Hello friends! Back in October, my husband and I decided to travel for our wedding anniversary to Seattle, Washington. It is a place we haven’t been to before, so it was such an exciting trip to take together. Not only did we get to celebrate our relationship, but we also got to enjoy plenty of delicious food!
I’ve done a little bit of research before we arrived, so this post will serve as a recap of all the delicious places we tried in Seattle. And as the title states–all of our visited spots are gluten-friendly.
All of the places below are a short walk away or a very short Uber ride away from our hotel, citizenM in South Lake Union! Check out my new video on Youtube to learn about our stay!
1. GhostFish Brewing Company – 5/5
This Seattle brewery is 100% gluten-free. No, it’s not a brewery that has a few gluten-free options. It’s seriously 100% gluten-free and that includes the food that they sell. We actually ended up visiting on a day that GhostFish had an event for their award-winning beer! That included at the bratwurst event.
To be able to order anything off the menu without worrying about cross-contamination or uncertain staff, I almost cried, I was THAT happy. All the food was incredible and paired so well with some great beers. The fries are truly terrific because they’re perfectly crispy. Also, as my personal recommendation–make sure you order some onion rings! The sauce that they come with is DELICIOUS! Plus, use the extra sauce (if you have any left) to dip your fries in! It’s a hit!
If you like beer (or miss it since going gluten-free), this is a safe bet for you. They have a variety from IPA’s, to Belgian’s and stouts–you’re bound to find something that you like. Be sure to check them out on their social media as well to see if there are any specials going on. We ended up experiencing some delicious one-night-only brews!
2. Honest Biscuits – 5/5
I discovered Honest Biscuits by simply browsing Google Maps while preparing for our trip. Being Gluten-free means that I need to spend a little extra time looking up places to eat. Let me just state that Seattle is very gluten-friendly! This had to be one of my most enjoyable trips for finding good eats along the way! Honest Biscuits is truly an awesome option while you’re in Seattle. They make both gluten-containing and gluten-free biscuits and both (confirmed by my husband) are incredible.
The gluten-free biscuit is so buttery and it doesn’t crumble. I had the bacon, egg, and cheese gluten-free biscuit sandwich and I am still thinking about it. Being able to enjoy a biscuit sandwich for breakfast in Seattle was such an awesome moment for me.
It was so good that my husband wanted us to stop by Honest Biscuits before we checked out of our hotel. Yes–it’s seriously that good.
Friendly tip–if you are gluten-free, get there early in the morning so they don’t run out.
Oh! And if you’re wanting to bring that biscuit love home after your travels, Honest Biscuits delivers using GoldBelly!
3.Portage Cafe – 5/5
On our last day in Seattle, we made reservations to Portage Bay Cafe which came highly recommended by online reviews and even locals overheard in our hotel. This local spot has reservations that fill up quickly, so make sure you call in or check online for a time slot that will work best for you. One of the best parts of Portage Bay Cafe is that the menu is clearly labeled when a dish is either Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, or even Vegan. This really takes the guesswork out of ordering, which is nice. Also, if you are ordering something that usually comes with a side of toast–their gluten-free toast is perfectly toasted and THICK! No wimpy slices that crumble immediately.
I had Joe’s Scramble which was absolutely satisfying. If you’re also a fan of pastry treats, then be sure to ask your waiter because they carry gluten-free pastries. While I did enjoy more savory breakfast, there are gluten-free options for every section of the menu.
4. Pike Place Chowder – 4.5/5
From my research, I found that not trying Pike Place Chowder would be sinful if you’re in Seattle. I completely agree. The line to get a cup or bread bowl of chowder was very long, however, do NOT let that deter you from standing in line and waiting. The line moves quickly and your orders are fulfilled quickly, too. There just isn’t too much seating inside, so the wait looks a lot longer than it really is. If you don’t want to wait, you can always place your order online.
There are two gluten-free options on the menu: Manhattan Chowder and Lime & Coconut Chowder (this one is also vegan). It’s nice to see some gluten-free options, but they aren’t loaded with seafood like some of the others. I suppose that would be my only downside. The Manhattan Chowder was a tomato broth-based soup with clams, which was very tasty, but I usually qualify a chowder to be a thickened soup that is really hearty. This was just a tomato broth with veggies and clams.
It’s still delicious, but I often wonder why restaurants aren’t using gluten-free flour to make a gluten-free roux. This just makes me want to make my own chowder just to get that nice rich flavor. Of course–I would still highly recommend Pike Place Chowder because the gluten-free soups are delicious. Although I sure did envy those eating chowder in bread bowls. Yes, confirming there are no gluten-free bread options to go with your soup.
I would like to shout out an employee at Pike Place Chowder, for recommending that I stick with the on-menu gluten-free chowders. The market choice chowder of the day was said to be gluten-free, but I was told it would be best I stayed with my original choices. Thanks!
5. Cinnamon Works – 5/5
If you’re enjoying your stroll through Pike Place Market, make a stop by Cinnamon Works. It is a bakery that still makes delicious treats from scratch. Even better? They have both gluten-free AND vegan options. I ended up ordering a cinnamon roll, which I happily waited extra for as a new batch of gluten-free rolls was in the oven. You can taste in each bite of the cinnamon roll (which wasn’t gigantic, by the way) that it was made from scratch and truly a labor of love.
Cinnamon Works really puts its heart into these creations and it’s so nice to see that when you’re wanting to stop by for a tasty treat. Plus, if you’re gluten-free, each of their treats on the menu (cookies, muffins, rolls), has a handful of gluten-free options rather than the one “token” cookie for those who are gluten-free. Major props to this awesome bakery! Thanks for making my decision actually difficult!
Is Seattle Seriously Gluten-Friendly? I Vote YES.
In my experience since going gluten-free, this was the most relaxed I have been while traveling. So little thought had to be put into picking places to eat at because most places we went to had gluten-free options. Okay–maybe some thought was put in, but overall it was a great experience. I know that when we come back, we’ll definitely be stopping by GhostFish and Honest Biscuits. Those two were truly memorable for us.
I hope you get to check out these places if you’re visiting Seattle! I can’t wait to see where our travels take us next!
Where would you like for us to take our gluten-free adventures next?
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