Hi Friends!
I completely understand that planning a trip with also having a gluten allergy can be a little overwhelming, especially if you are traveling with others who don’t have an allergy. Most of the time people defer to you to pick the restaurants and that can be a lot of pressure! So before our recent trip to Chicago, I spent like hours researching restaurants on Find Me Gluten Free, scrolling through TikTok, and asking friends/family for recommendations on spots to try in Chicago! I wanted to make sure we had plenty of options before we arrived, especially since I never want food allergies to get in the way of enjoying a trip! Pretty much every restaurant that we found and went to had a great understanding of food allergies and was happy to answer questions or make accommodations which was nice! Some places had more gluten free options than others but I never felt like ordering food that was gluten free was a hassle! If you are planning a trip to Chicago soon, here is everywhere we ate, what I ate and my thoughts on the food as well as a list of places that are already on our list for our next visit!
Where to Eat Gluten Free in Chicago:
Breakfast
Starbucks - I'll be honest we were constantly rushing out the door every morning to get to where we needed to be and because we had so much planned each day, breakfast usually meant stopping at Starbucks before heading to our first activity. Since I already know the egg bites are a safe gluten free option, that's what I ordered almost every morning! Was it the most exciting breakfast? Not really. But sometimes when you're traveling, sticking with something familiar makes life so much easier. Next summer we're planning another trip to Chicago, and one thing I've already decided is that breakfast is going to be much more of a priority because there were so many cafés I wanted to try!
Hero Coffee Roasters - I was so happy that we stopped here on the last morning in Chicago; it was my favorite coffee stop of the trip! The coffee was delicious, and although I only grabbed a drink, they did offer a gluten-free oatmeal option. Everyone else in our group ordered bagels and absolutely loved them. It was the perfect stop to grab a coffee before starting our day!
Breakfast Spots Still on My List
Even though we didn't make it to these restaurants this trip, they're already saved for next summer!
Bru Chicago - This spot is known for both sweet and savory crepes.
📍180 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Meli Cafe - This is a sit down breakfast and brunch spot that looks so good!
📍500 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605
Lunch
Burger Bar Chicago - The Burger Bar was one of my favorite restaurants because it checked every box. The food was delicious, it was conveniently located near where we were staying, and the staff was fantastic about my gluten allergy. I got a build your own burger both times with French fries and it was a 10/10! We loved it so much that we actually ate here twice during our trip. Finding a restaurant that you trust while traveling is always a huge win, and Burger Bar became one of those places for us!
The Patio at Cafe Brauer - We spent one of our days in Chicago near the zoo and decided to stop for lunch here and it was really really good! I ordered the turkey club with french fries, and everything was absolutely delicious. The staff was really knowledgeable about food allergies, which always helps me feel more comfortable ordering. I also ordered the white sangria, and honestly...I still think about it. It was easily one of my favorite drinks from the entire trip! If you're spending the day at Lincoln Park Zoo, I highly recommend stopping here for lunch!
Umi Sushi by Weight - This was a great option when we were needing something quick. This isn't really a sit down restaurant, so keep that in mind if you're planning a nicer meal. They also didn't have a huge gluten free menu, but the gluten free options that they did offer were clearly marked, and they even had gluten free soy sauce available! I grabbed a few different pieces from a couple of different rolls and was happy with it! It's a great grab and go lunch option if you're exploring downtown!
Lunch Spots Still on My List
These are already on my list for our next Chicago trip.
📍925 W Randolph St
📍150 N Riverside Plaza
I've heard amazing things about their gluten free fried chicken sandwich, so I'm determined to make it there next time!
Dinner
Gino’s East - I know we haven’t tried them all, but in my opinion, if you only eat at one restaurant while you're in Chicago... I suggest Gino's East! This was hands down my favorite restaurant of the trip! The gluten free pizza was absolutely incredible, and after eating there once, we loved it so much that we came back a second time before leaving the city! The gluten free pizza isn’t deep dish but it was still so good. Everyone else that was with us in our group also loved the pizza, and it was deep dish! I got the Spinach Artichoke Thin Crust Pizza and it was so so good!
