The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are home to many amazing restaurants and attractions… not to mention beautiful lakes and parks, it’s hard not to find yourself busy when here!
Living in Minneapolis, I constantly seek out the best gluten free restaurants I can find. Not just places that have gluten free menus, but restaurants that are Celiac-friendly as well.
Many of these places listed have been found through the FindMeGlutenFree app, my Nima Sensor app, or through word of mouth from some gluten free or Celiac friends. When it comes to the apps, I highly recommend checking both out! They really come in handy when traveling. You don’t need a Nima Sensor to download the app to see tested restaurants in the area, only if you wan’t to log your own test results.
If you have Celiac and like to travel or eat out a lot, I definitely do recommend Nima Sensor! It has saved me quite a few times, and it’s so easy to use and travel with!
Please note there are many other gluten free options in the Twin Cities. However, I either have not tried them yet or cannot personally recommend them. I have also listed a few restaurants that I have not personally tried, but have either done extensive research on or were recommended them by friends with Celiac. As always, check with the restaurant manager or call ahead of time to see if each place works for you.
As this list continues to grow, it will be updated! Last update was 09/13/2019
Big Bowl
One of my favorite places to eat! They have a separate gluten free menu and very knowledgeable staff. All gluten free dishes are overseen and carried out by a manager, and are plated on special plates with red rims. You can read more about Big Bowl in my full post HERE.
Brasa
This is a great restaurant with locations in both Minneapolis and St. Paul that focuses on ingredients and flavors from the southern U.S., Caribbean and Mexico. They also use many locally sourced products! Brasa’s website states that all food is gluten-free except sandwich rolls, sliced bread and cornbread.
Brim
Brim is a cute little restaurant in Minneapolis, right on the edge of Uptown. They specialize in healthy “bowl” dishes, and have a seasonal menu. They also have quite a few snacks, smoothies, and desserts. Everything (except a few drinks) is gluten free!
Ciao Bella
Ciao Bella is a wonderful little restaurant on the edge of Bloomington and Edina. They have a 100% scratch kitchen, so they are able to accommodate those with Celiac. The manager and waitress were very knowledgable, and ensured that anything I ordered would be made separately and would be safe for me to enjoy. I stuck with a steak and some potatoes for dinner, but they have quite a few options on the gluten free menu to choose from!
UPDATE: My second time eating here was even better. The waiters/waitresses are amazing and absolutely understand celiac. The manager we had that night was incredible, and she even let me know she stood over my plate while they were getting our meals together to make sure nothing touched it. I also had a chance to try their flourless chocolate cake for dessert, and it was just as amazing as the meal I ordered. 100% recommend!
Crave
Another favorite of mine with a few locations around the area. They have a great “gluten sensitive” menu, but are very experienced when it comes to Celiac and every manager I have spoken with has been fantastic. I’ve successfully had many different dishes here, which my Nima Sensor has approved – I even tested the cookies and cream cake for dessert! Experiences can vary depending on location, so be sure to speak with a manager before you order. You can read more about Crave in my full posts HERE.
Colita
A new hot restaurant in South Minneapolis that is 100% gluten free! It’s a unique Tex-Oaxacan restaurant that offers many smaller plates to share. They also have wild cocktails and drinks, and some pretty unique menu items that are absolutely delicious. It’s only open for dinner at this time, and you’ll need a reservation well in advance for their small dining area… but the wait is so worth it! Oh, and the churros for dessert are AMAZING.
Hola Arepa
This Latin restaurant has a TON of amazing reviews on my FindMeGlutenFree app! I’ve also heard great things from my gluten free friends, and I will be trying it soon. All of their menu items are gluten free unless otherwise stated.
Jimmy’s Kitchen and Bar
This American restaurant has an upscale-casual dining room (and a casual bar/lounge) that has plenty of gluten free options. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and has no hesitation accommodating to someone with celiac, and the chef himself came out to speak with me about my meal when I ordered. My Nima Sensor came back clean when testing my meal and the food was delicious!
Kona Grill
A great place for a mix of American food and sushi. They have a few locations, but unfortunately no longer have a separate gluten free menu… just a few items marked gluten free on their regular menu. They are very accommodating though, so speak with a manager to check on what that location can make safely. I’ve been told they can still make many menu items gluten free, including sushi! I’ve Nima Tested my dishes here, including side dishes, and have had a great experience every time.
Olivia’s Organic Cafe
Olivia’s Organic Cafe just opened September 2019, and all I can say is how AMAZING it is. This cute, very bright and clean restaurant is located in Burnsville and is 100% gluten free, dairy free (a la carte dairy items available upon request), peanut, shellfish, and fish free! They have a dedicated gluten free kitchen, and only source ingredients that are either certified gluten free and/or naturally gluten free and not prepared on shared equipment with wheat. All items are also organic and non-GMO! They are only open on weekends, but serve brunch all day and have absolutely delicious food.
Original Pancake House
A great place to enjoy breakfast or brunch with family and friends! Their gluten free items are clearly marked on their menu, and they use Pamela’s gluten free mixes for their pancakes and waffles. After speaking to a manager a few times, I’ve found the waffles are the safest – made in a dedicated gluten free waffle maker and all gluten free dishes come out on red plates. Pancakes can be gluten free but are made on a shared griddle, so please be aware they may not be Celiac-safe. I’ve had their delicious berry waffle a quite a few times now and have even tested it with my Nima Sensor! Just be advised that each location may be different… so speak to a manager before you order (espeically if you have Celiac). I frequent the Edina location.
Randy’s Pizza
This one’s on the other side of the cities in Oakdale/North St. Paul, but it’s a 100% gluten free pizza place! And yes, they seriously have the most delicious gluten free pizza! Randy, the owner, even comes out and talks with everyone who sits down to eat. It’s a small place at the moment, but they have some wonderful plans in the near future (including expanding) that we can’t wait to see!
Sassy Spoon
Another 100% gluten free restaurant! Sassy Spoon is near Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, and is easily the #1 place I recommend going. Lots of options for lunch and dinner, and they even have a weekend breakfast/brunch menu! You can read more about it in my full post HERE.
Twin City Grill
This upper-scale restaurant is part of the Lettuce Entertain You company….the same company that also owns/manages Big Bowl and Wildfire. It’s located in the Mall of America and has a pretty large gluten free menu! I’ve heard many great things from gluten free friends, and it has great reviews on the gluten free review apps I use. Make sure to check with a manager when visiting to see how their food is prepared and what items are the safest.
Wok in the Park
A fun local Asian Bistro in St. Louis Park that I found through my FindMeGlutenFree app. Almost everything is gluten free, and they clearly label those dishes with a GF symbol. I don’t believe they have a separate or dedicated gluten free fryer, however, and this is clearly stated on their menu next to the fried items. But their food is delicious! Get there early if you want to dine-in, it’s a small place with a small parking lot.
Starbucks and Caribou Coffee
Caribou Coffee is a Minnesota coffee chain similar to Starbucks. Both of these coffee shops have lots of gluten free options! Starbucks no longer sells their gluten free sandwiches, but they do have quite a few packaged gluten free snacks if you are looking for food. For Caribou, check with each location on which drinks you can enjoy there, but Caribou now sell gluten free breakfast sandwiches!
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