2022's Best Cities for Gluten-Free Food

You can have your cake and eat it, too, even if you’re allergic or sensitive to gluten.

But where can gluten-free dieters find a mouthwatering meal?

LawnStarter compared nearly 200 of the biggest U.S. cities to rank 2022’s Best Cities for Gluten-Free Food. Why? May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month.

We looked for cities with highly rated gluten-free dining options, strong local demand, and a supportive community. We also rewarded bonus points for easy access to allergy specialists.

See how your city stacks up in our ranking below, followed by some highlights and lowlights.

City Rankings
Highlights and Lowlights
Methodology
Why This Study Matters

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

OVERALL RANK	City	Overall Score	Access Rank	Quality Rank	Demand Rank	Health Rank	Community Rank
1	New York, NY	67.17	6	4	1	137	1
2	San Francisco, CA	58.76	1	24	9	100	31
3	Miami, FL	48.79	5	41	22	31	11
4	Boston, MA	48.25	3	93	18	12	31
5	Washington, DC	46.99	2	106	15	86	29
6	Portland, OR	45.37	21	22	7	118	1
7	Chicago, IL	44.88	17	9	3	113	3
8	Orlando, FL	44.52	8	18	19	57	31
9	Las Vegas, NV	43.92	10	6	11	162	47
10	Seattle, WA	43.22	9	38	4	53	29
11	St. Louis, MO	42.47	12	32	25	2	47
12	Alexandria, VA	41.88	4	170	78	47	47
13	Fort Lauderdale, FL	41.65	7	71	53	29	47
14	New Orleans, LA	41.21	40	5	40	32	11
15	Atlanta, GA	40.49	14	68	15	25	11
16	Pittsburgh, PA	38.98	16	116	30	9	5
17	San Diego, CA	38.11	37	17	5	102	28
18	Honolulu, HI	38.03	13	25	50	169	47
19	Savannah, GA	37.36	43	26	70	18	11
20	Denver, CO	37.34	20	28	8	72	47
21	Providence, RI	37.17	11	79	91	41	47
22	Pasadena, TX	37.09	193	2	191	67	47
23	Little Rock, AR	37.04	88	45	134	1	11
24	Rochester, NY	37.03	19	157	70	5	5
25	Hayward, CA	36.72	194	3	150	111	47
26	Los Angeles, CA	36.61	48	42	2	154	11
27	Spring Valley, NV	36.5	150	1	198	169	47
28	Cincinnati, OH	36.44	45	31	38	6	31
29	Austin, TX	36.36	58	47	10	54	3
30	Dallas, TX	36.3	39	40	14	63	11
31	Santa Rosa, CA	35.99	57	16	127	117	11
32	Minneapolis, MN	35.44	18	75	17	56	47
33	Phoenix, AZ	35.43	68	33	12	122	5
34	Jackson, MS	34.56	165	7	157	23	47
35	Houston, TX	34.24	64	67	5	92	5
36	Louisville, KY	34.16	22	72	55	39	47
37	Salt Lake City, UT	33.41	34	57	48	33	47
38	Scottsdale, AZ	33.37	44	61	42	8	47
39	Philadelphia, PA	33.35	26	77	13	77	47
40	Nashville, TN	33.27	99	23	20	50	31
41	Richmond, VA	33.2	23	131	51	19	47
42	Madison, WI	33.16	49	87	58	3	47
43	Mobile, AL	33.15	161	8	157	44	47
43	Fort Wayne, IN	33.15	122	36	120	51	11
45	Arlington, VA	33.11	15	180	52	133	5
46	Tampa, FL	32.95	33	80	35	22	47
47	Fort Collins, CO	32.94	47	53	102	35	31
48	Springfield, MO	32.91	77	14	116	112	47
48	Grand Rapids, MI	32.91	32	66	58	34	47
50	Buffalo, NY	32.9	36	59	46	30	47
51	Santa Ana, CA	32.74	135	29	107	169	5
52	Chattanooga, TN	32.72	86	50	87	7	47
53	Virginia Beach, VA	32.5	92	39	63	148	11
54	Overland Park, KS	32.3	101	78	66	21	11
54	Naperville, IL	32.3	56	90	118	4	47
