Gluten-Free Restaurants in Nanaimo, BC

“LOVE the slapdown!!!! Always fast, always friendly, always kind when it comes to service. And always, always delicious when it comes to food!“

“We were a group of three for lunch yesterday. I had been going to Greek restaurants in Vancouver for 40 years before I moved back to Ucluelet. The wonderful experience surpassed all of the past ones with the best authentic lamb souvlaki and tzatziki, exceptional service and welcoming atmosphere I have ever experienced. Huge kudos to a truly destination restaurant.“

“came to this bistro for the first time on March 22, 2025 for a surprise 70th birthday for a family member. Found the setting comfortable, the staff knowledgeable, friendly and the service top notch. Ordered the platter for two and it was so good, the calamari was the best!! Our table numbered 15 people and all food arrived hot and all family was eating at the same time. This bistro is amazing!! As we travel to Gabriola Island fairly often, we will be stopping here for dinner again!!“

“We were just at this place. Great staff. Friendly. Food is amazing. I recommend Ironworks Cafe. Special mention to Renee, really friendly Thank you Rico and Rona“

“Oh Happy Bake made four different vegan cakes for our event. Holy moly were the cakes delicious and beautiful! Not only that, but they were wonderful to deal with. I highly recommend.“

“We visited twice the week of May 4-9; both times the food was excellent, fresh and flavorful; the drinks delicious; and the ambiance & service from Jordan and Nicki was outstanding - highly recommend, and if we ever visit Nanaimo again, we will be back to Bar Luna!“

“Such a great restraunt Everything is delicious 😋 highly recommend our favorite pho“

“My "go to" restaurant. Last night had the Valentine's day special. Portions were generous and delicious. No room for dessert, so had to take the strawberry cheesecake home for later.“

“The Cactus is always our go to on the way up island as it’s consistently amazing for food, drinks and service but this time was exceptional for two reasons. The first being our server Shane, he was the best server we’ve EVER had. It was our anniversary and he made it an even more spectacular day than it already was. His service was perfect in every way, friendly, fun, engaging, and knowledgeable. The second being your new menu! We had the scallop ceviche which was to die for (forgot to take a pic) prawn crunch roll and salmon aburi roll, which were equally as delicious! Beautiful presentation and taste!“

“the best gluten and dairy free poutine 😍“

“Best fish and chips ever!! ❤️❤️❤️“

“Definitely one of my favourite coffee shops. I visit regularly- the staff are very friendly and attentive, the atmosphere is always relaxed and welcoming. The coffee is first class!“

“The perfect way to start your day in Nanaimo! That first sip put me in a great mood that lasted all morning. Perfectly crafted coffee, cozy atmosphere, and a spot that clearly takes its craft seriously. Right on Commercial Street in the heart of the Arts District — easy to find, hard to leave. Highly recommend! ☕“

“Very good sushi, friendly staff who accommodate my allergy, and usually very little wait time.“

“I used A Wee Cupcakery for my wedding to provide vegan and gluten-free cupcakes. They made six of each of four flavors, and the chocolate coconut was absolutely to die for! Even guests without dietary restrictions couldn’t resist. Attached is a photo of a happy bride who sampled each flavour. 😄 Delicious treats and fantastic service—I highly recommend them!“

“We visited Gabriel’s Café in Nanaimo for breakfast and coffee on our last day and were pleasantly surprised. The breakfast was excellent, with fresh, high quality ingredients. The café states that it prides itself on sourcing local produce, and that commitment is clearly reflected in the food.

The coffee was also very good by Canadian standards. I ordered a Piccolo and had to explain what it was, but the staff were happy to accommodate. It was served in a larger cup than the traditional Australian style Piccolo, but the flavour was excellent. Best of all, the coffee didn’t have the burnt taste that is often found elsewhere.

Friendly service, quality local ingredients, and great coffee make this a café well worth visiting when in Nanaimo.“

“Stopped by chance after shopping downtown. The restaurant has a cool look with the glass roof and garage doors. We ordered vegetarian dishes and they were very good. The papaya salad was excellent, I do think there may have been fish sauce in it, so beware if you are a strict vegetarian. We had a tofu stir fry and tofu curry, both were good, not too salty or oily as many Asian dishes are. The prices are very reasonable and the staff were friendly. Everything was garnished nicely as well. The only thing I would change is if the dishes could be labeled as vegan or vegetarian. We will be back.“

“This by far is the best restaurant in Nanaimo. The lobster and crab ravioli was absolutely amazing - and the service is top notch. Special thanks to Vishal who made us feel so welcome!“

“This is our go to coffee shop! Great cinnamon buns and muffins! Lovely atmosphere and staff!“

“I wanted to find the best Nanaimo bar in Nanaimo and this place is a contender for that title. I tried the blackberry lavender bar. It had a nice light crust with a generous layer of filling and chocolate on top. The iced pina colada matcha was also a refreshing twist on the usual iced matcha flavours. Worth checking out!!!“

“Had a really nice BLT and coffee, great service Thanks“

“Arrived at 2 so had options from the regular and happy hour menu. The street corn dip was fantastic. Combo plates included enchiladas and our favourite dish - Chile Rellenos. Great staff, funky atmosphere and amazing food. Can't wait to come back!“

“First time trying Noodlebox. I tried their pad thai with chicken (I've eaten many pad thais in Thailand). The flavor was spot on, but the noodle was undercooked. Beansprouts were crispy but there was no chives. :(
The cashier was friendly and the service was quick. Next time I'd like to try their Cambodian jungle curry. Sounds interesting.“

“our go-to location on the island. nice to be greeted with smiles 😁 always get the spicy peanut bowl, but tried the Cambodian yellow curry today and it was delicious! bits of mango on top so good.“

“Good food good service but too noisy for my taste. I understand that's a sport bar but when you look at the clientele it's not just a bunch of young men and women. It would be nice if they would try to accommodate a variety of clientele. Despite all the positives I'll not go back because when I go out with friends I want to be able to enjoy my visit and to have a nice conversation without having to worry about an annoying noise level.“

“No service I know the food is good, but I was tired of waiting and left. Nice joke, folks.. You won’t be seeing me again anytime soon I really did like your food though.“