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Life Alive Organic Cafe, which has several locations around the Boston area, caters to a variety of dietary needs, including gluten-free.
Abigail Jean Photography

Where to Dine Gluten-Free in Boston

Mind your gluten intake with Cambodian curries, pizza, pasta, and cinnamon rolls

by Dana Hatic and Adam H. Callaghan Updated
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Life Alive Organic Cafe, which has several locations around the Boston area, caters to a variety of dietary needs, including gluten-free.
| Abigail Jean Photography
by Dana Hatic and Adam H. Callaghan Updated

Finding places to eat gluten-free meals around the city can be a challenge, but it's gotten a lot easier over the years. Plenty of local restaurants have a surplus of options, if not entire menus, that cater to a gluten-free diet, especially ones that are also focused on vegetarian or vegan cooking. Whether you’re looking for sweets like cookies and cake, an acai bowl or slice of pizza to go, or a full sit-down meal of Cambodian curries or Italian pastas, here are 13 ways to cover all your gluten-free bases in and around Boston.

Please note that this map is meant to serve as a guide for diners to find gluten-free-friendly options, but we cannot guarantee that these spots are completely safe for those who must absolutely avoid any trace of gluten, such as diners with celiac disease. We recommend contacting restaurants directly to discuss your needs before heading out.

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True Bistro

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True Bistro, a white-tablecloth vegan restaurant in Somerville, serves a variety of gluten-free dishes, all marked clearly on the menu, so you can quickly find your way to a black-eyed pea stew dusted with pumpkin seeds or Thai red curry with fried local tofu for dinner.

1153 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 627-9000
(617) 627-9000
A fancy dining room with tables adorned with white table cloths and candles.
True Bistro
True Bistro/Official Site

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American Flatbread at Sacco's Bowl Haven

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For a little entertainment with dinner, American Flatbread comes with a side of candlepin bowling. The Somerville location of this regional chain — no longer connected to Flatbread Company, which used to occupy this venue — has a wide range of options, all of which can be made on gluten-free crusts for an additional charge. Find another American Flatbread location, also with bowling, at Boston Landing in Brighton.

45 Day St, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 776-0552
(617) 776-0552

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Veggie Crust

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Union Square’s Veggie Crust bakes vegetarian and vegan pizzas available on gluten-free crust, along with vegan, gluten-free ice cream. (A second Veggie Crust location, in Brookline, is kosher.) And next-door sibling Dosa N Curry serves what it calls a “vegetarian fusion” menu of Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine rife with gluten-free options, including soups, curries, and house specialties.

445 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 764-4605
(617) 764-4605
A gluten-free vegetable pizza drizzled with hot sauce sits atop a tray on a wooden table.
Veggie Crust pizza
Veggie Crust/Official Site

Life Alive Organic Cafe

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Life Alive Organic Cafe specializes in vegetarian and vegan smoothies and dishes from watermelon poke to green goddess and acai bowls, all of which can be ordered without common allergens like gluten. In addition to this Central Square Cambridge location, the company has several vibrant locations throughout Massachusetts, many with nice outdoor space, including in Boston’s Back Bay and on the campus of Boston University.

765 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 354-5433
(617) 354-5433
A spread of food at Life Alive Brookline, involving vegetables, beans, nuts, and rice on various plates atop a wood table. Iced drinks in mason jars sit beside the food.
A spread of vegetarian dishes at Life Alive Organic Cafe.
Abigail Jean Photography

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The Mad Monkfish

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The Mad Monkfish, the Central Square restaurant formerly known as Thelonious Monkfish, serves a fair amount of gluten-free food, including nigiri, sashimi, and vegetable rolls filled with the likes of cucumber, avocado, and mango, as well as some classic Southeast Asian dishes like pad Thai and green papaya salad. And if you check the jazz schedule, you can time your visit to coincide with live music.

524 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 441-2116
(617) 441-2116
A selection of sushi rolls sit atop a white plate, backdropped by a black wall.
Sushi at the Mad Monkfish
The Mad Monkfish/Official Site

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Benevento’s

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Benevento’s has an old-school vibe, with its tin ceiling, marble bar, and classically North End menu. Despite that, some of the Italian fare, including pasta dishes and pizzas, is available gluten-free. There’s a patio outside, too.

111 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-4111
(617) 523-4111

Veggie Galaxy

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The go-to spot for vegetarian and vegan diner food in Cambridge — indoors or on the patio — Veggie Galaxy can sub gluten-free bread into any of its burgers and sandwiches, like a BLT with tempeh bacon and a beet and lentil mushroom burger. You’ll also find gluten-free pancakes on the all-day breakfast menu, complete with caramelized banana butter and real maple syrup, plus a rotating selection of gluten-free cakes.

450 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 497-1513
(617) 497-1513

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Jennifer Lee's Bakery

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All of the baked goods at Jennifer Lee’s in Boston Public Market are vegan and free of nine of the most common allergens, including gluten, peanuts, shellfish, and soy. That means treats like muffins, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and waffles are safe for a huge number of diets. And only the savory items, like a barbecue pulled jackfruit sandwich, include coconut. The bakery also has a location in Worcester.

