Like most social media lovin’ foodies, when I have a fabulous meal at a restaurant, I love to share it. Isn’t that what Instagram is for, after all?? (Follow me here if you want to see all of my daily adventures @leahohh!) Today, however, I’m going to give you a much broader sense of the types of restaurants that usually are good choices for us gluten free folks. I’ll throw in my personal Boston recommendations, but hopefully these tips can help you out wherever your lives and travels happen to take you!

Salads: I have very mixed opinions about this, but if you don’t have much of a say in where you’re eating, the salad section of the menu is your best bet. No, I’m not a health nut all of the time, and yes, it sometimes makes me viscerally angry when my only option at a restaurant is to eat rabbit food. I run a lot, which means I’m hungry a lot. Heck, I’m hungry anyway. I do not want to be the girl miserably gnawing on lettuce while you chow down on your chicken fingers and fries (or soft and doughy pizza, or drippy cheesy panini… anyway, I digress). But sometimes you do what you have to do and order salad. I officially give you permission to chase that salad with a giant ice cream covered in hot fudge. You’re welcome. MyGFBoston recommendations: Sweetgreen or Life Alive (duh) or my recent discovery: this Cambridge Commons breakfast salad.

Mexican: Great Mexican restaurants abound in Boston, and lucky for us, they tend to have lots of amazing naturally GF options. In fact, once you get over the fact that you can’t have a burrito, you’ll notice that Mexican menus tend to be mostly GF–from corn tortillas, rice, beans, veggies, and meat to guac, salsa, and cheese, these are some safe menus! When can we ever say that?? So vamanos a los restaurantes mexicanos. MyGFBoston recommendation: The Painted Burro, or these glorious nachos from Sunset Cantina.

Restaurants with gluten free menus: Before you go smacking your forehead and giving me a big ole DUH, let me explain. There is nothing in the world as glorious as being handed a separate gluten free menu when you didn’t know there was one. Of course, having a GF menu doesn’t necessarily mean that things are safe to eat (frustrating but true) but it is a great starting point. Especially if you know you’re super sensitive, take care to call ahead of time and ensure that separate utensils and prep areas are being used. MyGFBoston recommendation: Zaftigs or Not Your Average Joe’s.

Sushi: Sushi is a quick and healthy option, and as long as you steer clear of anything breaded/tempura-ed or anything that comes with sauce on it, it’s pretty much naturally gluten free. Soy sauce, however, is not! So bring your own (I love Little Soya!) or ask–sometimes they’ll have some around. MyGFBoston recommendation: Oishii Sushi or Genki Ya.

I hope these tips help you the next time you’re trying to decide where to eat out! Are there any other kinds of restaurants you’ve found to be particularly GF friendly? Other Boston faves?