17 Great Gluten-Free Restaurants In San Francisco

If you are planning a trip to Northern California and wondering if San Francisco is a gluten-friendly city, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, you’ll discover some fantastic gluten-free restaurants in San Francisco and some hidden gems.

California is typically one of the best states in the US to find gluten-free food, as well as healthier food options.

San Francisco, specifically, has plenty of eateries to choose from, including one of our favorite gluten-free restaurants in the country!

On our recent trip to San Francisco this past summer, we searched the city for healthy and gluten-free food we could eat, and we ended up finding delicious baked goods, fresh melt-in-your-mouth seafood, and the best wheat-free crispy chicken. 

If you spend a few days in San Francisco, you’ll have no problem finding healthy options in the bay area without the dreaded ‘G’ ingredient.

Where To Find The Best Gluten-Free Restaurants In San Francisco

Whether you visit San Francisco to check out Alcatraz prison or ride the cable car through Chinatown, you need to stop to eat. We found many gluten-free restaurants around the city, and most restaurants offered to adapt menu items.

Although, be aware that some restaurants offer gluten-friendly dishes suitable for those on a gluten-free diet. However, gluten-friendly establishments aren’t safe for Celiacs who require no risk of cross-contamination.

We stayed in the Fisherman’s Wharf area as this was our first visit to the city. However, most gluten-free restaurants are not within walking distance. Since the city is technically not that large, getting transportation or even ordering for delivery is pretty straightforward.

Healthy Gluten-Free Restaurants In San Francisco

Traveling for us can be difficult food-wise because not only do we need to find gluten-free options, but we also live a clean lifestyle. So, we eliminate tons of other foods like certain oils, dairy, soy, sugar, additives, and so on.

Finding restaurants with these ultra-healthy specifications isn’t easy. Fortunately, California is an excellent place to find healthy food, and San Francisco has a few good healthy restaurants. So, if you’re looking for gluten-free restaurants in San Francisco, here are some places to consider.

1. Kitava Kitchen

• Location: 2011 Mission Street | Cuisine: American, Healthy

Although it is typically hard to find a restaurant we can eat at with our clean lifestyle, Kitava Kitchen met our ingredient standards and was absolutely delicious. 

Everything on their menu is dairy-free, soy-free, peanut-free, refined sugar-free, and free of seed oils. And the best part – it’s a dedicated gluten-free restaurant!

They use some organic ingredients, source sustainable and local ingredients, and prepare food from scratch to eliminate as much process as possible. This little gem is one of San Francisco’s best restaurants for Celiacs.

We still crave their cassava flour crispy chicken, but everything we tried here was excellent. The restaurant is located in the Mission District of San Francisco, less than four miles from Fisherman’s Wharf.

2. Asian Box 

• Location: 2031 Chestnut Street | Cuisine: Vietnamese

Asian Box is a Vietnamese restaurant that cooks from scratch to create 100% gluten-free food with fresh ingredients. 

It has a bit of a Chipotle style with boxes you fill, starting with a base, protein, toppings, and sauces. The Banh Mi is a favorite, and they also have vegan and vegetarian options. 

3. Wholesome Bakery

• Location: 299 Divisadero Street | Cuisine: Bakery

We discovered Wholesome Bakery on our last morning in San Francisco and wished we’d found it sooner. Their gluten-free bagels (more like English muffins) have that distinct San Francisco sourdough flavor.

While we couldn’t find gluten-free sourdough in the city, these came close, likely thanks to the foggy bay air. The bakery is fully gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, and uses only organic, unprocessed, sustainable ingredients. It’s just a few blocks from the Painted Ladies.

4. Peña Pachamama 

• Location: 1630 Powell Street | Cuisine: South American

Although the Bolivian restaurant Peña Pachamama isn’t strictly gluten-free, they only have two items on their menu that are not gluten-free; and everything is organic and vegan. They even have a decent sized dessert list which is all gluten-free and vegan. 

They also source locally grown produce and only use extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil. And on Friday and Saturday nights, they have a live music and dancing show you can experience while you eat. If you’re arriving in the city by cruise ship, Peña Pachamama is less than a mile from the San Francisco cruise port. 

5. As Quoted

• Location: 3613 Sacramento Street | Cuisine: Cafe, Quick Bites

As Quoted is a gluten-free café near the Presidio, open daily (except Sundays) from 8 am to 3 pm.

The small menu features organic, gluten-, dairy-, soy-, and nut-free options. It’s a great spot for coffee, bone broth, smoothies, salads, sandwiches, or soup—perfect if you’re craving simple, wholesome food.

Restaurants With Gluten-Free Options In San Francisco

Although an entirely gluten-free restaurant is preferred, many restaurants around San Francisco offer gluten-free options on their menu. 

If you are not worried about cross-contamination, here are some great restaurant choices in San Francisco. 

6. Nopalito

• Location: 306 Broderick Street | Cuisine: Mexican

Nopalito is a Mexican restaurant located relatively close to the Painted Ladies, and most of its menu is gluten-free. It is a small menu, but they do their best to avoid cross-contamination and even have a separate fryer for gluten-free items. 

Its Mexican food is reasonably priced, and you can order all your favorites, from Ceviche and Gorditas to Quesadillas and Tacos. After dinner, stroll over to Alamo Square, where you can enjoy those iconic views of San Francisco behind the Victorian homes.

