Cuisine Scene: Gluten-Free Options
For those with gluten sensitivities or who must avoid gluten altogether, you have many options for finding amenable eats in Long Beach. Some of the most popular restaurants offer fully gluten-free sections of their menus, plus you can find a gluten-free bakery, and many restaurants with items like gluten-free pizza, burger buns, pasta, and pie.
FOOD-ALLERGY FOCUS
Noble Rotisserie (6460 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste 125) draws diners from across the country because of its specialized menu. Created by a local parent who has two children with severe food allergies, Noble prides itself on transparency around their food preparation and sourcing. Gluten-free menu items, from the steak and eggs breakfast dish to a teriyaki chicken bowl, are clearly marked, and some items can be requested gluten-free, as well. You’ll find Noble Rotisserie on the marina side of the 2ND & PCH shopping center.
MORE ON THE MENU
Located in Shoreline Village with a view of the Queen Mary across the water, Parkers’ Lighthouse (435 Shoreline Village Dr) offers gluten-free lunch and dinner menus. California’s first bar and restaurant celebrating women’s sports, Watch Me! Sports Bar (6527 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Unit B-2) serves burgers on a gluten-free bun on request. Several portions of the barbecue-centric menu at Naples Rib Co. (5800 E 2nd St) are marked as gluten-free, and in Bixby Knolls, Nonna Mercato (3722 Atlantic Ave) offers gluten free items in their bakery, including granola, donuts, and muffins.
PIZZA PIZZA!
Nearly every local pizza restaurant offers a gluten-free option, from the traditional Roman style woodfired pizzas at La Parolaccia Osteria (2945 E Broadway) to the pizzas inspired by the love of horror and metal at The 4th Horseman (121 W 4th St). Both will substitute a gluten-free crust on request, and the Horseman also offers cauliflower crust for any pizza. Other pizza shops friendly to gluten-free diners include Rance’s Chicago Pizza (5258 2nd St) and Buono’s (250 W Ocean Blvd A / 401 W Willow St), which also offers gluten-free pasta.
ASIAN FLAVOR
Several local Asian restaurants have gluten-free items on their menus, including Nomad Asian Bistro (6563 E Pacific Coast Hwy), which specializes in dishes from Northern China. Many items throughout the extensive menu are marked as gluten-free, including a gluten-free chow fun noodle dish. Located inside the 2ND & PCH shopping center, Jinya Ramen offers a choice of gluten-free noodles as well as a few veggie-forward gluten-free appetizers, such as edamame and caramelized cauliflower.
SWEET TREATS
Your sweet tooth will not suffer in Long Beach if you are looking for gluten-free desserts. Try the salted caramel pie at Laurie’s Pie Bar, made with a brownie crust and topped with a layer of caramel mousse and chocolate ganache. Colombian restaurant Selva (4137 E Anaheim St) makes gluten-free buñuelos in a separate fryer to avoid cross contamination. Frosted Cupcakery (4817 2nd St) offers a gluten-free cupcake on its menu daily, with flavors changing each month. Indulge completely at Twice Baked (8185 E Wardlow Rd) a fully gluten-free bakery offering everything from cakes and cookies to pastries and donuts.
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