Gluten Free Portland: A Complete Guide (By Locals)

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Gluten Free Portland, Oregon: A Complete Guide from a Local Celiac

And now, on to the gluten free food!

Well, not quite actually. First, let’s talk about how we’re going to organize this guide.

We’re going to have sections for gluten free restaurants, gluten free bakeries, and gluten free breweries. 

Importantly, all of the offerings in the bakery and brewery sections are 100% gluten free, so you don’t have to worry about cross-contact in an environment where flour and barley are potentially flying around.

Also, we don’t do gluten-reduced beer, and you probably shouldn’t either if you have Celiac Disease, so all of the gluten free breweries below are brewed with gluten free grains. 

If you’re curious what our process for discovering and vetting gluten free spots looks like, you can read our gluten free FAQ. 

At the end of the guide, we’ll answer the question “what is the best gluten free food in Portland?” with a top five list, and give you a handy map you can use to visualize where exactly all of these places are in the city. 

The Best Gluten Free Restaurants in Portland, Oregon

Note that every spot on this particular restaurant list is 100% gluten free, except for the last few which we’ve marked with “NOT 100% GLUTEN FREE” in the heading, and explained what is safe to order and what is not in the write up. 

We do our best to update this list as often as we can, but we also know that things in the restaurant industry change fast, and we don’t always catch them right when they happen.

Always make sure to double check directly with the restaurant (in advance, if possible) to confirm that they can still meet your needs. 

Also, if you happen to come across a place that’s closed or has changed, let us know either in the comments, or by email!

One of the things we like about DesiPDX (and their brick and mortar spot, Masala Lab, which is next on this list) is that they do a great job being inclusive with their menu, and making it easy for a group with multiple dietary restrictions (gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian/vegan, etc) to eat here. There are plenty of options for everyone, and the entire menu is gluten free. 

The first thing you’ll notice about everything at DesiPDX is that the food tastes FRESH. They do a great job sourcing their ingredients, and it shows. 

The menu consists of items that are served either as a bowl, which is the dish plus rice, or as part of a plate, which means you get all the fixings like pickled vegetables. 

The highlights of the menu are the cardamom chai chicken, which is excellent and a must-order if they haven’t run out. The masala pulled pork, which is braised in a sweet tamarind sauce (but it’s not overly sweet), is also great.

And last, but certainly not least, are the Methi Mirchi shrimp, which are perfectly seasoned with an herby, spicy seasoning. 

It’s from the same group that brought us DesiPDX, a food cart that is another one of our Portland favorites (it’s also in this guide), and offers something a little different than your average brunch spot. 

Their tagline is “Local Fare, Indian Flair,” and they have done a great job taking brunch classics and adding a little twist to make it their own. 

Let’s take the chaat hash as an example (though you could easily do the same for their other dishes like fried chicken and waffles). The first time we went to Masala Lab, we asked the server what we should order and they immediately responded with “the hash.”

We looked at each other and were a little skeptical, because we make hash at home fairly often, and it doesn’t seem like the most unique thing in the world. 

We’re here to tell you how wrong we were. 

Their chaat hash is a masterpiece, and is by far our favorite thing on the menu. They take a mixture of crispy potatoes and spices, add cubes of their house smoked bacon (which is incredible, they also have a tempeh option for vegans and vegetarians), and two fried eggs. 

The twist? Pickled vegetables, fried curry leaves, and a curried ketchup for dipping that really takes the entire thing to a different stratosphere from your average hash. 

For toasts and bread, they use New Cascadia Traditional, which you’ll see in the gluten free bakery section below (spoiler: it’s our favorite). They also have a housemade baked good (usually some sort of cake) for dessert, and an amazing chai that is coconut milk based. 

Enter Zilla Sake, which is 100% gluten free (they use gluten free tempura batter and exclusively tamari soy sauce). 

The other thing to know is that they have a female chef, Kate Koo, which is relatively rare as far as the sushi world goes. 

There are two different ways to experience a meal at Zilla Sake: ordering a-la-carte, or putting your destiny in the hands of the chef and doing an omakase experience, where you don’t really order, they just start putting things in front of you and you do one thing: eat (and probably drink sake between courses). 

