Top 46 Gluten-Free Brunch Spots to Delight in Carlsbad

Gary B

The chilequilles had outstanding flavor and freshly made tortilla chips. My wife likes chilequilles, and I don't usually prefer them because I don't like soggy chips... However, these chips seemed fresh and crispy despite being in the green sauce. The Lemon Ricotta pancakes (opted for gluten free) were really good especially for being gluten free! There are so many menu options that sounds so good that we definitely have to come back to try them all. The service is great and fast. We dined on the patio with our fur baby where they provided blankets and heaters so we were very comfortable out there.

Summer Butler

Did online order. Completely missed my coffee order. Acted like they never got it. No syrup with our order, and didn’t give me the coconut I ordered for my French toast. Also no utensils. Completely missed it for our Mother’s Day to go order. Lots of gluten free options but missed it on service. Just realized also that my avocado toast with herbs has no herbs, no microgreens- so disappointed in this place!

Thomas Kirby

Safe haven for those with a gluten or dairy allergy. Tasty and healthy food as well. I’d recommend to fellow celiacs!

Michele Fleming

Sophie was amazing! Very easily adjusted meals for gluten-free and dairy free accommodations. Food was absolutely delicious!

Courtiney Perry Ramirez

Julianne C was absolutely was amazing! Food was great! Julianne C and the rest of the Bjs staff made sure that my food was gluten free!

T. Ray

Went for dinner and this place was hoppin'. The wait without a reservation is very long, so try to get one. Otherwise, plan to maneuver your way into the open bar seating, which is what we thoroughly enjoyed. The restaurant concept is fun and well carried throughout. The food and drinks were awesome and there are plenty of gluten free options. The staff was very helpful to guide us through the menu to avoid any gluten issues.

lisa dimond

Our server was "Spicy Mike" according to our receipt. 🙂 He was wonderful. He was helpful when figuring out gluten free options and was very patient and friendly.

Amy Reed

264 Fresco is an absolute gem! We had the pleasure of sitting upstairs on the deck, and the views of the ocean were simply breathtaking. The ambiance was perfect—elegant, bright, and inviting, with a mix of stylish and homey accents that made us feel right at home. The service was impeccable, with the staff being attentive and knowledgeable in gluten free options, making our experience even more special. The food was outstanding! As an Italian restaurant, Fresco 264 truly knows how to deliver. The wood-fired dishes were bursting with flavor! We also had a fantastic selection of appetizers, try the beef carpaccio and the meatballs! The drinks were on point, with a great variety of options to choose from. Whether you're looking for a cozy night out or a special occasion, Fresco 264 is the place to go. A note for families, the deck is always 21+ highly recommend!

Alexis Carmona

10/10!! Def recommend Food is delicious & gluten free!! The staff is amazing too 😊

Jeremie Sorrells

Cheesecake gluten free so delicious

Kat Blue

I love this little coffee shop! I happened to be looking for a place to wait traffic out with a friend where we could grab a snack and charge a laptop. This place is so much better than your average coffee shop.... don't even say the S word... they have indoor and outdoor seating, outlets for charging, happy hour with actual wine and beer, and the best gluten free bread ice ever had! I'm not a big coffee drinker but was prepared to order an iced latte or something when I noticed the happy hour sign. Wine seemed like a my better choice, so I ordered avo toast on gf bread and a bottle of white. It was delicious, just thinly sliced avocado, salt and pepper, but on the best gf bread ever and the avo was perfectly ripe. The sauv blanc I ordered was clean, vibrantly citrusy, and refreshing. Staff was friendly and acommodating, and another patron landed us an iPhone charger too! Everything was clean and appeared to be well maintained. I'll be back! BTW, ,I just called back to ask about that gf bread and they get it from Johann's bakery in Vista, family run.

Lee

I loved this place. Third time at a Brazilian steakhouse and this one was amazing. Very helpful staff and amazing meat. The best by far was the leg of lamb and the flank steak. The spicy picanha (top sirloin) was great. The only disappointment was the filet mignon was over salted and the short ribs were overcooked with no salt. Also pass on the sausage. Everything was great but the crispy lamb skin was incredible. Use the mashed potatoes to balance the saltiness. Amazing. Oh yeah the cheese cake was great to. Gluten free meats and most sides.

Sharon Pole

We came for Christmas Eve dinner which was a prefix menu. There were several choices per course with gluten free and vegetarian options. The food, drinks, and service were excellent. It's a hotel restaurant that is off the lobby so the ambiance doesn't quite match the quality of everything else but it didn't detract from our experience.

Marisa Watson

Excellent food, coffee and service. Gluten-free options available.

Amy Reed

"Wow, just wow. We went to Vigilucci's while we were visiting family, and it was an amazing dining experience. From the moment we walked, the ambience was elevated. The food? Forget about it. I had the risotto, which is gluten free, and it was clear it was homemade – like, seriously delicious. My son went for a steak, and it came out very undercooked so we unfortunately had to send it back. My husband had the sea scallops and raved about it all night. The view? Wow again. We timed it perfectly for sunset, and watching the sun dip into the ocean while we ate was just magical. It wasn't stuffy or anything, even though it's clearly a fancy place. It just felt…comfortable and celebratory. You can tell they really care about the little things, like how the table was set and how attentive our server was. I also heard they're adding a new patio next year with even better ocean views, as if it could get any better. If you're looking for a place to make a special memory, or just want an amazing meal with a killer view, you HAVE to try Vigilucci's!

Kelsey Paau

Absolutely delicious, and very accommodating to people with gluten allergies. They also have good vegan/vegetarian options!

Lauren Noel

I love this place and the food actually is really good. But it’s SO freaking expensive. I came here for lunch with my five-year-old and I got a bowl of lobster bisque and a chicken Caesar salad with gluten-free bread and an iced tea. With tip it was $64! That’s just crazy. I feel like I got ripped off.

Elle Borg

I recently planned a bachelorette trip and made a reservation for a sunset dinner at Chandler’s Oceanfront Dining. Unfortunately, the experience fell short of expectations, especially given the price point. From the start, communication was a struggle. It took weeks to receive responses from their team, which should have been my first red flag. Despite emailing multiple times about dietary restrictions, our waitress had no record of it. We had gluten-free guests, including the bride, and when she requested a side of fries (as there were no gluten-free starters available), they arrived breaded—with gluten-containing ingredients. A server at a restaurant of this caliber should be aware of allergens and dietary concerns, or at the very least, be willing to check and inform the guest. Beyond that, our waitress seemed irritated by simple requests, which made the experience feel unwelcoming. For the amount of money spent, I expected a higher level of professionalism and attention to detail. While the oceanfront view is beautiful, the poor service and lack of care for dietary needs left us disappointed. I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant for special occasions.

B Farnworth

We tried several lattes, including the Mexican mocha, and honey lavendar latter. I also really like the gluten-free pumpkin zucchini muffin.

K N

This is one of my favorite restaurants (this location AND the Hillcrest one, too!) The employees are great and the food is better than most similar places closer to my home. There are things on the menu that I haven't found anywhere else in the county. Even the non-spicy items have rich and complex flavors that keep me coming back... and bringing visitors to my home with me! Solid recommendation. They have a good vegetarian and Gluten-free selection. You have to be a little more careful to be dairy-free, but everyone here is very familiar with the menu and will answer any questions you have before you order.

Luca Plantinga

Service was 10/10, food was delicious, and it was an all around great experience. The server even took into account our gluten free allergies and was very understanding. I 100% recommend this restaurant.

Viv W

Yummy. A family favorite. A safe, delicious place for gluten-free. Try the mango mint iced tea.

No Name

The gluten free waffle is amazing! I wish they had a location in Texas.

sherrill young

They are NOT gluten free

Tim Stanton

We love BOGO burger Tuesdays for lunch. It's a great deal for two people. The burgers are always hot and tasty and my wife says their gluten free bun is the best...and she has tried many. They are willing to accommodate my frequent request to get a side salad instead of fries...when I am being "good". The vinaigrette dressing is surprisingly tasty. The lunch atmosphere is reasonably quiet so we can easily converse. Sports are typically playing on the TVs so you can catch some action if interested, but it's not obtrusive.

ABetC Design

I went to lunch with a group of 9 co-workers. I was considering missing it completely because the lunch menu didn't have anything vegan & gluten free however I looked at the dinner menu and I saw that they offer a vegan ravioli with gluten free pasta. When we arrived I asked the waiter if I could order from the dinner menu, he checked with the kitchen and I was happy to hear that I could. My dish was delicious and light. Great, simple flavors. The gluten free pasta was not "chewy" and the vegan cheese center was very tasty, not over the top "vegan cheesy" (if you know what I mean.) I would definitely go back since there is something I can order and enjoy. The service was also good.

Frank O'Connor

First of all, the newly renovated restaurant is stunning. Everything looks really high-end and modern without being pretentious. Perfect for a golf club-type dining experience. The lunch menu is a bit limited but everything we had was delightful. The salmon was super tender and moist, the fish tacos were yummy, and the wagyu burger and ahi sandwiches were great. The spicy ketchup was a notable hit too. The cherry pie looked really good too. And prices were very fair for the quality and portions. The new chef seems great and the menu was well-balanced and lots of reasonably healthy options. And it’s an easy menu for people with gluten allergies. The service was spotty. Our main server was not around much and so 3 other servers ended up rotating through our table during service to both serve dishes and clear plates. And drinks were rarely refilled even if empty for a long while. Not a big deal to me personally, but for a practically empty restaurant at lunch and at this price point, that was a tad disappointing. However, all the staff were very friendly and welcoming, especially the hostess.

