Eat gluten-free in New Plymouth – 18 Tempting Places We Love

If you are coeliac or just follow a gluten-free diet, and you are heading to Taranaki, I have great news for you. For me, eating gluten-free in New Plymouth has been shockingly easy. I have the added restriction of a dairy-free diet, but this city seems to handle that just as well.

I have been eating this way for a long time now, and I find that I eat at home more often than not, but when we are in Taranaki, we can dine out safely at any of the places we have listed below.

Not only do they all offer gluten-free options, but Jeff (who has no dietary restrictions) also agrees that they are all among the best places to eat in New Plymouth.

To be honest, we initially created this list of where to eat gluten-free in New Plymouth for ourselves. After all, Taranaki is one of my favourite regions, and New Plymouth is my home away from home.

And today, we want to share our list of favourite places to eat gluten-free in New Plymouth with others who are coeliac or just follow a GF diet.

Always verify it’s fully gluten-free

Remember, the words gluten-free on the menu doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe for people with coeliac disease.

It depends on how they protect from “cross-contamination” (that speck or more of gluten that got into our gluten-free food).

It most commonly occurs during food preparation. Toasters, fryers, knives, and spatulas must be dedicated to gluten-free items only. Otherwise, those with coeliac disease are at risk.

Therefore, it is essential for my health and safety that I find gluten-free restaurants in Taranaki or ones that offer gluten-free options.

We know our list is not exhaustive, but rather, it represents what we believe are the best places to eat in New Plymouth.

Gluten-free restaurants in New Plymouth – Usually open for dinner

Deluxe Diner

Location: 36 Leach Street
Phone: 06 757 5300

Imagine my surprise when I walked into this classic American diner that understands what it means to be coeliac-safe. With a well-trained staff, a dedicated fryer, and gluten-free options for just about everything, it was a pleasure eating here. I went for an American classic – the burger and fries, and they were great! (All of their burgers are 100% GF).

Mostly, the place is just fun. Everything reminds me of my former home, from the decor to the uniforms; it’s a classic. And, something I rarely see in New Zealand – they offered filter coffee (and Dr Pepper)

Thai Chef’s Restaurant

Location: 201 Devon Street East
Phone: 06 758 1535

With locations in New Zealand, I am surprised I haven’t eaten at Thai Chef before. The food was great, and there were plenty of GF options on the menu.

Our server was super knowledgeable, to the point that she could tell me details like the coeliac-safe version of pad thai uses a tomato-based sauce, and if I want the more traditional type of dish, I should get the C U Later Noodles – which turned out to be delicious.

We got to choose our level of spice, and I asked for mild, and it was prepared perfectly for me. Jeff, however, braved ‘hot’ but says they understand the term (unlike many places in NZ) and will next time order ‘medium-hot’.

Mike’s Bistro

Location: 40 Devon Street East (new location)
Phone: 027 333 0215

A new location, but still the same care to keep food coeliac safe. In fact, Mike’s Bistro hosts a kitchen made for coeliac safety. Most meals on the new menu are gluten-free, and the kitchen has a separate corner for the few gluten items.

The team fully understands coeliacs and takes extra care with our meals. On a prior visit to the old location, Mike himself came over to verify my order. There is a limited selection without both gluten and dairy, but enough to keep me happy.

Joes Garage

Location: 162 Devon Street East
Phone: 06 758 1799

Joe’s Garage has locations throughout New Zealand. The menu offers plenty of gluten-free options, and the food is well-presented and quite tasty. Everything they serve that goes into a fryer is gluten-free, leaving no room for mistakes.

Bella Vita

Location: 146 Devon Street East
Phone: 06 758 3393

While this place serves fabulous-looking Italian food, I couldn’t resist a piece of fresh salmon. Served with a side of vegetables, it was healthy and delicious.

Jeff chose to enjoy a pizza, which was a bit larger than he expected and also quite good. (They offer a gf crust option.) They seemed to do a good job protecting my food from cross-contamination.

Catch and Co

Location: 41 Ocean View Parade
Phone: 06 758 0280

Apparently, this is the place for coeliacs to go if they want fish and chips. We have heard rave reviews on both their GF safety and on the fish itself, which is sourced locally whenever possible. Being that I generally don’t eat fried foods, we have yet to try it personally, but I still think it belongs on this list.

Social Kitchen

Location: 40 Powderham Street
Phone: 06 757 2711

Delicious and creative shared meals, it is the fun atmosphere and unusual artwork that brings us back here. There are plenty of gluten-free options, but note that they don’t make substitutions and will leave things off the plate if requested.

Street food that is gluten-free in New Plymouth

Kahakai Poke Bowl

Location: 21 Liardet Street, Liardet Street Project
Phone: 022 368 4245

One of several great venues at the Liardet Street Project, an alley filled with street food options. Kahakai offers amazing poke bowls. With a choice of meats (my favourite is the pineapple pork), each bowl has rice or spinach plus avocado, edamame, seaweed, and more.

Best of all, they are 100% gluten and dairy-free. Note that they are not always open. Hours are Tues – Sat 11 am to 2 pm and again in the evening Thurs – Sat 5 pm – 8 pm. With only outdoor seating or takeaway options, Kahakai is probably my favourite place to eat gluten-free in New Plymouth on a nice day.

