The Best Gluten-Free Restaurants in Dallas, Texas

(Updated July 2022) When I realized gluten was the culprit for the myriad of medical issues, I was devastated. On the one hand, I was grateful to have my path to wellness illuminated… but I honestly can’t describe my love for classic, pillowy glazed donuts from a hole-in-the-wall donut shop. Fortunately, Dallas (and the Dallas-Fort Worth area) has some incredible gluten-free restaurants. Or, at least, restaurants that cater to a gluten-free audience!

My Favorite Gluten-Free Restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth

In this post, I’m letting you in on all of my favorite restaurants and bakeries. However, there are very few places in Dallas-Fort Worth that have 100% dedicated gluten-free kitchens. For those of you avoiding cross-contamination, I’ve included a ✔ beside the places I consider able to prepare celiac-safe food. Now, onwards to the list!

(Disclaimer: I’m not a dietician or doctor, and I certainly can’t offer medical advice. Eating out is almost always a risk, but these are the gluten-free dining options I trust. Please, exercise your own judgment!)

Origin Kitchen and Bar (Dallas) ✔

Origin is easily my favorite restaurant in Dallas (and has been since I went gluten-free)! If not for the pandemic, I would have celebrated my last four birthdays here. The staff is so friendly and understanding of gluten-free diets. Chris, Sarah, Renee and the entire team are extremely accommodating. No dietary question can catch them off guard and the menu is packed with gluten-free goodness. Some of my favorite menu items are the gluten-free fried chicken, hanger steak, brussel sprout artichoke dip with malanga chips, gluten-free apple pie and the chocolate chip cookie trifecta. And, yes, they do have a dedicated fryer for all gluten-free items. Origin has quite the fan base, so be sure to make a reservation on OpenTable if you plan on dining there on the weekend!

Honest Taco (Dallas) ✔

Honest Taco is a recent addition to West Village in the Uptown area of Dallas. The entire menu is gluten-free (hallelujah!) and many items are dairy-free too. We’re already frequent visitors. If you visit, I highly recommend the guacamole and pita, chips and salsa, and virtually all of the tacos, though I’ve been going for the Havana and Camarón recently.

Hugos Invitados (Dallas and Las Colinas) ✔

Hugo’s Invitados is one of the most recent additions to West Village, which shares ownership with Honest Taco. It’s basically the more upscale but equally gluten-friendly big brother to Honest Taco. A friend and I visited recently and had the grilled octopus appetizer, which was delish (if you’re into eating cephalopods anyway)! I also had the salmon a la parilla, which was fantastic. The entire dessert menu is also gluten-free (but sadly not dairy-free unless you want sorbet).

Company Cafe (Dallas) ✔

For the gluten-free community in Dallas, Company Cafe is a staple — especially for brunch. They have gluten-free stuffed french toast, biscuits and gravy, gluten-free sour cream coffee cake, avocado toast, burgers, and an impressive selection of gluten-free desserts.

True Food Kitchen (Dallas and Plano) ✔

True Food Kitchen is a chain so you may have visited one before. However, it deserves mention because the food is always good, and they take dietary restrictions pretty seriously. When they have their fall menu on rotation, the lasagna is excellent! Otherwise, I usually opt for the ancient grains bowl (customized to be gluten-free, no farrow). I like to forego protein on that one and have them add roasted cauliflower — a combo that deserves a serious chef’s kiss. TFK is always a great option for a reliable, health-conscious meal.

Asian Mint (Dallas, Richardson) ✔

Asian Mint is another staple restaurant in terms of gluten-free food in Dallas. Led by Chef Nikki, they served a range of Thai dishes, including pad thai, pad kee mow, fried rice and curries. My go-to order is the red curry with extra veggies, while my husband always orders the pineapple fried rice. (Note: be sure you clarify that you need gluten-free food! Not all dishes are naturally gluten-free.)

Matt’s Rancho Martinez (Dallas, Garland) ✔

Matt’s is not an entirely gluten-free restaurant, but a vast majority of the menu either is gluten-free or can be prepared that way. If you’re in the area and looking for an authentic, no-frills Tex-Mex restaurant, Matt’s is the place you should visit. From a big basket of freshly-fried chips and a cup of queso to enchiladas, fajitas, and margaritas, Matt’s can fulfill all of your Tex-Mex desires. They understand gluten-free diets and are very accommodating. Just inform them of your intolerance and you should be in good hands.

