Navigating Melbourne with gluten intolerance in your back pocket can be tough to say the least. If you’ve got other intolerances or eating preferences then that just makes things all the more tricky. Never fear – we are here to help! Here are a few venues around Melbourne that are guaranteed to help get your dinner on, while not inducing veritable panic attacks at the dishes’ ingredients.
DAINTY SICHUAN
Gluten-Free Chinese Hot Pot
Lucky for you, there are two of these fab hot pot restaurants in our glorious city. Aside from the fun that cooking your own food brings you, you are literally able to choose what goes into the stock. There is a seriously wide selection of vegetables, seafood and meat to press between your chopsticks.
176 Toorak Road, South Yarra (03) 9078 1686
Level 2, 206 Bourke Street, Melbourne (03) 9650 2188
Photo Credit: eatable
FOX IN THE BOX
Gluten-, Corn-, Soy-, Dairy-Free and FODMAP Safe Dining
This restaurant is a doozey (yep, doozey, you read that right) – inspired by his own food intolerances, Tim the self-named “Intolerant Chef” took over the reigns of the Fox in the Box in Brighton. Here you will find modern Australian food with a twist… we’re not talking Asian fusion or post-modern Nordic, what we are talking about is that everything on the menu is gluten-free! Yes, EVERYTHING! They proudly claim they never cook with onion, wheat or gluten – ever! For some people with food intolerances there comes a time when you just want to eat a chicken schnitzel or lasagna (pictured) or pasta and not feel the horrible bread induced consequences. At Fox in the Box you get that chance. The Intolerant Chef will nurture you through the ordering process, ensuring that your needs are met and that it’s going to be a safe, wonderful dining experience for you. We can highly recommend the gluten- and dairy-free Pudding Noir – steamed chocolate pudding dec.a.dent.
169 Martin Street, Brighton (03) 9596 0133
www.foxinthebox.com.au
Photo Credit: eatable
RED PETITE
Gluten-Free Thai
Small in stature, this teeny restaurant is sure to keep you and your allergies safe. The very, very friendly staff will be happy to explain what’s in each of the dishes. SE Asian food is relatively ‘safe’ for the gluten intolerant, but always double check the soy sauce as it sometimes has a small amount of wheat in it.
Tip: watch out for fried shallots, they are covered in wheat flour and therefore not gluten free!
194 Bank St, South Melbourne (03) 9699 6969
www.redpetite.com.au
Photo Credit: Red Petite
LADRO
Gluten-, Corn- and Dairy- Free Pizza
After literally scouring Melbourne’s neighbourhoods for gluten-, corn- and dairy-free pizza that does not taste like cardboard, Ladro emerged as our top pick for taste, quality and texture! Creating a pizza that’s from soy and rice flour and actually making it TASTE LIKE PIZZA is no small feat. Visit them in Fitzroy or Prahran and try their Pizza Gamberi Piselli (pictured) we’re sure you will not be disappointed.
162 Greville St, Prahran (03) 9510 2233
224 Gertrude St, Fitzroy (03) 9415 7575
www.ladro.com.au
Photo Credit: Flickr
YONG GREEN FOOD
Gluten-, Soy-, Corn- and Dairy-Free Raw
This eatery owned by two sisters has become an institution for Brunswick Street diners. You may not be surprised that their dishes are also allergy-friendly, but what was most remarkable for us was their desserts. For anyone who is gluten and dairy intolerant, the thought of eating dessert at a restaurant is less than appealing – bowl of fruit, please and thank you – but Yongs is a little oasis for those of us who just can’t stomach the dessert menu of most restaurants. Their raw desserts – lemon cheesecake (pictured), tiramisu, pecan pie and green tea ganache… to name a few… not only get the tick of safety, but they will blow. your. mind.
421 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, (03) 9417 3338
Photo Credit: Food Spotting
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