Gluten-Free Friendly Restaurants in Columbia (Dentsville: shop, food, Vietnamese)

[yousocute08]

I recently moved to Columbia and was wondering whether anyone had any information about Gluten-Free friendly restaurants in Columbia. Grocery shopping is pretty easy with Rosewood Market and Earth Fare, but I hope that someone has some information about restaurants too!

Thanks

[waccamatt]

Good question. I know I have seen a few menus making notes about gluten-free items on their menus, but since it isn't an issue for me, I haven't paid attention. Hopefully there are some posters on here that know.

[JohnnyDan]

Hi,
Don't know if you're still checking this thread six months along, but in case you are, here are some suggestions. Mai Thai on 378 in W. Columbia, in spite of the name and strip mall location is just flat out awesome. I loved their pad thai so much I seldom ordered anything else, but never had any gluten troubles. Viet Pho on Decker Blvd in Dentsville is another outstanding choice. In a nutshell, you can eat Asian food if they use fish sauce instead of soy sauce (latter contains wheat) and rice noodles instead of wheat. This basically leaves you Thai and Vietnamese, but at least we have great choices for both.
After that, you're pretty much stuck with chains. Chili's, Outback Steakhouse, Romano's Macaroni Grill (weird, huh?), Pizzeria Uno, and Bonefish Grill all have gluten-free menus. Chili's did a pretty good job up until the last time I visited there when they screwed up big time (which is why it was the last time I visited). I've eaten gluten free at all the others listed and had no problems.

[JohnnyDan]

In case anyone surfs in, I just wanted to say that on a return trip to Pho Viet, I'm pretty sure I got glutened. On the other hand, I didn't mention to them that it was necessary to make the meal gluten-free. I think it would be worth trying. But unfortunately, I was wrong in thinking that Vietnamese food is inherently gluten free.

[waccamatt]

I know that Z Pizza on Gervais Street in the Vista has gluten free pizza. I know there are other places with gluten-free menu items, but I haven't paid close attention.