Gluten-Free in Capitol Hill

Order the braised short ribs and build a spread of mezze, the flatbread and fried bites a celiac usually has to skip. It took over the old Capitol Cider space and kept the room, so it still feels like a proper night out.

The food kitchen is 100% gluten-free, so anything coming out of it is safe. One honest caveat: it is still a bar, and the taps pour some regular beer, so order a gluten-free cider or a cocktail and you are set. Mentioning celiac when you sit never hurts.

Onigiri is the whole idea: hand-formed rice triangles, naturally gluten-free, plus a cabbage salad and Japanese small plates. Order a few and a drink.

The stall runs entirely gluten-free, so nothing on its own menu will cross-contaminate. It sits inside Melrose Market, a shared food hall where other vendors do use wheat, but Sankaku's counter is dedicated. A tidy, safe stop on Capitol Hill.

Cakes, pastries, and a case that changes daily, all gluten-free. Grab a slice and a coffee, or order a whole cake for the birthday you thought was off the table.

Nuflours has been a dedicated gluten-free bakery on Capitol Hill since 2011, and it is also peanut-free and rice-free, so it works for stacked allergies. There is cafe seating, so it is an easy sit-down as well as a grab-and-go.

Plant-based ice cream in flavors that actually taste like a treat, plus sundaes and cones. Everything is scooped in a gluten-free kitchen, so point at whatever looks good.

Frankie & Jo's makes all of its ice cream gluten-free and plant-based, so a celiac kid can finally order any flavor. One thing for the sensitive crowd: the bases lean on oat milk and the cones use oat flour, and while the oats are gluten-free, some celiacs avoid oats, so ask for a cup if that is you.