Below is a list of my favorite restaurants in Boulder, Colorado. Everyday, readers ask me to tip them off about the best restaurants in Boulder. More often than not, y’all are interested in gluten-free restaurants, and a few of the below are just that. Every restaurant that I have listed will cater to special dietary needs and work with those that follow a gluten-free diet.
Gluten-Free Restaurants in Boulder
Keep in mind, the majority of these restaurants do not have dedicated gluten-free kitchens, or even gluten-free menus. I like them because they have great, fresh, wholesome food. Well, at least those listed in the first section do. Nevertheless, all of the eateries below will take the time and make the effort to provide a gluten-free meal when it is requested.
Arcana
Arcana serves locally sourced Colorado ingredients prepared using traditional techniques of American cuisine. Celiacs can eat safely here, I often order a bunless burger sans fries with extra greens. Restaurant is expensive.
909 Walnut Street
(303) 444-3885
Blooming Beets
Blooming Beets is Boulder’s first paleo restaurant. Everything on the menu is gluten-free and those with celiac disease can eat there very safely.
3303 30th Street
303-443-3479
Frasca
Frasca serves extremely expensive fine Italian food. Winner of James Beard award, this is one of the top restaurants in the country, if not the world.
1738 Pearl Street
303-442-6966
Fresh Thymes Eatery
Fresh Thymes Eatery is a 100% gluten-free restaurant owned by a friend of mine who also has celiac disease and MS. If you are gluten-free you can safely eat at this incredible dining spot with true peace of mind and total enjoyment. Incredibly reasonably priced, with food that is ethically sourced with the utmost care.
2500 30th Street #101
303-955-7988
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The Kitchen
The Kitchen has expensive seasonal food, that is primarily local, and is a nationally renowned restaurant.
1039 Pearl Street
303-544-5973
The Kitchen Next Door
The Kitchen Next Door has quick healthy food at a reasonable price and is incredibly family friendly.
1035 Pearl Street
303-542-8159
Oak
One of our favorite places to dine, Oak, has fantastic food, interesting drinks, and is expensive. The creative and exciting menu reminds me of dining at hot spots in the Napa Valley.
1400 Pearl Street
303-444-3622
Salt
Salt is Bradford Heap’s classic and pricey restaurant in downtown Boulder.
1047 Pearl Street
303-444-7258
Wonder Press
Wonder Press is an absolute must visit if you are in Boulder! It’s brimming with cold-pressed juice made fresh daily, in the best flavors you can think of. My boys go gaga for the fruit juices as well as the nut milks. I’m a fan of the Spicy Greens Juice and the Dandelion Coffee.
946 Pearl Street
970-618-7632
Zeal
If you didn’t think you could get cauliflower rice in a restaurant, you’re wrong. At Zeal you can.
1710 Pearl Street
720-708-6309
Zolo Grill
Super tasty Southwestern food with fresh local ingredients. Zolo Grill has a secret paleo menu, provided upon request.
2525 Arapahoe Avenue
303-449-0444
Child-Friendly and Gluten-Free
Noodles and Company
Noodles and Company offers some gluten-free dishes using rice noodles, be careful and make sure to ask what is currently GF as dishes can change.
1245 Alpine Ave
303-440-4340
I hope this list provides you with a general guide to gluten-free restaurants whether you live in Boulder or are just passing through town.
Please note, this list does not guarantee gluten-free service in any restaurant. Dishes can change and so can restaurants. Be kind to your servers and ask them what is easiest for the kitchen to make gluten-free. If you treat them well, they’ll partner with you in getting you the best food possible. Love your waiter staff and the hands that feed you!
marie says
Thanks Elana for the restuarants in Boulder. My writer friend and I are frequenting Coffee Shops these days for writing meetings and have found a few that have gluten free items that are yummy with coffee or tea: OZO’s on Baseline has the largest variety that I can tell, The Cup on Pearl (had a great zucchini pumpkin muffin that I’m trying to duplicate), and Pekoe on Broadway (for tea lovers). There are others I’m sure, but these have been the ones that make it really obvious that they have gluten free.
I am so excited about your success on the book. Congratulations again. Marie
Heather says
Seeing Beau Joe’s on that list reminds me of the old days, before the Beau Joe’s down here in the Springs closed. Which is a shame since I am just starting a gf diet and I know pizza is going to be my biggest issue.
Marie says
Funny! We were just in Boulder a week ago, visiting my husband’s family and would have loved this list.
We did eat at BeauJo’s and found their attentiveness to gluten free to be excellent.
Kalyn says
Hi there,
Sorry to leave a comment that’s off topic for this post, but I can’t seem to find your e-mail address! Just wanted to say that I’m very excited to be speaking on the panel with you at BlogHer Food and look forward to meeting you!
veggievixen says
wow, you are really lucky! dc is so not hip to food trends, veganism or food allergies. we have restaurants which have options but never entire restaurants dedicated to a specific food lifestyle, besides a few vegetarian only ones.
Etai Bar-on says
Udi’s just opened a new restaurant in Louisville, CO (185 south 104th street) that has an extensive gluten free salad and sandwich menu all made on our own gluten free breads. Udi’s Louisville is adjacent to our artisan bread bakery and you can see the baking action taking place next door to the dining room. However, our gluten free bread is actually baked in a separate dedicated gluten free facility in Denver (which is also open for customers).
I just wanted to also point out that two of the restaurants listed above, The Kitchen and Frasca, both serve Udi’s Artisan bread (not gluten free).
Gary Hubiak says
I have really enjoyed “4580 “, at 4580 North Broadway and consider it the most gluten sensitive restaurant in Boulder with the most extensine menu of gluten free entrees. All items gluten free are marked on the menu, more than half the items. They are very willing to make changes to suit gluten, and in my case dairy free, requests. And they have delicious gluten free bread as an appetizer! Cant remember when I’ve had delicious warm bread while waiting for the entrees! Elana, I am really surprised you don’t mentioned “4580” in your review of restaurants.
They also have periodic special meals with themes of currently farm fresh produce and they always have gluten free options for every course.
Emily says
What a handy little list for your local readers! We haven’t been out to eat in about 2 years and sometimes we really wish we could. It’s just too hard with so many variables that could go wrong when you have so many restrictions. It’s nice to have reccommendations from someone you trust and know has safely eaten there though! I do agree that smiling and being very kind helps a lot too :)
I think you should open up Boulder’s first GF restaurant and your boys can show off their famous chef skills!!
john says
just curious – you took your GF kids to restaurants but didn’t eat there? how does that work?
Elana says
John, I either skip a meal or have one when we get home :-)
Ligea says
Carelli’s also has a fantastic gluten free menu which was very well thought out – it’s a wonderful italian restaurant on Baseline and 30th. Restaurant 4580 in North Boulder has excellent gluten free options, including a gluten free table bread from a local GF baker (their eggs benedict with GF muffin is excellent for brunch on Sunday). There’s another place I love to go, but it’s slipping my mind at the moment. I’ll post again if I think of it.