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Gluten Free Chicago


clover

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clover Rookie

Does anyone have any good suggestions for restaurants in Chicago that are celiac sensitive (aside from the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants)?


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jenvan Collaborator

I know you said not LEY restaurants--but Big Bowl now has gluten-free pad thai--and it is amazing!!! I would drive back to Chi-town just for it alone!

I LOVE Vinci's too--go there everytime I'm in town. They have a great gluten-free menu for all courses and the rice pasta is excellent. Open Original Shared Link Great staff too.

kabowman Explorer

I am planning a trip to Chicago this summer too and this is what I have found so far online:

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

I know I can also eat at some chains so those will be my backup in case these are not too kid friendly.

clover Rookie
Does anyone have any good suggestions for restaurants in Chicago that are celiac sensitive (aside from the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants)?

THANK YOU!!

:D

THESE ARE ALL GREAT-- thank you thank you thank you.

hlm34 Apprentice

PF Changs is awesome. And i am with Jen, Vinci is fabulous. Real italian food - not just some tasteless, spiceless, sauceless version of something on the regular menu. I also just went to a nice restaurant called Carnivale. Its new and hip and soooo good. Latin Food. They make their own chips (in their own fryer) and the guacamole is to DIE for. I could have eaten it with a spoon. The waiter was very friendly. I gave him my card that has all the gluten ingredients listed. He told me that there were only a few things on the menu that I COULDNT have. I had a strip steak with rice and beans and a salad with a dressing of oranges, tomatoes and oil, it was so good. I went with a large group and everyone was raving about their food.

Wildfire is a steak place. Is that a chain? They have a gluten free menu too. Pretty good.

Adobo Grill is by the same owners as Vinci. It is a high-end mexican restaurant. Two different locations. They have a gluten-free menu as well. They have good guacamole too - however their chips are fried in oil with other flour stuff. Their substitute for the non-gluten-free chips is raw plaintain chips - like eating a raw slice of potato. not good. So BYOTC (bring your own tortilla chips), but the rest of the food (and margaritas!) are good.

Another new find for all you Chicagoans out there. Smoke Daddy in the Wicker Park area has gluten free ribs. I spoke with the co-owner of the place. Turns out his partner used to own a gluten-free store in Montana! Anyway, i dont know about any of the sides, and you have to make sure that they know not to serve it on a piece of white bread, which is what they usually do.

  • 3 weeks later...
Deej Newbie

I'm visiting Chicago from Canada - we planned ahead thanks to those of you on this thread and ate at the Adobo Grill last night. It was fabulous. I didn't mind the plantain chips at all - the guac was so wonderful it really didn't matter. I had the Filete al Pasilla and a couple of GREAT margaritas. I was really thrilled because my husband and I were hosting a group of people and they all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and their food and I not only didn't feel left out, but I felt like I got the best meal! Thanks to all of you. This is a great board!

Guinevere Newbie

Try the Chicago Diner! Great vegetarian restaurant that has a separate gluten free menu! they also have alot of dairy free too! i live in NW suburbs and drive sometimes just to eat there. There's even desserts that are dairy/wheat free.


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  • 1 year later...
toddzgrrl02 Explorer

I wanted to bump this up and see if there were any updates. We are taking my stepdaughter to Chicago in Aug to see Wicked (the musical) and would like to be able to feed her while there. We'll be gone two days and I was hoping to find some kid-friendly places she might be interested in eating at. She's 14, but usually pretty picky.

Thanks!

kenlove Rising Star

Bonefish is a chain owned by Outback that has a great gluten-free menu. You would never know it's a chain too.

Great gluten-free selection.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for restaurants in Chicago that are celiac sensitive (aside from the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants)?
tom Contributor
Open Original Shared Link

I popped in here just because I grew up in Chicago, or more specifically, Mt. Prospect, right next to Park Ridge (Dad grew up there & many relatives still there!)

