Top 7 Gluten-Free Kid-Friendly Spots to Explore in Kensington, San Diego

Lior Seidel

Frank O'Connor

A nice bit of indoor and outdoor seating, everything was clean and well-kept. All the staff were very helpful and generally friendly and attentive. The burgers were all very good and the fries got rave reviews. It is nice having a place with legitimately good gluten-free offerings, and even vegan cheese for those that avoid dairy. Parking is street parking but there’s plenty of small side streets nearby. Prices were very good when compared to more mainline burger places.

Zach DeLorenzo

Great pasta and gluten free pizza

Adam A

Stopped by Stella Jean’s recently after hearing all the hype. The ice cream itself? No doubt, delicious. Creative flavors like Ube + Pandesal Toffee and Mango Sticky Rice live up to the buzz, and you can tell everything’s high quality and thoughtfully made. They even have great vegan and gluten-free options. But here’s the thing: the line was long—really long. Even though staff moved things along, it felt like too much of a wait for something that should be a casual treat. And the price? $6 for a single scoop (closer to $9.25 for a double) is hard to justify, no matter how good it is. Bottom line: if you’re down to splurge and wait in line for some of the most flavorful and unique ice cream in San Diego, it’s a solid pick. But between the price and the crowd, it’s not exactly a low-key stop. Three stars feels fair—great product, just not the most convenient experience.

S B

While visiting San Diego for the week, we stumbled upon Pappalecco in Kensington and were pleasantly surprised by the delicious food and wonderful service. They had a wide menu (including some tasty looking pizza and gelato), but we were loooking for a light lunch and settled on two gluten free paninis. The bread was so fresh and delicious we had to double check that it was really gluten free. The pollo panini and the Uovo panini were delicious. My husband tried the marocchino and the Nutella biscuit and was impressed. The service was quick and they were kind and friendly.

Carlton Lundgren

Clarissa Maloney

My neighborhood favorite. The breakfast especially is delicious and all the food is definitively authentic. You can eat your whole plate until you're full and regardless, will not feel heavy. Gluten free options galore. Celiac safe / celiac friendly.