Coeliac disease affects one in 100 – and yet, a surprising amount of restaurants still fail to cater gluten-free menus. A protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, gluten is omnipresent in many staple diet foods such as bread, pasta, crackers, and baked goods, but also seeps into sauces, soups, and certain beers during the manufacturing process. Often, only those who are sensitive to gluten know how hard it is to find menus that are allergy friendly. However, there are a few London restaurants that take coeliacs seriously, from Mexican-Japanese-inspired Los Mochis to Islington’s Niche, which was founded to fill a gap in the gluten-free market. Discover the best below. 

Los Mochis, The City and Notting Hill

Los Mochis is renowned for blending Mexican flavours and Japanese techniques with an array of dishes that are all 100 per cent gluten, nut and celery free. Served at both London outposts in Notting Hill and The City for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the considered menu takes the stress out of choosing. Highlights include banana oat pancakes and breakfast burritos with guacamole and scrambled tofu in the morning, as well as evening dishes of maki rolls, tacos filled with miso black cod or bang bang cauliflower, and para picar of tuna poke tostaditos and edamame. 

Visit losmochis.co.uk

Niche, Islington

In 2013, Marc Warde and his friend and business partner Adrian Morgan launched a bakery-come-restaurant which set out to serve British food with a modern twist that was all made onsite – and Niche was born. Soon after, Warde was diagnosed as coeliac and the ethos of Niche changed, transforming into London’s first and, at the time, only 100 per cent gluten-free restaurant. 

Priding itself on offering 'gluten-free but you wouldn't know it', all food is gluten-, nut- and sesame-free while there are also a number of lactose-friendly and vegan options available. Inventive plates include parmesan and cheddar doughnuts, signature Niche fried chicken with barbecue dips, herb-crusted rack of lamb with truffled mash and chicken Schnitzel. Awarded a Grade A certificate for the fifth year in a row by Coeliac UK, you can be confident this kitchen is free from the risk. 

Visit nicherestaurants.co.uk

Indigo at One Aldwych, Covent Garden

One Aldwych’s neighbourhood restaurant, Indigo, is spearheaded by chef Dominic Teague and prides itself on exclusively using ingredients from the best British independent producers while also being entirely gluten and dairy-free. Offering tasting menus and an a la carte selection, provenance takes centre stage on every plate. Starters include Orkney scallop in courgette puree and Isle of Wight tomatoes with watermelon gazpacho, before larger plates of Cornish lamb loin with charred aubergine and day boat Cornish John Dory. 

Visit onealdwych.com

Paladar, Waterloo

Founder Charles Tyler was so inspired by his trip to South America in 2013 that he decided to launch Paladar upon his return, paying homage to the culinary traditions of the likes of Mexico, Brazil, and Chile while serving food that is 100 per cent gluten-free. Helmed by executive chef and Colombian native Jose Rubio-Guevara, the daily menu starts with nibbles of tapioca and cheese croquettes with guava and crispy pork belly arepas with guacamole, followed by ceviches and larger plates of seared duck breast with mole poblano, and grilled whole squid with sesame salsa macha and coriander curtido. 

Visit paladarlondon.com

Bancone, across London

Boasting a Michelin Bib Gourmand for the past six years and seriously Instagrammable interiors – Soho’s Golden Square outpost features an impressive olive tree as its dining room's centrepiece – Bancone is one of the capital’s most popular Italian restaurants. And luckily for coeliacs, many of the dishes can be substituted for gluten-free pasta. Ask the staff which sauces and fillings are coeliac-friendly, but with options like walnut butter and confit egg yolk, spicy pork and n'duja ragù and cacio e pepe, we doubt you’ll be disappointed. 

Visit bancone.co.uk

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