Alysha is a little picky about fish, so we haven’t done omakase yet, but I have plans to when a friend is in town this spring!

The other thing we love about Zilla Sake is that they have an incredible selection of sake. In fact, it’s one of the best in the country, with somewhere between 40 and 90 bottles at any given time. 

Now, if you’re like we were before attending Fuyu Fest put on by Sunflower Sake in Portland, you might not really know much about sake.

We were in that position on our first visit to Zilla, and we asked our server to help us put together a sake flight with three very different sakes. 

They are only open for relatively limited hours -just on weekends for now – but it’s 100% worth prioritizing a visit here if you’re only in town for a short trip. The owners are super friendly, and the food is incredible and unique. 

The menu changes often, but there are two staples that are always on it: funnel cakes and corn dogs.

They have a variety of corn dog options, from your garden variety corn dog to what they call “zingers,” which are corn dogs topped with a few toppings (like Alysha’s favorite, the Linus and Lucy, with peanut butter, chili oil, and scallions).

They also have done fried chicken (or tofu) and funnel cake in the past, which is their take on chicken and waffles. It was excellent, especially with the cornmeal funnel cake and savory topping (we tried both sweet and savory to see which we preferred). 

The other cool part here is that they have a huge selection of vegan and vegetarian options. They have a vegan corn dog variant with a piece of fried tofu in place of the “dog” – which we order fairly often even though we’re not vegetarian or vegan.

It’s mainly a place to buy locally sourced fresh fish, and if you walk into their storefront on Woodstock you’re likely going to be a bit confused. However, around the corner is a little window to paradise where you can order safe gluten free fish and chips.

The reason? They do ice cream that is both gluten free AND vegan, and I’m not sure you’d ever be able to tell if you tasted them blind next to their dairy and gluten-full versions.

We’ve run into people here who have driven in from 30-45 minutes away just to get their hands on this ice cream! 

Yes, the cones are also gluten free (though see the note below – they do contain gluten free oats, if you avoid them). 

The best flavor they’ve ever made, in our humble opinion, is the peppermint patty flavor that they had around the holidays in 2022. Of their base flavors, we love the mint chocolate fudge and rocky road. 

Alongside the chicken, you’ll get handmade corn tortillas, roasted cabbage soaked in the juices of the chicken (yum), and your choice of super fresh salsas (mild to spicy – get the green one) and pickled vegetables. They also have a nice variety of sides, like beans, rice, and potatoes, which are a good accompaniment.

We go here fairly often, and basically walk away happy and satisfied every time. It’s a simple concept, but they execute it flawlessly. 

Oh, in the winter, they do pozole, and it’s really, really good. If they have it, you should probably order it. 

The draw here is the wood-fired cuisine inspired by Gourdet’s Haitian heritage.

As you’re sitting in the restaurant, which features an open kitchen, you’ll see the wood fire at the back of the kitchen, with chefs maneuvering whole chickens and fish in and out of the fire. 

We tried to get reservations here for a few weeks before deciding to just show up at opening and see if they had anything available. We managed to snag a table for two after about an hour of waiting, and it was magical. 

Now, after all the accolades, reservations are even more competitive.

However, we’ve noticed that if you look in the early morning, there are occasionally reservations available for the same day (usually they’re at off peak times, early or late). 

Definitely order the cauliflower main, which was the standout dish for us.

The rub is sweet and spicy, and we were this close to ordering a second one (or asking the people next to us, who tragically didn’t finish theirs, if we could have it). If Alysha ate beef, we would have ordered the smoky beef rib. 

The other thing to know here is that we enjoyed the sides and small plates equally, if not more than the main dishes.

We asked our server to help us figure out what to order, and ended up with a wide array of different, interesting dishes. 

The sides, in particular, are worth exploring, because they feature flavors and ingredients that we don’t usually encounter in our day-to-day lives, like the peanut creamed greens with peanuts and tomatoes, or the Diri Ak Sos Pwa, which is a stew of red kidney beans served over rice. 