Anyway, they've changed the url sometime in the last 2 yrs. :o

New one is Open Original Shared Link

  • 10 months later...
NancyR Newbie
Does anyone have any good suggestions for restaurants in Chicago that are celiac sensitive (aside from the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants)?

Although it's not downtown, this restaurant in downtown St. Charles called Taste of Himalayas is great for celiacs and worth the drive. They serve Indian and Nepalese fare. It was an amazing experience. The owner, was so gracious and accommodating. He even showed me a plaque he has by the door that says to please inform him of any allergies etc. so he can gladly accommodate you. He carefully went through his menu with me to determine what I can and cannot eat (I have several food restrictions in addition to being gluten intolerant). The food was truly delicious, the service was exceptional, the atmosphere was comfortable, clean and welcoming! From the papadums, to the dessert, I was in heaven. My husband and I will be eating there at least once a week. We are delighted to be able to add this restaurant to our short list of options!

Here is the address and phone number. They even deliver locally!

Taste of Himalayas

110 N. 3rd Street

St. Charles, IL 60174

630-444-1575

  • 1 month later...
StrongerToday Enthusiast

Bump! Going to the Windy City in July.. surely there are some more places??

once and again Rookie

Father & Sons Pizza on North Avenue has a gluten free pizza with a pretty good crust. Carabba's and Outback both have gluten free menus. The Celiac Society of Chicago has a fundraiser with a buffet of foods from various restaurants. The restaurants usually have a gluten-free menu afterwards. Wildfire and Ben Pao have been featured at the fundraisers and have gluten-free menus. Can't remember which restaurants were featured this year.

Do try Adobo - it is great and lots of fun too. have been there with groups of people and they are always quite happy to eat there. Ina's is supposed to have gluten-free fried chicken one week day in the summer. Also try Flattop Grill - they will accommodate many allergies and have several locations. Stir Crazy will also accommodate gluten-free. Also really, really like Bonefish Grill though they are only in the 'burbs.

  • 2 weeks later...
hlm34 Apprentice

there is a restaurant in the west loop called Ina's (breakfastqueen.com). the 2nd wednesday of every month she does gluten free fried chicken night, complete with great gluten free rolls. sooooo good. you usually need to call for reservations, but its worth it.

  • 9 months later...
lt1981 Newbie

Rosebud restaurants offer gluten free pasta if you call ahead at least a few days. Also, Rose Angelis in Lincoln Park offers gluten free pasta if you order ahead. Vinci has a gluten free menu, as does Adobo Grill. Obviously PF Changs has a fabulous selection. Most mexican restaurants, including frontera grill and salpicon use corn based tortillas. Hannah's Bretzel in the loop is now offering gluten free bread for their sandwiches.

In the suburbs Happ Inn has a gluten free menu with gluten-free pizza etc. Walker Bros. pancake house has delicious gluten free pancakes--they have locations in Glenview, Lincolnshire, Highland Park, Lake Zurich and Arlington Heights.

lt1981 Newbie

Also, Dinnotto restaurant in Lincoln Park has gluten free rigatoni and penne. They can also do gluten free eggplant and chicken dishes upon request.

Volare restaurant in Streeterville (which pre-celiac was my favorite Italian restaurant) has gluten free spaghetti available upon request.

Natalinos in WestTown has gluten free penne

Marios has gluten free pasta

Ranaill's of Andersonville and the Lincoln Park location have gluten free pizza that is excellent. The Andersonville location has gluten free pasta and desserts like carrot cake as well.

Quartinos has gluten free spaghetti available, just call ahead to verify it is there.

once and again Rookie

Hyde Park has a fairly new restaurant called The Sitdown, which has gluten free items as well as sushi. They have pizza, sandwiches and some pasta dishes which can be gluten-free or not. They also have gluten-free soy sauce for the sushi. The owner is gluten-free and from what I can see, always there. Not very expensive and the food is good. The veggie chips with sandwiches are great. For me the best thing is the homemade gumbo and chicken soup. Sometimes I just don't feel like making my own soup.