7. Dancing Yak Restaurant And Bar

• Location: 280 Valencia Street | Cuisine: Asian, Nepalese

Further expanding San Francisco’s international cuisine, the Dancing Yak Restaurant and Bar is a traditional Nepalese restaurant with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian options. 

They have an extensive menu, and their curries are very popular. Since they don’t have a dedicated fryer, you may want to avoid anything deep-fried if you have Celiac disease. They are open nightly for dinner and on weekends for lunch and dinner. 

8. House Of Nanking

• Location: 919 Kearny Street | Cuisine: Asian

San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the largest and oldest in the world—a must-see in the Bay Area. Grabbing a bite from street-side restaurants is common, but tricky with food allergies. The language barrier adds to the challenge, so we joined a small group tour of the city.

Our amazing guide recommended House of Nanking, which had great reviews for accommodating gluten-free, dairy, and soy allergies. We didn’t eat there due to their use of MSG, but they were allergy-aware and willing to help.

9. Bella Trattoria 

• Location: 3854 Geary Blvd | Cuisine: Italian

Situated between the Presidio and Golden Gate Park, Bella Trattoria is a prominent Italian restaurant with some popular gluten-free options.

Although their handmade pasta menu is not entirely gluten-free, their gnocchi is, and it is one of the most favored options on the menu. So, if you visit the Richmond District, you’ll enjoy great food at reasonable prices.

10. Scoma’s

• Location: 1965 Al Scoma Way (Pier 47) | Cuisine: Seafood, American

Fresh seafood is a must in San Francisco, and our fantastic tour guide recommended Scoma’s, a bayfront spot in Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s on the pricier side, but very accommodating of gluten-free needs, and the seafood was incredibly tender.

After your meal, stroll to Hyde and Powell to see the iconic cable car turntable—still rotated by hand.

11. Roam Artisan Burgers

• Location: 1785 Union Street and 1923 Fillmore Street | Cuisine: American, Quick Bites

Roam Artisan Burgers is not an entirely gluten-free restaurant, but they carry wheat-free buns and use quality ingredients, some of which are organic. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a casual bite during a busy day.

Roam’s menu includes vegetarian and vegan options, including a vegan bacon cheeseburger. It’s one of the top spots for farm-to-table burger dishes.

Other Gluten-Free Restaurants In San Francisco

The further you go towards San Jose or Oakland, you’ll find even more allergy friendly restaurant options, but below are a few more gluten-free restaurants you can find within the city of San Francisco.

12. Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine

• Location: 710 Florida Street | Cuisine: Asian, Thai

The Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine is a cute little restaurant located in the Mission District with a super friendly staff willing to help with food allergies. We were super excited to eat at this restaurant, but unfortunately, they couldn’t avoid using MSG from certain sauce products. 

They were highly knowledgeable and helpful though, and can accommodate gluten, dairy, and soy allergies. The dishes are beautifully presented, and their cocktails are pretty impressive.

13. Firefly Restaurant

• Location: 4288 24th Street | Cuisine: American

The Firefly Restaurant is one of the furthest restaurants from the touristy areas of San Francisco. However, the almost gluten-free menu is a favorite for customers who must avoid dairy and gluten.

The gluten-free fried chicken is one of the most popular dishes because it’s moist but wonderfully crispy. It’s hard to believe they make it without wheat flour. They can also make many of their menu items vegan as well.

14. Moonbowls

• Location: 60 Morris Street | Cuisine: Korean

Moonbowls is a Korean chain restaurant that serves 100% gluten-free food at locations all over the country. You’ll find their San Francisco location a little south of the Union Square area, and they also have venues in Oakland, San Mateo, and San Jose. 

We tried their bowls when we were down in Los Angeles and really liked the sweet potato noodles with the antibiotic-free chicken. We also tried their sweet potato potstickers, but it was either an off day, or we liked them less. 

15. Pica Pica Arepa Kitchen

• Location: 401 Valencia Street | Cuisine: Venezuelan

Pica Pica is a naturally gluten-free Venezuelan arepa restaurant located on the Mission District’s north end. Go for the popular items; yuca fries, the vegan arepa, and the Shuli vegan arepa. You can also get the Arepa Trio Taster to try a mini version of three different arepa flavors.  

16. The Stinking Rose

• Location: 430 Columbus Avenue | Cuisine: Italian

The Stinking Rose may have a funny name, but it’s a must for garlic lovers—garlic is the star in nearly every dish. This Italian spot offers mostly gluten-free entrees like rib-eye, ribs, lamb shank, sea bass, filet mignon, and cioppino, plus plenty of vegan options.

Pair your meal with a Gartini (garlic martini) and finish with garlic ice cream. The restaurant famously uses 40 lbs of garlic daily—no vampires here!

17. Mariposa Baking Company

• Location: 430 Columbus Avenue | Cuisine: Bakery

Mariposa Baking Company, in the Ferry Building, offers a variety of gluten-, dairy-, nut-, and soy-free treats. It’s not a full restaurant, but great for breakfast or lunch. We recommend the veggie pocket, tuna melt, or falafel plate.

They bake cookies, bagels, pretzels, croissants, and more daily, with ingredients clearly labeled for easy allergen checks.

Final Thoughts

Despite some negative news about the city, San Francisco is a beautiful place to visit and a great foodie destination with many restaurants. 

On our trip, we saw almost everything we wanted to see in San Francisco. However, we still want to return to eat in these delicious healthy restaurants again!