Top 41 Gluten-Free Brunch Spots to Delight in Santa Cruz

Sven Pedersen

Cute cafe with great food that caters to dietary restrictions like gluten free, vegan and vegetarian.

Shachar bar

A great place. great street location. Comfortable seating for a family. The food was really good and served fast. There are many Gluten free options and the staff are aware of Cross contamination. Highly recommended

Minecraft Power

We went there today and even drove an hour to get there because we saw that it’s gluten free and vegan and NOT EXPENSIVE which is REALLY hard to find. And then you’d think there must be a catch, it can’t be vegan, gluten free, inexpensive AND delicious but damm it was it was really tasty and so filling, and overall the food felt like a warm hug and the owner was really nice as well :) so 5 stars, would recommend

Pooja Kodali

Hands down, it's the best gluten-free bun I have tasted so far !!! We visited Mad Yolks for a quick lunch and were immediately welcomed by friendly staff. We ordered a chicken sandwich, which was juice and crispy, and a mushroom sandwich was delicious as well! For drinks, we have Pineapple Orange, which had a refreshing twist for regular jasmine tea. The vibe and ambiance were warm. I would go back to try other items on the menu

Katie Teschler

Steamer Lane is the place to be! Everything on the menu is delicious, and the staff are very friendly and care deeply about the community of Santa Cruz. Their menu has expanded over the years, and a lot of care is taken by the whole team to make sure the all of their offerings are really tasty and inclusive to all dietary needs. I have celiac disease, and typically feel safe eating here. They have a handful of very tasty gluten free items, and are very friendly and accommodating. I love the breakfast tacos, poke and other fish bowls, fish tacos, chicken leg plate, and the burger (with no bun). As with pretty much all places, not guaranteed to have no cross contamination, but if you want them to take extra precautions, just ask! I remind them I have celiac and they do a great job :)

Vanessa Christie

Old school vibes, this place serves up reliable delicious breakfast staples and big portions. Perfect for Sunday morning after a night out. They have gluten free toast too, no extra charge. I had poached eggs and bacon, my boyfriend has Popeyes omelette which was huge and very cheesy. It’s cash only, but there’s an atm for $2. Felt like a hidden gem and great to support a long time, locally run restaurant.

TheOne Anjel

I found this place several years ago when I lived in Santa Cruz, I always ordered the frittata panini on gluten free. It was the best sandwich! Now I live 2.5 hrs away & go once a year. The last 2 years the sandwich was barely yummy & in fact this time - last week - they had the nerve to hand me a burnt sandwich - for $22! People were waiting on me so I opted not to send it back but it should not have been served that way in the first place. It's also been lacking flavor and little or no butter was used, plus they seem to remove the potato when I add avocado (which costs extra). The sweet carrot missing, as well. They obviously have different cooks now& less concern on what comes out of the kitchen. On top of only going once a year, it's also my only cheat day per year, so the disappointment was palpable. Last week was my last visit. They obviously don't want my repeat business.

Noelle Stanger

Great Mediterranean food dishes. Gluten-free vegetarian options available.

Jacqueline Kimmey

Absolutely love this place, food and ambiance is incredible ever since the renovation last summer!! The orange salmon and saffron pasta are my regular favorites, but whatever you get, don’t miss out on the pork belly bao buns or tuna wontons (order split in half to accommodate a gluten free guest)! The chef is very understanding and accommodates any dietary restrictions. Sit at the bar with the bartender Rainbow- he is the BEST! Special Valentine’s Day lobster and pomegranate risotto was to die for!

Robin K.

Gluten free options marked on menu marked by 'G' on the menu. Server was great.... Had the seafood risotto and it was fabulous. Will go back!!

Katherine Wilson

Wow, this place is the real deal. My friend and I came here for lunch. My friend who got one of the moles was immediately in love. She has a super sensitive sense of taste and smell, because she is a chef. I'm gluten free and vegan for medical reasons, and they have a huge menu to fit both needs!! The tacos, which is what I had, with vegan carne asada were super tasty, and the beans they came with are unbeatable. I would order more of those beans as a side! The guacamole was *delicious*. Their salsas are outstanding. The chef there is a woman, and we were informed that she wanted to bring her recipes from Oaxaca to her new residence, in Santa Cruz. We are LUCKY to be this woman's guests. The tortillas were handmade corn, and GORGEOUS. I felt like each recipe was a home recipe, safe for me to eat but also far more delicious than I could think up or make at home. My friend saw one of the larger dishes, go by and we both gasped. It looked like a baby dinosaur! If you haven't been there, ask your server how much you want to eat. Some of the dishes are huge and some are smaller, like the tacos (perfect for lunch, I thought). The food is so good there that you might be tempted by the desserts there as well. I have said restrictions, but someone else would probably go for it! Their servers are super nice too. I can't remember our server's name unfortunately, but we had really sweet young lady on Friday 3/21/25, so thank you!! She was communicative, attentive, sweet, and never said a mean word even though I asked her a couple times about something. Super nice. I definitely will keep this place in mind, even though I don't go out much, I love food, and their place is right down the street from my place. Thank you Copal!!

Jess M

Great family dinner. Lots of Gluten free options. Delish 🤩🌊

Allison Schimke

Menu marked with gluten free options.

Eriko Dreyer

One of the best weekend brunches in SC County! Highly recommend the Benedicts. Their gluten free options are excellent. No matter what you order, if you have toast, ask for the strawberry butter. It's divine.

