Salt Lake City Food Travel Guide

Salt Lake City Food Travel Guide

Our recent whirlwind trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, was unexpected, and planned last minute, so I skipped my usual Pinterest research beforehand. I don't want you to have to wing it like we did, though.

This Salt Lake City food travel guide covers the gluten and dairy free spots we tried in person, plus a few more well-reviewed places worth checking out. Salt Lake City has built a wonderful atmosphere for families, and some genuinely tasty gluten and dairy free food to go with it.

As with any food travel guide, I always suggest calling or emailing a restaurant ahead of time to ask about their food prep and cross-contamination precautions. Managers and kitchen procedures change without notice, and what used to be a dedicated gluten free fryer may not be anymore. That said, we found some outstanding gluten and dairy free food in and around Salt Lake City.

Quick Bite: In-N-Out Burger

If you're driving into town, In-N-Out is a reliable gluten free stop. Order your burger "protein style" (wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun), and skip their sauce if dairy is a concern. Or better yet, make your own before you go with my Copycat In-N-Out Burger Sauce recipe.

City Cakes Cafe

City Cakes Cafe is a locally owned and operated bakery and cafe with breakfast pastries, breads, soups, cakes, waffles, and packaged lunch specials. There are two locations in and around Salt Lake City; we visited downtown.

A heads up: not everything at City Cakes is both vegan and gluten free. Their Draper location makes the vegan items, and sends some (but not all gluten free) products to sell downtown. The downtown location does produce 100% of the gluten free options in-house, and they do work to keep cross-contamination low.

One thing worth knowing before you go: we did see gluten free and gluten-containing treats sharing the same display case, which may be a concern if you're highly sensitive or have celiac disease. Ask staff directly about their handling procedures, or consider Good Food Gluten Free Bakery below if cross-contamination is a dealbreaker for you.

Taqueria 27, Downtown

If you're looking for outstanding gluten and dairy free Mexican food in Salt Lake City, you have to eat here. There are five Taqueria 27 locations across Utah, so if you're traveling through another part of the state, it's worth seeking out. Just double check that the fryer at your specific location is 100% gluten free, since we can't confirm every location is set up the same way.

We ordered the Chicken Breast quesadilla (minus the tortilla, since it's not gluten free) and the Chile-Citrus Carnitas with corn tortillas. The corn tortillas were soft and warm, almost like a carnitas slider, and the meat was tender and well seasoned. The cilantro rice and beans rounded everything out nicely.

The biggest surprise, though, was finding gluten and dairy free churros on the menu. Fresh, warm, and coated in cinnamon sugar, they were a genuinely special treat none of us had tried before.

Brass Smoothies

If you need a smoothie fix, Brass Smoothies has you covered. This smoothie shop uses almond milk and coconut yogurt in many of their recipes, which makes it easy to order dairy free. We all grabbed breakfast here on our second day in town and ordered The Classic, which the whole family enjoyed.

Tucci's

Tucci's was one of the most authentic and friendly eateries we visited. The customer service was some of the best we've experienced in years, and the kitchen staff were genuinely accommodating of our gluten and dairy free needs.

The kitchen staff is known for taking allergies seriously, and it showed in how carefully our meal was handled from start to finish.

Monkeywrench (Dairy Free Ice Cream)

Full honesty: our visit to Monkeywrench was back in 2019, and at the time, the flavors we tried (Funfetti and strawberry, purchased as to-go pints) didn't quite live up to the hype for our family. Monkeywrench has since become one of Salt Lake City's most talked-about dairy free ice cream shops, so we're hoping they've leveled up since our visit, and we're planning to give it another shot next time we're in town. If you try it, we'd genuinely love to hear how it goes.

More Salt Lake City Spots Worth Checking Out

We haven't been to these next few in person, but they came up again and again in our research as some of Salt Lake City's most trusted gluten and dairy free spots, so we wanted to flag them for your trip too.

Good Food Gluten Free Bakery

A 100% dedicated gluten free bakery, meaning there's no cross-contamination risk at all, unlike some of the shared-kitchen spots above. It's highly rated for cinnamon rolls, scones, and pastries, with staff known for being knowledgeable about allergens. It's grab-and-go only, with no seating.

Zest Kitchen & Bar

A dedicated gluten free and vegan restaurant with a full dinner menu and cocktails, which is something our own visit was missing since we stuck to casual, quick stops. If you're looking for a proper sit-down dinner that's safe for both gluten and dairy free eaters, this is worth booking.

Sweet Hazel & Co. Bistro & Bakeshop

A vegan bistro and bakeshop with gluten free, nut free, and sugar free options on the menu. Reviewers with celiac disease report feeling genuinely safe eating here, though it's worth calling ahead since it's not a fully dedicated gluten free facility.

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum

If you're looking for a fun family activity, Discovery Gateway is worth the time and money. It's located in the heart of downtown with easy access. We visited on a Sunday and were pleasantly surprised the crowds weren't overwhelming.

There's a nice variety of hands-on activities for all ages that didn't take much adult supervision to enjoy, which gave us a nice break while the kids explored.

Is Salt Lake City Good for Gluten and Dairy Free Travelers?

Yes. Between a dedicated gluten free bakery, a dedicated gluten free and vegan restaurant, and multiple kitchens that take cross-contamination seriously, Salt Lake City is a genuinely solid destination if you're traveling gluten and dairy free. It also hosts the Gluten Free World Expo, one of the largest gluten free expos in the country, so it's worth checking whether your trip lines up with it.

In Conclusion

Salt Lake City surprised us in the best way. Between the tacos, the churros, the smoothies, and the family-friendly activities, it's a destination we'd happily return to, and we're looking forward to trying a few more spots on our next visit.

Looking for more destinations? Check out our other Food Travel Guides for more gluten and dairy free travel tips.

Eat well and feel well,

Victoria

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