Gluten free restaurants in Philadelphia

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Are you looking for a nice sit down restaurant where you can grab a gluten free meal in the Philadelphia area? Or maybe you are looking for a fast casual spot where you can grab a gluten free meal on the go? Well either way, you are in the right place! In this article, we talk about all of our favorite restaurants in the Philadelphia area.

For each restaurant we discuss in this article, we provide information on a few characteristics such as the atmosphere and the location. This will help you determine which restaurant best suits your preferences. We start out by discussing which characteristics we will focus on throughout this article. After that, we talk about our favorite sit down restaurants that offer gluten free food in the Philadelphia area. When we are done with that, we talk about our favorite fast casual restaurants and cafes that offer gluten free food in the Philadelphia area.

Characteristics of gluten free restaurants in Philadelphia

Gluten free status. First, we will discuss the gluten free status of each restaurant. Specifically, we will discuss whether the restaurant is dedicated to gluten free food or not. If the restaurant is not dedicated to gluten free food, we will also provide additional information to help you assess the risk of cross contamination.
Other dietary restrictions. After that, we will discuss other food allergies and dietary restrictions that each restaurant caters to. Some of the restaurants we mention in this article specifically cater to gluten free patrons, whereas others cater to a variety of food allergies and dietary restrictions.
Cuisine. Next, we will provide more information on the type of cuisine that is offered at each restaurant.
Atmosphere. After we talk about the type of cuisine that is offered at each restaurant, we will next talk about the atmosphere at each restaurant. This will include information such as the general energy level and level of formality at each restaurant as well as information on the decor and ambiance.
Location. Next, we will discuss the location of each restaurant. This will include information on the general area that each restaurant is in and any landmarks that the restaurant is close to. It will also include information on how easy it is to access the restaurant via public transportation.
Seating. Finally, we will discuss the seating options that are available at each restaurant. This will include information about whether indoor seating or outdoor seating is available. It will also include information about how competitive seating is and whether it is recommended that you make a reservation.

Gluten free sit down restaurants in Philadelphia

Now that we have explained the characteristics that we will use to describe each of the restaurants in the Philadelphia area, we will talk about our favorite restaurants in the Philadelphia area. We will start out by discussing our favorite restaurants to grab a sit down meal.

Mission Taqueria

Mission Taqueria is an absolute oasis when it comes to gluten free food in Pennsylvania. Mission Taqueria is a trendy taco spot that offers a wide variety of Mexican options in downtown Philadelphia. This is a beautifully decorated spot with modern decor and it has windows and glass courtyards that provide lots of natural light. Not only is the food amazing, but it is also 100% gluten free. Even their famous churros are entirely gluten free. This is a great option if you are looking for a trendy spot to grab a drink or a meal with friends.

Gluten free status. Mission Taqueria is a dedicated gluten free facility. Everything they serve is gluten free, including the churros!
Other dietary restrictions. Items that contain nuts are also marked on the menu. There are also vegetarian options available on the menu. The vegetarian options are not marked on the menu, but they are generally fairly easy to spot.
Cuisine. The menu at Mission Taqueria focuses on Mexican food. The primary focus is on tacos, but there are some other options available as well.
Atmosphere. The ambiance at Mission Taqueria is great. The restaurant is accented with lots of modern, trendy decorations that give it a really nice ambiance. There are many windows and glass courtyards that provide natural light and make the space feel even more special. This is a lively spot that is a fairly popular choice for younger people who are looking to catch up with friends. There is a very fun and upbeat vibe inside the restaurant.
Location. Mission Taqueria is located in a bustling downtown area that is lined with many restaurants and eateries. Specifically, it is located just a few blocks away from City Hall. It is also within easy walking distance of other downtown attractions like Love Park. Mission Taqueria is generally easy to get to via public transportation (or even by foot).
Seating. There is only indoor seating available at Mission Taqueria. The restaurant is located on the top floor of the building it is in and it does not have a deck or balcony. There is a decent amount of seating available, but this is a popular spot in a trendy area so it can fill up during peak lunch and dinner hours on the weekend. We recommend making a reservation a day or two in advance if you plan to go during a busy time.

