Calling All Health Freaks: HK’s Top Gluten-Free Restaurants
Pooja Sadhwani
Let me guess… you either clicked on this page because you’re on that vegan, paleo, gluten-free, or dairy-free diet that every health freak is raving about on their personal blog or Instagram page. #fitfood #cleaneats #fitspo, am I right? “It’s not just a diet, it’s a lifestyle.” All jokes aside, I know the struggle is real, I’m gluten-free and dairy-free myself.
As the world progresses to become more health conscious, people are figuring out what their food intolerances are and how to better themselves by cutting certain types of foods out of their diets. Coeliac disease and gluten-intolerance are two of the most prominent food-related health issues that people are concerned with. It is a health concern where the small intestine is hypersensitive to all forms of gluten and wheat based products. Traveling may always pose to be a concern for people that do not eat gluten, but Hong Kong has a ton of hidden gems that accommodate to your every need. Check out our picks below:
Mana Cafe! / Mana! Fast Slow Food / Mana! Xpress
Mana Cafe!, Mana! Fast Slow Food, and Mana! Xpress is every health advocate’s dream, with the owner’s motto being to offer food in the cleanest way possible- biodegradable and compostable packaging, and fresh, plant-based ingredients. Specializing in flat breads, both locations allow you to choose either a gluten-free or whole-wheat base and your respective hearty toppings, such as hummus, olives, avocado, and zaatar, to name a few. You can even try their burgers, salads, and sweet truffles, they are always a delight!
Addresses:
-
- Mana! Café
8 Tai On Terrace, Poho,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(+ 852) 2347 8555 - Mana! Fast Slow Food
92 Wellington Street,
Central, Hong Kong
(+852) 2851 1611 - Mana! Xpress
97 Wellington Street
Central, Hong Kong
(+852) 2259 5125
- Mana! Café
Grassroots Pantry
https://www.grassrootspantry.com/
For more of a sit-down place, head over to Grassroots Pantry, a fully vegetarian restaurant with gluten free, Buddhist-friendly, and vegan options all over their menus. Their menu consists of options such as popcorn “chicken”, Thai green curry, and buckwheat pappardelle “bolognese”, to name a few popular choices. Located on Hollywood Road, Grassroots Pantry and their staff will completely take care of you and adhere to your dietary needs.
Address:
108 Hollywood Road,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(+852) 2873 3353
Grassroots Pantry is just nearby Ovolo Sheung Wan.
Noodlemi
Noodlemi brings Vietnamese Food to Hong Kong and transforms it into a gluten-friendly meal to share with friends and family everywhere. A plus is that their food contains absolutely no-MSG (monosodium glutamate), allowing noodle lovers to get some of the best guilt-free pho in the city. You can even order a bowl of the steaming hot noodle soup to your hotel room!
Address:
G/F, 2 Bonham Strand,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(+852) 2253 1113
Il Mattarello HK
Pasta has always been a weakness for people, as it is the most common comfort food anyone could think of- especially when it’s enveloped in a thick, creamy, sauce. Il Mattarello brings this comfort food to the average gluten-free individual by having gluten-free ricotta filled cappelletti, gluten-free lasagna, and gluten-free fettuccini as options. You can even custom-make your sauce as a fun and creative twist, or purchase the dry pasta to cook in your hotel room.
*Only available as delivery or store bought at City Super, Green Common, Salt & Pepper (Discovery Bay)
Order Online here:
- http://form.jotform.me/form/42981056492461
- https://www.ztore.com/en/brand/IL_MATTARELLO-900
La Crêperie
Wait what? French Crepes that are gluten-free? How? La Crêperie offers fresh savory and sweet crepes made with a buckwheat base, filled with their finest selection of meats, cheese, and seafood as well as decadent Nutella, chocolate, and juicy fruit options for the sweet-toothed lover. (Most of the sweet crepes are made with a wheat based pancake, but the chefs are always willing to switch out their normal dessert base for the buckwheat pancake, just ask!)
Addresses:
- 8/F, The L Square
459-461 Lockhart Road
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
(+852) 2898 7123 - G/F, 69 Jervois Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(+852) 2679 4666
The Mixing Bowl
https://www.themixingbowlhk.com/
Love baked goods? The struggle to find gluten-free breads, pastries, and muffins is over with this Noho-based café that offers a wide variety of the grains. They even have their own hand-crafted gluten-free mix and offer baking classes to teach you how to create their products at home, or in a hotel room! Head to the Central location for a fun, hands-on experience.
Address:
23/F, The Pemberton,
22-26 Bonham Strand,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(+852) 2524 0001
Sweet Secrets Cupcakes
http://www.sweetsecrets.com.hk/
As shocking as the crepe café, Sweet Secrets Cupcakes bakes gluten-free and refined-sugar free cakes and cupcakes. Yes, you heard me! Just because you are gluten-free does not mean you can’t have dessert. Sweet Secrets Cupcakes takes orders and caters to birthday parties, so feel free to get your next birthday cake from this glorious hidden gem.
Address:
G/F 35 Graham Street,
Central, Hong Kong
(+852) 2545 8886
Locofama
Another health-lover’s restaurant, Locofama is located across Grassroot’s Pantry and offers vegan, dairy-free, nut-free and pescetarian dishes as well as gluten free options for substitution. Most of their dishes are naturally rid of gluten as they are quinoa based. Their menu consists of a variety of different creations, including the 48 hour natural short ribs, coconut chicken casserole, and seared octopus baby spinach salad.
Address:
9-13 Fuk Sau Lane,
Sai Wan, Hong Kong
(+852) 2547 7668
Kale
Recently revamped to become an all-gluten free restaurant, Kale offers a variety of lunch and dinner options that will satisfy all your dietary requirements. Many go for the popular cost-sensitive “protein boxes”, where you can create your own chicken breast and brown rice box. The truffle sweet potato fries are also a must-have!
Address:
Cheungs Building,
1-3 Wing Lok Street,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(+852) 2320 5808
The Restaurant by The Kinnet
The Kinnet, the renowned wellness center in Hong Kong opened a café that adheres to a healthy lifestyle, providing gluten free breads as breakfast options along with a completely gluten free salad counter and a gluten-free dinner menu, giving you plenty of options to choose from.
Address:
Hillier Building,
33 Hillier Street,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(+852) 3968 7600
Pooja Sadhwani is an upcoming third-year student at New York University studying Media, Culture, and Communications with a dual major in Journalism. She was born in New Jersey and later moved to Hong Kong when she was about nine years old. When you don’t see her studying or working at her Ovolo Internship, you will find her hanging out with her friends and exploring the new attractions that the city of Hong Kong has to offer.