most restaurants still do little to cater to diners with these specific needs. Many restaurants could make simple adjustments - like stocking some spelt or rice bread alternatives in the freezer for the weekend brunch or, maybe, offering wheat-free tamari instead of soy sauce or the regular kind.
Of the restaurants that do cater to the wheat/gluten free crowd, some go the distance and create an entirely gluten free menu, while others offer gluten free alternatives to some of their regular dishes. Sometimes this just translates into adjusting an ingredient or two, but in many cases - especially for Italian and pizza places - it means offering rice pasta instead of the regular kind or a gluten free crust to replace the standard dough. Heck, Pizza Pizza of all places just got in on the action and now provides the option to switch to a gluten free crust for an extra $3.25.
But when Pizza Pizza just won't cut it, it's worth exploring the restaurants below where some of the best wheat and gluten free meals in Toronto can be found.
Big Mamma's Boy
While it may be notorious for slow service, there's no denying that Big Mamma's Boy knows how to create a tasty gluten-free meal. Best is the weekend brunch where eggs benny lovers can get their fill with a gluten free english muffin. From dinner to dessert their entire menu can be ordered gluten free. More...
Hibiscus Cafe
It might be one of the least-celebrated spots in Kensington Market but Hibiscus Cafe caters to a steady stream of in the know locals who come here for their fresh crepes, salads and cookies. The entire menu is gluten free. More...
Camros Organic Eatery
Another exclusively gluten free eatery, Camros serves a rotating menu of heathly, vegan dishes to the lunch crowd at Yonge and Bloor. There are some East-Indian and Persian influences here with recurring items like daal, adas polo and ghorme sabzi. More...
Live
Toronto's original raw food destination, Live may not position themselves as a gluten free eatery, but with a mostly raw menu many items here fit the bill including the oh-so-refreshing gluten free beer. More...
Riz Pan Asian Restaurant
Most Asian restaurants could easily be gluten free if they switched up some of their sauces. Riz doesn't go the distance but they do more than most by offering a section of their menu that is gluten free. The secret? Wheat free hoisin and soy sauces. More...
Le Cafe Vert
They may not be Big Mamma's Boy, but Leslieville's Le Cafe Vert is a cozy brunch alternative offering organic, vegan and some gluten free options. Don't miss the rice flour pancakes. More...
Fressen
It's easier for vegan restaurants to be gluten free, so it's no surprise that Fressen makes this list. About half their menu is designated wheat or gluten free including deep fried cornmeal crusted oyster mushrooms and okra gumbo. More...
Rawlicious
Rawlicious makes sure the Junction is on trend with a raw food restaurant of their own. From smoothies to salads to wraps, lots of healthy, gluten free options await. More...
Thirty Five Elm
Elm Street's new dining destination whips up a number of gluten free mains and offers gluten free substitutions for its daily pasta and all its pizza. More...
Villa Restaurant
Like others on this list, Bloor West Village's Villa Restaurant does pizza and pasta but with a gluten free twist. Both spelt and rice crusts are available for a nominal extra charge. More...
Kensington Natural Bakery
This long-time Annex favourite specializes in all natural, non-dairy, sugar-free baked treats. Not everything is gluten free but custom orders are available for gluten free cakes and pies. Top picks are the spelt pumpkin pie and wheat free carrot cake. More...
Naturally Yours
Amid the fast food chains littering Bay Street's food courts, Naturally Yours in the lower level of First Canadian Place stands out with its spelt muffins, quinoa salads and gluten free lasagna. More...
FOUR Restaurant
A new entrant to the Commerce Court food scene, FOUR is all about healthy, guilt free dining. The menu includes some wheat free items such as spelt fusilli and a gluten free chicken sandwich. More...
Deep Blue Fish & Chips
Not only does Deep Blue fry up such scrumptious options like Jamaican Jerk Battered Cod, Malaysian Style Battered Shrimp and Corn Meal Battered Sea Scallops but they're Toronto's only fish and chips joint to offer lactose-free and gluten-free batter. More...
Relish Bar & Grill
Pickle jokes aside, Relish is serious about offering a Celiac Menu for gluten free diners. How about some baked polenta with tomato sauce, goat cheese and basil pesto. Yum! More...
Magic Oven
Before Villa, Thirty Five Elm and Pizza Pizza, Magic Oven paved the way for the spelt and gluten free pizza movement. For a few extra bucks, any of their gourmet pizza can be upgraded to wheat or gluten free status. More...
Bar Mercurio
This often overlooked Italian bistro cooks up a range of gluten free dinners and, like others on this list, offers gluten free alternatives to their lineup of pizza and pastas. More...
Mozart Piano Cafe
This new cafe near University and Dundas positions itself as an organic, gluten free destination but only a portion of their menu is gluten free. There aren't any spelt or rice bread options for their sandwiches but at no extra charge they'll substitute the bread for a gluten free waffle. More...
Comments (26)
The biggest complaint of friends of mine with glutten allergies is that makers of the food are always trying to combine foods that appeal to too many different groups.
Most places will combine glutten free with lactose free, organic, vegan, vegetarian, low sodium, low fat, or any combination of. It's understandable. They want to cater to as many groups as possible, but the problem is that instead of creating a good, glutten free/lactose free/vegan/etc meal, they're opting for a mediochre all of the above.
It's nice to see that many on this list focus on just glutten free foods.
wow almost all of these take a high-carb or vegan approach to the gluten-free thing.. how about some real food (meat & veggies) that doesnt have grains.. now that would be refreshing (worth the $)
Thanks so much for this great list Tim!