Oh, and just order all of the desserts. We split two of them, including the banana upside down cake, and they were also unique and delicious (that salted caramel ice cream is excellent).

• Website: https://kannrestaurant.com/
• Instagram: @kannrestaurant
• Location: 548 SE Ash St, Portland, OR 97214

Either the cooktop is shared between corn and flour tortillas (and sometimes rolls for tortas), the topping and condiment containers are shared, or – and this is the case for most places – both.  

If you made us choose a regional cuisine from Mexico that would be the only thing we could eat for the rest of our lives, we would immediately choose Oaxacan food. 

While we haven’t been to Oaxaca yet, a mountainous region in southern Mexico (that produces some of the country’s best coffee, too!), when we see Oaxacan food, we are immediately intrigued. 

Tierra del Sol is a food cart – really, two food carts – serving up Oaxacan specialties like tlayudas and tetelas (two different shapes of masa that hail from Oaxaca), along with Oaxacan specialties like various moles (which are thickened with masa, not flour or breadcrumbs). 

And we’d say this is the best – and most authentic – Mexican food we’ve ever had in the United States (which is a relatively short list because of the aforementioned issue with burritos). 

Our favorite thing we’ve eaten is the tlayuda, which is a huge corn tortilla grilled until it’s crispy and then topped with beans, oaxaca cheese, greens, and your choice of meat or veggies (we like the chorizo as a topping/filling for basically anything they make).  

It’s MASSIVE. Like, two full meals for two people. It comes in one of those giant takeout pizza boxes!

In Portland, there are at least three places that serve gluten free fried chicken (and probably more that I’m forgetting) made in a dedicated facility. 

After extensive testing (read: stuffing our faces full of fried chicken), we think that Your Side Chicks is the best of the bunch. 

The chicken is SO juicy, and the breading is crispy. I’m always flabbergasted when I bite into the chicken here because anytime I make fried chicken at home, it’s either juicy and soggy OR tough and crispy. 

I guess that’s why Daniel, the chef, owner, plater, dishwasher, and salesman is the expert and not us. 

This is a food cart at Hawthorne Asylum in the Central Eastside (where the bar serves Mutantis Beer, which is great gluten free beer made in Portland). If there’s one thing you should do in Portland, it’s eat at a food cart. 

The menu is pretty simple. It’s fried chicken tenders, fries, kale slaw, or a combination of all three. Plus, they have chicken nuggets too (which I really like for the higher breading to chicken ratio). 

The other thing that’s really fun is the combination of sauces (the black garlic ranch and BBQ sauce are great) and rubs for the chicken (the Honey Habanero is our favorite). 

Yes, there are some unexpected quirks like the fact that it’s an extra dollar for a to-go container (which reflects the cost of the container, silverware, etc), and the good sauces cost extra (they also cost extra to make!).

But it’s a small business (read: at the time of writing, it’s quite literally a one man show), and they can’t absorb those extra costs as easily as a huge multinational corporation. 

It is worth noting that this place definitely leans more heavily towards the bar end of the spectrum, but they do have a relatively large menu of shareable dishes that offer a taste of the style of food that has made Kann a sensation over the past couple of years. 

Rather than focusing exclusively on Haitian food, they’ve expanded that purview to include inspiration taken from other Caribbean countries like the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago (among others). 

Reservations are still somewhat competitive – especially for Portland, which isn’t a particularly reservation-heavy city – but they’re decidedly easier to get than Kann itself (we booked ours a week or two in advance for a Saturday night, and there was plenty of availability). They’re available on Resy. 

The cocktails and mocktails – something we’re seeing more of recently, and we’re here for it – are the highlight here, we think. 

They’re inspired by Caribbean flavors, and feature inventive flavor combinations that top the list of the most interesting cocktails I’ve had in 2024 (which, admittedly, is not a terribly long list given the fact that one cocktail means a four day hangover these days). 

The Heron Vèt – a combination that includes pisco and salted plum that is shaken with an egg white like a pisco sour – was the highlight of the evening, at least for me. 

