Going gluten-free?

Here are some restaurants and bakeries in region to try

Gluten-free eating continues to rise in popularity, from people realizing their intolerance to the protein found in certain grains, to others who just want to make a change in their diet.

Gluten is troublesome for people with celiac disease, who cannot digest protein found in wheat, barley or rye, which damages part of the small intestine and can disrupt the absorption of nutrients.

When a product is characterized as glutenfree, it typically means products free of wheat, rye and barley and their derivatives. However, the FDA allows food with glutenfree labels to contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten, the lowest that can be reliably detected in foods.

Most restaurants and bakeries today have gluten-free options or versions of their menu items, including Happy Little Treats, Pattycake

Bakery, Marcella’s, Bareburger and more — however, the following are places in and around Columbus dedicated to using glutenfree ingredients.

In honor of National Gluten-free Day on Friday, start the year off with these glutenfree restaurants and bakeries to visit in Central Ohio:

Bibibop

As of 2021, Columbus-based Korean fastcasual chain Bibibop’s menu is now 100% gluten-free. The gluten-free food service-certified restaurant continues to offer build-yourown bowls, with white or purple rice, sweet potato noodles and salad as a base, and gluten-free protein toppings, and sides with vegetarian and vegan options available.

Check individual locations for their hours.

Bake Me Happy

Bake Me Happy, at 500 E. Whittier St. in Schumacher Place and at North Market Bridge Park in Dublin, is known for its See GLUTEN-FREE, Page 5B

COURTNEY HERGESHEIMER/COLUMBUS DISPATCH FILE Assistant manager Maria Sigala helps a first-time customer at Bibibop’s flagship location inside Easton Town Center on April 7, 2015.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Gluten-free brownies from Bake Me Happy.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The pesto quesadilla at Portia’s Cafe.