Top 17 Gluten-Free Lunch Spots to Enjoy in City Center, Durham

Margo Taussig Pinkerton

I was shocked to see a negative review from a gluten-free person. I, too, am gluten free, and I have found them to always be very accommodating, including the non-soy soy sauce that they bring without my having to ask. We have eaten at M Sushi many times over the time since they first opened their doors next to The Durham, and we have never had anything but a superb experience. There are always differences of opinion, but we love M Sushi and will be heading there for our 25th wedding anniversary with the people who designed Mike's space.

Andrea Wainwright-Zimmerman

I loved it, great gluten-free options, quick service, really yummy!

Christina Marrazzo Cote

Great gluten free options

McKenna Wood

Great place to stop for a quick smoothie, juice or snack or work remotely from! I love the chocolate covered banana smoothie and their gluten free avocado toast! Lots of allergy friendly foods!

Carolina Conde

Vegeterian, vegan, gluten-free, and carnivorous options. Alcohol and alcohol-free drinks, with wines, cocktails, and beers to choose from. Kid's menu AND, ice-cream cake. Cozy area with books to read or buy, or both; a free podcast studio - how cool is that? 😎 Oh, and with a $2 donation, you can get yourself polaroided and immortalize yourself in the wall above the bar.

Steven Morgan

As someone from New York who has available access to a variety of international cuisine, this is by far one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever been to. The cauliflower appetizer was beyond amazing. My wife enjoyed the lamb chops, and I really enjoyed the chicken tikka masala was the best I ever had. The portions were very generous, garlic naan is must have, and the lychee sorbet dessert was the perfect ending to a great meal. Throughout our meal our waiter was very attentive, and made wonderful pairing suggestions. The manager and the owner came to speak with us during the meal, expressing their gratitude and appreciation for dining with them. I can not over express how satisfied we were by the time we left. In addition they have a large selection of vegetarian options, as well gluten free options. Its a restaurant everyone can enjoy.

Kevin Wolf

Came here for the first time last night, and the staff were great. I cannot eat wheat or dairy, and I ordered the mushroom special on gluten free crust with vegan cheese. It was incredible! No stomach issues. Also, they had a great gluten free crust and are able to accomodate a half-order GF

Cami Lattner

We left feeling underwhelmed by the entire experience. The restaurant was extremely loud—it felt overstimulating and made it hard to focus on conversation or enjoy the meal. While the decor itself is nicely done, the atmosphere was far from relaxing. We ordered a variety of dishes: tonkatsu ramen (gluten-free with rice noodles and no soy egg), fried dumplings, pork buns, skewered chicken hearts, grilled edamame (without togarashi), vegetable tempura, and matcha gelato. The ramen was disappointing—it tasted only of salty pork, with no depth or nuance. The broth had potential, but the dish as a whole didn’t come together. The dumplings were fine but forgettable. The pork buns were dry and lacking in flavor, and the dish felt incomplete. I didn’t try the chicken hearts myself, but they were tiny—smaller than grapes—and looked overcooked and dry. Each skewer had only three small pieces. The edamame was actually enjoyable. The grilled preparation gave it a great smoky flavor that stood out. The tempura, however, was overly greasy and made up mostly of okra, which no one at our table cared for. That dish, like a few others, went mostly untouched. The matcha gelato was good if you’re into matcha—light and not overly sweet. Service was okay. Our server never gave her name and initially entered the wrong item (vegetable ramen instead of tempura), then left both on the bill. She did correct it and was friendly. We also couldn’t help but notice there weren’t any Asian chefs or diners during our visit, which felt telling for a restaurant serving Japanese food. Overall, the food lacked flavor, the vibe was overwhelming, and we wouldn’t return.

Jana Stýblová

Came in today for lunch, the lass behind the counter made eye contact and turned around to continue prepping something. We were the only people in line to order. Her coworker nudged her so we could order, she persisted doing something (he wasn't doing anything and said he couldn't help us) and then took several minutes to turn around and engage us. We waited for 10 minutes. I asked a basic question about the WF (wheat free) tags being different than what they show online (which is GF Gluten Free, and not the same thing, I'm Celiac) and she just kept saying I don't know, I don't know, I don't know what that is. It was awful. It was disheartening and I was embarrassed, we turned around and left.

Alex Lipinski

Excellent food and service! Lots of gluten free options

Lawanda Fischer

Emily K

Food was meh, bland, nothing great. It was fine. Restaurant was pretty dark unless you reserve a window seat. Most food was hot, but our steak was cold. Menu is marked well with allergens. Gluten free options are clearly labeled. Our favorites were the beet salad and crab stuffed peppers. Least favorite was definitely the meat balls.

Tianee Johnson

Best Indian Food I have had in my life. The atmosphere, food, vibes. Everything was wonderful. I’m so happy they have a large selection of Vegan/Gluten Free food. Our server Kiana I believe her name was. So sorry if I’m spelling it wrong. She was amazing, knowledgeable, and so kind. Will definitely be back !

Allison Huff

Elaine Butler

Belinda Winbush

Larry Smith