Gluten-Free Restaurants in Lexington, KY 2023
Located in central Kentucky Lexington is home to the UK Widcats, Keeneland, and is a great location to explore part of bourbon country. But, traveling to a new city means finding gluten-free food. It can be stressful. But, there are some fantastic gluten-free restaurants in Lexington if you know where to look.
I’ve lived my entire celiac life in Lexington. As a local celiac, it’s been interesting to watch the gluten-free scene change in the last decade. I live here and eat here and I want to make it easy for you to visit. So, these are my favorite gluten-free restaurants in Lexington, KY. I think you’ll be surprised by the variety of options!
Just remember, my celiac isn’t your celiac or gluten-free journey (or anyone else’s). Some of the things I’m comfortable with, you may not be, and you may have a different experience with the restaurants than I did. I hope you do because I had a great experience! But, you do you, no judgment and no pressure. I hope to shed some insight to make your planning easier.
Some of the links on the page are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase from one of the links, I earn money at no extra cost to you. I’ll only recommend brands I’ve used and love (or an alternative I would book myself). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I always pay for my own travel. I’ll be sure to let you know if that ever changes. If you choose to click through and purchase – thanks so much for the support!
Gluten-Free Lexington: Lunch and Dinner
Okome Asian Grill
341 S Limestone
This is a newer restaurant in downtown Lexington near the University of Kentucky. It’s also the only dedicated gluten-free restaurant in the city. You can enjoy your meal here with total confidence!
It’s a build-you-own-bowl situation similar to Chipotle but with Asian food. The staff is helpful and the food is really good. It’s nice to be able to eat with complete confidence! They were even able to keep me sesame free which isn’t always easy!
Papi’s
3901 Harrodsburg Rd
Sunday – Thursday 11 am- 9 pm | Friday & Saturday 11 am – 10 pm
This location has a much better parking situation.
818 Euclid Ave
Sunday – Thursday 11 am- 9 pm | Friday & Saturday 11 am – 10 pm
Papi’s is a local Mexican restaurant and is one of the best places gluten-free friendly restaurants in Lexington!
The owner is a celiac and the nicest man you’ll ever meet. He bounces between locations now, but you will feel welcome if you meet this outgoing guy.
Most of their menu can be gluten-free, and they are very knowledgeable about it. This is one of the easiest places to go out in Lexington and feel safe while you’re enjoying your meal.
The best part about Papi’s is that the chips are gluten-free. They have a dedicated fryer. You can eat so many chips you aren’t hungry when your food comes!
If you have other intolerances/allergies, make sure to ask questions. They’ve also been great about accommodating my husband not eating dairy.
Try the cochinita pibil street tacos and the churros! Honestly, everything on the menu has been wonderful.
Bourbon n’ Toulouse
829 Euclid Ave
Monday – Saturday 11 am – 9 pm | Closed Sundays
1080 S Broadway Suite 107
Monday – Saturday 11 am – 9 pm | Closed Sundays
This location has a much better parking situation so go here if you can! Park anywhere in the area except at Sir Pizza; Sir Pizza will tow you!
Bourbon and Toulouse is one of the most well-loved local restaurants in Lexington.
The Cajun/creole restaurant is also one of the best places in Lexington for gluten-free diets. There is a gluten-free menu and GF is marked on the big chalkboard of entrees. There are GF and vegan/vegetarian items, so if that’s you- you’re in luck.
The jambalaya is fantastic and the black beans and caramelized corn can’t be beat. Everything except jambalaya is served over rice. For a little extra $ and some extra spice, you can have your pick over jambalaya instead of white rice.
Every order comes with bread. Just make sure to order your food without bread.
The bread goes on at the end and isn’t near any of the food. They’ve always been very careful in my experience. I’ve eaten here hundreds of times and never had a problem. It’s my go-to takeout place!
Just check the website for what each location has so you are prepared.
Bella Notte
3715 Nicholasville Rd
Sunday- Thursday 11 am- 9 pm | Friday & Saturday 11 am – 10 pm
Bella Notte is an Italian restaurant that does a fantastic job with gluten-free.
Gluten-free options are marked on the menu and the staff is very knowledgeable. The menu is seasonal but there are always gluten-free pasta options.
This is the only Italian restaurant I’ll visit in Lexington. They do such a good job that it’s just not worth branching out to a new place.
The Wok
537 Waller Ave.
Located in downtown Lexington near the University of Kentucky this little Asian restaurant is a must-visit. Most of the menu can be made gluten-free and it’s really clearly marked. The owner has celiac so he made the restaurant celiac-friendly!
