We’ve been coming into Austin for 30+ years to find amazing food that can accomodate our various diets. I was vegetarian for 17 years; our whole family was gluten-free for 10 years…with various other preferences (vegan) and allergies (dairy) - so it’s always been tricky to eat out.

When we lived closer to town, we made a point to explore lots of culinary delights - from fancy and luxe, to cheap-ish quick bites.

Some of these are primarily veg-friendly, and some are very, very meaty.

I’ve put these restaurants and bakeries in no particular order. ALL have gluten-free options - and most prioritize fresh, local, whole foods.

Bookmark this page for future reference! …but be warned, my site is NOT a food blog!

AUSTIN’S BEST RESTAURANTS FOR FOODIES WITH FOOD ALLERGIES:

(according to me)

PikNik - This entire restaurant is gluten-free, allergy-conscious, and “happens to be good for you”. They use only avocado, coconut, and olive oil (no shitty canola or soy) and they’re peanut-free and refined-sugar-free, too. This is my favorite on the list - because it’s not a “vegan place” and it’s also not a “meat place”. Fantastic food with excellent ingredients, and a creative drink menu that caters to sober folks too. Three locations - South 1st, Burnet Road, and South Lamar. $$

Suerte - imagine traditional Mexican food (not TexMex, there’s a difference) from an abuela-elder’s kitchen, homegrown ingredients…then elevated by a nationally-acclaimed chef. They own land in South Texas where a unique strain of heritage corn is grown just for their stone-ground, hand-pressed tortilla chips. It’s out of this world. East of downtown. $$

Dai Due - I’ve had this on my list to try for ages; it’s a deli and restaurant, specializing in ancestral/paleo style foods like organ meats, wild game sausage, confit, and bone broth. We finally went there today for an early birthday lunch date (yes - I manifested that right in the middle of editing this post!), and it was incredible! East Austin. $$

yes that sandwich is in a bowl, soaking in bone broth - and yes, it was delicious

Blue Sushi Sake Grill - this place ruined me for sushi from any deli, not to mention it’s a lovely experience for a date night. Consciously, sustainably sourced nigiri, sashimi, maki…with clearly marked vegan, gluten-free, and allergy options throughout their menu. Raw yellowfin & grilled edamame were especially yummy. In the Domain. $$

Vinaigrette - if I called this a salad place, I’d be doing it a disgrace. Vinaigrette is a celebration of fresh, whole foods - loads of raw options, amazingly creative drinks, house-made sauces, meats and seafood, too. They also own a sustainable farm property in Bastrop, and this reflects in the quality of their ingredients. Off South Congress. $$

Sip Saam Thai - If you want proper Thai food that can be take-out, or a casual dinner, this is it. My husband specifically looks for duck dishes, and their Duck Curry is a house specialty. North Austin. $$

Estancia - this is a classic Brazilian steakhouse, all you can eat, with an upscale salad bar to impress any vegetarian, and (seriously) about 30+ different kinds of expertly grilled meats…all coming direct to your table by well-dressed staff who will cut exactly what you want onto your plate. We were delighted to find out that the cheesy bread rolls are gluten-free. Pricey but worth it. North Austin. $$$

Fabi + Rosi - This is a chef-style German restaurant that uses locally-sourced ingredients, and it’s in a charming old house on the river. We were delighted to find a place that could make things like schnitzel without gluten or dodgy processed ingredients - and it felt fancy and fresh. Central Austin. $$$

Hillside Farmacy - This restaurant is in a historical building owned by one of the oldest African American East Austin residents, and their focus is on local fare. Everything is made in house, so food allergies can be accomodated easily. I had a stunning charcuterie board with local cheeses, raw honey, and blueberry compote. East Austin. $$

The Clay Pit - Superb Indian food. Indian cuisine is also fantastic for accomodating both vegetarian and gluten-free, as a lot of their breading and thickening flour is besan, made from chickpeas. We first ate here in 2011, when some new (now dear) friends invited us out after an event. This place is in a historical building downtown, but they have a sister restaurant chain called Tarka that’s all over Austin and San Antonio. $$

