Go Gluten Free At These 5 Bergen Eateries

Whether you’re dieting or accommodating a food sensitivity, these local restaurants make gluten-free food delicious.

After a summer of burgers and fries, one may choose to eliminate certain foods from their daily diet for a bit. There are some people, however, who need to avoid common food ingredients every day to stay healthy. This is especially true for those with Celiac disease, which is a condition that causes an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein often found in bread and pasta, for instance. The response can cause serious, sometimes irreversible damage to the small intestine’s lining if the protein is not avoided.

Today, Sept. 13, is Celiac Disease Awareness Day. For those who don’t suffer from the disease, you need not give up your favorite foods to observe the day—but it’s a great opportunity to educate yourself on it. It’s also the perfect time to support the businesses around the county that make gluten-free options both delicious and available.

(Even at dedicated establishments, it’s always good to double-check with your server if you’re not sure about the gluten content of a specific menu item. Better to be safe than sorry!)

Here are five gluten-free options around Bergen County, some of them picks in our 2023 or 2024’s Readers’ Choice Awards and all of them highly rated:

• Alt-Eats Café. This former Readers’ Choice selection in Ho-Ho-Kus offers an impressive spread of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• American Bulldog Coffee Roasters. Located in downtown Ridgewood, the bakery at this 2024 Readers’ Choice winner specializes in gluten-free treats, from cookies to muffins to breakfast bars.
• Green Fusion. You can enjoy salads, soup and heartier fair at this popular vegan restaurant, also in Ridgewood. All items which contain gluten on the menu are clearly marked.
• Simply Green Café. The vegetarian chick’n Caesar wrap is a favorite amongst longtime customers, and this Ramsey café has many gluten-free options and substitutions as well.
• Sweet Avenue Bake Shop. This Rutherford bakery, a 2023 Readers’ Choice winner, is well-known for the quality of their vegan sweets, and they also offer many gluten-free treats as well.
• True Food Kitchen. Over in Hackensack, this small chain is widely known for their gluten-free substitution options and wide range of gluten-free selections.

What’s your favorite spot in Bergen for a gluten-free meal? Tell us about it on Instagram @bergenmagnj.