Urban Rio (Plano) ✔

If you’re looking for an alternative Tex-Mex restaurant, Urban Rio is a great spot! Honestly, I prefer it over Matt’s. They have a solid understanding of the gluten-free diet and a dedicated fryer for their chips. Urban Rio’s black beans have beer in them, and guess what… it’s gluten-free beer! While I don’t really care about beer, I was so impressed they opted to use gluten-free beer in their recipes to make the food more accessible for those of us with dietary restrictions. My favorite dishes here are the chicken tinga enchiladas and tacos.

Terry Black’s Barbecue (Dallas)

I forgot to add a BBQ restaurant to my list of favorite gluten-free restaurants in Dallas originally. That may be a crime against humanity, so I’m adding one now! To this day, Terry Black’s is the best BBQ I’ve had in DFW (sorry Pecan Lodge and Hard Eight). Most of their food it naturally gluten-free too, which is a massive win. I’m not including a check mark here though since there’s always a lot of white bread being thrown around in BBQ restaurants.

Kenny’s Italian (Addison)

I’m leaving the checkmark off this one just because I know how much flour moves through an Italian restaurant’s kitchen. But, Kenny’s is famous for being a safe place for gluten-free Italian food. They even have baguettes (which aren’t the best in the world, but hey — bread!). All of the pasta dishes I’ve had have been delish, including the baked ziti and the alfredo.

Unrefined Bakery (Dallas, Frisco, Fort Worth) ✔

My only critique of Unrefined is the prices! But, their desserts and breads are so worth it. Unrefined’s pies are out of this world and a must-have at any family gathering. I can’t describe how happy I was to have their gluten-free chocolate cake as my first birthday cake after my diet changed. It’s places like this one that make you forget about your diet for once. I love swinging by Unrefined for an afternoon cupcake or a loaf of fresh pumpkin bread in the fall. Definitely add this gluten-free bakery to your list!

Flower Child (Dallas, Addison) ✔

Flower Child is another chain, but it’s a go-to restaurant for me pretty much every week. Though they serve both gluten-free and regular food, I’ve never had an issue with cross-contamination or errors. I’m a big fan of their avocado hummus with gluten-free pita, turkey and avocado cob salad and salmon bowl. Don’t even get me started on the chocolate chips cookies and gluten-free lemon olive oil cupcakes. Drool.

Unleavened (Dallas) ✔

Unleavened is even pricier than Flower Child, but this is another good spot for a fast-casual lunch. They offer gluten-free salads and wraps, including “the weekender,” which has cornstarch fried chicken, bacon and homemade buttermilk ranch dressing. I also like the West Coast wrap, which has fried shrimp, arugula, shredded carrots and sweet Thai chili sauce. And, of course, if you’d like to avoid fried foods, you can do that too.

Hat Creek Burger (Dallas, Richardson, Frisco, etc.) ✔

As if I haven’t talked about gluten-free fried foods enough, here’s another excellent option for you! Hat Creek is a community favorite for gluten-free junk food. Though they don’t offer gluten-free hamburger buns, they do have gluten-free fried chicken nuggets (flashers), tater tots, sweet potato fries and fried pickles(!). It’s obvious that they take food allergies seriously because their standard menu on the website has all the allergens listed out in plain sight.

Too Thai (Carrollton)

Too Thai feels like my little secret in terms of gluten-free food in Dallas-Fort Worth. I’m not including a checkmark because I know they have a small kitchen, so dine at your own risk. However, Too Thai is my go-to place when I want incredibly authentic and delicious Thai food. Their pad thai and the chicken fried rice are unreal. They also have homemade pickled jalapeños that I adore. Be careful, though! Their one through five spiciness scale is no-joke. Four and five will leave in pain (very delicious pain).

T-Swirl Crepe (Carrollton, Frisco)

Would it be an exaggeration to say that T-Swirl brought joy back into my life? Maybe, but not by much. Before my diet change, I studied abroad in Italy and ate every Nutella and banana crepe Florence had to offer. When I discovered that T-Swirl used rice flour in their crepes, I was over the moon. Their crepes are enormous, perfectly crisp and loaded with fillings. And, fortunately, most are gluten-free (or can be modified to be). However, I’m not including a checkmark here because they have a tiny prep station, which can be a little messy. Considering that there’s no wheat flour in their kitchen, I still feel pretty safe.

And, for now, that’s my list of gluten-free restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth. It’s not entirely comprehensive, but (in my humble opinion) it’s an excellent place to start. If you have favorites gluten-free restaurants in the area you think deserve a place on my list, drop me a comment! As a bonafide foodie, I’m always looking for new places to eat and share with my community.

XO, Lacey