Most of us are usually trying to make healthy choices while cooking at home (right?). But sometimes, you get a craving and it’s hard out there for a glutard!
Luckily, Phoenix has some fixes for these specific indulgences. Here’s my list for the best gluten free finds right now:
PIZZA
Doughbird
4385 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Brussel sprouts and sweet potato…on pizza? Hear me out. Forget that 12” frozen gluten free pizza dough most restaurants offer as an afterthought. Doughbird makes their own gluten free crust (!) – for only $2 more – and it is worth every penny. The crispy pastrami pizza is such a welcome addition to the normal pizza toppings and there’s plenty more where that came from with other toppings that include spiral ham, thai basil and charred corn.
La Grande Orange Pizzeria
4410 N 40th St, Phoenix, AZ 85018
These guys make their own dough as well and blow it out of the water with pizzas like The Vegan Dalai Lama with homemade cashew cheese and the Rocket Man with red fresno chiles, broccolini, roasted peppers and roasted garlic.
BURGERS
The Stand
3538 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
The menu is simple and the burgers are excellent. Fresh chuck ground in-house daily, crisp leaf lettuce, freshly sliced tomato and onion, dill pickles, homemade stand sauce and a gluten free bun for $2.19 extra. Get the fries and stand sauce too!
Shake Shack
Multiple Valley Locations
The Smokehouse burger with bacon and cherry pepper relish is the best pick here. Any burger can be ordered with a lettuce wrap or gluten-free bun.
FRIED CHICKEN
Buck & Rider
4225 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
It’s not listed on the menu as gluten free but their Dixie Picnic Chicken Snack definitely is! And let me tell you, it’s as good as they serve in the South! Herbs, spices, hot sauce and homemade ranch dressing, To top it off, it’s also on the happy hour menu. Score!
Jewel’s Bakery & Cafe
4041 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
This GF dedicated cafe is a safe haven for all celiacs, but if you ask me, one of their best menu items is the fried chicken and waffles. Because let’s be honest, who can make it at home this good!?
MAC N CHEESE
Mastro’s North Scottsdale
8852 E Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85255
All I have to say is: hallelujah! Don’t ask me why, but this is the only location in Arizona to offer gluten free bread, gluten free mac n cheese and gluten free butter cake – but boy am I thankful for Chef David Battersby who took it upon himself to recreate these for his gluten free guests! Run, don’t walk to try out these Mastro’s specialties.
Sauce
Multiple Valley Locations
If you’re craving comfort food, this is the place you will find ooey gooey cheesy goodness in their chicken, broccoli pasta, spicy chicken sausage pasta with poblano peppers or the plain ole’ mac n cheese. GF noodles are $1.50 extra.
SANDWICHES
Ike’s Love & Sandwiches
Multiple Valley Locations
I first learned about this sandwich shop while visiting San Francisco a few years ago. I walked a mile and a half every day I was there to get this sandwich – because it was THAT GOOD! How lucky that we were the second state in the nation to get an Ike’s. Now they have locations in Mesa, downtown Tempe and downtown Phoenix. They have several gluten free sandwich options. Try the Going Home for Thanksgiving or the (Name of the person you’re dating).
Zookz
100 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Jealous did not begin to describe how I felt when my Zookz-obsessed coworkers would all be eating their round, warm hot pocket style sandwiches all around me. So when the restaurant added a gluten-free version I RAN to try them. Their breakfast sandwiches all include eggs, lunch ranges from roast beef and bacon to a shredded carrot, kale, pineapple mix. They even have two sweet sandwiches for dessert.
BRUSCHETTA
Postino
Multiple Valley Locations
The place known for its many varieties of bruschetta started carrying gluten free bread a few years ago and it is good!
Spinato’s
Multiple Valley Locations
Technically this isn’t bruschetta but Spinato’s cheesy garlic bread is a baguette with toppings so we’ll go with it. And it’s so good it needed an honorable mention somewhere!
COOKIES
Urban Cookies
2325 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
They have a rotating menu of gluten free cookies with the perfect soft-baked-but-crispy-on-the-outside texture.
Flower Child
100 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012 or 5013 N 44th St, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Not only are the chocolate chip cookies addictive, they also serve a GF brownie and olive oil lemon cake!
Gluten Free Travel Girl 
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