The problem that I often run into as a gluten-free diner though is that waitstaff and kitchen staff -- even in restaurants that pitch themselves as wheat-free and gluten-free friendly -- are completely untrained in avoiding cross-contamination. I have had to avoid some of these restaurants because they do not seem to recognize that gluten-free foods cannot be fried in the same fryers, prepared on the same surfaces, or in any way come into contact with gluten. Even a miniscule amount of gluten can make celiacs very very ill.
Fortunately, some of these restaurants do a fantastic job with ensuring the safety of their gluten-free diners. I especially love Hibiscus, Camros, Magic Oven, Villa, and Le Cafe Vert.
I've had celiac's disease for over 10 years, and am pleased to see restaurants offering more choices. I love Big Mamma's Boy, and I know that Deep Blue Fish and Chips uses a separate fryer for the gluten-free batter. Magic Oven is ok but a bit pricey, as is Il Fornello's gluten-free options. I plan on trying out some of these places on your list I didn't know about - thanks! If only bars would start stocking gluten-free beer...
Hello, Thank you for the great listing of restaurants. My only concern is that spelt is not considered gluten free. Here is a link discussing this.
http://www.csaceliacs.org/documents/Spelt220062-10-06_3_.pdf
Thanls
Mike
Agreed. But spelt is considered wheat free which is why this is called "the Best Wheat and Gluten Free"
Yes, but there are several references here to "gluten free" followed by "spelt", which is somewhat misleading. Spelt is most definitely NOT gluten-free; spelt bread makes me sick as a dog.
My assumption is that people who are gluten free know that spelt is not gluten free. I didn't feel the need to clarify in the post because I assume those interested in these types of restaurants know the restrictions of their current diet and whether spelt is acceptable or not.
Spelt IS wheat. Spelt is NOT wheat-free as stated above. The link posted above even states this.
http://www.csaceliacs.org/documents/Spelt220062-10-06_3_.pdf
Sorry. Let me clarify. A number of people who have trouble digesting wheat are able to eat spelt. Not everyone, but some people!
Thanks for the clarification regarding why you including spelt, I was surprised to see that in the article. Perhaps some clarification in the text would be useful.
on the note of Pizza pizza offering gluten free crust, I just tried to order a pizza from there and they make it incredibly difficult. They have a special for large pizzas - 5 toppings, 14$. I wanted this on gluten free crust. Because they don't hae large gf pizza, they refused to let me have the deal. Even when I said to just put it on a medium pizza and charge me the gluten free surcharge, they refused saying that the deal was for large pizzas only. When I pointed out that they only have gluten free MEDIUM pizza, their response was actualy "yes mame, gluten free is medium, this special is only for large pizzas". I don't understand why they would offer gluten free on only one size and then not be flexible at all about it.
Just want to make a correction. You mention spelt as being gluten free. It ISN'T. Just so readers won't think it is.
I have been following the gf diet for 15 years.
w.a.
Hello. Someone referenced that some of these restaurants still suffer from cross-contamination. Has anyone been to Riz? IS it reliable in terms of truly being gluten free for the menu items listed?
TIA
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that East! on Queen near John has gluten free options. They don't have a menu to hand you, but they have a list of about 8 options. The hostess when I went didn't seem terribly knowledgeable but the cook did, which is what matters. I had sexy summer rolls (no sauce) and sweet and sour chicken. Which is salmon and meat for Greg as well.
Please note that spelt is NOT gluten-free! It is an (old) wheat....like kamut!!!
g-free means no wheat, rye, oats (some g-free persons can allegedly tolerate, but for me, no way! I scream with pain for 24hours) or barley
..but OK for amaranth, arrowroot, millet, montina, lupine, quinoa, sorghum (jowar), sweet potato, taro, teff, chia seed, and yam. Various types of bean, soybean, and nut flours are sometimes used in gluten-free products to add protein and dietary fiber. In spite of its name, buckwheat is not related to wheat; pure buckwheat is considered acceptable for a gluten-free diet, although many commercial buckwheat products are actually mixtures of wheat and buckwheat flours, and thus not acceptable. Gram flour, derived from chickpeas, is also gluten-free.
Hope this helps!
Thank you - a helpful and thorough article for someone without dietary restrictions but looking for healthier/alternative dining options, especially for going out with friends with particular diets. You seem to have covered every corner of the city - awesome!
Mmm! Once my friend Brandon (who has Celiac's) gets back to York (if ever) i'll have to take him out to one of these places to celebrate!
I tried Pizza Pizza's gluten free pizza and it was like eating cardboard! I'm going to try Pizza Nova next - hope it's better!!!
Has anyone tried Golden Thai? They have lots of gluten free options, and their soups are very soothing to a tired sore tummy.
Why not put a disclaimer as in "Please note: Spelt is not gluten free."?
It's not a lot of trouble to go to considering how serious the condition is.
@david Pizza Nova might have better dough, but Pizza Pizza cares about gluten cross-contamination. Employees know basic things that PN doesn't know yet - like the fact that you have to keep the gf pizza in a separate box than the non-gf-- look at this site regarding conflicting information from PN-http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com/2009/04/15/gluten-free-pizza-problems/
Also, I am surprised that no one has mentioned Lemongrass/Riz! it's a delicious place and has a VAST gluten free menu!
THANK YOU for this list. I am gluten-intolerant and have been meaning to make my own list. GF Fish n Chips?
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