56	Raleigh, NC	32.29	52	99	28	69	11
57	Lexington, KY	32.25	129	21	94	49	47
58	Knoxville, TN	32.13	53	60	68	13	47
59	Des Moines, IA	32.06	108	15	97	131	47
60	Fullerton, CA	32	132	12	150	143	47
61	McKinney, TX	31.96	141	19	114	55	47
62	Milwaukee, WI	31.82	51	46	45	70	47
63	Cary, NC	31.67	72	137	97	15	11
64	Baltimore, MD	31.62	25	146	26	26	47
65	Shreveport, LA	31.57	160	30	185	11	47
66	Chandler, AZ	31.47	83	117	77	24	11
66	Pasadena, CA	31.47	24	92	97	169	47
68	Aurora, IL	31.4	155	11	147	160	47
69	St. Paul, MN	31.39	28	107	26	81	47
70	St. Petersburg, FL	31.38	30	91	60	88	47
71	Laredo, TX	31.13	190	10	185	166	47
72	Tucson, AZ	31.12	74	113	36	71	11
73	Anchorage, AK	31.05	187	51	134	79	11
74	McAllen, TX	30.77	156	20	183	144	47
75	Brownsville, TX	30.76	191	13	196	156	47
76	Cleveland, OH	30.74	46	97	32	40	47
77	Birmingham, AL	30.69	113	54	102	20	47
78	Kansas City, MO	30.62	130	34	32	80	47
79	Detroit, MI	30.57	89	35	57	141	47
80	Huntington Beach, CA	30.37	35	115	112	64	47
81	Salinas, CA	30.3	127	27	183	108	47
82	Eugene, OR	30.18	38	147	86	17	47
83	Hollywood, FL	30.17	31	141	94	105	31
84	Tulsa, OK	30.15	112	43	80	66	47
85	Columbus, OH	29.74	87	63	24	91	47
86	Orange, CA	29.65	85	101	150	14	47
87	Plano, TX	29.4	79	119	73	16	47
88	Long Beach, CA	29.39	50	89	64	153	47
89	Durham, NC	29.35	67	124	65	45	31
90	Indianapolis, IN	29.33	106	49	36	163	47
91	Tempe, AZ	29.32	41	114	61	120	47
92	Murfreesboro, TN	29.3	107	73	145	38	47
93	Oxnard, CA	29.29	104	48	177	127	47
94	Norfolk, VA	29.24	61	96	127	62	47
95	Oceanside, CA	29.18	78	56	127	169	47
96	Spokane, WA	29.16	55	109	55	73	47
97	Greensboro, NC	29.14	95	69	108	60	47
98	Wichita, KS	29.12	131	37	97	169	47
99	Jersey City, NJ	29.07	29	145	43	169	47
100	Modesto, CA	29	117	52	173	129	47
101	Oklahoma City, OK	28.83	166	55	54	78	47
102	Omaha, NE	28.8	82	121	70	28	47
103	Gilbert, AZ	28.7	96	85	66	61	47
104	Syracuse, NY	28.66	27	149	87	169	47
105	Vancouver, WA	28.64	62	139	80	42	47
106	Charlotte, NC	28.62	71	104	29	90	47
106	Sacramento, CA	28.62	63	132	44	65	47
108	Henderson, NV	28.47	128	65	83	103	47
108	Albuquerque, NM	28.47	73	110	41	84	47
110	Escondido, CA	28.46	111	58	150	149	47
111	Riverside, CA	28.45	151	44	102	167	47
112	San Antonio, TX	28.44	114	112	21	104	31
113	Colorado Springs, CO	28.43	84	136	34	76	31
114	Boise, ID	28.37	60	143	73	75	31
115	Sioux Falls, SD	28.28	103	74	150	115	47
116	Reno, NV	28.26	66	84	91	169	47
117	Aurora, CO	28.12	166	88	61	36	47
117	Toledo, OH	28.12	123	76	143	93	47
119	Baton Rouge, LA	28.03	90	111	96	52	47
120	Frisco, TX	28	121	122	82	27	47
121	Jacksonville, FL	27.99	158	64	38	124	47
122	Metairie, LA	27.72	70	126	177	97	47
123	Sunnyvale, CA	27.65	102	86	114	151	47
124	Worcester, MA	27.62	81	130	143	83	47
125	Macon, GA	27.6	180	62	185	107	47
126	Mesa, AZ	27.54	119	105	48	85	47
127	Newark, NJ	27.51	69	134	120	119	47
128	Peoria, AZ	27.39	172	102	120	37	47
129	Lincoln, NE	27.31	120	120	91	58	47
130	Garland, TX	27.25	163	81	138	110	47