100 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02108
Gluten-free waffles sit on a green plate, and are topped with apples, syrup, and cinnamon.
Jennifer Lee’s waffles
Jennifer Lee’s Bakery/Official Site

Nebo

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Sisters Carla and Christine Pallotta were ahead of the gluten-free curve with their chic Italian restaurant Nebo, which has a full gluten-free menu separate from the regular menu. Post up at the 75-seat patio with umbrellas and heat lamps overlooking the Greenway at Atlantic Wharf and pick from a list spanning fra diavolo pasta with lobster and shrimp to pizzas topped with goat cheese and caramelized onion, all with no gluten.

520 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 723-6326
(617) 723-6326
Restaurant interior featuring sleek lines and light wood
Nebo
Meg Jones Wall/Eater

Also featured in:

Myers + Chang

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Roughly half the menu at South End classic Myers + Chang is gluten-free (though not the dumplings, sorry to say), from market greens with fermented tofu to crispy whole prawns with Vietnamese salsa verde. Chef and co-owner Joanne Chang is also behind local bakery and cafe chain Flour, which, despite its name, offers some gluten-free options like a smoked salmon and baby kale bowl and a fudgy flourless chocolate brownie.

1145 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 542-5200
(617) 542-5200
A bright restaurant interior with mid-century accents
Myers + Chang
Cal Bingham/Eater

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Otto Pizza

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Otto has a number of locations around the greater Boston area, including this full-service one in Coolidge Corner and others that offer counter-service. Most of the pies can be served with a 12-inch gluten-free crust, including the New Haven-inspired favorite topped with mashed potato and bacon. The restaurants recommend this option for diners with a sensitivity to gluten but caution that the pizzas are not recommended for people with celiac disease.

289 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 232-0014
(617) 232-0014
A margherita pizza with one slice removed from the pie’s circle
Otto Margherita pizza
Otto/Official Site

Paris Creperie

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Coolidge Corner eatery Paris Creperie offers a number of sweet and savory crepes, from classics with butter and sugar to unexpected fillings like mashed sweet potato; you can also build your own. Customers looking for gluten-free options can substitute a buckwheat crepe. And at a Seaport location, you can even order cocktails.

278 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 232-1770
(617) 232-1770
A sweet crepe packed with fruit and sprinkled with cinnamon sits atop a square white plate on a black table. The crepe is adorned with a powdered sugar fleur-de-lis.
Paris Creperie crepe
Paris Creperie/Official Site

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The Elephant Walk

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Since 1991, the the Elephant Walk has been serving its signature mix of Cambodian and French cuisine — much of which is gluten-free and clearly marked as such — at one location or another, though this South End restaurant is currently the only location. Cambodian starters and entrees are notably successful, from a sour soup with shrimp and a nicely spiced salad of raw tuna, avocado, and lemongrass to grilled rainbow trout with Chinese broccoli; to finish, the French sweets are a good bet, including a rich chocolate truffle cake offset by tangy raspberry.

1415 Washington St, Boston, MA, 02118
(617) 247-1500
(617) 247-1500

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True Bistro

1153 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144

True Bistro, a white-tablecloth vegan restaurant in Somerville, serves a variety of gluten-free dishes, all marked clearly on the menu, so you can quickly find your way to a black-eyed pea stew dusted with pumpkin seeds or Thai red curry with fried local tofu for dinner.

1153 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 627-9000
(617) 627-9000
A fancy dining room with tables adorned with white table cloths and candles.
True Bistro
True Bistro/Official Site

American Flatbread at Sacco's Bowl Haven

45 Day St, Somerville, MA 02144

For a little entertainment with dinner, American Flatbread comes with a side of candlepin bowling. The Somerville location of this regional chain — no longer connected to Flatbread Company, which used to occupy this venue — has a wide range of options, all of which can be made on gluten-free crusts for an additional charge. Find another American Flatbread location, also with bowling, at Boston Landing in Brighton.

45 Day St, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 776-0552
(617) 776-0552

Veggie Crust

445 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

Union Square’s Veggie Crust bakes vegetarian and vegan pizzas available on gluten-free crust, along with vegan, gluten-free ice cream. (A second Veggie Crust location, in Brookline, is kosher.) And next-door sibling Dosa N Curry serves what it calls a “vegetarian fusion” menu of Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine rife with gluten-free options, including soups, curries, and house specialties.

445 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 764-4605
(617) 764-4605
A gluten-free vegetable pizza drizzled with hot sauce sits atop a tray on a wooden table.
Veggie Crust pizza
Veggie Crust/Official Site

Life Alive Organic Cafe

765 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

Life Alive Organic Cafe specializes in vegetarian and vegan smoothies and dishes from watermelon poke to green goddess and acai bowls, all of which can be ordered without common allergens like gluten. In addition to this Central Square Cambridge location, the company has several vibrant locations throughout Massachusetts, many with nice outdoor space, including in Boston’s Back Bay and on the campus of Boston University.

