Gluten can be difficult to avoid at restaurants. A protein mixture found in wheat and other grains, such as barley and rye, gluten appears throughout most menus. Beyond bread, pasta and baked goods, it appears in most soy sauce and many marinades and sauces, as well as through cross-contamination in busy kitchens. But avoiding this allergen, which was once nearly impossible, has become somewhat less of a challenge in a top-notch food city like Chicago. Some of the city’s top restaurants are making an effort to serve delicious food sans gluten, separating cooking facilities and working hard to identify gluten-free dishes. Here are the can’t-miss gluten-free restaurants and bakeries in Chicago.

Photo courtesy of Summer House Santa Monica

Chef Abe Conlon’s Macau-inspired cuisine at Fat Rice has received major national acclaim for its bold flavors that meld influences from across Europe and Asia. What many people don’t know is that Abe Conlon has celiac disease and that the majority of the dishes on the menu are naturally gluten-free. All but three menu items naturally contain zero gluten or can be altered to be gluten-free, making it easy to indulge in dishes like spicy chile prawns or the sweet and savory Malay vegetable curry. Even the restaurant’s signature dish, Arroz Gordo (fat rice), brimming with Manila clams and char siu pork, can be made wheatless by request.

Photo courtesy of Fat Rice

This cute French bistro is a great spot for a cozy date night, and those with a gluten intolerance can dine as well as their companions, worry-free. The restaurant takes gluten intolerance very seriously and treats it as they do any life-threatening allergy. The grill remains a completely gluten-free surface, perfect for making dishes like grilled salmon with bursting tomatoes, quinoa and sheep-milk feta. The satisfying, cheese-laden signature French onion soup can also be made with gluten-free bread on top. Even the summer Caesar salad appeals to those with gluten restrictions, with a warm crouton made of chickpea flour.

Photo courtesy of Mon Ami Gabi

It’s often hard to find a gluten-free option right downtown, but South Water Kitchen is actually GREAT certified, meaning it follows strict protocols on handling gluten-free food. Though the protocols are strict, the food is delicious. Try apple-smoked‏ bacon, chives and mustard-seed “caviar,” or dive into a grown-up grilled cheese stuffed with sliced pear, Brie cheese and blueberry jam on gluten-free bread, served with kettle chips. The servers use separate screens to enter orders and are constantly trained on new gluten-free menu items and processes.

Photo courtesy of South Water Kitchen