The gluten-free foodie’s guide to Outside Lands 2016

I’m going to Outside Lands this year, and I have to admit, I was a little concerned about how much there would be for me to eat, as a gluten-intolerant attendee. Was I going to need to bring in a backpack full of gluten-free breakfast bars to make it through the day? Turns out I should have had more faith in my city, San Francisco, and our gluten-free food friendliness.

So, what’s there to eat at Outside Lands this year?

• • Gluten-free favorite Pica Pica Arepa Kitchen will be bringing their sweet yellow corn arepas (pulled pork, spicy chicken or sweet plantains), served up with yuca fries.
  • Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas has so much to choose from for gluten-free eaters. Tamales will be available with pork, chicken, cheese, veggie, and most unusually, dulce tamales (with seasonal fruit salsa (mango, strawberry, pineapple) or chocolate tamale with Nutella and chopped fruit.) They’ll also be serving elote (street vendor-style corn), flan, arroz con leche (rice pudding), and agua fresca.
  • If fully-loaded fries are more your style, Precita Park Cafe has got you covered. Although anyone doing a low-FODMAP diet will have to skip the garlic fries and the chili fries, that still leaves bacon egg and cheese fries and maple bacon fries. Wash it down with Equator drip coffee or a strawberry mint agua fresca. Yum.
  • As you may guess by the name, Baconland is all about bacon. There will be flights of bacon and chocolate dipped bacon. Yes, really. Because everything is better with bacon.
  • A fully-loaded baked potato is a great way to ward off a San Francisco summer chill. I can’t wait to see what Beast and the Hare tops them with.
  • I’m a huge fan of Rosamunde Sausage Grill, and will definitely be in line first thing to obtain some sausage topped poutine. They will have some gluten-free buns on request, so definitely grab one of their fully-loaded sausages too.
  • Smoothie fans will want to check out Smoothie Detour for “all-in” smoothies including banana, strawberry, blueberry, kale, spinach, carrot, apple juice, cranberry juice, goji berries, hemp protein powder, and maca.
  • Thai food fans will want to stop by Sataysified for—you guessed it—chicken satay.
  • Split pea soup is another great way to shake the chill off, and Split Pea Seduction will have both a vegan and a porked up version.
  • El Huarache Loco will help you get your Mexican food fix, with huaraches, tacos, and post-hangover favorites chilaquiles.
  • Unfortunately Straw’s donut cheeseburger isn’t gluten free, but the sweet potato tater tots should be.
  • If you’re craving pastrami, Wise Sons Deli can hook you up with pastrami and cheese fries.
  • Pacific Catch is serving up Hawaiian Ahi Poke and sweet potato fries.
  • Bacon Bacon‘s fries are tops, and have a porky option. And don’t forget your side of chocolate covered bacon with that.
  • I love Curry Up Now‘s chicken tikka masala, which comes in a rice bowl or on top of sexy fries. There’s also a paneer version oboth, and a hella vegan rice bowl.
  • Senor Sisig is serving up traditional Fillipino flavors, featuring pork, chicken or tofu Sisisg tacos or rice bowls.
  • Kimchee isn’t everyone’s thing, but if it’s yours, Seoul on Wheels has kimchee fried rice and rice plates.
  • Although not low-FODMAP due to onions in all the dishes, Koja Kitchen is a great gluten-free option, with Korean beef, chicken or vegetarian tacos and beef or vegetarian kamikaze fries.
  • Up & Under has some seriously massive fully-loaded waffle fries on offer.
  • Cheese and charcuterie plates will be available from Long Meadow Ranch. They will also be making cheese live, on-site.
  • Cold-pressed juice can be a nice break from the adult beverages, and Living Greens Juice will be making several (unfortunately all of them contain apple, so not low-FODMAP.)
  • Sprogs will be a good choice for vegetarians and vegans (or folks just looking for a healthy afternoon snack), with a selection of fresh fruit and veggie dippers and fresh fruit sippers.
  • Get your carnitas tacos on with Tacolicious. If pork isn’t your thing, they’ll also have veggie tacosand shot-and-a-beer braised chicken tacos.
  • Like they do in their regular locations, Glaze Teriyaki has one of the healthiest selections of food on tap for the festival. Their rice bowls include salmon teriyaki, steak teriyaki, and
    chicken breast teriyaki.
  • Like your tater tots spicy? The Japanese Pantry has you covered.

And you’d better save room for dessert:

• My two favorite local ice cream producers—Humprhy Slocombe and Three Twins—are BOTH serving up scoops of deliciousness at Outside Lands.
• And one of my favorite local chocolatiers, Guittard, is featuring melted chocolate bars. *swoon*

Note: I’m not affiliated with any of the above restaurants or food purveyors. It’s always a good idea to ask your server when ordering to make sure these typically gluten free foods haven’t somehow gotten some gluten snuck into them.

Happy eating!