Noelle Stanger

The food is okay, the service is excellent, and the atmosphere is busy. Options of gluten-free and vegetarian available.

Nick Leffler

Great service, great food, and a few options for the gluten free. I had some delicious pancakes and my wife had the gluten free French toast. It was a bit busy and we had to wait to be seated but once we were seated the service was great. I oversaw the sign saying to sign in when you arrive so be sure to do that. The waitress was kinda and accommodated my mistake gracefully though. Would definitely recommend this place for breakfast. My only disappointment is that I didn’t get to try the Cuban, those things are damn good and I’m sad to not see them in California more. On every block in Florida and I had them every day I was there. Will definitely try them here next time I’m back. Oh, as for the parking… it’s not ideal because there are exactly 9 parking spots but we found parking right in front of the salon on the street and it was so close it was more convenient than the parking lot.

Carrie Aiken

Totally local vibe for people of all kinds. Excellent gluten-free option

Roberta Rogers

I literally dream about these chicken wings and stop every trip to Santa Cruz! (Gluten free :) my son loves the Mac and cheese! (Regular, but very picky 5yo) Everything is so so good!

Anna Demongeot

Very good salmon fish and chips. The salads are good, but small for the price and a bit heavy on the dressing. It would be good if they used corn or potato starch rather than flour on the fries for those who are trying to avoid gluten (karma for stealing my husband's fries)

Marci Robertson

I love the food and that they have gluten free crepes that are actually good. I love their dill sauce!! The atmosphere is my fav! Outside it's like eating in a garden and I love all the little nooks they put their tables in. The service is always great!

Katy Anderson

My favorite place in downtown. Food is excellent. Gluten free options. Reasonable prices. Service is wonderful. Outdoor dining. Parking garage and street parking nearby.

John Dixon

R F

We came here and one of us had a gluten intolerance. The personnel was very helpful and tried to find gluten free options, and we found finally a good solution. Thanks for the help and the good service! Also the other food was good we eat there.

Agnes Masters

ACC Cardone

One of the best breakfast / brunch places in Santa Cruz! Be warned that this restaurant is so good that people will wait for hours to get a table on the weekend. I’m not sure if the wait is still as long, after the pandemic, but the food is still as good. I’m not fond of most breakfast foods, especially eggs (which I find to be one of the tastes and textures I despise more than almost any other “food”). However, Cafe Brasil’s egg dishes are actually something I look forward to eating! Honestly, I can count the number of egg dishes that I have ever liked on one hand (before trying the egg dishes here), and still have spare fingers. Yet, Cafe Brasil has several egg dishes that I really like! If you don’t want eggs, though, they have so many other options that you are guaranteed to find at least a few dishes that you will fall in love with, from standard American fare to the very unusual. The most popular item on the menu is the “acai bowl”, which is similar to a frozen smoothie made from raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries (the flavor of the açaí berries) with crunchy vanilla granola on top, and then sliced strawberries and bananas topping all of that. I promise that this açaí bowl tastes even better than it sounds like it would! Yum! I found this restaurant because a friend introduced me to it and I fell in love with the food. Every person I have brought here still talks about it when they visit, and asks to go back. — The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. — The outdoor seating is dog friendly. — There are plenty of options for most people with dietary restrictions; just let the staff know when you are ordering. (I am vegetarian and at least 1/2 of the menu is available for me to order with only a few items needing any adjustments. There are plenty of vegan options as well as gluten-free options. Just note that if you don’t tell your server, you should expect most dishes to come with fresh cooked bread and butter, and often pan fried potatoes.)

Garrison Williams

Delicious all you can eat vegan/gluten free Sri Lankan food. Not much more you could ask for.

Megan Dauphin

One of my favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz! I can get vegan gluten free curry noodle soup here that tastes amazing. My whole family loves the food here. Plus they are super quick and bring the food right out. I highly recommend Betty Noodles!

Ellen Calhoun

Rebekah Reed

Greg Lang

David Boyette

Kenneth Taylor

Gluten free options are NOT actually gluten free. Not good for those with Celiac disease or high sensitivity.

Josie Pappas

Food was great! Happy hour did not have many options. The menu didn’t include any gluten free notes but the receipt had it. Definitely would dine again. Fish tacos on homemade corn tortillas were excellent.

Ann Falk

While vacationing in Santa Cruz we found Kianti’s. The pesto veggie pizza with gluten free crust and vegan cheese was delicious. The pesto sauce is not vegan, but if you can have a little dairy make this your cheat day.

Margaret Kelly

Allison Schimke

Was so disappointed, they no longer have gluten free bread. Food is still amazing! And I love that they can accommodate a gluten allergy.

Douglas Heer

Kenneth Taylor

Fantastic food and experience every time I go! Additionally, I have Celiac disease (can’t have gluten unfortunately), and they always do a great job of having items that are actually gluten free, and also let me bring in my own gluten free bread and crackers so I could share and enjoy the Butter Board with the rest of my group. Always outstanding cocktails and food, and a very friendly and attentive staff. My favorite place for a special occasion!

Beverly Ellis

Sandy Glass

Atmosphere is definitely old school but well cared for. The service was excellent and attentive. The food was delicious and prepared correctly to complete all special requests, including an excellent gluten free bun for the burger. Highly recommend and will be back in the future to try their weekend brunch. We didn't do any alcohol with this dinner. So our price per person was lower.

Fliss

It was really good, they had gluten free bread and they added avocado on my sandwich without question when I asked so they are very flexible with adding things to the sandwich, I will bring coming here again.