Gluten Free Grand Rapids Dining Options
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Grand Rapids may be my most favorite city in Michigan. Not only does it have amazing sights, but the number of restaurants with gluten free dining options is astounding. From savory to sweet, Grand Rapids can’t be beat!
Where is Grand Rapids?
For those unfamiliar with the city, Grand Rapids is located about 35 miles east of Lake Michigan. The Grand River flows through the downtown area, which naturally separates it into east and west sections. Interstate 196 and US 131 also intersect downtown, which separate the city into north and south sections. Grand Rapids is north of Kalamazoo, east of Muskegon and west of Lansing. Grand Rapids is home to Gerald R Ford International airport.
What is Grand Rapids Famous For?
Grand Rapids is popular for so many reasons. Home to furniture manufacturering and Meijer stores, it has a vibrant economy and is also rich in arts and culture. Every year people visit the ArtPrize competition and LaughFest, in honor of the late Gilda Radner. It’s also known as “Beer City,” and will soon be getting its own dedicated gluten free brewery, Brewery Nyx.
What Attractions Should I Visit?
With so many great places, it’s hard to pick a favorite. I always recommend John Ball Zoo, with or without kids. Frederik Meijer Gardens on East Beltline is also a “must visit” location. Both the indoor and outside attractions are amazing. The Grand Rapids Public Museum is one of my favorites, and I still need to visit the Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum. Don’t miss the Grand Rapids Childrens’s Museum, also located downtown!
Love baseball? Catch a West Michigan White Caps minor league game. They offer gluten free concessions, too! Visit Van Andel Arena for Griffins hockey, and music concerts. Make sure to add Fulton Street Farmers Market and the Downtown Market to your itinerary, also. I love Bridge Street Market and Harvest Health for delicious gluten free groceries. Visit Experience Grand Rapids for more tourist informatoin.
Why Does Grand Rapids Offer So Many Gluten Free Options?
At one point, there was a strong and active Celiac Disease Support Group in the area. They helped educate physicians, hospital systems, grocery stores and restaurants on gluten free dining. Support group leaders visited restaurants to inspect their facilities and teach them how to minimize the risk of cross contact. The city also had a gluten free food fair.
While the group and the fair no longer exist, the prelimary work they did made a lasting impact. Area restaurants realized that the more they accommodated those with dining restrictions, the more people would frequent their business. In addition, as awareness of Celiac Disease continues to grow, so do available dining options.
Where Should I Eat?
I developed the list below with the help from those in the former support group. In full disclosure, I have not eaten at all of these locations. I placed an asterisk at restaurants where I have personally dined. In addition, please remember that food preparation methods can change, so ALWAYS ask questions before ordering. This list is not exhaustive, but compiled with the help of those who know to ask questions about cross contact, including shared fryers, etc.
Another comment in regards to “where.” I grew up in Lansing, and not Grand Rapids. In assigning eateries to areas, I started with the downtown area, and grouped them into areas, due to their geographic location to the downtown area. I embedded a map of these Grand Rapids gluten free dining suggestions, which you can use to get online directions.
Grand Rapids Gluten Free Restaurant Suggestions
Downtown Grand Rapids
Brewery Nyx (Dedicated Gluten Free) website
Butcher’s Union website
Condado Tacos my review
Luna website
Rise Authentic Baking Co.* (Dedicated Gluten Free and Vegan) website
San Chez Bistro* website
Two Beards Deli website
Northeast Grand Rapids
Anna’s House– Plainfield* website (Dedicated GF prep space)
Frosty Boy* (Plainfield location ONLY. NOT Cascade) website
Herb and Fire Pizzeria* website
Lucy’s Cafe website
The Melting Pot (GFCO Certified) website
Mitten Brewing Company* website
Northwest
East (East Hills/ Eastmont/ East Town)
The Electric Cheetah website
The Green Well website
Maru Sushi website
Matchbox Diner website
Noco Provisions website
Terra Grand Rapids website
Uncle Cheetah’s Soup Shop website
Wealthy Street Bakery / Hall Street Bakery* (Separate Dedicated GF Kitchen) website
Southeast (East Beltline)
Anna’s House* (Dedicated Gluten Free Prep Station) website
Buddy’s Pizza* website
The Cheesecake Factory website
Cooper’s Hawk Winery website
Core Life Eatery website
Papa Chops (Dedicated Gluten Free) website
Condado Tacos (my review)
Southwest- Grandville
Anna’s House (Dedicated Gluten Free Prep Station) website
Core Life Eatery* website
Tastefull Vegan Ice Cream website (100% gluten free and vegan ice cream stand. Soft serve made with oat milk.)