The food, though, is definitely not something to dismiss.

The accra – saltfish fritters – are excellent (at least partially because the sauce is marvelous), and you should absolutely save room for dessert to get their house banana split. 

Not so at Crave Crêperie, a dedicated gluten free food cart slinging both savory and sweet crêpes, all of which are gluten free!

It’s very much a one person show here – I’ve only ever seen the owner, Alana, working – and it can take a second to get your food during rushes. But it’s worth it. 

We like the Figgy Piggy and the Besto Pesto best, but all of their savory options are great (we’ve never actually had their sweet options yet).

A couple of things stand out here at Bastion. 

First, they have beer on tap, and they’re ALL GLUTEN FREE. Which is pretty unique – many of the places on this list have gluten free food and regular beer, and we love that they’ve fully committed. They usually have beer from Bierly and Mutantis, though it rotates. 

Second is the fried chicken and waffles, which are grain free (though you’d never know it). The chicken is crispy, the cashew cheese sauce adds a much-needed savory hit, and the waffles soak up the syrup and sauces perfectly.

It’s a brunch item, which means you can only get it Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Their tacos are made with locally sourced ingredients, coming from Oregon farmers and producers, and they have some really fun flavor combinations going on.

Our favorite, though, is a classic that reminds both of us of the tacos we had growing up – the Old E – which is an elevated take on the hard shell beef taco. 

Other than that, we usually go with one of their taco specials, which are constantly rotating and are piled high with various toppings.

You can also get a fried fish taco, which is fairly uncommon when it comes to gluten free tacos, and they have plenty of non-meat taco fillings that are equally creative. 

They’ve also got locations in Eugene and Corvallis if you happen to find yourself in one of those nearby places (IMPORTANT NOTE: The other two locations ARE NOT dedicated gluten free).

• Website: http://www.tacovorepnw.com/tacovore_portland.html
• Instagram: @tacovorepdx
• Location: 3707 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97212

At their Portland Cider House, just east of the river, they have 50+ taps of cider, and a 100% gluten free kitchen that serves up unsophisticated bar food – and I mean that in the BEST possible way. 

Think corn dogs, chicken wings, fully loaded tater tots, risotto balls, and more. It’s AMAZING.

I love cider, and think you will too. Their menu is color-coded to help you pick a cider to suit your tastes, and the staff is super helpful in that regard too. From bone-dry, to sickeningly sweet (in my opinion, anyway), there’s going to be something for your tastes.

• Website: https://schillingcider.com/cider-houses/portland/
• Instagram: @schillingciderhousepdx
• Location: 930 SE 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97214

In addition to being 100% gluten free, they have tons of options for vegans and vegetarians too. 

We got the lunch specials – banana blossom tacos and fish tacos – which are a solid deal and come with two tacos and some yucca fries. There’s also a bowl on the lunch menu, but we opted for the tacos. 

The funny part was that after biting into them, we could not, for the life of us, tell which one was the vegan taco and which was the fish. Which is generally a good sign (we figured it out eventually, but it took a solid minute or two of examining the fried items). 

The yucca fries and plantains are also fantastic, because of course they are. 

The dinner menu has far more options, including some delicious looking vegan options and fun cocktails. 

• Website: https://mestizopdx.com/
• Instagram: @mestizo.pdx
• Location: 2910 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202

If you’re not sure what an arepa is, let us explain – it’s basically a sandwich, with some sort of filling (usually braised meet, cheese, avocado, and sauce) stuffed inside a corn cake that is cooked to perfection on a hot griddle.

One of the first things we look for when we’re traveling is places making arepas because they’re usually gluten free, and they’re almost always delicious. 

El Pilón is a food cart serving up delicious Colombian food, including arepas, empanadas, and patacones. And it’s all gluten free! 

We spent six weeks in Colombia a few years ago, and fell in love with the country.

However, it wasn’t the easiest place to navigate with Celiac Disease, so we were ecstatic to find this cart that serves up some of the foods we fell in love with, without having to worry about whether or not things were safe for Celiacs. 

