Top 15 Gluten-Free Cafes to Delight in Berkeley

Julie Mierkey

What a great find. We were in Berkeley for a show and booked this place by just looking up reviews and by proximity. The service and food was phenomenal. We had a very tasty wine, a gem salad, gluten free pizza and a dessert. It was the best gluten free pizza I've ever had. I can't wait to go back.

Sarah D

This is the typical situation where faddishness is giving it more popularity than it actually earns. Berkeley is prone to this kind of problem, where popularity is more a question of Insta rankings than actual merit. I stopped in twice in the past week. The first time, it was right after opening time and it was relatively empty. I was waited on by a person that later in the week I saw serving as a barista, she had an air of faint annoyance at having to actually interact and work with customers. On my second visit, today, she and her fellow barista were so engaged in their conversation for the entire 15 minutes that I was in the shop due to the long lines, that they were producing drinks at about half the speed that was possible. The line stretched from the counter to the door, and based on my former experience in a similar job, it would have been half this length if the people making the drinks put customers ahead of socializing with each other and looking cool. They almost never made eye contact with a customer the entire time I was there unless someone asked a question when picking up the drink, and often that person had to repeat the question in order to get their attention. This is completely unacceptable when you’re paying 10 bucks for a coffee and a treat. On the other hand, the young, slightly heavyset guy of color who waited on me at the register by the muffins was clearly committed to doing his job well. He tried to keep the line moving and his efforts to keep the service level high, was being thwarted by the chatty pair making the drinks, who ignored most of his questions the first time he asked them. Food and drink were 4 out of 5: the classic mochi muffin precisely as advertised, crunchy outside and mochi within. Slightly overbaked this time compared to my first visit. Iced coffee latte was excellent coffee but over sweet. Overall, the treats are unnecessarily too caloric, evidenced also by the clientele who range above the norm. The Asian food this place keeps trumpeting as its inspiration is much healthier than this extravaganza of sugar and high glycemic carbs in the mochi flour. Making a habit of this place would definitely be detrimental to your health. If they want to garner a higher rating, they need to coach the self-impressed barista staff on putting the customers first, and they need to add more options that showcase the delicacy, subtlety, and elegance of Asian cuisine instead of taking American sugar cravings and overeating, and combining them with some Asian flavors. Not recommended. In Berkeley, you have superior options for gluten-free, baked goods, and coffee.

Sara Palmieri

Platano

Charles Woodruff

Shailaja Bulusu

Really nice people and delicious food. The coffee comes in a cute large mug. They were able to make the California Benedict for me without diary or gluten. Not so great area of town, but very comfortable inside

John DeSerio

My absolutely go to for everything. Coffee, cakes, cupcakes, you name it they got it also my go to for gluten-free pistachio cake is to die for. Love the daily fruit muffin. Best carrot cake in town. They also did my wedding cakes. That good.

Ariana F

Stumbled upon this place while a friend was in a meeting. Wonderful service, friendly staff & food was yummy! Great if you’re gluten/dairy free - thanks!

Kathleen Ouellette

Michael Blais

Edward Leonard

James Hall

Alex Bow

Robin Eberle

Alfredo Wright

Edward Reny