765 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 354-5433
(617) 354-5433
A spread of food at Life Alive Brookline, involving vegetables, beans, nuts, and rice on various plates atop a wood table. Iced drinks in mason jars sit beside the food.
A spread of vegetarian dishes at Life Alive Organic Cafe.
Abigail Jean Photography

The Mad Monkfish

524 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

The Mad Monkfish, the Central Square restaurant formerly known as Thelonious Monkfish, serves a fair amount of gluten-free food, including nigiri, sashimi, and vegetable rolls filled with the likes of cucumber, avocado, and mango, as well as some classic Southeast Asian dishes like pad Thai and green papaya salad. And if you check the jazz schedule, you can time your visit to coincide with live music.

524 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 441-2116
(617) 441-2116
A selection of sushi rolls sit atop a white plate, backdropped by a black wall.
Sushi at the Mad Monkfish
The Mad Monkfish/Official Site

Benevento’s

111 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113

Benevento’s has an old-school vibe, with its tin ceiling, marble bar, and classically North End menu. Despite that, some of the Italian fare, including pasta dishes and pizzas, is available gluten-free. There’s a patio outside, too.

111 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-4111
(617) 523-4111

Veggie Galaxy

450 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

The go-to spot for vegetarian and vegan diner food in Cambridge — indoors or on the patio — Veggie Galaxy can sub gluten-free bread into any of its burgers and sandwiches, like a BLT with tempeh bacon and a beet and lentil mushroom burger. You’ll also find gluten-free pancakes on the all-day breakfast menu, complete with caramelized banana butter and real maple syrup, plus a rotating selection of gluten-free cakes.

450 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 497-1513
(617) 497-1513

Jennifer Lee's Bakery

100 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02108

All of the baked goods at Jennifer Lee’s in Boston Public Market are vegan and free of nine of the most common allergens, including gluten, peanuts, shellfish, and soy. That means treats like muffins, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and waffles are safe for a huge number of diets. And only the savory items, like a barbecue pulled jackfruit sandwich, include coconut. The bakery also has a location in Worcester.

100 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02108
Gluten-free waffles sit on a green plate, and are topped with apples, syrup, and cinnamon.
Jennifer Lee’s waffles
Jennifer Lee’s Bakery/Official Site

Nebo

520 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210

Sisters Carla and Christine Pallotta were ahead of the gluten-free curve with their chic Italian restaurant Nebo, which has a full gluten-free menu separate from the regular menu. Post up at the 75-seat patio with umbrellas and heat lamps overlooking the Greenway at Atlantic Wharf and pick from a list spanning fra diavolo pasta with lobster and shrimp to pizzas topped with goat cheese and caramelized onion, all with no gluten.

520 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210
(617) 723-6326
(617) 723-6326
Restaurant interior featuring sleek lines and light wood
Nebo
Meg Jones Wall/Eater

Myers + Chang

1145 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

Roughly half the menu at South End classic Myers + Chang is gluten-free (though not the dumplings, sorry to say), from market greens with fermented tofu to crispy whole prawns with Vietnamese salsa verde. Chef and co-owner Joanne Chang is also behind local bakery and cafe chain Flour, which, despite its name, offers some gluten-free options like a smoked salmon and baby kale bowl and a fudgy flourless chocolate brownie.

1145 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 542-5200
(617) 542-5200
A bright restaurant interior with mid-century accents
Myers + Chang
Cal Bingham/Eater

Otto Pizza

289 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446

Otto has a number of locations around the greater Boston area, including this full-service one in Coolidge Corner and others that offer counter-service. Most of the pies can be served with a 12-inch gluten-free crust, including the New Haven-inspired favorite topped with mashed potato and bacon. The restaurants recommend this option for diners with a sensitivity to gluten but caution that the pizzas are not recommended for people with celiac disease.

289 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 232-0014
(617) 232-0014
A margherita pizza with one slice removed from the pie’s circle
Otto Margherita pizza
Otto/Official Site

Paris Creperie

278 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446

Coolidge Corner eatery Paris Creperie offers a number of sweet and savory crepes, from classics with butter and sugar to unexpected fillings like mashed sweet potato; you can also build your own. Customers looking for gluten-free options can substitute a buckwheat crepe. And at a Seaport location, you can even order cocktails.

278 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 232-1770
(617) 232-1770
A sweet crepe packed with fruit and sprinkled with cinnamon sits atop a square white plate on a black table. The crepe is adorned with a powdered sugar fleur-de-lis.
Paris Creperie crepe
Paris Creperie/Official Site

The Elephant Walk

1415 Washington St, Boston, MA, 02118

Since 1991, the the Elephant Walk has been serving its signature mix of Cambodian and French cuisine — much of which is gluten-free and clearly marked as such — at one location or another, though this South End restaurant is currently the only location. Cambodian starters and entrees are notably successful, from a sour soup with shrimp and a nicely spiced salad of raw tuna, avocado, and lemongrass to grilled rainbow trout with Chinese broccoli; to finish, the French sweets are a good bet, including a rich chocolate truffle cake offset by tangy raspberry.

1415 Washington St, Boston, MA, 02118
(617) 247-1500
(617) 247-1500

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