I know how hard it can be to travel when you have dietary restrictions but love trying new foods in a new destination — I’m gluten-free and dairy-free myself but travel quite a bit. I recently traveled to San Franciso for the first time for a long weekend so I sought out spots that have these options. Listed below are places to eat or drink (or grab a treat!) that have dairy-free and gluten-free options with food well-known to San Francisco that I highly recommend.
- As Quoted
Located in Presidio Heights — this all-organic and farm-inspired cafe can’t be missed. They have plenty of dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free options with pasture-raised proteins for the health-conscious locals and travelers alike. Not to mention it’s in a super cute little house with a trendy and modern atmosphere. Go here for some coffee or matcha and brunch to start the day.
- Thai Elephant
While Asian food is typically easy for dairy-free needs, it can sometimes be hard for gluten-free. Here, there are plenty of both of these options if you talk to your server. They don’t serve gluten-free soy sauce but so many dishes were made without it such as the pad thai. I had a delicious (and huge) bowl of beef noodle soup with large rice noodles. Prices were also incredible for being in the Fisherman’s Wharf area and SF in general. Some of the best Thai I’ve had in a while!
- House of Nanking
If you’re looking for the real deal Chinese restaurant that has gluten-free options – look no further. House of Nanking is already super popular — located in Chinatown — you’ll find lines out the door to grab a table. On the menu, various gluten-free options were marked. While limited, the protein dishes with the mustard sauce were AHMAZING! You won’t have to worry about dairy here either as most dishes are naturally dairy-free.
- Ghirardelli’s
Dairy-free and gluten-free people can enjoy a traditional sundae at the original Ghirardelli location in Ghiradelli Square! I was so excited to be able to enjoy a treat here. While it’s only available in the large size, it’s so worth it. The sundae has vanilla coconut ice cream, a dark chocolate non-dairy fudge, almond milk whipped topping, and a 72% dark chocolate square.
- Mariposa Baking Company
Prepare to leave here with at least an entire backpack full of goodies, but also plan to eat breakfast or lunch from here. Mariposa Baking Company is located inside the ferry building and is 100% gluten-free with a lot of dairy-free options to choose from. I stocked up on bread and treats to bring home that I normally can’t have but also got a turkey sandwich to go for the plane later and a bagel with vegan cream cheese to eat right then.
Some of the best gluten-free baked goods I’ve ever had. I recommend the cinnamon rolls, any of the bread, any sandwich, and the bagels. In the ferry building you can also shop around for farm-inspired gifts and get a drink from numerous coffee shops.
- Gotts Roadside
Also located in the ferry building is Gotts Roadside which has dairy-free soft-serve ice cream! This is so hard to find y’all. They do have gluten-free buns and gluten-free fries as well if you’re hungry and want a burger but I’m not 100% sure if the buns are dairy-free as well so definitely make sure to ask. Either way, don’t skip the dairy-free soft-serve, available in both chocolate and vanilla.
- Tony’s Pizza Napoletana
If you’re craving pizza, go here for some of the fluffiest and thick gluten-free crust (they also have dairy-free cheese available). I recommend making a reservation as it gets super busy and there can be a long wait. The thin gluten-free crust is meh, but the thick crust (choose from Detroit or Sicilian style) is out of this world. This is located in the heart of Little Italy.
- Matcha Cafe Maiko
If you’re a matcha lover like me, you’ll be happy to find that San Francisco has a ton of good matcha spots. Cafe Maiko is located in Chinatown and they have various non-dairy milks to choose from. I opted for an iced strawberry match with oat milk and it was delicious. You can even get matcha lemonades for another dairy-free option.
- Scoma’s Restaurant
Lastly, if you’re in the mood for a fancier meal and seafood, Scoma’s has gluten-free calamari and can easily accommodate gluten-free and dairy-free dietary needs. Located in Fisherman’s Wharf right on the water so definitely make reservations and plan to dress nice. I talked to my server to let them know I’m gluten-free and dairy-free and requested to not cook my fish and veggies in butter. They cooked me potatoes, steamed my veggies, and even breaded my fish in the gluten-free batter (same for the calamari) all in a separate fryer so I could safely enjoy a meal there. Portions are large so plan on sharing!
I hope this gluten-free dairy-free guide to San Fransisco gets you excited about visiting the city or trying a new spot if you’re local. I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of options, so I hope you try a few out! If you end up visiting these spots or know of other really great gluten-free dairy-free restaurants in San Francisco, let me know in the comments below — I’d love to hear about your experience or discover new spots to add to this list.