131	Fort Worth, TX	27.1	65	150	23	136	47
132	Cape Coral, FL	26.99	98	103	142	157	47
133	Corpus Christi, TX	26.92	154	82	118	155	47
133	Corona, CA	26.92	157	70	162	169	47
133	Memphis, TN	26.92	140	95	73	138	47
136	Newport News, VA	26.89	124	108	157	116	47
137	Elk Grove, CA	26.74	144	83	157	169	47
138	Glendale, AZ	26.62	109	127	108	135	47
139	Pembroke Pines, FL	26.5	93	171	138	10	47
140	Irvine, CA	26.37	105	162	78	46	31
141	Glendale, CA	26.32	110	133	120	161	47
142	Santa Clarita, CA	26.23	142	98	127	169	47
143	Anaheim, CA	26.2	59	160	84	169	31
144	Bakersfield, CA	26.17	168	100	116	158	47
145	Tacoma, WA	26.13	54	164	73	130	47
146	Oakland, CA	26.12	76	148	47	168	47
147	Clarksville, TN	26	159	94	177	169	47
148	Salem, OR	25.96	80	159	108	74	47
149	Fresno, CA	25.85	146	135	87	139	47
150	Columbus, GA	25.8	175	118	167	123	47
151	Bellevue, WA	25.75	42	174	87	98	47
152	Olathe, KS	25.65	149	144	147	142	31
152	Amarillo, TX	25.65	139	125	150	169	47
152	Arlington, TX	25.65	134	140	102	140	47
155	Bridgeport, CT	25.49	91	151	191	146	47
156	Tallahassee, FL	25.47	94	152	97	159	47
157	Port St. Lucie, FL	25.42	145	142	102	121	47
158	Rockford, IL	25.21	116	155	175	101	47
159	Stockton, CA	25.19	177	138	162	152	47
160	Akron, OH	25.12	133	166	138	48	47
161	North Las Vegas, NV	24.93	196	123	145	169	47
162	Grand Prairie, TX	24.9	192	128	177	169	47
163	Lancaster, CA	24.87	195	129	191	169	47
164	Lubbock, TX	24.81	148	156	127	87	47
164	Winston-Salem, NC	24.81	118	165	120	82	47
166	Yonkers, NY	24.69	126	158	127	126	47
167	Springfield, MA	24.6	138	167	162	68	47
168	Montgomery, AL	24.55	164	153	185	125	47
169	Fayetteville, NC	24.53	153	154	147	128	47
169	Irving, TX	24.53	115	161	112	134	47
171	Lakewood, CO	24.33	100	163	68	169	47
172	Huntsville, AL	24.24	143	168	120	89	47
172	Dayton, OH	24.24	75	173	120	96	47
174	Chesapeake, VA	23.8	182	169	136	59	47
175	Thornton, CO	22.99	152	184	108	169	11
176	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	22.56	136	179	167	114	47
177	Augusta, GA	22.41	174	172	157	169	47
178	Fremont, CA	22.22	173	175	127	109	47
179	San Jose, CA	22.19	137	186	31	132	31
180	Kansas City, KS	22.07	177	178	167	106	47
181	Hialeah, FL	21.75	169	177	173	165	47
182	Torrance, CA	21.68	97	185	136	145	47
183	Chula Vista, CA	21.31	185	176	150	169	47
184	El Paso, TX	21.18	179	181	84	164	47
185	Killeen, TX	20.91	186	183	177	99	47
186	Mesquite, TX	20.71	184	182	185	169	47
187	Joliet, IL	20.39	170	188	162	43	47
188	Ontario, CA	19.33	162	187	138	169	47
189	Garden Grove, CA	18	125	189	162	169	47
190	Midland, TX	16.78	171	190	191	94	47
191	Paterson, NJ	14.75	147	194	175	147	47
192	San Bernardino, CA	14.59	181	191	167	169	31
193	Pomona, CA	14.21	188	195	167	150	47
194	Miramar, FL	14.01	176	192	167	169	47
195	Moreno Valley, CA	13.81	189	193	191	169	47
196	Palmdale, CA	13.65	183	196	185	169	47
197	Fontana, CA	1.06	197	197	177	95	47
198	Enterprise, NV	0.02	197	197	197	169	47
199	Sunrise Manor, NV	0	197	197	199	169	47

