Gluten-Free Mexican Food in Austin, Texas
Hi everyone! I made a list of our favorite gluten-free Mexican restaurants around Austin, Texas. It’s really nice to live in a city with so many gluten-free options and delicious Mexican food!
I usually try to avoid Mexican restaurants or food trucks where they make tons of flour tortillas in house like Chuy’s and Pappasitos because I am sensitive to cross contamination.
There is so much potential for food cross-contamination from the flour in the air. Also, beware of the fryer situation. If they fry flour tortillas or churros, then the fryer oil will be contaminated with gluten.
It’s best when they have a dedicated fryer for gluten-free food.
Lately I’ve been impressed with how knowledgeable chefs and staff are and how easy it is to safely eat out. And so many 100% gluten-free kitchens are popping up these days like one of our absolute favorites, ATX Cocina.
Every restaurant is unique even if it is part of a chain well known for gluten-free options. And when a new restaurant opens the dedicated fryer might start out gluten-free but then get contaminated, suppliers may change, chefs may change.
It is a learning process for everyone.
I feel safest when the server asks if I need to eat gluten-free for my diet or because of celiac disease. Then I know that they understand the difference. And they will try to reduce cross-contamination and keep it safe for my level of sensitivity.
It has been pretty incredible as I’ve started to eat out more often in this town. It’s so exciting to have so many options and an ever-growing list of gluten-free Mexican restaurants!
Gluten-Free Mexican Food & Tex-Mex
ATX Cocina
This is one of our favorite gluten-free Mexican restaurants in town. It is absolutely delicious modern Mexican food and a 100% gluten-free kitchen.
The corn tortillas are hand made from heirloom varieties of corn grown by small family farms in Mexico (non-GMO) and really wonderful. Everything was so fresh and elegant.
I highly recommend the salsa sampler, guacamole, verduras (brussels sprouts, verde chorizo, green mole), smashed papas bravas (smoked chili aioli, fried herbs, lime), and the barbacoa beef short rib (sooooo gooood). It’s a little pricey but worth it.
Valet parking is available, which is always nice downtown. They also have a daily happy hour from 4:30 to 6:30 with a changing menu – the tamale and empanadas are a must try! And lunch is served on Fridays.
Eldorado Cafe
Eldorado cafe has online ordering and really great curbside delivery. I love a menu that has clearly marked items containing gluten (G) and the dishes that are subject to cross contamination (CC). So I can easily choose from all the gluten-free options!
I tried the Carnitas Cubanos (crispy pork roasted in Cuban style citrus garlic mojo) which comes with pickled red onion, pico de gallo, guac, corn tortillas, and a choice of two sides. I went with the Eldorado Rice and Las Calabasas (butternut squash hash) and Brett had the Beef Enchiladas. It was delicious. Now there are so many more things I want to try!
menu | address
Fresa’s
We were told that there are lots of gluten-free options on the menu and that the wood grilled chicken is awesome. So we tried it out and it quickly became one of our favorite places, too!
They have two locations in Austin. The South First location has a take out window, beautiful patio and a bar. Such delicious gluten-free Mexican food!
Stick to the corn tortillas for gluten-free. The chips are outsourced and we still aren’t sure if they are celiac safe so I just enjoy the guac with corn tortillas. The chimichurri skirt steak and grilled achiote & citrus chicken dinners are the bomb! Stay away from anything fried as they do not have a dedicated fryer and there is high potential for cross-contamination.
Gloria’s
Gloria’s serves Latin cuisine. We’ve been to the one at the Domain and many times and to the one in Dallas. I love the hand made tamales wrapped and steamed in banana leaves, gently spiced and stuffed with chicken, potatoes and bell pepper. Plus they have really great black beans and rice.
I don’t think the chips are safe and may be fried with other gluten/flour foods (no dedicated fryer).
Talk to the server about what else is safe – I think there are a few other items listed on a gluten-free guide to the menu. Love the margaritas!