Outlying Areas
North: Comstock Park / Rockford / Cedar Springs
Amore Trattoria Italiana* website
Bostwick Lake Inn website
Cedar Springs Brewing* website
Corner Bar* website
Momma’s Boy website
South
East: Ada / Lowell
Flat River Grill website
Nonna’s : The Trattoria website
Mudpenny (Uses Kind Crumbs products) website
West
Other Grand Rapids Suggestions
I’ve mentioned Grand Rapids many other times on my blog. Check out my list of Michigan Gluten Free Bakers, local Cider Mills which offer gluten free donuts, and area coffee shops that serve baked goods from Kind Crumbs and Rise Authentic Baking. For more activity suggestions, visit From Michigan With Love’s list of Fun Things to do in Greater Grand Rapids.
Your turn! What’s your favorite place to eat, shop and play in Grand Rapids? With so much to see, I’m sure I’ve missed a bunch. What places would you recommend to visitors and tourists? Leave suggestions in the comments below.
Looking for dining recommendations in other cities? Visit my post on dining gluten free in Michigan.
Noble on 44th St. has tons of gluten-free options and vegan!
My concern about Nbole is that the cooking preparation has changed since the original ownwer. And someone I know works for them stats they no longer have dedicated prep spaces for gluten free food.
One that’s not listed is Pietros Italian Restaurant. I am not sure of their prep situation but they have a lot of gluten free options and their gluten free dinner roll is to die for! I had chicken parm with gluten free noodles and they put grilled chicken on it for me instead of the breaded chicken.
https://pietrosgr.com/menu/
Hello, is the pizza in the photo above from Amore? It looks amazing.Thanks.
yes it is
Slows BBQ has gluten free options. All the bbq is gr, fries are gf and fried alone, and sandwiches can be made without bread.
thanks for that suggestion 🙂
While I don’t think they have dedicated GF prep spaces:
-Kitchen 67 (Knapp’s Corner on the East Beltline) has GF burger buns at the very least.
-Vitale’s has pasta and pizza.
-CP Pizza in Comstock Park has GF and cauliflower crust.
Thank you for these recommendations.
https://thederbytavern.com/menu/
I was told they have a dedicated fryer.
Noodle Pig states on their website they use tamari and offer gluten free noodles .
I haven’t been to either
I’ve heard incredible things about Derby Tavern in Hudsonvill, and they are on my list of places I want to visit.
They are fantastic! Best meatloaf I’ve ever had (pre- and post- diagnosis)! Check out 5 Lakes Brewery if you’re in the area, too! They have a dedicated kitchen area (one of the owners is celiac).
Archival Brewing in Plainfield Township has great gluten free options. Not dedicated gluten free, but they told me they installed a dedicated fryer and were knowledgeable about celiac and cross contamination concerns.
Thanks for this tip!
Lucy’s in NE Grand Rapids was sold recently and has a new menu. I’ve messaged them twice to ask about gf availability and they have not replied. Nothing on the new menu is marked gf.
But… just a short distance up the street from Lucy’s is a new place called 616 Kabob and they have gf and a gf fryer. It is delicious.
Thanks for this information.