Shere-e-Punjab

Shere-e –Punjab is an Indian restaurant in the suburbs of Philadelphia that has a large menu with many gluten free options. Shere-e-Punjab serves some of our favorite Indian food in the Philadelphia area and we even like it more than many of the Indian restaurants in the city. A lot of the food they serve is rich and indulgent, so this is a great pace to go if you have a large appetite and are looking to eat. They sometimes have live music or other entertainment options that liven up the mood.

Gluten free status. Shere-e-Punjab is not a dedicated gluten free facility. That being said, their menu is clearly labeled to denote what can and cannot be made gluten free. There are many gluten free options available on the menu.
Other dietary restrictions. Vegan options are also labeled on the menu. There are many vegetarian options available and a decent number of vegan options viable as well.
Cuisine. The menu at Shere-e-Punjab focuses primarily on Indian food. The food that is served at Sher E Punjab is rich and flavorful, but does not tend to be that spicy. We find this typical of many Indian restaurants that are located in small suburbs.
Atmosphere. Shere-e-Punjab is a relatively casual spot with friendly staff and nice decor. They sometimes host events and live entertainment that make the dining experience even more fun.
Location. Shere-e-Punjab is located around 20 miles outside of downtown Philadelphia. That means that it is generally easiest to access if you have a car you can drive there in.
Seating. There is primarily indoor seating available at Shere-e-Punjab, but there are sometimes tables set up outside on the sidewalk. Seating is generally not that competitive.

Gluten free fast casual restaurants

Now that we have discussed some of our favorite sit down restaurants in the Philadelphia area, we will talk about some of our favorite fast casual restaurants and cafes that offer gluten free options. These spots range from standalone restaurants to food stalls in public markets.

Fox and Son Fair Food

Fox and Son Fair Food is another one of our absolute favorite places to grab a bite in Philadelphia. This is a popular food stall in Reading Terminal Market that serves the types of fried foods that you would expect to get at the fair. Their menu contains items like corn dogs, fried cheese curds, and funnel cakes. Everything that they serve is 100% gluten free, so you don’t have to worry about any cross contamination in the fryers. It is usually hard to find gluten free versions of popular fair foods, so this place is an absolute dream.

Gluten free status. Fox and Son Fair Food is a dedicated gluten free facility. All of the food that they serve is gluten free, including their famous funnel cake.
Other dietary restrictions. Fox and Son Fair Foods is generally allergen conscious and has dairy free and egg free batter available for those who need it. That being said, dairy free and egg free items are made in a shared fryer with items that do contain dairy and egg. Vegan and vegetarian options are also clearly marked on their menu.
Cuisine. Like the name suggests, Fox and Son Fair Foods serves the type of foods that you would expect to get at a fair. They have a large array of corn dogs and funnel cakes that come with all different types of toppings and sauces. They also have other fried items like fried cheese curds that are absolutely delicious.
Atmosphere. Fox and Son Fair Foods is located in the center of a bustling public market that is lined with hundreds of other food stalls. The atmosphere is lively and fun, but it may be overwhelming for those who do not like large crowds.
Location. Fox and Son Fair Foods is located right in the heart of Reading Terminal Market. That means that this is a great place to stop if you are exploring the offerings of Reading Terminal Market with friends.
Seating. Fox and Son Fair Foods is a food stall that is located inside a public market, so it does not have its own seating. That being said, there are public seating areas inside Reading Terminal Market where you can sit down to eat your food. These seating areas are primarily located indoors and they can get really busy during the weekends. You may have to wait a short period of time until a spot opens up if you are looking to eat inside of Reading Terminal Market.

Lovebird

Lovebird is a fun spot to grab a meal on the go if you are ever in the Bryn Mawr area. Lovebird is a small spot that primarily serves takeout, though there are a few seats available at the counter if you want to dine in. They have some of the most indulgent comfort foods in the Philadelphia area and most of them are naturally gluten free.