We’re big fans of the arepa El Pilón, which is stuffed with chicken, cheese, and spicy sauce, and the veggie empanadas, which have a herby potato filling. 

Bang Bang

We got takeout from Bang Bang (which according to readers, was a mistake, and we’ve been meaning to go back ever since!) and it wasn’t the best thing we’ve ever eaten. 

Some of their small plates are creative and pretty good, but it was fairly hit or miss. 

They do have good cocktails and a nice cider and wine selection, so my suggestion would be to focus on small plates and drinks. The drunken wings were good, and so was the cauliflower. 

• Website: http://www.bangbangpdx.com/
• Instagram: @bangbangpdx
• Location: 4727 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97213

Harlow

Harlow has a few locations around Portland now, and they’re all 100% gluten free and vegetarian, with lots of vegan options. 

They serve things like grain bowls, juices, smoothies. Honestly, though, while the food is safe and is fine, we’ve had a couple of experiences with the food that were pretty “meh.” We probably wouldn’t prioritize going here if you’ve only got a short trip, but it is nice to have a safe option on either Hawthorne or NW 23rd Ave. 

If you do go, get the vegan mac & cheese and biscuits and gravy!

• Website: https://harlowpdx.com/
• Instagram: @harlowportland
• Locations:3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214, 505 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210

Verde Cocina

Verde Cocina has a bunch of different locations in the city and surrounding area (three, to be exact) and they blend local Northwest ingredients with classic Mexican flavors and dishes.

It’s not the best, or the most authentic Mexican food we’ve ever had, but it’s pretty good, and worth a stop if you’re craving pozole or enchiladas. 

Oh, and they’re a 100% gluten free restaurant – no gluten in the kitchen, although they do serve beer. 

I’ve been to the one in the Pearl District, which is probably the one you’re going to end up at too. A little on the expensive side, but the food is good.

• Website: https://www.verdecocinamarket.com/
• Instagram: @verdecocina
• Locations: 1131 NW Hoyt St, Portland, OR 97209, 6446 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97239

The Whole Bowl

Pretty simple food here! It’s essentially one dish, with a few possible customizations. It’s a rice bowl with a tomatoey bean stew, avocado, cilantro, olives, cheese, and sour cream topped with their signature sauce. 

It’s not fancy. It’s not going to blow your mind. But it’s gluten free, pretty delicious, and relatively affordable, which makes it a good option for a quick lunch. 

• Website: https://thewholebowl.com/

No burritos at Taquería Los Puñales! They focus on tacos, specifically tacos de guisados, which feature fillings that are stewed and braised, rather than grilled or roasted. Which is our favorite style of tacos after our brief foray into the taco scene in Mexico City. 

They’re on Belmont St between 33rd and 34th, which is a fun stretch with a couple of good bars nearby.

They opened in 2020, which was undoubtedly a hard time to get into the restaurant business, but they pulled through (in part thanks to the patio out front, which allows for outdoor dining). 

The menu is 99% gluten free, with the only things to stay away from being the mole tacos (the sauce is prepared in a separate pot from others) and the tres leches cake (which is made offsite).

Everything else, from drinks to tacos to sides, is gluten free – though you should double check with them on arrival, they’re very friendly and happy to help. 

Tamale Boy (NOT 100% GF)

The tamales at Tamale Boy are the only thing that they could confidently say are safe for Celiacs, with everything else being cooked and prepared on shared equipment with the tortas (sandwiches) and flour tortillas.

The tamales, though, are made and steamed with special equipment, and wrapped in a non-edible container, so they should be safe. 

I’ve heard people say that they’ve eaten here “without getting sick,” but that doesn’t mean it’s safe – they don’t have the processes in place in the kitchen for items other than tamales.

Tamale Boy started as a catering company, evolved into food trucks, and now is a full-on empire in the Portland metro area. They have three brick-and-mortar locations with two in northeast Portland. 

Their tamales are both excellent and HUGE – it’s plenty of food for one person, and possibly two.

They come in two varieties – Oaxaqueño, a style from Oaxaca that is wrapped in banana leaf, and Norteño, which is wrapped in a corn husk (this is the type you usually encounter in the U.S., at least in our experience). 

