In Des Moines, gluten-free dining is no longer a compromise — it’s a celebration. From heirloom corn tortillas at Bar Nico to vegan sea salt tahini cookies at Thistle’s Summit, a growing number of metro restaurants are embracing fully gluten-free kitchens or celiac-safe menus, offering flavorful dishes without the worry. Whether you’re craving lobster quesadillas, monster-stuffed cookies, or Champagne fish and chips, these spots prove that gluten-free can be indulgent, inventive, and delicious.
Bar Nico
This stylish Mexican restaurant in the East Village offers a 100% gluten-free menu, relying on heirloom corn and traditional Mexican techniques with its food. Chef Matt Small uses no flour in his menu of roasted chicken enchiladas, sweet potato tacos, lobster quesadillas, and brown butter churros. Go during happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m. daily for $6 hot and cold tapas, $5 botanas, or $7 tacos with two per order.
Details: 428 E. Locust St., Des Moines, 515-243-0611, barnicodsm.com
Thistle’s Summit
This cozy, boutique-style bakery offers a completely gluten-free kitchen. Owner Marti Payseur makes cheesecake, sea salt tahini chocolate chip cookies, pastries, jam bars, and oatmeal cream pies that don’t compromise on flavor. Note, everything is vegan, too.
Details: 340 S.W. Fifth St. #122, Des Moines, 319-535-3832, thistlessummit.com
Wake Up Iowa Coffee
This coffee shop, which debuted in October 2024, went gluten-free the week after opening. Toasts, sandwiches, Oh High Cookies such as monster stuffed with peanut butter or a vegan chocolate chip stuffed with peanut butter, and oatmeal are all gluten-free at this neighborhood café with a dedicated gluten-free kitchen. Try the Heaven on Toast with pistachio nut, mocha mayhem spread, sliced bananas, and cinnamon on Canyon Bakehouse toasted bread, or the pimento cheese sandwich with Tillamook cheddar, cream cheese, roasted red peppers, and cayenne. Customers can add apple butter or prosciutto.
Details: 3605 Douglas Ave., Des Moines, wakeupiowacoffee.com
Blue Sushi Sake Grill
This vibrant and modern sushi restaurant on Court Avenue does not have a dedicated kitchen but does follow a celiac-aware system with strong protocols. Blue Sushi Sake Grill offers gluten-free soy sauce, with gluten-sensitive dishes such as a beef hot rock, vegan tuna tower, truffle salmon, and yellowtail serrano. The restaurant even offers vegan sushi made with plant-based tuna or vegetables.
Details: 316 Court Ave., Des Moines, 515-379-6800, bluesushisakegrill.com/locations/court-avenue
Louie’s Wine Dive
This contemporary American restaurant in the Drake neighborhood offers a funky and upscale setting with wine-focused décor. Louie’s Wine Dive serves an extensive gluten-free menu with items such as crab tostados, Champagne fish and chips, chicken piccata, chipotle shrimp tacos on corn tortillas, and chocolate Basque cheesecake, marked as gluten-free on the menu. Note, this is not a gluten-free kitchen.
Details: 4040 University Ave., Des Moines, 515-777-3416, louieswinedive.com
Fresko
This farm-to-table restaurant in downtown Des Moines offers upscale décor with a celiac-friendly menu with marked gluten-free options. Fresko features wood-fired Moroccan spiced tenderloin skewers, Golden Dragon street noodles, double-bone pork chops, and harissa chicken. Tacos are gluten-free, while sandwiches have a gluten-free bun option. Try the molten chocolate cake for dessert. Note, this is not a gluten-free kitchen.
Details: 909 Locust St., Des Moines, 515-630-7009, freskodsm.com
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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines’ top gluten-free restaurants serve a wide variety of food
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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