Restaurants & Bakeries Serving GFCF Fare

Compiling this list is like hitting a fast moving target. Not only do new ones come up but trusted ones change their recipes. This is the hardest part about the diet so be sure to ask restaurant managers about your child’s specific dietary issues and get confirmation.

There is NO GUARANTEE the restaurants and items listed below will be GFCF forever! So please confirm each time!

BAKERIES

Azna's Gluten-free Bakery
Cameron Park, (530) 677-5810

Crave Bakery
San Francisco, 415.826.7187

Gluten Free Creations
Phoenix, AZ, 602-522-0659

Green Cupcakes
Irvine, 949-235-6163

Healthy Creations
Encinitas, 760-479-0500

Sweetie Cakes
Santa Barbara, (866) 203-1814

The Sensitive Baker
Culver City, 310.815.1800

FAST FOOD

Let it be known – I am not a big fan at all of fast food companies.  They are generally filled with empty calories, employees with lots on their minds, and questionable food sources. Please even though these are GFCF restaurants use them on days when you need a break or as an ultimate reinforcer – BUT NOT ALL THE TIME!  Ok... I feel better now that that is out there!

Important note: Please remember to always talk to the MANAGER of all fast food restaurants to make sure that individual fryers are used for cooking their french fries. Let them know how important this issue is to you and your child!

Arby's

Arby’s plain roast beef – no sauce/no bun

Burger King

Burger patties (no bun)

French Fries (Note: each individual Burger King has their own process of deep frying. It is best to make sure a separate fryer is used for cooking french fries.)

Chick-Fil-A

Waffle Potato Fries (Note: Confirm Ingredients they may vary in some restaurants; also verify with restaurant manager that individual deep fryer is used.)

El Pollo Loco (good healthy choice!)

Whole Chicken on the bone

Tomato-Based Salsas

Pinto Beans

In-n-Out Burger

Protein Burger (no bun, no sauces, no cheese) just meat, tomatoe and lettuce. WATCH for cross contamination here!  Buns and cheese can occupy the same space as your plain hamburger. Ask the manager for assistance.

French fries

McDonalds

The following information must be verified by individual McDonald's Restaurants:

  • Apple Juice
  • Bacon
  • Peppered Bacon / Bacon Bits
  • Beef Patties: regular and Quarter-Pounder NO BUN NO CHEESE
    Sauces ONLY or Honey, or Hot Mustard
  • Chili
  • French Fries – as of January 2006 – ARE NO LONGER GFCF!
  • Hash Browns (verify separate fryers are used)
  • Scrambled eggs – no biscuit / no cheese
  • Salad no croutons
  • Condiments and such:
    • Hot Cake Syrup
    • Jam
    • Ketchup
    • Lettuce
    • Mustard
    • Orange Juice
    • Picante Sauce
    • Pickles
    • Tartar Sauce

RESTAURANTS

Most larger chain restaurants know that some of the population have celiacs disease.  Ask them for a celiacs menu or offering off their typical menu.  Just make it CASEIN free as well!

Baja Fresh – several dishes are GFCF – no GFCF menu! Marinated grilled chicken and steak are GFCF. Just say NO to cheese and guacamole (contains milk!). Cross-contamination warning: corn tortillas and chips are fried in same fryer as breaded fish.

Islands Restaurants:

  • Grilled Chicken
  • Grilled Burger patties
  • Rotisserie Chicken
  • French Fries
  • Salads - w/o croutons
  • Oil and Vinegar Dressing
  • Strawberry Lemonade

Joe's Crab Shack in Newport Beach serves French fries and hamburger patties to meet celiac and GFCF requirements.

Newport & Naples Ribs Companies All dinners served with fresh fruit and your choice of two of the following: garden salad with GF/CF dressing, GF/CF rice pilaf, steamed vegetables or Kettle brand potato chips.

KID'S MENU (Topped off with a dessert of organic Rice Cream.)