Bamboo Sushi (NOT 100% GF)

I first discovered Bamboo Sushi up in Seattle when I was visiting family, and only when we moved to Portland did we realize that they have a bunch of locations here, too. 

The menu here is a little perplexing, but it IS safe for Celiacs because they use tamari, gluten free tempura batter, and the only items that contain gluten are not sushi, so all of the sushi is prepared in a safe environment. 

Teote (NOT 100% GF)

Teote serves up delicious Latin American street food, like Arepas and plantains. Their original location in southeast Portland is a very cool spot with an upstairs back patio with fire pits, a full bar, and a 100% gluten free kitchen.

However – it is worth noting that they call their menu gluten friendly and say that some ingredients may contain gluten. Avoid the chorizo, which is brought in and it’s unclear whether it is gluten free or not.

NOTE ABOUT THE LOCATION DOWNTOWN IN PINE ST. MARKET: They have a location inside Pine St Market downtown, but they serve burritos made on flour tortillas. Don’t order the tacos, which are grilled on the same surface. The arepas are made in a separate part of the kitchen, but they do handle gluten in that facility.

Overall, this is a great spot for gluten free travelers in Portland (aside from the Pine St Market location). Arepas are one of our favorite food groups, and Teote is a great place for you to be introduced to them.

Plus, mezcal.

They have a second location called the Mezcaleria up on NE Alberta with a limited food menu. And a huge menu of Mezcals. Cool spot to try some of the smoky Mexican spirit.

• Website: https://www.teotepdx.com/
• Instagram: @teote.pdx
• Locations: 1615 SE 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97214, 2700 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211

The Best Gluten Free Bakeries in Portland, Oregon (All Dedicated Gluten Free)

Portland is on another level in terms of the gluten free bakeries here. Seriously. In most bigger cities, there are a couple of bakery options, some good, some not so good. 

In Portland, there are AT LEAST three or four gluten free bakeries that would immediately catapult into just about any city’s top two or three gluten free bakeries. 

Los Angeles and New York City are the closest comparisons we can think of in terms of the number of excellent gluten free bakeries, and those two cities are roughly six and eleven times bigger in terms of population. 

It’s great, and it’s part of the reason we moved here permanently. 

We have an entire guide to the gluten free bakeries in Portland. That’s how good they are.

We’d put it in the top three, tied with Boulangerie Chambelland in Paris (read our guide to gluten free Paris for more!) for the top spot. 

The thing that New Cascadia is world class at is baking gluten free bread. Their bread products are incredible. Their Farmhouse Bread is our go-to everyday bread, and their Rustic Italian loaf is a special treat. 

We’re not saying that their pastries aren’t good – their brioche donuts and cheddar chive biscuits are also great – but the bread is where we think they stand out. 

Their expertise in bread also carries over to their pizza crust, which makes sense because, as we’ve learned through our recent experiments baking our own bread, is essentially bread. Their pizza crust is phenomenal. We remember the days when they used to have pizza nights and stay open at night and make big pizzas in their wood-fired oven. 

Due to staffing, they pulled back for a year or two and took pizza off the menu, but it has recently come back!

Now, a quick note at the top here. Usually, when we see “gluten free and vegan,” we immediately set our expectations lower because, in our experience, it can be difficult to get the texture right. 

While New Cascadia are experts at bread, we think Petunia’s is an expert in sweets (though their vegan breakfast biscuit sandwiches are pretty great too). 

The highlight at Petunia’s, at least for us, is their doughnuts on the weekends.

If you have never had a real fried gluten free donut, you should make it a priority to go to Petunia’s at opening on a Saturday or Sunday.

They’re legitimately in our top three gluten free doughnuts of all time. Crunchy on the outside, doughy on the inside. They’ve nailed the texture (especially when you consider they’re also vegan), and we’re here more than we’d like to admit. 

They only do them on the weekends, and they DO sell out, so get there around the time they open if you want them. 