Grizzeldas
This space is so eclectic and pretty. I love suggesting this place to friends when they are in town. Everybody has such a great time. The frozen margaritas are really, really strong.
The menu doesn’t specify gluten-free dishes but there are several gluten-free options.
The chips do not have a dedicated fryer. But the corn tortillas are gluten-free and awesome. If you let them know, they will bring them wrapped in foil instead of in the tortilla warmer that may be cross-contaminated from the flour tortillas.
I absolutely love the picadillo tacos with Jacoby aged ground beef. It’s a good idea to make reservations for dinner because this place is pretty popular.
Guero’s Taco Bar
Guero’s has a nice gluten-free menu, but I have not actually eaten inside the restaurant yet. We went to watch a band play in the patio area on a Sunday. The chips and salsa were safe. So it was more of a fun activity than a dining experience. But the menu looks good and I need to go back to try out the restaurant.
La Condesa
As more restaurants are offering curbside pick up, we have had a chance to try some new things and I am loving the taco kits. La Condesa is downtown and they have so many gluten-free Modern Mexican options (look at the original menu before the online order menu).
We went with barbacoa cooked in a banana leaf and grilled mushrooms with mint chimichurri (amazing) and heirloom corn tortillas. Plus a few other add-ons. It was all so good, can’t wait to go back.
menu | address
Lupe Tortilla
So Lupe Tortilla is another one of our favorite Tex-Mex places. Almost everything is gluten-free, including the tortilla chips (they do have a dedicated fryer). The guacamole, salsa and bean dips are really good.
The menu has a little wheat symbol next to menu items that contain wheat or flour and are not gluten-free.
They have great skinny margaritas, frozen and regular margaritas, too.
Some of my dinner favorites are the Lime Pepper Beef Fajitas (with corn tortillas), Carne Asada (it’s lime marinated beef fajita steak – basically the fajita meat with rice and beans only), Barbacoa Tacos and Spicy Chicken Enchiladas.
Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant
Manuel’s has great Mexican food and offers several gluten-free choices. Every time I’ve been, the server was very knowledgeable about gluten free options.
The fryers are not dedicated to only GF cooking so pass on anything fried. But the tortilla chips come from El Milagro so they are safe and non-GMO.
Maudie’s Tex Mex
Maudie’s is another favorite spot for Tex-Mex and margaritas. The menu is marked with gluten-free items and those that can be made gluten-free.
There is not a dedicated fryer, but they will bring you gluten-free tortilla chips in a plastic bag. However, they are quick to bring you the other chips so don’t eat those. You need to ask for the GF chips. The salsa is nice and spicy, too.
Some of my favorite dishes are the Carnitas Tacos, Seasoned Beef Soft Tacos, Beef Lover’s Enchiladas, Taco Salads and Skinny Sheryl’s. Also FYI, the guacamole has a little sour cream in it so it is NOT dairy free.
Suerte
Although the dinner menu isn’t marked as gluten-free, most of the options are safe and the staff is knowledgeable. They make homemade masa tortillas from corn, which are divine.
Pictured here are the Suadero tacos with confit brisket, black magic oil and avocado salsa crude. One of a kind and super delicious!
We also tried the goat barbacoa, grilled sweet papas, and roasted broccoli with broccoli almond mole, mustard seed and tarragon. All of it was so good. Steer clear of the ceviche (contains soy sauce) and dessert.
Torchy’s Tacos
The tacos are damn good and they have a gluten conscious menu. So these are gluten-free items they serve. But there is a disclaimer that cross-contamination is possible because of a shared kitchen.
I personally have not felt gluten-ed after eating there.
The corn tortilla chips are safe at some locations (make sure to ask if they have a dedicated fryer). They have many locations around Austin, including Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium.
Be careful with to-go orders though, check the food. For instance, the he portobello mushroom in The Independent should NOT be breaded.
Want More Guides to Eating GF in the ATX
Central, East & South Austin Restaurants
8 great tips for ordering gluten-free at the office