  • Baby Back Ribs
  • BBQ Chicken
  • Hamburger served on GF/CF bun
  • Brisket Sandwich served on GF/CF bun

ADULT MENU

  • Baby Back Ribs
  • BBQ Chicken
  • BBQ Boneless Breast
  • BBQ Shrimp Kabob

Outback Steakhouse - Check out their extensive gluten-free menu.

PF Changs has a GFCF / celiac menu – 8 items! You have to ask for this menu! Or they can make ANY MENU ITEM GFCF!

Pick up Stix any menu items without sauce or seasonings!

Pizza Fusion has gluten-free crusts. Be sure to order it without cheese!

Red Robin serves French fries and hamburger patties to meet celiac and GFCF requirements. Please be advised that some Red Robin locations do NOT use separate fryers for wheat-containing foods. ALWAYS ask the manager.

Skosh Monahans in Costa Mesa has a variety of delicious GFCF items for parents and kiddos! We love this place and are there at least once a week!
The adult food is awesome! Did I mention they only serve beer on tap?  That is only for the adults though!  And certainly not GFCF!

THEME PARKS

Disneyland

Disneyland wins the award as the coolest most GFCF happiest place on the earth!  Here is why!

For more information and confirmation: Chief Chef Chris Justesen 714-781-4650

When you enter a restaurant in Disney, always ask a Bus Person to get the Manager. Not a waiter or waitress.

  • Goofy’s Kitchen Character Breakfast: The chef will make gfcf pancakes and they have Van's brand waffles.

  • Plaza Inn: Same as Goofy’s above

  • Tomorrowland's Red Rocket Pizza Port

    • Rice noodles with marinara sauce

    • GFCF pizza crusts with marinara sauce; no cheese; ask about toppings

  • Club Buzz: French Fries, Chicken Breast, Hamburger

  • Fantasy Land - Village house

    • Fruit plate

    • Hotdog - no bun

    • French fries

  • Frontier Land - Rancho de Zolcolo: Corn tortilla, rice and beans, chicken

  • Adventure Land - Bangle Barbecue: Chicken and beef skewers (no sauce, no marinade)

  • Blue Bayou will cook as you please!!

  • All fruit carts are okay.

Always ask a bus person for the manager when ordering anything.  It will insure GFCF.

California Adventure

Ariel's Grotto will cook as you please!! Contact Chef Jay, 714-781-3142

Legoland

Emailing or calling ahead is recommended, especially if one is concerned about cross contamination (from gloves, countertops or airborne). I would recommend contacting me 48 hours ahead.  I would prefer email if possible, as it gives me time to research. I like to know the ages, number of people, and food preferences. I can then make recommendations and dispatch the meal accordingly.

I strongly recommend to clearly specify to the food station attendant what your concerns are, especially if you do not contact me ahead of time.

Some of our gluten free staple items that are always offered are:

Quick Service

  • Hamburgers (without the bun)

  • Hot Dogs (Hebrew National – without the bun)

  • French Fries (in our quick-service outlets only)

  • Granny's Apple Fries (the sauce contains a fraction of an ounce of imitation vanilla extract, which does contain wheat gluten, which is acceptable to some).

  • Sorbet from Fool Scoops

Restaurants

  • Sports Café:  Chicken Breast (request non-marinated), Salmon, Cod, Hamburger, Turkey, and a variety of salads. Great buffet just for kids.

  • Knight's Table:  Chicken without sauce, Baked Potato, Corn on the Cob, Salad

  • Garden Restaurant: Tuna Salad, Turkey, Roast Beef, Greek Salad

  • Funtown Market:  Chicken Stir Fry without sauce, Carne Asada Plate without Tortillas

The list goes on and we can certainly modify many other items not listed above. I do reemphasize to email or call me in advance, as product substitutions can occur.

Thank you,

Paul Geasland
Executive Chef, Food and Beverage
LEGOLAND
(760) 918-5489
paul.geasland@america.lego.com

There is NO GUARANTEE the restaurants and items listed will be GFCF forever! So please confirm each time!

NOTE:  Got any new restaurants to share?  Or items that have fallen off the GFCF list? Please contact us.