We just returned from a romantic weekend in Asheville, North Carolina. This was our second stay in downtown and we were surprised at how easy it was to find new gluten free places to eat. We sampled a variety of foods from Western Mediterranean to Mexican to American Burgers. Here are 5 Must-Visit Gluten Free Restaurants in Asheville, NC. I’ve included photos that will make you want to hop in your car and take an impromptu drive to the mountains.
(Disclosure: Some of the product links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission. This helps keep my blog running!)
1. Posana Asheville
We walked into Posana Restaurant having spent 8 hours in the car. This included our travel from Charlotte to watch the sunrise over the Pisgah National Forest and a leaf peeping adventure through the Blue Mountain Parkway. Thankfully, Posana serves their brunch menu until 3:00 PM.
If you are Celiac or gluten sensitive, this contemporary American restaurant has a 100% dedicated gluten free kitchen. My husband couldn’t believe that every single item on the Posana menu was safe to eat!
Our gluten free menu choices:
Posana Doughnut Holes – Made with banana, spiced caramel and pecans these little bites were out of this world amazing! They tasted like fried dough from the local fair. I have not had one of those in over 8 years! I’m not sure why they call these treats “Beginnings”. I could have started AND stopped with them. Every bite was heaven.
Biscuits and Gravy – Fried chicken, Jones Dairy sausage gravy on a house-made biscuit with home fries on the side. Can you believe all of that was gluten free?! The chicken was crispy, yet juicy, and the gravy was hearty, yet not overwhelming.
Joyce Farms Fried Chicken Sandwich – Fried Chicken, cheddar cheese, bacon, arugula with jalapeno aioli. This gluten free breakfast sandwich has the same fried chicken as the biscuits and gravy. The bread was thick and flavorful. I couldn’t finish the entire meal, as I had too many gluten free doughnuts. I enjoyed the leftovers the next morning for breakfast and they were just as good.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, I had a side of fries. They tasted like the ones I remember from McDonald’s. Ha ha! They even came with a cute dish for my ketchup.
Tip: I would suggest making reservations to ensure there is an open table for you. We happened to catch it just right at 2:30, but I’m sure it is much busier earlier in the day.
2. Mamacita’s Mexican Grill
When searching for gluten free lunch in Asheville, check out Mamacita’s Mexican Grill. I saw someone’s burrito bowl on Instagram and just had to pop in for one myself. The server was knowledgeable of the restaurant’s gluten free options and even made me aware of vegan menu items.
Our gluten free menu choices:
Burrito Bowl – grilled citrus chicken, black beans, Mexican rice, salsa and chunky guacamole with corn chips. Nick had the same bowl but with chipotle marinated chicken. I taste tested it and preferred the chipotle chicken to the citrus.
3. Edison: The Omni grove park inn
If you love to watch a beautiful sunset, The Omni Grove Park Inn is one of the best spots in Asheville to see it. An even better idea is to have dinner or drinks there too! We made reservations at Edison and enjoyed views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from our window seats. Our waiter, Cody, was friendly, helpful and full of suggestions. While there wasn’t a separate gluten free menu, Cody said we could pick anything and he would see what the chef could do!
Our gluten free menu choices:
Smashed Burger: grass fed beef, american cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, special sauce on a gluten free bun with a side of mixed greens. We both enjoyed a burger and the views inside and outside the hotel. The gluten free bun was dry and messy. I would suggest eating it on a bed of lettuce.
Tip: Plan your dinner or late lunch two hours before the sunset. This way you are well fed and ready to capture the sun-kissed mountain peaks.
4. Zambra
After an early dinner and an hour of photographing the sunset, we had worked up an appetite. Zambra was a short walk from our downtown Asheville hotel and the perfect choice. It was open until 9:30 PM and had a cozy, candlelit atmosphere. We split the gluten free grilled certified angus beef hanger steak tappas with piquillo mojo, roasted garlic and potatoes.
5. Green Sage Cafe
Green Sage Cafe is a healthy, natural cafe with a mission to make nourishing food for the community. This downtown Asheville gluten free breakfast location was a welcome choice after over indulging the previous day. Here’s the full breakfast menu.
Our gluten free menu choices:
Pura Vida Breakfast Bowl – two sunny side organic eggs, organic brown rice, organic black beans, root hash, avocado salsa, sauteed organic kale and organic onions. This bowl was full of flavor and so energizing.
Wild Blueberry Gluten Free Pancakes – made with almond flour and organic eggs. Served with Vegan Earth Butter and maple brown rice syrup. These gluten free cakes are crispy on the edge with warm blueberries in the middle.
Bonus Restaurant: French Broad Chocolate lounge
This is the only gluten free Asheville bakery we consistently visit each time we are in the downtown area. After our lunch at Mamacita’s, chocolate was a must for the afternoon. If you are looking to curl up with a book or a nice chat with friend, French Broad Chocolate Lounge is a wonderful spot.
We found a sunny window to warm up and enjoy our gluten free desserts. I enjoyed a chocolate coffee mousse and Nick, a peanut butter cookie.
Conclusion
With each visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains, we find more Asheville restaurants that call us back. Traveling with a gluten allergy can be so much work. When visiting Asheville, be prepared to relax and enjoy all that there is to offer. If you would like to read more reviews on some of the best restaurants in Asheville, check out my post on Where to Stay and Eat in Asheville.