Infographic showing the best and worst cities for gluten-free food based on polices, procedures, and more

Highlights and Lowlights

Big (Apple) Appetites

New York brings home the gluten-free gold, taking first place overall as well as in the Demand and Community metrics. With such a diverse crowd to cater to, it’s no wonder New York restaurants are leading the way in allergy-friendly dining.

There are plenty of customers hungry for gluten-free options in the Big Apple. New York fared well in every metric apart from Health, meaning there might also be a need for more allergy specialists in NYC.

Local Tips:

Go for a gluten-free brunch in the West Village at Senza Gluten Cafe & Bakery.

Wheat-Free Northwest

Pacific Northwest cities are ahead of the curve when it comes to allergy-friendly dining.

Despite being in one of the highest wheat-producing states, Seattle (No. 10) soared to the top due to abundant Access and high Demand. Meanwhile, Portland landed at No. 6, thanks to fairly high scores overall and the most supportive Community (No. 1).

Local Tips:

Quench your thirst with some gluten-free beer in Portland at Ground Breaker Brewing.
More award-winning gluten-free beer can be found at Ghostfish Brewing Company in Seattle.

Hungry for More

Some cities in our ranking have room for improvement, particularly in areas with high Demand or a strong Community but low Access. With many gluten-intolerant support groups and the most allergy specialists per capita, a city like Little Rock (No. 23), for example, leaves much to be desired in Access and Quality.

Size isn’t an excuse for a populous city like San Antonio (No. 112), which fared poorly in every metric apart from Demand and Community. Similarly, Los Angeles (No. 26) failed to meet the big Demand (No. 2) present in their big city. Aspiring chefs looking to craft allergy-friendly menus should look into the business prospects of these metros.

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bread)

You’ll want to bring your own gluten-free substitutes if you travel through Las Vegas suburbs Sunrise Manor (No. 199) and Enterprise (No. 198) or suburban California cities like Fontana (No. 197), Palmdale (No. 196), and Moreno Valley (No. 195). These cities all failed to rise and prove their status in our ranking, lagging behind in every metric.

If you’re GF in the Vegas metro, take a trip to Spring Valley, Nevada (No. 27), which, despite low Demand and Access scores, has high-quality gluten-free options (No. 1 in this category) to choose from.

Methodology

We ranked 199 of the biggest U.S. cities from best (No. 1) to worst (No. 199) based on their overall scores (out of 100 possible points), averaged across all the weighted metrics listed below.

Metric	Weight	Min. Value	Max. Value	Best
Access
Gluten-Free Establishments per Square Mile	5	0	9.49	Max. Value
Number of Gluten-Free Options at Airports	0.5	0	32	Max. Value
Quality
Average Consumer Rating for Gluten-Free Establishments	3	0	4.5	Max. Value
Share of Highly Rated (4.5+ Stars) Gluten-Free Establishments (With at Least 10 Reviews)	4	0%	100%	Max. Value
Total Number of Reviews for Gluten-Free Establishments	2	0	734,950	Max. Value
Demand
Average Monthly Google Search Volume for Gluten-Free-Related Terms Over Past 12 Months	2	10	28,500	Max. Value
Health
Allergy Specialists per 100,000 Residents	2	0	9.09	Max. Value
Community
Number of Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Meetup Groups	1	0	8	Max. Value
Number of Gluten Intolerance Support Groups	1	0	2	Max. Value

Sources: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; Find Me Gluten Free; Gluten Intolerance Group; Google; Meetup; and TripAdvisor

Why This Study Matters

Athletes and celebrities aren’t the only ones avoiding wheat, barley, and rye. Around 25% of Americans follow a gluten-free diet, to deal with Celiac disease, gluten allergy or sensitivity, or for other reasons.

Restaurateurs should keep this number in mind while planning their menu. With some cities offering entirely gluten-free options to choose from, those who follow a gluten-free diet aren’t always going to settle for a bunless burger.

Just because you’re gluten-free doesn’t mean you need to give up on your favorite treats like pizza, though. Next time you’re feeling creative in the kitchen, why not try out one of these gluten-friendly recipes?

You’re already experimenting in the kitchen — why not experiment with your landscape while you’re at it? LawnStarter’s local pros can lend a hand with all your lawn care and landscaping needs.

Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock