Where to Find Gluten-Free Food Options in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond
Restaurants, desserts, grocery stores, and catering options for your gluten-free family member
Most of us know someone who is on a gluten-free diet, whether friend or family member. Choosing a Champaign-Urbana restaurant area where gluten-free friends and family can feel comfortable eating can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be.
We first started this list in 2016, and truth be told, it has EXPLODED over time. While gluten-free food was once an anomaly in Champaign-Urbana area restaurants, now it is much more common.
We turned to the hive mind of chambanamoms.com readers to find out where they feel comfortable eating, and have the following suggestions for those with gluten-free palates.
Please note this information comes from chambanamoms.com readers and other locals, and has not been independently confirmed in most cases. Due to the pandemic, menus may have changed. Always call first when in doubt. Also: what might qualify as gluten-free for one person may not be kosher with another.
Our recommendation: Always ask to receive first-hand information regarding dietary needs and restrictions, please!
Local restaurants with gluten-free substitutions or other options
Maize, Downtown Champaign and Campus: “Maize is almost totally Gluten Free.” See our Mom Review of Maize Downtown here.
Sticky Rice, Champaign: “Most of the curries and noodle soups are gluten-free. Also, we keep a bottle of gluten free soy sauce! You may bring us your own alternative and we will be glad to make a dish for you.”
The WheelHouse, St. Joseph: Has gluten free options. “They know their ingredients well. We trust them with my daughter’s multiple food allergies.”
Strawberry Fields Cafe, Urbana: “Their hot food section almost always has two or three options that are GF. As a celiac, Strawberry Fields is the place to go!” “I second Strawberry Fields Cafe! Rice dishes available daily, plus soups, sandwiches, desserts, and more!
Common Ground Food Co-op, Urbana: CGFC “has a deli where you can have a sandwich made on GF bread, they also make daily soups that are delicious and frequently GF.”
Big Grove Tavern, Champaign: They do a good job of noting their gluten-free menu items. Their salmon entree is top of the gluten-free list.
Hamilton Walker’s, Champaign: Yes, they have gluten-free entrees but you can choose from TWO GF desserts on their menu, too.
Just Bee Acai at UIUC: Gluten-Free options such as granola.
Original Pancake House, Champaign: Has “gluten-friendly” pancakes.
Silvercreek, Urbana: “Silvercreek’s gluten-free menu is great.”
Others recommended: Kohinoor, Huaraches Moroleon, Black Dog, and Thara Thai
Gluten-free pizza
Monicals Pizza, multiple locations: “Monicals has a gluten free pizza. I’ve never had it but heard it’s really good.” “Monicals uses the same oven but will use a clean cutter if you tell them you have an allergy.”
Old Orchard Lanes, Savoy: “Old Orchard gluten-free pizza is very good!”
Jupiter’s, Champaign locations: “Jupiter’s gluten-free pizza is the best.”
Pizzeria Antica, Champaign: “Has really good gluten-free crust! Just call ahead.”
Papa Del’s, Champaign: “has the best gluten free pizza!!”
Chains with gluten-free items
Houlihan’s, Champaign: Offers gluten-free menu items “but we are not a gluten-free environment.” Menus denote where substitutions are offered.
Biaggi’s, Champaign: Biaggi’s has an extensive gluten-free menu, including pasta and pizza.
Five Guys, Champaign: “Five Guys are very good about asking if it’s due to allergy and will prepare it properly if allergy and not dietary preference.”
Portillo’s, Champaign: “You can get Italian beef in a cup, their chili and their fries and cheese sauce! I love being able to eat there. I am super sensitive with my celiac, and never have issues there.”
Chili’s, Champaign: “Chili’s has a menu you can ask for that gives all their nutrition info. Their wings are GF.”
Olive Garden, Champaign: “Olive Garden has GF rotini.”
Culver’s, multiple locations: “Culvers has GF buns.”
Red Robin, Champaign: “Red Robin has a GF fryer, so you can eat the fries and have them truly be GF. They also have a number of bun substitutes like a GF bun and lettuce wraps.”
Outback Steakhouse, Champaign: has a gluten free menu.
Meatheads, Champaign: Offers a GF bun.
Desserts, cakes, donuts, bread
RegCakes, Urbana: “RegCakes is Awesome!” “The best tasting and prettiest GF cakes and cupcakes!
Hopscotch, Champaign: “Their Gooey Butter Cake!”
Suzu’s Bakery, Champaign: Okara Cake is vegan and gluten-free.
Pandamonium, Champaign: “Pandamonium has a GF donut on Saturdays. I’ve had both chocolate and funfetti.”
Cookies By Design/Cupcake By Design, Champaign: Has gluten free cookie options
Art Mart, Champaign: “Art Mart has only one GF pastry, but it is delicious!”
Pekara, Champaign: “Pekara has GF desserts that rotate.” See our Mom Review of Pekara here.
Cold Stone Creamery, Champaign: “Cold Stone has a lot of gluten free options for dessert!”
Nothing Bundt Cakes, Champaign: “GF chocolate chip cake is delicious”
Insomnia Cookies, Champaign: “GF cookies are to die for!!”
Common Ground Co-op, Urbana
Strawberry Fields, Urbana
Lucky Moon Pies and More, Mahomet: You’ll find them incorporate gluten-free items into their menu occasionally.
Cake Artist Studio, Champaign: “Offers a couple gluten free, vegan cupcakes that are pretty good.”
Gluten-free catering options
Blue Dragonfly Catering
Dish Passionate Cuisine
Piato Catering
Michael’s Catering
Pan and Cake Catering Co.
World Harvest/Strawberry Fields
Caribbean Grill
Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage
Recommended grocery stores for gluten-free shopping
Beachy’s Bulk Foods, Arthur
Health Food Store, Arthur
Schnucks on Mattis, Champaign
Meijer on Prospect, Champaign
Harvest Market, Champaign
Walmart, locations in Savoy, Urbana, and Champaign
Target, Champaign
Aldi, locations in Savoy, Urbana, and Champaign
Common Ground Food Co-Op, Urbana
County Market, Champaign
