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A Guide to Gluten-Free Bakeries and Restaurants

November 2, 2010 8:33 PM

(credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Having a food allergy or intolerance can be challenging when dining out especially when it excludes many foods found on an average restaurant menu. Celiac Disease is an auto immune disorder that attacks the small intestines when the sufferer consumes gluten, which is wheat, barley or rye. An estimated 1 in 133 people have the disease, but it’s still not easy to find gluten-free friendly restaurants and bakeries. Here is a list of a few in the Los Angeles area. Many of these restaurants are not in dedicated gluten-free facilities, but offer gluten-free selections.

Bakeries

The Sensitive Baker
10836 1/2 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 815-1800
More Info

This is one of the first gluten-free bakeries in Los Angeles. It’s under new ownership since it opened, but you can still find cupcakes, breads, bagels and pizza crust. The bakery is open every day.

Babycakes NYC
130 East 6th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 623-5555
More Info

This isn’t just a gluten-free friendly bakery. They don’t use refined sugar and everything is vegan. Many of the offerings are gluten-free, but some use spelt so make sure to check the signs. This hip little bakery serves agave-sweetened cupcakes, muffins, donuts and cookie sandwiches.

BabyCakes Baking Company
24205 Hawthorne Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90505
(310) 373-2500
More Info

This bakery has no relationship to Babycakes NYC, but on certain days you can still enjoy some delightful gluten-free treats. On Wednesdays and Saturdays they bake gluten-free cupcakes, peanut butter cookies, and chocolate chip cookies. You can also call ahead and order gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free or other special orders any day of the week.

Restaurants

Fritto Misto
601 Colorado Avenue
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 458-2829
More Info

316 Pier Ave
Hermosa Beach, CA
(310) 318-6098
More Info

The neighborhood restaurant offers gluten-free pasta and salads.

Veggie Grill
8000 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 822-7575
More Info

720 S Allied Way # D
El Segundo, CA
(310) 535-0025
More Info

4213 Campus Dr # 166B
Irvine, CA
(949) 509-0003
More Info

81 Fortune Dr # 109
Irvine, CA
(949) 727-9900
More Info

This gluten-free friendly restaurant has quinoa Mac and Cheese. Make sure to ask for it without bread crumbs.

Real Food Daily
514 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-7544
More Info

414 N La Cienega Blvd
West Hollywood, CA
(310)289-9910
More Info

The organic vegan restaurant has many gluten-free offerings including enchiladas, chocolate cake, choc chip cookie and cupcakes.

Flore Vegan Cuisine
3818 W. Sunset Blvd.
Silver Lake, CA 90026
(323) 953-0611
More Info

Flore offers a gluten-free frittata and griddle cakes among other items, and everything is made with organic ingredients.

Akasha
9543 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 845.1700
More Info

Akasha’s food is mostly organic from local sources and some of the dishes are gluten-free. They also occasionally make gluten-free desserts. Ask your waiter about gluten-free options.

Rama Restaurant
7910 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 592-3035
More Info

Many dishes at this lovely Thai restaurant near the The Grove are gluten-free. Make sure and ask the waiter what is available.

The Waffle
6255 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
(323) 465-6901
More Info

If you’re in the mood for breakfast you might try The Waffle. Not only do they serve gluten-free waffles, but all of the eggs are organic free range.

Interim Cafe
530 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 319-9100
More Info

Lunch at Interim Café is a real treat. They have delicious sandwiches that can be ordered on gluten-free bread. Follow that up with a gluten-free brownie topped with marshmallow cream.

Pizza

Fresh Brothers
2008 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 546-4444
More Info

4722 1/2 Admiralty Way
Marina Del Rey, CA
(310) 823-3800
More Info

Fresh Brothers has a gluten-free menu including a kids’ special where vegetables are ground up in the sauce.

Pizza Fusion
2901 Ocean Park Blvd. Ste 123
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 581-2901
More Info

7950 W Sunset Blvd # 104
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 375-3390
More Info

Pizza Fusion uses mostly organic ingredients and also serves gluten-free beer and dessert.

Garlic Jim’s
Various Locations
More Info

Garlic Jim’s offers a gluten-free pizza crust.

Z pizza
Various Locations
More Info

Z Pizza offers a gluten-free crust for their brick oven fire pizzas

Chain Restaurants

You may want to check out the gluten-free friendly offerings at these chain restaurants:
P.F. Chang’s
Pei Wei Asian Diner
Yard House
and Outback Steakhouse all have gluten-free menus.

Yvonne Condes operates her own gluten-free bakery called Yvonne’s Gluten Free Goodies. All items are available by special order and at farmers markets.

A Guide to Gluten Free Bakeries and Restaurants

jip

About the best article on a news site in a sometime. Thank you
vZa

Don’t forget about Deano’s PIzza in the 3rd Stree/Fairfax Farmer’s Market!

YvonneinLA

I did forget about Deano’s! Great cornmeal crust. Thank you!

Mary

Fatty’s in Eagle Rock has some great options too.
Dottie

PattyCakes in Altadena, corner of New York and Allen makes some of the most fantastic gluten free desserts you have ever tasted.
YvonneinLA

Thanks, Mary and Dottie. Great suggestions!
jeff

And don’t forget, when no one is looking – the McRib is back!

Dottie

Only my daughter in Wisconsin looks forward to that!

YvonneinLA

I found another one. Cru in Silverlake is entirely gluten-free according to its website http://www.crusilverlake.com/about.html
xmen171

PF Change’s???
sarahfenix

Also, all BJ’s Restaurants serve gluten free Pizza and Beer!
stayra

Anyone know of restaurants in the Inland Empire or San Diego? I can’t really ask the pizza delivery guys to deliver from LA county. :-/ Thanks for the article. I travel, so if I’m in LA county, I have a few options.

YvonneinLA

Here is a link to a website called Gluten-Free in San Diego. This is the list of restaurants in SD. http://glutenfreeinsd.com/#restaurants
tkim

I work in Temecula and frequently go to a little bakery called All of the Above. Its very quaint and friendly and they have good coffee.

LynnSB

Anyone know of gluten-free places in Orange County?
randy

Isn’t it just like the valley, nothing but fast foods, nothing good or creative, Have to go over the hill for something fun and diofferent.
ginny25

Randy, I too was wondering why the reports never include the SFValley, there must be gluren free places there too or is it just that CBS doesn’t consider it part of LA?
Karen K.

Kassava Caribbean Restaurant on 3rd Street across from Cedars Sinai just created an authentic, three-course gluten-free meal for me and my guests that was simply delicious. Their personal attention to my health and well being blew my mind. If you call ahead to let them know you’ll be dining gluten free, you can relax and enjoy every bit without a minute of worry about cross contamination.

The number of restaurants that accommodate gluten-free eaters in Los Angeles at all is rather small in the scheme of things (specifically, what a great eating town this is), and only Fresh Brothers has completed the National Celiac Foundation’s GREAT food service program, so finding a gem like Kassava, that not only has delicious food but sensitive, caring service is something quite special.

I also recommend Swanya Thai on Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City. They have been courteously altering their recipes to feed me gluten-free, soy-free dishes free from cross-contamination for the past few years. They have excellent food, great service and are real human beings who see me as one, too.
YvonneinLA

Thank you for sharing those with us, Karen!
Andrea

Hugo’s on Coldwater and Ventura Blvd. Gluten free menu and there are a couple pizza places in the valley with gluten free pizza! There is a cupcake place on Fulton in Sherman Oaks that has gluten free cupcakes.
Mandy

Great Aritcle!!!

Orange County is a request.

I know of Sprinkles Cupcakes and also BJ’s Pizza serves delicious Pizza!
YvonneinLA

This just in – All Pitfire Pizza locations have gluten-free pizza now. Fabulous.
Cindy V

Some Inland Empire places you can go to: All of the Above Bakery in Temecula serves GF and DF and some soy free as well baked cookies, cakes and a couple of awesome salads, as well as some chicken popovers for lunch items. The Stadium Pizza on Clinton Keith has GF crust and Wilson Creek Winery serves a full Gluten Free menu. Pizza Fusion on winchester in Temecula as well, and the normal chains….
Gilbert

The Chii”s restaurant chain offers a full page of gluten free items.
Amber Trailer

Hello, I just opened up my own Gluten Free Bakey in Torrance, Ca. I would love to have my business listed under the Gluten Free Bakeries on your website. The name of my bakery is The Good Cookies & Beyond, and it is located at 2081 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501. Please let me know how to make this happen. Thank you.
Susan

Hi!

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