Top 16 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Havens to Explore in Santa Cruz

Sven Pedersen

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

Lore Blackburn

This place has good gluten free pizza. A little slow, but it was 5PM and there was a large crowd. The service was great as well!

Eugene Alexeev

Great gluten free options!

James Ehret

Awesome Gluten Free Buns. Great food. Love the portions.

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

Alan Garcia

Despite the small size of the location, this place is impressive! The background music is mellow, the seating arrangement is inviting, and the menu offers a unique selection of vegan, gluten-free, and original sushi. I tried the Yellowtail with green onion, The Twin Salmon Roll, and the Missing Piece, and everything was fresh, perfectly prepared, and delicious! I can't wait to come back, most likely with some friends. The chef and server were also very helpful and I appreciate their assistance.

Luke Swartz

Very fast, friendly service and generous positions at this popular spot. Pretty good with dietary restrictions: most of the menu is gluten free (or can be adjusted to be GF), although celiacs should know that the fryer does have cross contamination so avoid the tempura, etc (personally I’d label that as “low gluten” but the staff seems knowledgeable so just be sure to communicate what kind of restrictions you have). The food was a bit more mixed: really nice appetizers (salads, Akira fries, etc) and the fish is pretty fresh (the hamachi was especially tasty), but despite the rolls being very large (seriously we probably could have had 1 per person) they seemed surprisingly lacking in flavor, almost bland. Also I liked my sashimi but it came with rice that was downright bad: stuck together and overcooked. I’m half Japanese so maybe I’m picky, but people forget that “sushi” refers to rice, not fish, so it’s disappointing when a sushi place gets rice wrong. Overall a good experience, albeit with some caveats.

DR RICH DARCEY

Good food and they were very accommodating for someone who only eats gluten-free.

Megan Cheek

Had lunch at Far West Fungi today. Gluten free options were limited, by the person taking my order modified the salad to make it gluten free. He put together a tasty bowl of mushrooms with garlic and onions - delicious! My husband enjoyed the risotto balls and empanada

Garrison Williams

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

Kair'e Miler

Fantastic healthy find in midtown Santa Cruz. Organic Mexican food caught my eye. Most taqueria restaurants don’t have health and wellness in mind. Viva’s is the only Mexican restaurant that is forward thinking about what they are serving the community. I needed to find a place that will accommodate my need to have gluten free meals and this place has several to choose from and they are easy makes on the menu. I ordered the chicken enchilada plate. I am 100% satisfied with flavor, portion size and pricing. The staff was attentive and helpful. I would make the 3+ hour drive just to get this place again.

Caroline Martin

I’m SO thrilled we have a downtown location of PGA, I’ve been a fan for many years. I ordered takeout 2x recently and will be continuing to order regularly. My diet has changed a lot since I used to go to the old location, but luckily PGA has plenty of options for gluten free, dairy free, vegan. I love their emphasis on fresh local produce and the fact that they have their own farm is next level legit. Recently I ordered - the chopped salad, the beet salad, and the passion fruit chia pudding. All super healthy and delicious. I did add my own honey to the pudding which I recommend. The second time I ordered the California burger on a GF bun and fries. It was delicious. Tasted like a much fresher, more flavorful, healthier version of fast food The breakfast sandwiches are all delicious as well, i used to eat them often. This place rocks!

Ralph ibarra

First time here it's was delicious food taste fresh and was gluten free bread .Very clean great service.Meal does come with a candy mine was a 🍭

Edward Evers

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 :)

Theresa Miller