As a bonus, it’s also one of the most affordable places you can eat in the city. The egg roll wasn’t my favorite egg roll I’ve ever had but it’s close to home and I’d order it again! The stir-fries
have always been tasty.
Plus, you can eat here with confidence and that goes a long way.
Farm Market
1079 E New Circle Rd
Monday, Wednesday- Saturday 11 am – 6 pm | Closed Sunday & Tuesday
This little stand is so eclectic and the tamales are so good. The owner knows that customers come in looking for gluten-free tamales. All of them are gluten-free. I started the conversation about my allergy in Spanish and she knew immediately what I was talking about. She switched to English and made sure I knew that I was safe there.
It’s a simple menu; what they have that day is written on a brown paper bag that she brings to the table. The food is delicious.
Athenian Grill
313 S Ashland Ave
10:30 am – 9 pm
Athenian Grill serves some amazing Greek food! The gyro bowls are a great go-to for a gluten-free option. The classic gyro bowl with lemon potatoes is a good starter!
The staff is knowledgeable so ask any questions you need to.
Jasmine Rice
911 Winchester Rd
Tuesday- Saturday 11 am – 8:30 pm | Closed Sunday & Monday
Jasmine Rice is a Thai restaurant that also serves some Vietnamese dishes. Gluten-free is marked on the menu and they are very knowledgeable. Pad Thai, pho, and curries are a good place to start.
The restaurant has a hole-in-the-wall vibe but the food is incredible.
Red State BBQ
4020 Georgetown Rd
Sunday- Thursday 11 am – 9 pm | Friday & Saturday 11 am – 10 pm
BBQ is a staple anywhere in the south and Red State is one of the best options in Lexington. Red State is outside of the main part of town and if you aren’t paying attention to it you’ll miss it. But, it’s worth the drive out. It would be a great stop if you’re visiting the Kentucky Horse Park.
The gluten-free items are marked on the menu. Note that not all of the sauces are gluten-free.
Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen
4 locations throughout Lexington
Vinaigrette is another local chain. It’s a salad place with a great variety of options. Gluten-free is listed on their menu. Just be sure to let them know you have an allergy and that you don’t want bread.
The lemonades are fantastic!
Windy Corner Market
4595 Bryan Station Rd
Closed Mondays | Tuesday-Saturday 11 am – 8 pm | Sunday 9 am – 3 pm
Windy Corner Market is just outside of Lexington and is a nod to an old country store. You’ll find lots of local goods on sale. This one can be hit or miss as far as gluten-free variety goes. Sometimes they have gluten-free bread and buns from a local bakery. Even if not there are good salad options.
You won’t find the gluten-free menu online so you’ll have to ask for it at the counter.
This is a popular location for visitors because the owner is a famous local chef and the location boasts fun takes on local favorites.
Honestly, it’s not my favorite for gluten-free but there are options.
Gluten-Free Lexington, KY – Bakeries and Breakfast
Northlime Coffee and Donuts
3101 Clays Mill Rd #300a
Monday-Friday 6 am- 3 pm | Saturday & Sunday 7 am – 1 pm
101 W Loudon Ave Suite 160
Monday-Friday 6 am- 3 pm | Saturday & Sunday 7 am – 1 pm
North Lime doesn’t have GF donuts every day. They only have them on Friday and Saturday right now. The locations clean the oil, and then they make gluten-free donuts before they start on anything else.
I know it seems risky, but I talked to other celiacs who had luck and gave it a go.
The donuts are stored away from others/on top so no crumbs can get involved. They do their absolute best, and I have never gotten sick (neither have any of the other celiacs I know who eat here).
It’s so easy to make sure you have a gluten-free donut from North Lime I always feel better because they are shaped differently than the other donuts. They are smaller than the other donuts and circular. The regular donuts are squares.
The flavors vary by week and location, so you never know what you’ll get. They do a Donut Madness bracket during March (it’s basketball country, y’all). You can try lots of flavors because they make GF versions.
Wild Eggs
3735 Palomar Centre Dr
Monday- Friday 6:30 am- 2:30 pm | Saturday & Sunday 7 am – 3 pm
1925 Justice Dr
Monday- Friday 6:30 am- 2:30 pm | Saturday & Sunday 7 am – 3 pm
Wild Eggs is a regional chain but it still gets a mention as a go-to gluten-free brunch place.
The menu has gluten-free French toast and pancakes listed on the main menu. There is also a separate gluten-free menu.
Be sure to tell the server that you’re gluten-free so you can confirm with them that you feel safe. They also use a separate toaster for the toast.
I typically order an omelet with gluten-free toast. I’ve found the pancakes/french toast are just too sweet for me!