Viet Nom Nom

Location: 21 Liardet Street, Liardet Street Project
Phone: 022 040 3994

In the same alleyway (Lairdet Street Project) as Kahakai, therefore sharing the same outdoor tables, Viet Nom Nom was another delicious option. There were plenty of dairy and gluten-free options on the menu.

I enjoyed a wonderful shrimp noodle bowl. Viet Nom Nom is one of Jeff’s favourite options.

Gluten-free cafes New Plymouth – usually open only for breakfast and lunch

Bach at Breakwater

Location: Ocean View Parade, Port Taranaki
Phone: 06 769 6967

We recently discovered the Bach at Breakwater, a must-try spot on a beautiful summer day at the bustling New Plymouth port. We made a booking, knowing it gets crowded, and I was pleasantly surprised when our server already knew I had coeliac disease. The atmosphere, paired with the stunning sea views, creates a perfect backdrop for both indoor and outdoor dining.

I opted for the fabulous calamari salad. Although their fryer isn’t gluten-free, they accommodated me by preparing my calamari in a special pan. With plenty of gluten-free options, this place has quickly become my new favourite spot for lunch. 

Federal Store

Location: 440 Devon Street East
Phone: 06 757 8147

At the Federal Store in Strandon, we enjoy a cozy and friendly spot for coffee, breakfast, or lunch. The indoor seating options offer a relaxed, friendly environment, although we often sit outdoors on lovely sunny days.

We mostly come here for morning coffee, but recently, I tried the gluten-free avocado on toast, which was fabulous, topped with cherry tomatoes and a perfectly poached egg.

As a coeliac, I feel safe ordering from the kitchen, especially after talking to the knowledgeable staff. For the gluten-intolerant or those less concerned about cross-contamination, there are several options in both the sweet and savoury cases.

Wild Pear

Location: 178 Devon Street East
Phone: 06 759 0447

Possibly the best salads I have tried in a while, this place features vegetarian and plant-based food options. Most of the food (not all) is gluten-free, but the staff seems very familiar with coeliac-safe items.

Little Rogue Eatery

Location: 52 Devon Street East
Phone: 06 757 2053

A cute little cafe with a small cabinet containing GF and gluten-containing foods on opposite ends. The owner is also a coeliac. We haven’t had a chance to try this place yet, as we discovered them on our last day. 

We have been told they make fabulous GF scones. 

Tea House on the Lake

Location: Pukekura Park near Fillis Street
Phone:  06 758 7205

Located in beautiful Pukekura Park, this is one of my favourite places to sit outside and enjoy a coffee while I watch the ducks and soak in the peaceful surroundings. I don’t eat here, as it’s not coeliac-safe. But for those less rigid on cross-contamination, there were two gluten-free options in the cabinet: a brownie (not dairy-free) or a pumpkin muffin (GF-DF). Similarly, there is only one gluten-free menu item.

Gluten-free takeaways and Chains

These NZ chains can all be gluten-free in New Plymouth and around the country.

Hell’s Pizza
Being gluten-free doesn’t mean any more pizza. Hell Pizza will change your views forever. Even their gluten and dairy-free pizza is tasty. They are the first fast-food chain in New Zealand to have some locations certified by Coeliac New Zealand’s Dining Out Programme.

St. Pierre’s Sushi
They understand coeliac safety, always changing to fresh gloves and a new workspace when I walk in. While we haven’t tried the location in New Plymouth, we have eaten safely many times at other locations in the country.

Burger Fuel
Burger Fuel is a gourmet fast-food burger that I enjoy now just as much as I did before my diagnosis. More than just offering gluten-free buns, Burger Fuel takes extra care with preparation to avoid cross-contamination. They do NOT have a dedicated fryer, so the chips are not coeliac-safe.

Pita Pit
Another fast-food option that fully understands how to prepare a GF meal. Pita Pit has gluten-free pita bread and usually does a great job avoiding cross-contamination.

Practical information for eating gluten-free in New Plymouth or anywhere

• Ask as many questions as you need to feel safe about your meal.
• Always tell the server of your dietary requirements and request to have gluten-free or coeliac written on your order to the kitchen.
• To avoid cross-contamination, verify that they have a separate gluten-free fryer and toaster if you are ordering anything that uses those items.
• Things change. Even if you have ordered the same meal in the past, confirm that your food will be coeliac-safe.
• The Find Me Gluten Free app is free to download and use to search for user-reviewed gluten-free restaurants anywhere in New Zealand.
• If you are a member of Coeliac New Zealand, check out their Dining Out Guide.
• If you didn’t find what you’re looking for here, check out the Coeliac Disease New Zealand Facebook group.
• If you’re staying in, here are tips to make your own kitchen gluten-free.
• Are you heading to Auckland or its north shore? Check out 28 Gluten-Free Restaurants in Auckland: Dining Out with Coeliac Disease or Gluten-Free Hibiscus Coast Restaurants: Orewa to Gulf Harbour.

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Where will you eat gluten-free in New Plymouth?

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Disclaimer: The information provided above is true and accurate at the time we wrote it and is all based on personal experience. We encourage you to always ask about your own meals every time.