In addition to freezing my butt off, dining out was one of the biggest surprises of last week’s trip to San Francisco. Or rather, surprises that I should not have been surprised about AT ALL. Because everyone knows that a) SF is cold and foggy, and b) Those crazy hippies are way ahead of the curve when it comes to healthy eating. So gluten-free dining was not at all difficult, except for that one day when the kids only wanted bread products and I really, really didn’t.

My three most pleasant dining out experiences in the San Fran came in the form of soup, Vietnamese yumminess, and pizza. Also, a big shout out to all of our friends and family who went out of their ways to cook gf dishes that were incredibly delicious. LOVE the Bay Area vibe.

Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria

Perhaps there’s an Amici’s on the East Coast, but I never found such an accommodating pizza joint in all the years I spent in NYC. Dining in North Beach generally does mean amazing pizza, and for the celiac Amici’s is a great bet. As I started in on my “Hi, I’m really sorry to bother you, but . . . ” celiac speech, the waitress ran to get me my very own GF menu. My very own! And it was HUGE. So many options, and in an Italian restaurant. I almost cried. I went for the Siciliano, which meant I got to gorge myself on gluten-free pizza covered in mozzarella, provolone, mild Italian sausage, slow-roasted garlic, crushed red pepper flakes and no red sauce. Yes, I know you wish you were me right at that moment.

San Francisco Soup Company

This is where my Triumph Dining guide came in super handy. We were driving around between plans and I was hungry. The kids had stuffed themselves at a deli, and I was the only one who needed food, and pronto. I grabbed the guide and found the closest San Francisco Soup Company, which is magical. Soups are always so tricky because god knows what a great chef throws into a soup. But SF Soup Company lists the gluten-free options right on the menu. So you don’t even have to ask what the heck is going on with your gluten! Turkey chili was my choice, and it was the perfect thing to warm up my frozen butt.

Zadin

Another Triumph Guide pick in my husband’s cousin’s neighborhood, Zadin is modern Vietnamese (as opposed to ancient? I’m not sure what that means), and super celiac friendly. Again, the menu specified what was gf so I didn’t even have to ask. Apparently they have the wheat-free soy sauce, and even gluten-free beer. Since we did take out, I didn’t check out the beer options, but great to know if you’re sitting down to some spicy tofu and need a brewsky to wash it down.

San Francisco, indeed, a treat.

What’s your favorite Bay Area gluten-free dining spot?

Image via San Francisco Soup Company