Three DMV Restaurants Tap Growing Gluten-Free Market
As gluten-free dining expands beyond dietary restriction into mainstream consumer preference, three regional restaurant groups are doubling down on dedicated menu offerings across the DMV.
Ala Leads Levantine Options
Ala, the Levantine-inspired concept with locations in D.C. and Bethesda, offers 22 gluten-free items on its everyday menu, including eight cold mezze, nine hot mezze, four large plates, and one dessert option.
Signature gluten-free dishes include tarkhūn (butterflied wild-caught Aegean branzino with fresh tarragon, bay leaves, asparagus, and lemon) and tawook shish kebab (marinated chicken thigh cubes with spicy apricot amba). The crémée tahini brûlée rounds out the dessert selection.
Guests can reserve through ala-dc.com and view the full menu online.
Fish Taco Scales Corn-Based Menu
Fish Taco operates five locations across Maryland and Virginia, with a sixth opening soon in Darnestown, Gaithersburg. The concept emphasizes in-house corn tortilla chips paired with traditional street tacos in multiple proteins.
The menu includes six rice bowl varieties (chicken, carnitas, barbacoa, steak, ancho shrimp, and vegetarian), available daily at all locations.
Pisco y Nazca Offers 20 Gluten-Free Items
The Peruvian restaurant group, with three DMV locations (D.C., Reston, and Bethesda), features 20 gluten-free options including its entire ceviche menu.
Highlights include arroz con mariscos (Peruvian-style seafood rice with squid, shrimp, and mussels), corazón (grilled beef heart with potatoes and anticuchera sauce), and salmón andino (anticuchera-glazed seared salmon with quinoa salad).
Why It Matters
The gluten-free market continues to expand as consumer preferences evolve beyond celiac disease management. Multi-location restaurant groups building dedicated gluten-free programs—rather than treating them as afterthoughts—signal both demand and operational viability for operators seeking to capture this demographic.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors