Columbus Restaurants Have Expanded Gluten-Free Menus
New options for those with dietary intolerances are now available at several local dining establishments.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Healthy Food
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Should local restaurants prioritize expanding their menus to include more gluten-free food options?
Local eateries in Columbus have updated their menus to include expanded gluten-free food offerings. These changes aim to better accommodate diners with dietary intolerances and increase food accessibility across the city.
Why it matters
Restaurant owners introduced these options to support customers managing dietary sensitivities. Expanding these menus helps diners make safer choices while eating out.
These menu updates represent a shift in operational standards among Columbus restaurants, such as SŌW Plated and True Food Kitchen, to accommodate specific dietary needs. It remains unknown how many additional local establishments will implement similar allergy-accommodation protocols.
The players
Bake Me Happy
A bakery located at 500 E. Whittier St. that opened in 2013.
SŌW Plated
A restaurant group with locations in Upper Arlington and Columbus that utilizes gluten-free ingredient substitutions.
True Food Kitchen
A restaurant chain established in 2008 that offers gluten-free pizza crusts and burger buns.
The details
SŌW Plated accomplishes these changes by selecting naturally gluten-free ingredients, including replacing traditional soy sauce with tamari and using rice noodles for dishes like Pad Thai. Meanwhile, True Food Kitchen provides gluten-free crusts and buns while utilizing specific staff procedures to manage allergy accommodations for customer tickets.
Timeline
2008: True Food Kitchen opened.
2013: Bake Me Happy opened.
Oct. 20: True Food Kitchen will release new menu items.
Health Landscape
The expansion of gluten-free offerings in Columbus follows the broader national trend of restaurants adopting stricter allergy-accommodation protocols to meet evolving consumer health demands. This shift reflects a move away from specialized health-food niches toward inclusive dining standards.
If you manage a dietary intolerance, ask restaurant staff about their specific allergy-accommodation procedures before ordering. It is worth discussing with your physician how to navigate shared kitchen spaces if you have severe sensitivities to cross-contamination.
The takeaway
Focusing on restaurants that utilize specific allergy-accommodation protocols can reduce the risk of cross-contamination for those with dietary intolerances. Always confirm current ingredient practices with your server to ensure your meal meets your specific health requirements.
What happens next
True Food Kitchen will release new menu items on Oct. 20.
Further reading
For more information on managing dietary restrictions when eating out, visit Healthy Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Lantern.
Live Poll
Should local restaurants prioritize expanding their menus to include more gluten-free food options?