Gluten free status. Lovebird is not a dedicated gluten free facility. That being said, their kitchen is largely gluten free. The main item on their menu that contains gluten is the bread they use for their chicken sandwiches. Aside from that, most items that would typically contain gluten like their fried chicken and their mac and cheese are entirely gluten free.
Other dietary restrictions. Lovebird is generally conscious of a range of allergens and can accommodate multiple different dietary restrictions. They have an allergen menu that marks items that are made with common allergens like dairy, eggs, soy, and fish. They also have vegetarian and vegan options available. Vegan options are marked on the allergen menu.
Cuisine. Lovebird serves American food and in particular focuses on indulgent comfort foods like fried chicken and mac and cheese.
Atmosphere. Since there is not much seating available at Lovebird, the atmosphere is pretty casual and low key. There are generally not more than one or two people eating in the restaurant.
Location. Lovebird is located in Bryn Mawr right off of the Villanova college campus. That means that it is a great place to stop after visiting a friend or family member at one of the colleges in the area.
Seating. There is very little seating available in Lovebird. There is a counter that lines the walls of the storefront that generally has a few stools pulled up to it. That is the only seating that is available and almost everyone grabs their food to go.

Sparrow’s Gourmet Snacks

Much like Fox and Son Fair Foods, Sparrow’s is a food stall that is located in the Reading Terminal Market. Sparrow’s has a more narrow range of offerings that is limited to baked goods and pre-packed snacks, so it is not as popular as Fox and Son. That being said, they have some unique baked goods that are hard to find gluten free versions of like pop tarts and soft pretzels. Sparrows is a dedicated gluten free and nut free facility, so it is a safe place to grab a snack if you have many food allergies.

Gluten free status. Sparrow’s is a dedicated gluten free facility.
Other dietary restrictions. Most of the snacks that are sold at Sparrow’s are also nut free. They tend to partner with companies that are allergen friendly in general. Any pre-packaged snacks they sell are likely to be allergen friendly and well labeled.
Cuisine. As the name suggests, Sparrow’s Gourmet sells a range of snacks ranging from home made baked goods to pre-packaged treats. They usually have some fun baked goods that are not common at other gluten free bakeries like pop tarts and soft pretzels.
Atmosphere. Sparrow’s is a small food stall inside a large public market. They generally do not have as large of a line as Fox and Son, so their space does not usually feel as crowded.
Location. Just like Fox and Son, Sparrow’s is located inside of Reading Terminal Market. They are actually at a stall that is located right next to Fox and Son, which is convenient for anyone who is looking for gluten free treats.
Seating. Sparrow’s does not have their own seating, but there is some public seating located inside Reading Terminal Market for those who are looking to enjoy their snacks in house. Seating is generally somewhat competitive since there are so many food stalls in the market.

Other gluten free restaurants in Philadelphia

Before we wrap this article up, we will take the time to highlight a few other restaurants in the Philadelphia area. These are restaurants that we are not as intimately familiar with because we have only visited them once or twice. For that reason, we do not have quite as much to say about them. That being said, they are still restaurants that we highly recommend!

Giorgio on Pine

Giorgio on Pine is a popular Italian restaurant that is known for having a large variety of gluten free options. A large potion of their menu can be made gluten free with substitutions and they take cross contamination seriously. Their BYOB policy and their prime location near the center of the city makes them a popular choice among gluten free foodies and those without dietary restrictions alike.

Jay’s Steak & Hoagie Joint

Jay’s Steak & Hoagie Joint is a quaint little sandwich shop that is located in the Philadelphia suburbs. If you want to get a classic Philly cheesesteak to feel like you have gotten the true Philadelphia experience, then this is the place for you. Jay’s Steak & Hoagie Joint comes highly recommended from many people in the gluten free community because they employ many safety measures to prevent cross contamination. That being said, Jay’s Steak & Hoagie Joint is much further out of the city center than any of the other restaurants we have mentioned. It will be difficult to access if you do not have a car and a large block of free time.