  • 8 months later...
CantWeight Rookie

I am gluten-free, Dairy Free/Casein Free, and low-carb (in addition to some other food allergies, still working on those ingredients for dining out). The biggest problem I've encountered is cross-contamination, but these places in the city of Chicago have been great for me:

Keefer's Restaurant Chicago

Nookies in Lincoln Park

Nookies Tree on Halsted in Lakeview

Royal Thai on Montrose

Smoque BBQ

Drew's Eatery on Montrose

Mia Francesca's Restaurants

Rose's Wheat Free Bakery Evanston has the best gluten free pizza and you can select goat milk mozzarella or dairy free cheese

Fattoush Restaurant was sooo delicious but is indefinitely closed since the owner passed away. Hopefully his family will reopen.

  • 1 year later...
Maryw88 Apprentice

Rosebud restaurants offer gluten free pasta if you call ahead at least a few days. Also, Rose Angelis in Lincoln Park offers gluten free pasta if you order ahead. Vinci has a gluten free menu, as does Adobo Grill. Obviously PF Changs has a fabulous selection. Most mexican restaurants, including frontera grill and salpicon use corn based tortillas. Hannah's Bretzel in the loop is now offering gluten free bread for their sandwiches.

In the suburbs Happ Inn has a gluten free menu with gluten-free pizza etc. Walker Bros. pancake house has delicious gluten free pancakes--they have locations in Glenview, Lincolnshire, Highland Park, Lake Zurich and Arlington Heights.

Rannalis in andersonville is the best for gluten-free pizza. Lots of gluten-free friendly mexican places too.

  • 3 weeks later...
RiaG14 Rookie

When I was in chicago I ate at the following places and had a good experience. The restaurants are gluten aware.

Wildes, has a gluten-free menu, casual pub/grill

Wildfire, steak house, even have gluten-free bread for you to have while the rest of the table eats theirs

Chicago diner, vegan vegetarian and gluten-free options

Chens chinese and sushi....they had gluten-free soy sauce that they could substitute in any if your meals. Very gluten-free aware

