My first trip to Arizona was back in 2010, when I went on tour for my debut novel, The Damage Done. I was thrilled to visit Scottsdale’s legendary independent bookstore, The Poisoned Pen, but I was also nervous about where I’d find gluten-free food, because the tour had not been smooth sailing on the dining front. But it turned out my fears were completely unjustified, because Phoenix and its sister city of Scottsdale were filled with fantastic finds. I’ve been back on every book tour since, plus visits for book festivals and conferences. Here are some of my favorite stops.
PZA: When I land at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor airport, I’m usually starving. Fortunately I discovered this terrific spot specializing in individual pizzas. (Truth be told, they’ve got salads, too, but I haven’t explored that option yet. One day!) The staff is sensitive to cross-contamination issues, and their mushroom pizza with spinach, garlic, and mozzarella is a personal favorite. Is it wrong to look forward to an airport meal? I don’t think so.
Citizen Public House: Nestled in the heart of Scottsdale’s historic old town, this restaurant is a little tricky to find, but it’s worth the effort. The menu is annotated with gluten-free labels, and options include a salad of local field greens with cashews, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and heirloom cherry tomatoes in a tart vinaigrette, and guajillo chicken with a spicy sweet potato hash and goat cheese. The menu changes a little on every visit, but they always have plenty of options.
Jewel’s Bakery and Cafe: 100% gluten-free and 100% delightful. I’ve only made it to this Phoenix gem for brunch, which features delicious omelettes, burritos, and fried chicken. There are so many tempting offerings on the menu, I don’t know how many visits it will take to work through them all, but on my next trip I’m looking forward to trying the churro waffle.
Old Town Tortilla Factory: Gluten-free menu? Check. Generous portions that are sharing sized? Check. Thoughtful service? Check. Neon-bright margaritas? Check. Late dining hours? Check. I’ve had dinner at this spot after weeknight book events at The Poisoned Pen, which can run late. The green enchilada with chicken is always satisfying.
ZuZu: Located inside Scottsdale’s gorgeous Hotel Valley Ho — a stunner for its midcentury retro design and decor — ZuZu’s menu is clearly marked with gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. While the kitchen isn’t a dedicated GF one, on multiple visits I’ve found the restaurant’s staff to be well-trained about cross-contamination issues. The jumbo shrimp cocktail is a menu staple here and it’s always terrific.
Los Sombreros: This Phoenix Valley landmark has been serving great Mexican food since 1994. Now with two locations — one in Scottsdale and the other in nearby Mesa — it offers authentic Oaxacan-inspired cuisine, with every sauce and salsa made from scratch on the premises. The vast majority of the menu is gluten-free, with classics like pork carnitas with pico de gallo and lamb adobo in a spicy ancho chile sauce.
While these sound like wonderful suggestions, Scottsdale and Phoenix are a long ways away if you live in Apache Junction. I'm wondering if there are any gluten free restaurants in Mesa?
Ooh I’ll definitely keep these in mind!!