Flower Child - This place prioritizes fresh, bright fare, with lots of options. Their menu indicates gluten-free, veg and vegan, keto, paleo, and even some sugar-free. It’s semi-casual; in three locations: The Domain, downtown, and Westlake. $$

Wilder Wood - This place is an entirely dedicated gluten-free restaurant and bakery. My daughter chose this place for her 6th birthday, and feasted on spaghetti, fried chicken, donuts and cinnamon rolls. They also have breakfast, burgers, Mexican fare, fried shrimp and kalamari, and even a kids’ menu. If you are strictly gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free … this restaurant feels like an incredible treat! Central Austin. $$

Black’s BBQ - There are several of these, all related. Lockhart is where the Black family started out, but according to my husband, the Black’s BBQ on Lamar, and also Terry Black’s BBQ are the best ones - specifically for brisket (Lamar) and short ribs (Terry Black’s on Barton Springs Rd). Yes, we’ve heard of Franklin. It’s very good too. Central Austin. $$

Via313 - This place serves gluten free and dairy-free pizzas that are just as yummy as their “regular stuff”! 313 is the area code of Detroit, Michigan. Imagine thick-crust, crunchy-edges; rectangular pizza with the sauce on top - and creative options like brisket and candied pears - as well as basic pepperoni. This chain is on fire, with new locations in Round Rock, Cedar Park, Central and South Austin. $

Nancy’s Sky Garden - This restaurant is unique, in that it serves very simple food that happens to be delicious and satisfying. Loads of fresh, steamed options - Buddha bowls, poke bowls, bright crunchy salads, and everything neatly separated, with dressing on the side! We loved their noodles so much we figured out how to make them at home. This place is excellent for gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian/vegan, and also picky eaters. Lakeline (North Austin). $

Mr. Natural - This is a 100% vegetarian restaurant and bakery that also has a lot of gluten-free options. I have made my own tiramisu from scratch, and still, Mr. Natural’s gluten-free tiramisu was amazing - and a great deal too. We used to go here for chocolate donuts when my kids were little. It’s got a health food store attached, too. East Austin and South Lamar locations. $

So I realize I’m all over the place - but a post about gluten-free Austin wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the lettuce-wrapped burgers at P Terry’s.

They’re a local fast-food chain, and they’re just what you need when you’ve been running errands too long, you’re tired and hangry, and you need to eat something that won’t make you feel awful afterward. They have veggie burgers, too.
From Georgetown to Kyle - all of Austin area. $

What have I missed?? Probably a lot!

I’ve wanted to do a health-foodie feature about Austin for awhile now.

Yes, I know I’m using the word ‘health’ loosely, in a post with several bakery recommendations. When you’ve got food allergies, sometimes it’s nice to eat food you didn’t have to make yourself…and sometimes it’s nice to treat yourself, too.

We love food, love to cook - and after a decade of being gluten-free and almost two decades of being vegetarian, I eat everything now and it’s delightful!

Finally…a story about the best-ever vegetarian restaurant - Veggie Heaven.

I became a vegetarian at age 14 - in rural Texas, 1995. There were hardly vegetarian options in restaurants back then…when I would awkwardly order a Big Mac at McDonald’s without the meat. (you can laugh - it WAS funny)

But then, there was Austin…a magical place with all these options!

They had Whole Foods (vegan mac-and-cheese in a box?!), Wheatsville Co-op (popcorn tofu from the deli?!?), and an entire restaurant where everything on the menu was vegetarian - a little place on Guadalupe called Veggie Heaven.

I first ate there with my mama when I was 16. It was an Asian fusion place that had dishes named things like Protein 2000 and Tofu Mushroom. It closed and re-opened several times over the last two decades, in different locations, until the pandemic killed it for good.

My adult kids had Veggie Heaven t-shirts when they were little, and it was where they always got boba tea, about 15 years before it got popular!

photo my mama took of Veggie Heaven in Austin, c. 1997

Places we want to try but haven’t yet:

Loro Steakhouse - Asian fusion steakhouse
Launderette - creative artistic upscale
Odd Duck/Barley Swine - local/fresh foodie
Uchiko - Japanese cuisine
Zucchini Kill - gluten free, vegan, soy-free bakery

What are your fave Austin area restaurants??

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