If you have been following me for a while then you know that I’m from Albuquerque, New Mexico. People in Albuquerque are very serious about their food, especially red and green chile. I was living in Los Angeles for 11 years and always found reasons to bring a bit of ABQ to California. Much of my recipes are New Mexican inspired. My husband and I recently moved back and bought our first home!
One down side to moving back home is that I can no longer eat the foods I grew up loving. I didn’t find out about celiac disease until I was in Los Angeles so coming home and not being able to eat the Frontier cinnamon rolls, any breakfast burritos, or the famous sopapillas was a bit heart breaking. Don’t let that discourage you. I will say there are a lot of options in Albuquerque if you are gluten free.
If you are traveling to ABQ as a gluten free person, I have a couple tips before I name some great finds. The Chile isn’t always gluten free, sometimes they use flour. It’s SUCH a bummer. Things like huevos rancheros just aren’t the same unless you can smother it in red chile. Other than that, just check about basic cross contamination.
Here are my top 5 current restaurants in Albuquerque with tried and true gluten free options!
1) M’Tucci: This restaurant is new for me as it was established after I had moved away. It’s already one of my favorites! They have amazing pasta with gluten free options and great salads. Each restaurant has a slightly different menu.
2) Church Street Cafe: This is a New Mexican staple in Old Town, Albuquerque. The Chile is gluten free plus they have gluten free menu options. The posole is typically my go-to, they even steam the corn tortillas so they are not cross contaminated! If you want to make your own, try my crockpot posole recipe.
3) Antiquity: If you are looking for a fancier night, this restaurant is also in Old Town. It’s almost hidden but don’t let that fool you. Many locals recommended this for our anniversary. My husband had been before but it was a first for me. Absolutely delicious 3 course meal! No gluten free menu but lots of options and knowledgeable staff.
4) Jinja: They are known for their Pan-Asian dishes and Pre-Prohibition drinks. They have a pretty decent gluten free menu, some need modifications, like their sushi but it’s totally worth it!
5) High Point Grill: This place is on the west side and I was not expecting the options they had. They don’t have a gluten free menu but the staff is very knowledgeable and the kitchen very accommodating. They always inform me of the separate pan usage for whatever I’m ordering. They have gluten free bread for the Filet Cheesesteak sub which is Excellent! Their green Chile is some of the best in Albuquerque too. If they had separate fryers for fries then my life would be complete. That’s ok, I should probably eat that salad anyways! Want to make your own? I got you! Try this crockpot recipe, it’s amazing.
If you are looking for more Albuquerque gluten free finds check out my Instagram story highlights! Don’t miss the video of gluten free Albuquerque finds!
