Rangoons to bagels: KC restaurants with gluten-free options

I’m a foodie — as in, I think about my lunch while I’m still eating breakfast. But I’m also gluten-free.

Having had celiac disease — an autoimmune condition where gluten and wheat damages my digestive tract, requiring a strict gluten-free diet — since kindergarten, there are plenty of food options I assume are off-limits to me. Years of repeatedly getting let down at restaurants and never stumbling across certain foods that are traditionally not gluten-free taught me that my eating-out options are limited. It’s much easier to go to the same safe places over and over, so I never experiment and potentially risk intestinal damage and allergic reactions.

But great non-traditionally-gluten-free food is waiting around every neighborhood; I just needed to look for them.

I thought of five foods that I would never expect to find gluten-free in Kansas City — bagels, fried chicken, Italian food, Chinese food and coffee shops with gluten-free pastries — and found 10 establishments that each make living gluten-free a bit more tasty.

BagelsLuca Bagel: 633 East 63rd St., No. 110Gluten-free options marked on menuGluten-free shipped in and packaged separately from full-gluten bagelsKitchen is shared with gluten-containing food In addition to regular bagels, Luca Bagel Co in Brookside also serves gluten-free bagels (not pictured). Gluten-free options are marked on the menu and shipped in and packaged separately from full-gluten bagels, but the kitchen is shared with gluten-containing food. Jenna Thompson jthompson@kcstar.com

Since 2023, Luca Bagel has been serving the Overland Park community, first through the farmers market, then through its Brookside shop.

On their menu, customers can find Original Sunshine-made plain, everything and cinnamon raisin gluten-free bagels.

Cross contamination is not possible in the kitchen, because the gluten-free bagels arrive packaged, but it is possible in the assembly. Gluten-free diners should opt to not toast their bagel because the toaster is shared with full-gluten bagels. There could also be cross contamination from utensils for the “schmears,” but customers can request fresh schmears be opened and new utensils be used. Luca’s custom schmears can be bought separately as well.

Their Brookside location is open Tuesday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Three Bears Bakery: 13723 W. 108th St., LenexaEntirely gluten-free kitchenEntirely gluten-free menu

This family-owned bakery by Jabin and Natalie Olds has been completely gluten-free since 2024. They also specialize in sugar-free/no sugar added, low-carb baked goods. They have plain, cheese and everything bagels, but also offer breads like sourdough loaves and focaccia, and sweet treats like cheesecake brownies and cinnamon rolls.

They have a “curated selection” of options for ordering online, but found at their Lenexa storefront is an extensive variety of all gluten-free baked goods and treats, plus coffee. Online orders should be placed 24 hours ahead of time, and can be shipped or picked up.

Three Bears is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Fried chickenStrips Chicken & Brewing: 1110 East Santa Fe St. in Olathe, 12804 Santa Fe Trail Drive in Lenexa, 5831 Merriam Drive in MerriamAllergen menuGluten-free options marked on menu in detailKitchen is shared with gluten-containing foodExtensive precautionary measures Strip’s Chicken Strips & Dive Bar serves chicken strips with a choice of two sauces and a side. They are also able to serve gluten-free chicken strips and other fried foods, served in a dedicated gluten-free fryer or one cleaned by an oil filtration system. Jenna Thompson jthompson@kcstar.com

If I knew about Strips Chicken & Brewery just a month ago, it would have been the first restaurant I would have had fried chicken from in my whole life. I would have gone to this establishment immediately, knowing how they take care of gluten-free folks.

For starters, the menu doesn’t just mark gluten-free options but provides levels of safety: “always gluten-free,” “gluten-free option,” and “never ever gluten-free.” And the options are vast. Obviously, they have fried chicken plates like the Honey-Kissed Crispy Nuggets. But they also have french fries and fried onions and pickles all in a dedicated gluten-free fryer or one cleaned by an oil filtration system.

Strips also has gluten-free dessert and beer, and advertise on their allergen menu that the staff doesn’t just hand you a bagged bun, but knows how to safely prepare and handle gluten-free bread.

Gloves are changed, and special tongs and utensils are used. They even use the state-of-the-art Nima portable gluten sensor on all new products. On their site, it says that special care is taken because several staff members have celiac as well.

Hours for their different locations in Olathe, Lenexa and Merriam can be found on the Locations tab on their website.

Billie’s Grocery: 3216 Gillham Plaza Suite 100, 3614 W. 95th St. in LeawoodGluten-free options marked on menuSpecialize in gluten-free dessertsHeavily gluten-free location with a dedicated gluten-free segment of the kitchen Billie’s Grocery serves gluten-free foods, such as its chicken and waffles, with a dedicated gluten-free segment of the kitchen in both locations. Billie’s Grocery

That first fried chicken of my life? It was from Billie’s Grocery. I have been a frequenter of their bakery shelves since my high school grad party was stocked full of their sweet treats, but have only dabbled in their kitchen-prepared food.

The fried chicken makes cameos in several dishes — chicken and waffles, a fried chicken sandwich, the Korean chicken wrap and on the sesame chicken or added to any other salad.

Gluten-free food is prepared separately from other plates, where the staff changes all gloves, dishes and utensils. They only put gluten-free food in their fryers, too.

Their Midtown location is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except for Sunday, when it’s open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Leawood location has the same Sunday hours, but is open to 8 p.m. every other day of the week.

Chinese foodBo Lings: 8670 NW Prairie View Road, 7105 W. 135th St. in Overland Park, 9576 Quivira Road in Lenexa, 8973 Metcalf Ave. in Overland ParkGluten-free menuCross-contamination precautions taken Heritage by Bo Lings serves gluten-free options, from egg drop soup to pad thai and chicken fried rice. Make sure to note an allergy when ordering so that the kitchen can prepare the meal in a separate place with clean dishes, utensils, gloves and cooking surfaces. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com

Bo Lings is a childhood staple for me. I would always get stir-fried vegetables in their curry white sauce. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found it increasingly hard to find Chinese food that offers brown-sauce dishes made gluten-free. While this authentic Chinese spot doesn’t, their gluten-free menu found online under the menus tab as “Dietary Needs” lists 13 choices from egg drop soup to pad thai and chicken fried rice.

Make sure to note an allergy when ordering so that the kitchen can prepare the meal in a separate place with clean dishes, utensils, gloves and cooking surfaces.

Every location covering KC from Overland Park to Zona Rosa is closed Tuesdays, and are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. On Fridays and Saturdays, they close at 9:30 p.m.

Fortune Wok & Sushi: 14537 Metcalf Ave. in Overland ParkSeparate gluten-free fryerGluten-free section on menuBrown sauce Chinese dishesGluten-free crab rangoons

I am a Chinese food lover, and Fortune Wok & Sushi is my wish upon a shooting star.

I’ve never had a gluten-free crab rangoon, or even seen one for sale in the frozen section of a grocery store. I thought I would have to go to Los Angeles to have one, and yet, they are ready for my eating just a short drive from my house in Fairway.

The Overland Park sit-down restaurant has gluten-free staples like Mongolian and sesame chicken on top of their roll-shaped gluten-free crab rangoons. Their brown sauces are made with gluten-free soy sauce.

All food is prepared in a separate space, including a separate fryer, and using clean utensils and dishes.

Sunday through Thursday, Fortune Wok & Sushi is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Friday, they close at 9:30 p.m.

Jasmine Garden: 8912 W. 95th St. in Overland ParkGluten-free options marked on menuGluten-free cooked separately from gluten dishes

Like Bo Lings, Jasmine Garden’s only gluten-free options are the dishes made without soy sauce. But great white sauce stir-fry dishes and various chow mein are marked gluten-free. Make sure to ask for appetizers, be left off, as neither the crab rangoon or rolls are gluten-free.

The menu has gluten-free items marked, but be sure to let servers know of a gluten allergy.

Jasmine Garden is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.

Italian foodTrezo Mare Restaurant & Lounge: 4105 N. Mulberry DriveGluten-free options marked on menuHigher risk of cross contamination because of flour in the airGluten-free pasta, pizza and garlic bread

Italian food is difficult for eating out because their kitchens are often filled with flour. It’s a gamble for anyone with celiac to eat out at a place with flour in the air, but Trezo Mare’s precautions are as good as it gets besides a dedicated gluten-free kitchen. They can make pizza and pasta gluten-free, and have several salmon and steak meals that are gluten-free.

Every time an allergy is pointed out, there’s a note left on the order for the kitchen. The gluten-free pizzas are cooked in the same spot as gluten ones, but there’s a screen for the gluten-free pie to sit on so that it doesn’t touch the same surfaces. The garlic bread can be made gluten-free with the pre-packaged gluten-free bread used on handheld dishes.

There is. no separate fryer either, so fries and tortilla chips are off limits.

Monday through Thursday, Trezo Mare is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, they close at 10 p.m. and on Sunday, at 8 p.m.

Ragazza Food & Wine: 4301 Main St.Dedicated gluten-free pasta pot and waterCross-contamination precautionsGluten-free options marked on menu The bar at Ragazza Food & Wine. Judy Revenaugh

Most of the foods on Ragazza Food & Wine’s menu can be made gluten-free, mostly because of their gluten-free pasta. With a dedicated pasta pot and water, and less flour in the air because they don’t serve pizzas, dishes like the highlighted three-cheese gluten-free pasta bake are available to gluten allergics.

They don’t have a separate kitchen space, but clean everything, change gloves and change utensils when they receive a gluten-free order. They also have two gluten-free dessert options.

Ragazza is open 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and open 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Coffee shops with gluten-free pastriesBrew Haha Coffeehouse: 13655 W. 63rd St. in Shawnee, 10332 Mastin St. in Overland ParkGluten-free pastries, bagels and crêpesEntirely gluten-free kitchenEntirely gluten-free menu Brew Haha Coffeehouse is an entirely gluten-free kitchen, and offers gluten-free scones, donuts, brownies, bagels and crêpes. Jenna Thompson jthompson@kcstar.com

I’m the kind of person to need an eating experience to be perfect. So when I have a store-bought coffee, I want a great baked good. Before researching for this list, I would go get a cinnamon roll from Billie’s Grocery and then drive through to get a coffee. But now I’ve learned that Brew Haha Coffeehouse offers gluten-free scones, doughnuts, brownies, bagels and crêpes. Never again do I have to limit my sweet tooth to my mocha latte.

All pastries and crêpes made in house are gluten-free (made with Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 flour), so there’s little risk of cross contamination. The only problem would be in the microwave to get the pastry heated up, if a worker used it for personal use. Just be sure to not get the oat milk in your drink, because it’s not gluten-free.

An allergen and ingredient list is set out at the Overland Park location, and it is referenced in the back at the Shawnee one.

Brew Haha’s locations are open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

This story was originally published August 9, 2026 at 5:00 AM.

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