Da Nang has many gluten free friendly restaurants, in general Vietnamese food is brilliant for us unfortunates with gluten intolerances & coeliac disease. Thankfully rice, rice noodles and rice paper is in abundance in many of the local dishes. The main thing to watch out for is the type of noodles being served, stay clear of egg noodles, udom noodles and anything breaded.
In Da Nang I was staying close to an area that had lots of trendy restaurants especially vegan which I naturally gravitated to due to their variety of salads.
1. Roots
Location: Google Map link
Roots is a vegan restaurant serving mostly buddha bowls, smoothie bowls (with GF granola), toast (GF bread option but very small.) and burgers (not GF). There is also a good selection of GF & sugar free deserts. The cafe is cosy and has plugs if you have your laptop, there is also an outdoor area in the front and back.
I mainly had the buddha bowls and have to recommend the falafel bowl & green bowl.
2. Ngon Ha Noi
Location: Google Map link
My personal favourite Vietnamese restaurant in Da Nang, their speciality is pho and it was the best pho I had in all my time in Vietnam, it came with a side of chilli and pickled garlic. I also tried the spring rolls and mixed pho, which is basically pho with no broth and is surprisingly full of flavour. There is a large outdoor area with ponds & some fish.
3. ESCO Beach Bar
Location: Google Maps link
Overlooking Mhyke beach, ESCO beach bar is wonderful spot to pass a few hours. They have a large menu including pizza, burgers, pasta and Vietnamese cuisine. They have plenty of GF options, especially if you ask for meals with sauce on the side. I had the pho and it was very tasty and spicy.
4. MEZBA
Location: Google Maps link
Mezba is an incredible Middle Eastern restaurant. The restaurant itself is like a garden oasis with a tree spanning across 3 floors and a water feature. The menu includes chicken tagine, kofta, shwarmas and other typical middle eastern foods. I ordered the red snapper which came with a side of tabbolah and was actually perfect. The skin was so full of flavour and was so crispy. I then ordered Moroccan tea, they gave me a huge pot with a small baklava and fig. The tea was delicious.
The menu stats that if you have an allergy they can discuss what they can do. I did not ask if they do gluten free flatbreads as I was happy to have the fish.
5. IVegan
Location: Google Maps link
This is the best place if you want a good selection of GF buddha bowls. I came here almost everyday for their green bowl, folaffel bowl and the Saigon bowl (Saigon bowl is not GF unless you take out the crispy shallots and breaded tofu). They also do vegan pizzas (not GF) topped with cashew cream cheese and a range of burgers. Their coconut coffee is a must try!
The space is stunning and you feel like you might be in Bali. White washed walls and an abundance of plants. There is a co-working sppt on the 2nd floor but many people were on their laptops in the main cafe.
6. Loving Vegan
Location: Google Maps link
Not only the cheapest place on the list but the place with the most GF options. My favourites were the spring rolls, flower salad and pho. if you don’t need to worry about gluten they also do vegan Banh Mi’s and cauliflower wings both of which my boyfriend said were delicious!
7. Rainbow Poke
Location: Google Maps link
I only visited this place in my last week and went 3 times, so much flavour!! For those that do not know, Poke is sushi in a bowl so this is generally rice, veg, fish and crunchy seaweed. My go to bowl was the rainbow bowl (brown rice, salmon, kimchi, papaya, seaweed, cucumber & a spicy dressing). Their salted coffee is so delicious, you can also ask for oat or almond milk.
The cafe is located on a quiet side street and is mostly outdoor seating.
8. Adobo Mexican
Location: Goggle Maps link
Sadly no GF tacos or burritos but they serve a gigantic burrito bowl where you can choose as many fillings as you like, only about 3 fillings have an extra price attached. Although it was very nice it is somewhat expensive for a burrito bowl.
9. Patakka Indian
Location: Google Maps link
I went to a few Indians in Da Nang and Patakka stands out by miles. The owner was incredibly friendly and helpful. Their menu has lots of GF options
More Gluten Free Friendly Restaurants
Below is a list of places that I saved but never got to visit:
Golden Meat House (link)
Jeremy’s Kitchen (link)
Emo’s Vietnamese Taste Restaurant (link)
Pho Viet Kieu (link)
Thìa G? Restaurant Da Nang (link)
Pokemon (link)