In 2008, they started as a tiny operation, baking out of a home kitchen and selling at farmers markets around the Portland area.

Today, they operate out of a kitchen in Hillsboro (just outside of Portland), and do pop-ups at specific days and times all over the region. 

The key here is that you HAVE to order in advance (by Wednesday at 11:00 am), and select a pick up time and location.

Then, you have to be there within 15 minutes of your pickup time because they have to move on to the next pickup spot. They have a list of pickup times and locations on their website. 

We’re telling you that it’s worth jumping through the couple of hoops to get your hands on their baked goods, which are excellent. We’ve never ordered something that we’ve been unhappy with, and we order from them often. 

He has taken those experiences, along with flavors, techniques, and combinations from Vietnamese cuisine, and created both a restaurant (which we’ll add to the list once we actually get a chance to try it) and a bakery. 

If you don’t believe us when we say he’s talented, you might trust James Beard (who made him a semifinalist in their 2022 James Beard Awards) or Portland Monthly (who named him best chef of the year in 2022). 

Every time they’re open, which is usually Sunday mornings (at the time of writing, they’re on hiatus focused on the restaurant), we make it a priority to go here. We’ve been here for baked goods many times, and also for an impromptu ice cream pop up over the summer. Every time, we walk away with a smile on our face and satisfied stomachs. 

There are two things we really – and we truly mean this – love about Berlu. 

First, Vince and his staff, which occasionally includes his mother, who chats with the patrons lining up for her son’s baked goods like we’re part of the family, are incredibly warm and friendly.

He remembers us – and many of the other repeat customers before and after us – almost every time we’re in. Which, we think, is special. 

Second, we love Vince’s creative approach that is all about experimenting and trying things that most other chefs would likely never even think to try.

It’s a testament to his background and experiences that he’s able to find the boundaries and push on them to move into new territory. 

The baked goods at Berlu Bakery are truly unlike anything else that’s offered in Portland (or anywhere else on the west coast that we know of). Specifically – and we should clarify this – anything that’s offered gluten free and safe for Celiacs. 

Our first time here, we got a “one of everything,” which is where we fell in love with their Bánh Khoai Mì Nướng (a cassava cake with a really interesting texture) and the fruit/5 spice cake (the fruit rotates seasonally, and the cake is sweet and spicy, but in a baking spices way, not a spicy peppers way). 

Mochi donuts are something that we’ve seen more and more here in the United States over the past few years, and we’re here for it.

It’s unlike a fried donut, which we’ve covered above with Petunia’s (and New Cascadia) – it’s more chewy and doughy, and that’s not a bad thing. They use rice flour, and it’s baked – not fried. 

The best thing we’ve eaten here is their mochi donut breakfast sandwich, which is two unflavored mochi donuts, an egg patty, ham, cheese, and a delicious katsu sauce. YUM. 

Gluten Free Gem

Gluten Free Gem is in the Lloyd District on Broadway. 

It is a little bit out of the way for visitors to Portland (there’s not really a whole lot to do and see nearby if you’re a tourist), but is well worth a visit.

They have certified gluten free (by GFCO) baked goods, including donuts (and brownies, cookies, custom order cakes and pies, coffee cake, scones… the options are seemingly endless!). 

Their savory scones and coffee cakes are pretty good, as is their gluten free quiche. You can also find their baked goods at New Seasons Market, a local grocery store chain, if you can’t make it out to the bakery itself.

• Website: http://www.glutenfreegem.com/
• Instagram: @glutenfreegem
• Location: 140 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232

The Best Gluten Free Breweries in and Around Portland, Oregon

You know what else Portland is world-class in? Gluten free beer. Again, there is usually – at best – between zero and one gluten free brewery in cities of Portland’s size. And usually, it’s zero. For example, Seattle has exactly one, and it’s a bigger city than Portland. 

There are four dedicated gluten free breweries in Portland. More accurately, four within an hour of the city (three of them are inside the city limits). 

If you’re into delicious gluten free beer, Portland might be the best city in the country for you. 