Copeland and Co. Poptarts
Copeland and Co Poptarts has a dedicated gluten-free kitchen. Their pop-tarts are sold at a few different locations across Lexington. Deliveries come a couple of days a week but typically sell out on the same day.
Check their website and socials to see the flavors and delivery details so you can track one down for yourself!
Freshie’s Ice Cream and Soda Fountain
3851 Kenesaw Dr
4379 Old Harrodsburg Rd
Freshie’s has gluten-free marked on all of their ice creams and they have gluten-free cones! Plus, the soda fountain options are great. And, it’s so cute!
Crank and Book Ice Cream
1210 Manchester Street
3101 Clays Mill Road #301
This local ice cream place doesn’t have gluten-free cones but many of their ice creams are gluten-free. I prefer to get the pint so I know I’m safe from cross-contamination. They have dairy-free ice cream and some of the sorbets are incredible too!
Baby Cakes Cupcakes
1616 Liberty Rd
You’ll have to plan ahead to get cupcakes from this bakery. But, it’s worth it. Order mini-cupcakes and be amazed!
These are the go-to birthday cupcakes for my entire family. My husband surprises me with mini cupcakes and I’ve never been disappointed. I think the regular ones are good too but there’s something special about the minis. I love the strawberry, chocolate, and caramel but, honestly, there’s never been a flavor I haven’t loved.
It’s not a dedicated gluten-free bakery but she understands what needs to happen to keep celiacs safe and I’ve never had a problem.
Gluten-Free Miracles (now Miracles Bakery)
Miracles closed their brick-and-mortar location and they do pick up orders. This dedicated gluten-free bakery was a staple in Lexington for a while. It’s honestly never been my favorite but I’m a baked good snob. So, place an order when you’re in town if you’d like. I don’t think it’s a must-do but lots of people love it! I’d go for Baby Cakes instead.
Gluten-Free Restaurants in Lexington: Chains
I eat at chains sometimes but I do try to stay with local (or at least regional) options. There is a really vibrant restaurant scene in Lexington that is spearheaded by these local gems. I’ve also found that they’re the best at catering to a gluten-free diet.
But, if you’re looking for something familiar these are the gluten-free chain restaurants I eat at in Lexington:
- Chick-Fil-A
- Chipotle
- Qdoba
- Panera
- Five Guys
Gluten-Free Restaurants in Lexington I haven’t tried (yet)
It’s not as easy to explore options in your hometown; it’s so easy to get stuck in a rut. But, these are my favorites
So, these are still on my list:
- Corto Lima
- Condado tacos
- Ramsey’s
- Sushi Blue
- Lussi Brown Coffee Co. – they have a gluten-free waffle I want to try
If you have other favorites that I should check out, let me know!
If you’re traveling to Lexington and have questions about a specific restaurant let me know. This is a long list but it’s not every possible place in Lexington!
A Note about Gluten-Free Restaurants in Lexington, KY
Lexington isn’t exactly a hub of dedicated gluten-free restaurants and bakeries like Portland or NYC. But, in between horses, bourbon, and everything else to do in Lexington there are some great options!
So, there is going to be some element of risk in most of these restaurants. If that makes you nervous you should stay in lodging with a kitchen when you’re visiting Lexington.
Gluten-Free Lexington, KY: Grocery Stores
There are several good grocery options if you prefer to eat in or just want to grab some snacks.
Every Kroger in city has some gluten-free offerings. I’ve found that the locations in Beaumont and downtown have the best selection. Kroger marks their gluten-free selections with purple on the price tag. So, look for that as you scan the aisles
The Meijer locations also have gluten-free options.
Whole Foods definitely has the best selection of gluten-free snacks and baked goods. Trader Joe’s is a close second to the Whole Foods though.
Where to Sleep in Lexington
21C Museum Hotel
The 21C Hotel is a museum hotel so it’s an experience! It’s also a great location downtown.
Campbell House
The Campbell House is a prominent hotel in Lexington and the design is quite unique. This hotel is historic and beautiful.
For a kitchen I alway love a Home2 Suites but there are also great apartment style options in the city.
Getting Around Lexington
You’re going to need a car to get around Lexington. Public transit is just not a good option.
Bring your car or rent a car when you arrive.
Enjoy The Gluten-Free Restaurants in Lexington, KY
I stick to local restaurants when I travel and do the same when I’m home. I love supporting small businesses anytime I can. You’ll find mostly local restaurants on this list but there are some chains too.
Whether you’re local, pseudo-local, or visiting, these are my favorite gluten-free restaurants in Lexington, Kentucky.
I’m so excited to hear what your favorites are in my hometown!