Emily Adams

Great location and good food!! No specifically gluten free menu, but we had a server who was gluten free herself so she helped us to figure out what would be OK to eat. To be fair, this is not the best Mexican food I've ever had(but it is good!!), but the location makes the experience fun. :)

ForOurDog

SKC is a nice place to stop for breakfast if you have your dogs with you and are looking for a gluten-free meal. Our short rib and hashbrown cakes was very good, perfectly flavored on the mild-side, and a filling portion to enjoy. Our Monterey omelet was missing something, we cannot figure out what should be added or left out. The bacon was great, but we lost the rest of the flavoring.

Carol Horsley

Done the Yard House three times as a family get together, dealing with vegans, soy intolerants, gluten-frees, low carbs, you name it. They have an expansive enough food (and alcohol) menu to satisfy just about anybody. The low carb guy gets the jambalaya but has them put it on a bed of spinach instead of on noodles or rice; they do substitutions within reason. The fussy drinker got something where they happily substituted mescal for whatever the primary liquor was. The soy intolerant gets the ahi sandwich with a gluten-free bun and the sauce on the side. I don't care what the vegan gets, haha.

Amanda Smith

The best location around (I’ve been to at least 3 other nearby locations). They’re super good about ensuring gluten allergies are handled appropriately (alerting the kitchen and changing gloves) and their food is fresh and isn’t over cooked.

Angela Geurts

gluten free wrap option, good salads

Fernanda Solana

Nice little cafe on a corner, with gluten free pastry options! The staff was very friendly, I had the gluten free almond cake, which was pretty good! Don’t miss this cute cafe when visiting Carlsbad

Bob Zomermaand

The gluten free pizza is the best we have ever had. The crust is thick and soft. The toppings are a variety of unusual choices, along with margherita and pepperoni. The cost is very reasonable for such a good pizza.

Jill

Great, casual, place to go with friends. Many types of food in the hall. Something for everyone. A few places had gluten free items. Plenty of parking and tables when I was there. Maybe I got there at the right time. Entrance was rather odd. Some other minor details could be improved, but this is such an easy way to eat out with friends. Friends all got food at different stands and all were happy with their food.

Ari Khagi

Very mediocre. Service was okay, coffee was actually quite good but the food was just bad. Not sure how difficult it is to prepare eggs sunny side up but they manage to make it tasteless. Just like the hash browns. The gluten free pancakes tasted like a... nothing. Will not return for sure.

Russell Smith

Great food, and they can do gluten free for the sandwiches

bigjoeb 71

I haven't given a food review in a while but I have to for this place. My daughter and I went for a walk on the beach and our usual places were closed so we tried this place. They have gluten-free option for my wife and daughter, and the wraps for hearty and delicious. My son ordered the cheese steak, I had the pastrami, and both were filled with good quality meat and made to order. The service was great as well, I will definitely be back soon! Joe

Mark Richter

Good food, pricey, which is sort of expected at a resort. Limited fare, very few gluten free non dairy choices, and only by request. Top notch service, though. They offered to make something special to accommodate my dietary needs.

Sheila Malmo

Good service, not too hot, gluten free options available

Peter Moreno

Señor Grubby's is the best! We actually had them cater our WEDDING and they did a fantastic job! Not only did they allow us to create a custom, breakfast-themed menu, they went out of their way to purchase gluten free options, made pancakes, MTO omelets, coffee and more! Natalie and her team were friendly, on time, easy to communicate with, and most importantly put out some great food! I would highly recommend them for catering services and of course the regular restaurant food is delicious as well, can't beat their burritos! Thanks so much!!

Chris Melvin

El Tejate was an amazing experience and some of the most delicious food! My wife has celiac disease (no gluten - no wheat/rye/barley/oats) but she was able to eat 95% of the food offered here! We live in Lake Elsinore but we definitely plan to come back for more food and the great/friendly service!! Would love if you're eventually able to expand out towards us 😉

MH

Vegan-gluten free options! Live music. Gluten-free beer. Thank you, Michelle! Great to see everyone (Jackie and all)! 😉💕 Great, food, service, drinks, atmosphere and views!

Maddie Dobbl

They do have gluten free options dog friendly and great food. I went here today and loved sitting outside with my two dogs my mom has a gluten allergy but was able to get a gluten free option with fruit the flowers are beautiful to look at I loved the service I go here every year I come to Cali nd have never been disappointed

Diana Lloyd

Old fashioned diner. Good service, sime food well prepared and served quickly. Gluten free options

Amy Reed

We had an amazing experience at Fresco Cocina! The food was absolutely delicious—authentic, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. From the fresh chips and salsa to the incredible entrees, every bite was fantastic. What really made our visit special was our server, Matt. He was attentive, friendly, and made great recommendations. His service was top-notch, and he truly went above and beyond to make sure we had a great meal. He was knowledgeable with gluten-free options. If you’re looking for great Mexican food with excellent service and plenty of gluten-free options, this is the place to go. Highly recommend, and we’ll definitely be back!