Plus, they usually have a fun experimental beer or two on tap. A few times back, I got their “Ginger #5” which is their IPA no. 5 brewed with a “sh*t ton of ginger” according to the bartender. It’s probably my favorite beer from them. 

The last time we were there, we were lucky enough to have one of the brewers pouring beer, and I got to ask all sorts of fun questions and learn about both their operation, and gluten free brewing in general.

She was super happy with her carrot cake cream ale, which they had just released and was nothing like what I was expecting (it was not sweet at all!). 

Their location is up in northeast Portland, a few blocks north of Alberta, where they do both the brewing and the pouring. 

Not only do they make fantastic beer (the Guava IPA and Vanilla Stout I had were great, and Alysha liked the Passionfruit Sour), but they also have a tap for each of the other gluten free breweries in Oregon, along with their beer in bottles and cans. 

Moonshrimp Brewing

Moonshrimp is more of a small-batch, experimental gluten free brewery in southwest Portland. They have a “beer window” where you can pick up their beer, or you can find it at places like New Seasons Market and Market of Choice.

• Website: https://www.moonshrimpbrewing.com/
• Instagram: @moonshrimp_brewing
• Location: 8428 SW 22nd Ave, Portland, OR 97219

However, I wanted to touch on them here in the beer section too, because it’s also a 100% dedicated gluten free brewery within an hour of Portland.

They have a range of staple beers, and a rotating cast of two to three seasonal beers at any given time. You can find them on tap at the brewery, or in cans at various places around the state. 

Other Great Gluten Free Restaurants and Bakeries Just Outside of Portland

Within an hour or so of Portland, there are a few other spots that we want to put on your radar in case you find yourself nearby. 

Bigwig Donuts (Salem)

100% gluten free donut holes fried fresh-to-order. Need I say more? They are truly excellent when they’re right out of the fryer. 

Bigwig Donuts is in downtown Salem, which is a bit of a trek, but it makes a great stop on the way back from Silver Falls State Park or the Willamette Valley. 

They have rotating flavors of their donut holes, so you’ll have to check the menu the week of your trip. They generally have a few staples – like cinnamon sugar – and some more adventurous flavors like the amazing lavender earl gray.

You get to mix and match flavors, so you can try them all if you’d like! 

Columbia Gorge Bakery (White Salmon / Hood River)

If you find yourself out near Hood River, there’s a great 100% gluten free bakery across the river in White Salmon that you should definitely pay a visit to. We’ve stopped here multiple times, and while the baked goods aren’t quite at the same level as some of the Portland bakeries, it’s a good option to have out in the Gorge.

• Website: https://columbiagorgeglutenfree.com/
• Location: 740 E Steuben St, Bingen, WA 98605

Bierly Brewing (McMinnville

Bierly is one of FOUR dedicated gluten free breweries in Portland, but that’s actually not the reason they’re on this list. 

They’re here for the donuts, which are a weekend-only thing they do at their location in McMinnville, a small town about an hour west of Portland (another good day trip!). 

They have three flavors every weekend – the old fashioned is the best, especially straight out of the fryer! – and a rotating flavor that changes by the week. When we were there last, it was a birthday cake donut celebrating the birthday of the founder, JP. 

Since that first incredible donut experience, they’ve grown up, opening a taproom in McMinnville on Third Street (the main drag), where they have a more extensive food menu that includes onion rings, corn dogs, pesto grilled cheese, and donuts on the weekends. 

Kyra’s Bakeshop (Lake Oswego)

Kyra’s Bakeshop is a 100% gluten free bakery started by a four-time winner of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars – and she did it with gluten free cupcakes!

Similar to a lot of gluten free entrepreneurs, she was fed up with the lack of good baked goods out there, so she started making her own. 

Their cupcakes are phenomenal and the flavors rotate roughly every week. Which is no surprise, given her credentials. We really enjoyed the Raspberry Cheesecake cupcake we tried – the frosting was perfect.

They also make donuts, cinnamon rolls, and plenty of other baked goods. But the cupcakes are the highlight, at least for us (we’ve heard good things about their cinnamon rolls too). 

Gluten Free Restaurants in Portland, Mapped

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