Top 15 Gluten-Free Kid-Friendly Spots to Explore in University Heights, San Diego

Donna Wong

Great food!! Ordered the eggplant, spicy noodles, pad Thai and pineapple fried rice. We finished everything, it was so yummy. Finished with the gluten free chocolate cake, definitely decadent. Will return when we're in town. Service was quick and friendly. Love this place.

Raj Singh

Good pizza. Celiac friendly if you let servers know. Family friendly

Corey Lyons

A great addition to San Diego’s restaurant and craft brew scene: We went for brunch on their soft opening. Many vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. The chicken fried chicken was amazing. The vegetable Benedict was also quite good. Our group also had the vegan breakfast sandwich, the lamb hash and the Kiwi feed (fabulous avocado toast) and nothing disappointed. Menu includes their own craft beer, wine, mimosas, etc. Great ambiance. Family friendly. Don’t miss the rooftop bar.

Lucy Peritz

So good! Incredibly delicious Thai food. Consistently good, and service is fast and friendly. Their panang curry is the absolute best one I’ve ever had. Their spice scale is legit too. If you want spicy, you can get spicy. Lots of gluten free and veggie options, too.

Brent

We’ve been coming here a couple times a year and it really become a place for 20 year olds. It is beautiful inside but so loud you have to scream to be heard. It’s basically an entire bar for a very young crowd. Don’t expect a nice quiet dinner. The starters are small. The lobster risotto was bland (we’ve had much better) and the cioppino was light on the seafood and also bland. The gluten free chocolate cake was so small all 4 of us burst out laughing when it came. The drinks were excellent. If we ever come back we will try sitting outside next to the street.

Serina Roth

The food is so flavorful, and they have gluten free injera. This place never disappoints.

Sam L

Fantastic breakfast! The food was delicious, prices were reasonable, and it's a charming, laid-back spot. This casual breakfast eatery offers lovely outdoor seating, and their cafe drinks are always good. Accommodates dietary restrictions: Gluten-free options are clearly labeled.

Bunny Bunns

The cashier was the beginning of this unfortunate experience and the food was the reason we left without finishing. From the start we asked the cashier about the food and he said “I don’t know I just eat it.” Okay, thanks bro. Two of the items ordered needed to be gluten free, the appetizer was a cauliflower buffalo wing, which he specified would be made in a separate pan as to not be contaminated by the oils that fry other breaded items. Okay fine. Never did he specify that it was frozen cauliflower heated up in a pan with buffalo sauce on it. He made it sound like it was similar to the menu item. Also when it came out it had one carrot and one stick of celery both cut in half to make 2 of each, but they were soaking wet and flavorless as if they had been sitting in water. The dressing was runny and didn’t taste anything like ranch. Probably one of the worst appetizers at a ridiculous price. Almost walked out then. Then the drunken Angel pasta sub gluten free, he didn’t specify it was with glass noodles. When the woman dropped it at the table she announced “here is the gluten free one” and left. Then she came back like “oh that’s not the gluten free one this is” completely dangerous and unprofessional to serve someone with a gluten allergy the wrong food. But what is worse was the two dishes looked completely different and not just because of the noodles. That was it, decided to leave right then. Honestly should have left at the behind because we ordered two glasses of wine to get 1/4 of a glass, tasted cheap. Should have known that in a place like this but why was the Pelligrino flat? We went here for the reviews but it was terrible. Got one meal comped and just left to go to a different restaurant. Really disappointed.

stephanie alvarenga

Just went to flavors of East Africa and had a great time filled with great flavorful food and a happy belly. The place itself had humble decor but was very clean, bright and inviting. The service was phenomenal and very much appreciated the server topping me off with my to go ginger turmeric drink. I ordered Kuku curry chicken with rice and eggplant all delicious. The amount was a very generous portion hence have enough for dinner and maybe even breakfast. The restaurant was able to accommodate one gluten free patron and another who’s dairy free & pescatarian. Hehe. Thank you Flavors of East Africa. You did not disappoint. Also, thank you to my Reddit friends who recommended this place! :)

Joshua Bradley

After walking out of my nearby hotel, I turned a corner and stumbled on Mama's Bakery, which I suspect is one of the best kept secrets in North Park. We are talking rediculously good street-style Lebanese shawarma. Good plates for gluten-free folks like myself and for the gluten-full, the Manaeesh flatbreads heated up on a traditional dome griddle looked amazing. Pro-tip: order the stuffed grape leaves

Miguel

No gluten free options on the menu like previously posted in other reviews fyi. Staff was nice. Coffee was good.

Bartosz Andrzej Roman

Good Brooklyn style pies and a nice selection of beers. Plenty of space for meeting with friends. They had gluten free & vegetarian option when I was there if you prefer. Please remember that Luigi's is cash only. They have an ATM if you forget.

Cassi Greenlee

Truly the worst brunch I’ve had in San Diego. The mimosa was $16 — I thought it had to be bottomless at first. It was basic. There was one gluten free option — a scramble (potatoes not GF due to cross contamination), that came in a trough and looked and tasted like dog food. It was cold, and after waiting an incredibly long time for our server to come back from her smoke break, we ended up flagging someone else to bring us a hot plate of food. When they brought it back, it was still cold. They forgot our side of bacon, and we couldn’t do anything about it because our server had disappeared. Food quality (it was also unseasoned), service, wait time, value (we split the scramble and got two drinks + coffee, it was $80 with tip) — all terrible. There are better options in SD.

Nawal El atiq

Mystic Mocha in San Diego is a true oasis! From the artistic decor to the thoughtfully crafted drinks, every detail invites you to relax and enjoy. Their vegan and gluten-free options are a bonus, and the patio is a peaceful retreat in the city. Highly recommend for coffee enthusiasts and foodies alike!

Melinda C

5 stars all around. Thank you Soichi for being my favorite restaurant in San Diego to dine at for the last 5 years. They are consistent in providing stellar sushi, friendly service with a smile, great hospitality, and a fun but chill ambiance. If it's your birthday, the chef will make you feel extra special with a serenade. They also consistently provide gluten free omakase at the restaurant; I feel just as welcomed as any other diner. Thank you always. Parking isn't bad. Reservations go out on the 1st of every month at noon; waitlists are available... stay vigilant and be patient. It's worth it!