29-05-2025
The BEST restaurants serving gluten-free dishes in Reading listed
Ever since being told by my doctor that I had to completely cut out gluten from my diet, I knew that it was going to become my mission to find the best gf grub in town.
I have always really enjoyed eating out (I mean, who doesn't) and have struggled a lot in the past from various intolerances.
So with a gluten intolerance now firmly at the top of my list of current ailments, I decided that this new diagnosis was not going to stop me from doing the thing I love, and that thing is eating.
Despite many food stops offering gluten-free options, a lot of coeliacs or the like will know that this definitely doesn't indicate that they will still provide good quality food.
Gluten-free bread (and by that I'm also including burger buns and pizza bases) can be absolutely dire. In other words, a crumbling mess.
So with that in mind, I've collated a list from my culinary journey around Reading that describes some of the best gluten-free foods I have tried. Enjoy!
Finns Traditional Fish and Chips
As mentioned in a previous article, I am a huge fan of Finns for a cheeky midweek takeaway.
When I first got told that gluten from now on would be a no-go for me, I immediately mourned my loss of Friday night chippy teas.
I love fish and chips, and would go as far as to say that it might even be my favourite meal (that and a roast dinner, how awfully British am I).
The gluten-free fish and chips from Finns, which are served on Tuesdays, are pretty damn amazing.
The fish is beautifully flavoursome and you get a proper thick chunk of cod, and the batter is a whole lot of crispy, golden, morish goodness.
The chip serving is also generous with thick-cut wedges drowned in salt and vinegar.
Finns have officially become my Tuesday evening ritual.
Sushimania
Sushi fanatics will tell me I'm a wrongun for rating them, but I just can't help it. I've become such a regular that the waiters now recognise me - a bit embarrassing, really.
A good load of the stuff on Sushimania's menu is gluten-free, and they even kindly bring you out a separate gf soy sauce to have with your bits and bobs.
If you're a fan of uramaki, hosomaki, sashimi, wakami, and nigiri, but don't want to pay extortionate prices, I'd thoroughly recommend this chain.
The Fisherman's Cottage
This independently run pub does, in my opinion, the best gluten-free dessert in the whole of Reading.
Other than having a large selection of gf meals on their main menu, Cigdem Atkins and her husband do the most gorgeous warm chocolate fudge cake with salted caramel sauce. It is beyond heavenly.
Other than here, Yaylo and Picnic in the town centre also have a great assortment of gluten-free sweet treats.
I am still yet to try a toasted sandwich from Yaylo, but I plan to do so soon (review pending).
Honest Burger
Another chain, but in my opinion, one of the best ones about. Almost the entirety of Honest Burger's menu is gluten-free, result!
I visited their town centre restaurant earlier this week and ordered a gf honest burger, a side of onion rings, and two chicken tenders to share.
The gluten-free bun was sturdy (remember my crumbling comment from before), thick, and tasty.
The actual burger with fillings never fails to disappoint (I had many an Honest Burger before going gf), and the onion rings were also pretty good.
The showstopper was, however, the chicken tenders, as being able to find gluten-free fried chicken anywhere is pretty difficult.
They were crispy, well seasoned, and lacked that greasy texture sometimes associated with fried chicken.
Disclaimer: I paid for every meal in full at all of these restaurants, and none of them asked me to be included in this listicle. All opinions written are my own.