Niu B - The group I was with was on the hunt for ramen and they definatley found it! I would say that the gluten free options that were here were more limited but I was still able to have a really yummy meal! I got a sushi roll and the chicken fried rice. It was pretty good, I was also happy that they had gluten free soy sauce to give me! It was a solid dinner and a good option if you're dining with a group that wants ramen!
Momento Cantina - This restaurant was...okay. It wasn’t horrible, but really nothing to write home about. Just kind of middle of the road mexican food. We did like the drinks here and the appetizers that we got were pretty good too. We got guacamole and ceveche which they brought out special tostadas for me to enjoy the appetizers with. The entrees were just kind of meh. It was also like unbelievably hot inside the restaurant, which in the middle of June was just not fun and somehow it felt even warmer inside than it did outside. Between the heat and the average food, this wasn't one of my favorite meals of the trip!
Dinner Spots Still on My List
These restaurants are already on my list for our next visit!
Drinks
Casa Bonita - Okay...I have one very important piece of advice. Do not order the watermelon margarita. Seriously. It was one of the worst drinks I've ever had! I know that sounds dramatic, but I stand by it. It somehow managed to taste artificial, over the top salty, stronger than any drink I’ve had before while also tasting watered down at the exact same time. Save yourself the disappointment and order something else!
Reunion by Chef Art Smith - This was such a fun stop. We ordered the reusable souvenir drink cups and tried several of the specialty cocktails. I ordered the Watermelon Shine, which I really enjoyed. The rest of our group tried: Sweet Tea Shine, Blue Hooch, and the Cherry Limeade! Everyone seemed to enjoy their drinks, and the reusable cups were nice becuase we could bring them back over the next few days of us being there!
Senorita’s Dearborn - We ended up coming here twice during our trip to grab drinks before dinner. It has a very casual atmosphere, but the bartenders were hilarious and made the experience so much fun! The drinks were good and so was the guacamole that we got as an appetizer one night!
Tips for Eating Gluten Free in Chicago
After spending nearly a week eating around the city, here are my biggest recommendations.
Research restaurants before your trip using Find Me Gluten Free, TikTok, and recommendations from friends!
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Every restaurant that we visited was happy to discuss gluten free options.
If you're eating sushi, ask if they have gluten free soy sauce. Several restaurants actually did which can literally change a meal!
Don't feel bad about repeating restaurants. We visited both Burger Bar Chicago and Gino’s East twice because we knew they handled allergies well.
Make reservations if you're visiting popular restaurants during the summer. We were lucky to get into Momento Cantina without one, but I wouldn't count on that every time, especially on the weekends!
Map of Every Gluten-Free Restaurant We Tried in Chicago
👉 Open my Chicago Gluten-Free Restaurant Map
My Chicago Gluten-Free Restaurant Map
I've shared my Google Map link that includes every restaurant we visited during our trip, the restaurants still on my list for next summer, our hotel, and several of the things we did while we were in the city if you want to check that out!
The map includes:
Congress Plaza Hotel
Every restaurant featured in this guide
Lincoln Park Zoo
Millennium Park
The Bean
Navy Pier
Restaurants still on my "next trip" list
Chicago really exceeded my expectations when it came to eating gluten free. I really expected to spend a lot of time worrying about where I could eat, but I really think that doing a little planning before the trip to find safe and delicious meals ended up being one of the easiest parts of the trip! I had some delicious pizza at Gino’s East, burgers, yummy sushi, good coffee, and cocktails, there were so many great options throughout the city! Like I mentioned before, we are already planning another trip for next summer, and I still have a long list of restaurants I can't wait to try! If you've visited Chicago and have a favorite gluten free restaurant that I missed, let me know! I'd love to add it to my list before our next trip. If you have any questions at all, please comment below or you can always send me an email at tarynintotravel@gmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible!
Much Love,
Emma
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