10 Celiac Safe, 100%* Gluten Free places to eat at around Portland
And yes, that includes plenty of food trucks
Living in Portland with Celiac feels a bit like easy mode with how many dedicated gluten free spots we have around the metro area (reliable shared ones too but that’s for another post). Last I counted, there’s about over 50 dedicated places around the area and my goal is to get to them all sooner than later — which is harder than I expected both on my wallet and because of how much I like going back to my favorites.
Anyhow, this post is all about options, spots I would eat at any day or every day. There’s no order to the list, no exclusion, just places I like enough to head to, head back to, and even drag my non-GF friends to. So onto the good list.
* Note: I consider a place dedicated so long as the entire food menu is free from gluten, though the bar may have some gluteney drinks.
This was my first gluten free donut and will always top my list. They’ve got 3 locations plus a temporary one in the Portland airport so easy to get to all around the metro. Come for the wild flavored donuts of course but if you’re in more of a meal mood, stay for the breakfast sandwich. The menu expands in summer and on weekends too.
About the place: <$10 / take away with a few seats
Located right in the middle of the Pearl district, Verde Cocina (they have another location out of the city center) is a proper sit down spot that does a really tasty spin on mexican classics. Their central location makes them perfect if you’re out playing tourist or need something a little later in the evening. I usually go with the fajitas but the carne asada is my actual favorite when I’m in a steak mood. Good drinks with a full bar too.
About the place: $20-30+ / full service restaurant
Spinning things entirely the opposite way, Sellwood Fish & Chips is classic PDX, by which I mean a food truck. While they do good fish and chips (Portland Fish Market, also GF, does great ones), it’s their fish tacos that get me to drive all the way down and in particular, the classic which comes with a pineapple chipotle salsa. Absolutely delicious.
About the place: $10 - 20 / food truck, mostly outdoor seating
#4 El Pilon at Wonderlove (Formerly Aji Empanadas)
Another food truck and another delicious one. They’ve changed their name making it a little less obvious but they’re all about empanadas and delicious ones at that with a whole range of meat and veggie options, plus fries and smoothies. This is another of my post hike or lazy lunch stops and I’ll get a combo box to mix up a few flavors. Wonderlove, the food cart pod they’re in, is a really cool spot too with indoor and outdoor seating, even a roof top view, 2 or 3 bars, TVs, and they do events at times too.
About the place: $10 - 15 / food truck with indoor and covered seating, indoor restrooms
Sure, they have cider but I come for the grub and you can often find me here after a long and stunning hike out in the Columbia River Gorge. My go is the burger with grilled onions though feeling 14 with chicken strips is fun too, and who can say no to Pulled Pork?! Despite the fancy building, their menu is really reasonably priced too… like $15 for a burger. They’ve got board games, tons of space, and do all sorts of events from Trivia to Drag Bingo to movie nights.
About the place: $20ish / counter service restaurant
-Insert Bakeries Here-
If you’ve followed any of my other posts, you know I fiend for a good GF bakery and so I’m going to group 3 of them back to back here.
Gem is a small cafe located right off the freeway. Their pastries are also sold around the metro at New Seasons market and even in the airport but the cafe location is a gem on its own. While not big, they have a solid lunch/brunch menu and multiple cases of pastries, cakes, breads, even some GF items from other safe spots. The cakes are great but the muffins are my go to (the cookies mostly use oats which is out for me).
About the place: ~$5 for pastries, $10-20 for food / counter service cafe
Probably the most known Portland GF bakery, their cafe is a great stop for a breakfast sandwich or personal pizza but the real win in my book is their bagels which are as good as I’ve found outside of the NYC gluten free scene (Modern Bread & Bagel still wins for me). You can find their bread at some new New Seasons or online for a couple bucks more a pack but the baked goods are mostly just in store.
About the place: ~$5 for pastries, $10-20 for food / counter service cafe
#8 Kirari West
This is my brunch spot and their french toast is epic. Thick slabs of bread covered in fruit or full on desert toppings… it’s delicious. I also really like their almond brioche and have them regularly as a road trip or post hike snack while the cinnamon roll always tempts me too. Of course they do salads, bowls and healthy food but that’s not what i usually visit them for.
About the place: ~$5 for pastries, $15-20 for food / counter service cafe
-End Bakeries Now-
#9 Butterfly Belly Asian Cuisine
Gluten free “asian” may be the hardest cuisine to find (thai as the total exception) so I love having this option (Vietnamese heavy but they do a bit of everything) so close and kick myself for only recently stumbling in to try them out. Their claim to food fame is their Pho but I’ve also had (and liked) the spring rolls and teriyaki. The place is a combo restaurant/ bar / karaoke spot and the owner is absolutely awesome, usually greeting and joking with everyone, so I’d say you come as much for the spot as just a meal.
About the place: $20 - $30+ / full service restaurant & bar
#10 Crave Creperie
I know what you’re thinking, more sugar? And yes but not only. Crave Creperie does sweet crepes of course but they make my list for the savory. While the buckwheat base (yes, that’s both gf and a terribly misleading name) is different from a classic crepe texture, it’s so much more than those and really sets their dishes up to complement richer flavors. The burnside (blackened chicken, gruyère cheese, pesto, cherry tomatoes, and arugula with grated parmesan) is my go to. And ya, I follow it up with a classic sweet crepe which I always tell myself will be to go (it’s not).
About the place: $10 - $20 / food cart that moved, haven’t been to the new spot
Bonus - Tacovore
Can’t end this list without my go to taco spot. At last count, they had 10 different taco options plus nachos, salads, bowls and tostadas to deliver everything on. Throw in the full bar and a great location and it’s perfect for those nice summer days we do actually get in Portlandia and not far from Gluten Free Gem to follow up with a pastry.
About the place: $15 - $20 / counter service restaurant
Well, that’s the places I’m debating getting dinner at tonight. But there are so many more spots worthy of trying around Portland that I hate to stop here so a part 2 will definitely follow.
If you’re a PDX local or have visited us before, be sure to comment here on instagram/tiktok with your favorites too.