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    • marion wheaton
      Thanks for responding. I researched further and Lindt Lindor chocolate balls do contain barely malt powder which contains gluten. I was surprised at all of the conflicting information I found when I checked online.
    • trents
      @BlessedinBoston, it is possible that in Canada the product in question is formulated differently than in the USA or at least processed in in a facility that precludes cross contamination. I assume from your user name that you are in the USA. And it is also possible that the product meets the FDA requirement of not more than 20ppm of gluten but you are a super sensitive celiac for whom that standard is insufficient. 
    • BlessedinBoston
      No,Lindt is not gluten free no matter what they say on their website. I found out the hard way when I was newly diagnosed in 2000. At that time the Lindt truffles were just becoming popular and were only sold in small specialty shops at the mall. You couldn't buy them in any stores like today and I was obsessed with them 😁. Took me a while to get around to checking them and was heartbroken when I saw they were absolutely not gluten free 😔. Felt the same when I realized Twizzlers weren't either. Took me a while to get my diet on order after being diagnosed. I was diagnosed with small bowel non Hodgkins lymphoma at the same time. So it was a very stressful time to say the least. Hope this helps 😁.
    • knitty kitty
      @Jmartes71, I understand your frustration and anger.  I've been in a similar situation where no doctor took me seriously, accused me of making things up, and eventually sent me home to suffer alone.   My doctors did not recognize nutritional deficiencies.  Doctors are trained in medical learning institutions that are funded by pharmaceutical companies.  They are taught which medications cover up which symptoms.  Doctors are required to take twenty  hours of nutritional education in seven years of medical training.  (They can earn nine hours in Nutrition by taking a three day weekend seminar.)  They are taught nutritional deficiencies are passe' and don't happen in our well fed Western society any more.  In Celiac Disease, the autoimmune response and inflammation affects the absorption of ALL the essential vitamins and minerals.  Correcting nutritional deficiencies caused by malabsorption is essential!  I begged my doctor to check my Vitamin D level, which he did only after making sure my insurance would cover it.  When my Vitamin D came back extremely low, my doctor was very surprised, but refused to test for further nutritional deficiencies because he "couldn't make money prescribing vitamins.". I believe it was beyond his knowledge, so he blamed me for making stuff up, and stormed out of the exam room.  I had studied Nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology.  I switched because I was curious what vitamins from our food were doing in our bodies.  Vitamins are substances that our bodies cannot manufacture, so we must ingest them every day.  Without them, our bodies cannot manufacture life sustaining enzymes and we sicken and die.   At home alone, I could feel myself dying.  It's an unnerving feeling, to say the least, and, so, with nothing left to lose, I relied in my education in nutrition.  My symptoms of Thiamine deficiency were the worst, so I began taking high dose Thiamine.  I had health improvement within an hour.  It was magical.  I continued taking high dose thiamine with a B Complex, magnesium. and other essential nutrients.  The health improvements continued for months.  High doses of thiamine are required to correct a thiamine deficiency because thiamine affects every cell and mitochondria in our bodies.    A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function.  The cerebellum of the brain is most affected.  The cerebellum controls things we don't have to consciously have to think about, like digestion, balance, breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, hormone regulation, and many more.  Thiamine is absorbed from the digestive tract and sent to the most important organs like the brain and the heart.  This leaves the digestive tract depleted of Thiamine and symptoms of Gastrointestinal Beriberi, a thiamine deficiency localized in the digestive system, begin to appear.  Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Beriberi include anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, headaches, Gerd, acid reflux, gas, slow stomach emptying, gastroparesis, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation, incontinence, abdominal pain, IBS,  SIBO, POTS, high blood pressure, heart rate changes like tachycardia, difficulty swallowing, Barrett's Esophagus, peripheral neuropathy, and more. Doctors are only taught about thiamine deficiency in alcoholism and look for the classic triad of symptoms (changes in gait, mental function, and nystagmus) but fail to realize that gastrointestinal symptoms can precede these symptoms by months.  All three classic triad of symptoms only appear in fifteen percent of patients, with most patients being diagnosed with thiamine deficiency post mortem.  I had all three but swore I didn't drink, so I was dismissed as "crazy" and sent home to die basically.   Yes, I understand how frustrating no answers from doctors can be.  I took OTC Thiamine Hydrochloride, and later thiamine in the forms TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) and Benfotiamine to correct my thiamine deficiency.  I also took magnesium, needed by thiamine to make those life sustaining enzymes.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins, so the other B vitamins must be supplemented as well.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   A doctor can administer high dose thiamine by IV along with the other B vitamins.  Again, Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine should be given if only to rule Gastrointestinal Beriberi out as a cause of your symptoms.  If no improvement, no harm is done. Share the following link with your doctors.  Section Three is especially informative.  They need to be expand their knowledge about Thiamine and nutrition in Celiac Disease.  Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test for thiamine deficiency.  This test is more reliable than a blood test. Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12014454/ Best wishes!
    • Jmartes71
      I have been diagnosed with celiac in 1994, in remission not eating wheat and other foods not to consume  my household eats wheat.I have diagnosed sibo, hernia ibs, high blood pressure, menopause, chronic fatigue just to name a few oh yes and Barrett's esophagus which i forgot, I currently have bumps in back of my throat, one Dr stated we all have bumps in the back of our throat.Im in pain.Standford specialist really dismissed me and now im really in limbo and trying to get properly cared for.I found a new gi and new pcp but its still a mess and medical is making it look like im a disability chaser when Im actively not well I look and feel horrible and its adding anxiety and depression more so.Im angery my condition is affecting me and its being down played 
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