Gluten Free Washington DC: Celiac-Safe Restaurants, Bakeries & What to Know (2026 Map)

Washington, DC is one of the easier big cities in the US for celiacs. Inside the city there are three dedicated gluten-free bakeries and five fully gluten-free restaurants (tacos, Korean bowls, bone broth, veggie plates), plus restaurants with dedicated gluten-free fryers, a gluten-free Italian menu, and a gluten-free stand at Nationals Park. Just outside the city, Bethesda and Falls Church add three more fully gluten-free spots.

Here’s where to eat, neighborhood by neighborhood, plus what to know before you plan a day on the Mall.

Photo: Architect of the Capitol, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Table of contents

Interactive map: gluten free Washington DC

Tap a place to see it on the map, or use Near me to sort by distance from your hotel. Orange dots are 100% gluten-free kitchens. Gray dots are shared kitchens with dedicated fryers, gluten-free menus, or other protocols. Zoom out to see Bethesda and Falls Church.

Near the National Mall: Penn Quarter and Chinatown

The museums on the Mall don’t leave you many safe food options, so this is the neighborhood to know. It’s about a 10-minute walk north of the Mall.

• Chaia (615 I St NW, Chinatown). Vegetarian tacos on corn tortillas. Celiac diners report the menu is gluten free except for the beer.
• SEOULSPICE (439 7th St NW, Penn Quarter). Fast-casual Korean bowls with a 100% gluten-free menu, including the sauces. There are also locations in NoMa (145 N St NE) and Navy Yard.
• The Little Beet (495 K St NW, Mount Vernon Triangle). Veggie-forward bowls and plates with a 100% gluten-free menu. One reviewer notes the cookies have no gluten ingredients but aren’t made in a gluten-free facility, so ask about baked goods. Its old 18th St NW location has closed.

Georgetown

• Springbone Kitchen (1426 Wisconsin Ave NW). Opened in December 2025, with bone broths, soups, and protein bowls from an entirely gluten-free menu. A second DC location on M Street NW has been reported as coming soon.
• Chaia (3207 Grace St NW). The original Chaia, also reported dedicated gluten free.

Adams Morgan

18th Street in Adams Morgan. Photo: Michiel1972, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• Rise Bakery (2409 18th St NW). DC’s original 100% gluten-free bakery, open since 2014: bagels, chocolate croissants, breakfast sandwiches, paninis, and pizza on house-made crusts. It’s carry-out only, and it closes in the afternoon.
• Taqueria Al Lado (1792 Columbia Rd NW, with a second location at 809 12th St NE). A gluten-free kitchen for tacos, nachos, and quesadillas. The beer isn’t gluten free, so check the label if you order one.

Capitol Hill and Eckington

• Sweet Crimes Gluten-Free Bakery (1238 Pennsylvania Ave SE). A dedicated gluten-free bakery near Eastern Market, with donuts that won Best Gluten-Free Sweet in DC in 2018 and 2019, plus pastries, sandwiches, and custom cakes. Seating is limited, so plan on takeout.
• District Bread (1625 Eckington Pl NE). A dedicated gluten-free bakery whose owner was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2012. Bagels, pita, scones, sourdough, and sandwich bread. Listings also mention a weekend stand at Union Station, so check its site before you go.

Shared kitchens with real gluten-free protocols

These restaurants handle gluten too, so always say you have celiac disease. But each has a specific, documented reason celiac diners keep going back.

• Sixty Vines (2200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Foggy Bottom). A wine bar with a dedicated gluten-free fryer, gluten-free pasta, and gluten-free pizza that celiac diners say is baked in a separate oven.
• RPM Italian (650 K St NW). A separate gluten-free menu with starters, mains, and house-made gluten-free pasta. Celiac reviewers describe the staff as knowledgeable. The bread and pizza aren’t gluten free.
• Oyamel (401 7th St NW, Penn Quarter). José Andrés’s Mexican restaurant marks allergens on the menu and has a dedicated fryer for gluten-free chips, but you have to ask for them. One celiac diner was brought regular chips by mistake, so be clear.
• Pow Pow (1250 I St NW, and 1253 H St NE). A vegan spot with a dedicated fryer for fries and gluten-free fried chicken. Reviewers say the owner has a personal connection to celiac disease.
• Joia Burger (3213 Mt Pleasant St NW). The fryer is only used for fries and an oat-based veggie burger, and gluten-free buns are cooked on a separate spot on the flat-top.
• il Canale (1065 31st St NW, Georgetown). A Neapolitan pizzeria that celiac diners praise for its gluten-free pizza. Ask how it’s baked if you’re very sensitive.

Just outside DC: Bethesda and Falls Church

Three fully gluten-free spots are a short Metro or car ride from the city.

• Red Bandana Bakery (8218 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD). A totally gluten-free bakery listed in the National Celiac Association directory, with breakfast, lunch, pastries, and custom cakes. Open Tuesday to Saturday. It’s a short walk from the Bethesda Metro station on the Red Line.
• Rooted3 (4916 Cordell Ave, Bethesda, MD). A 100% gluten-free kitchen that’s also free of the top 9 allergens, with bowls, fries, fritters, smoothies, and cocktails. The owner says staff aren’t allowed to bring outside food into the kitchen.
• The Happy Tart (410 S Maple Ave, Falls Church, VA). A dedicated gluten-free bakery and café. It used to be in Alexandria, so ignore older listings with a Mount Vernon Ave address.

What to know before you eat in DC

Plan meals around the Mall

The Smithsonian museums are free and huge, and it’s easy to lose a whole day in them. Food options inside are limited, so pack snacks and plan lunch in Penn Quarter (Chaia, SEOULSPICE, or The Little Beet) instead of hoping for something in a museum café.

Nationals Park has a gluten-free stand

The Gluten Free Grill is in the center field plaza, with hot dogs on gluten-free rolls and other items. One celiac reviewer said the stand isn’t entirely gluten free despite the name, so ask how things are prepared. SEOULSPICE in Navy Yard is a short walk from the ballpark if you’d rather eat before the game.

Flying into Dulles?

Rise Bakery also has a location in Sterling, Virginia, near Dulles Airport. It’s a good place to stock up on bread and snacks on the way in or out.

Check before you go

DC’s gluten-free scene changes quickly, and many “best of” lists are out of date. These places have closed, but older guides still recommend them: DC Dosa at Union Market, Momo Yakitori, Pi Pizzeria in Penn Quarter, Legal Sea Foods on 7th St NW, The Little Beet on 18th St NW, and both DC BIBIBOP locations (Chinatown, and Georgetown on M St NW, which closed in 2026). Many places on this list also keep short hours, especially the bakeries, which close in the afternoon.

Quick Reference: Gluten Free Washington DC

Heading up the coast? See our guides to Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.

Sources

• Rise Bakery (Yelp, updated October 2026) and Sweet Crimes (official site)
• About District Bread (official site)
• Chaia menus (official site)
• Springbone brings broth craze to Georgetown (Axios DC, December 2025)
• Vegan, Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Dining Options in Washington, DC (Destination DC)
• Your Guide to Eating and Drinking Inside Nationals Park (Washingtonian, March 2026)
• Red Bandana Bakery (National Celiac Association directory) and Rooted3 menu (official site)
• The Best Gluten Free Restaurants in Washington (DC Insider, updated September 2026)
• Pi Pizzeria abruptly closes in Penn Quarter and BIBIBOP Asian Grill “temporarily closed” (PoPville)
• Dedicated Gluten-Free Places in Washington, DC and Dedicated Fryers in Washington, DC (Find Me Gluten Free)
• Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors