Vacationing in Surf City and Gluten-Free? Here’s Where I’d Go

Gluten-Free Restaurants in Surf City and Topsail Island: 8 Spots Worth the Bite

Because a beach day should come with salty hair, sandy feet and really good gluten-free food—not food stress.

If you’re searching for the best gluten-free restaurants in Surf City, NC, and Topsail Island, welcome. This is the guide I wish I had every time I visited a new beach town and immediately had to start Googling menus, calling restaurants and asking a million questions before deciding where everyone could eat.

I have celiac disease, so when I say a restaurant has gluten-free options, I’m not just looking for a little GF symbol next to a salad.

I want to know what the kitchen understands. I want to know about dedicated fryers, gluten-free bread, preparation procedures and cross-contact. Most of all, I want to know whether I can actually enjoy my meal instead of staring at it and wondering whether I asked enough questions.

Thankfully, Surf City and Topsail Island have several worthwhile options for gluten-free dining.

Whether you’re craving a burger, charcuterie, seafood, breakfast, a cold açaí bowl, a full seafood boil or fried food, these are eight gluten-free-friendly restaurants and food spots in Surf City and Topsail Island to consider for your next beach trip.

A quick celiac reminder before we start: restaurant ingredients, menus and kitchen procedures can change. Always tell your server you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, and confirm the current preparation process before ordering.

Best Gluten-Free Restaurants in Surf City and Topsail Island

Coastal Wing & Spirits Co.: Gluten-Free Burgers in Surf City

Coastal Wing & Spirits Co. is one of my Surf City stops when that is exactly what I’m craving. The menu includes casual beach-town favorites such as burgers and wings, and gluten-free buns have been available for burgers. (Coastal Wing & Spirits)

This is the kind of restaurant I like when everyone in your group wants something casual and you don’t want being gluten-free to mean ordering something completely different from everyone else.

As always, let your server know that you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, and ask about burger preparation, shared cooking surfaces and current fryer procedures.

The Crafthouse Charcuterie & Bar: Gluten-Free Charcuterie in Surf City

The Crafthouse is exactly where I want to be when the plan is less formal dinner and more charcuterie, drinks and sitting around the table for way longer than we originally planned.

Its concept revolves around curated charcuterie boards and drinks, making it a fun Surf City option for a date night, girls’ night or pre-dinner snack. When ordering, let the staff know that you need gluten-free accommodations and ask about current crackers, meats, cheeses and preparation procedures.

You may need to modify the board or bring in gluten-free crackers, depending on what is available that day. But gluten-free diners deserve the pretty charcuterie board too.

Cape Fear Seafood Company: Gluten-Free Seafood Dinner in Surf City

When I want somewhere that feels like a real dinner out, Cape Fear Seafood Company is one of my picks.

Cape Fear Seafood Company has a Surf City location, and I’ve had a positive experience asking questions here. The manager was incredibly helpful when I explained that I have celiac disease, and that kind of communication makes a huge difference when you’re trying to figure out what you can safely order.

The menu identifies a number of items as gluten-free, including dishes such as the Surf & Turf Chimichurri, and the restaurant specifically asks guests to inform their server about food allergies. (CFSC)

I’ve had the shrimp and steak chimichurri, and I’ve also ordered a gluten-free burger with blue cheese.

This is one of those Surf City restaurants where I don’t feel like I have to sacrifice the whole dining-out experience just because I have celiac disease. Still, confirm current ingredients and preparation with your server before ordering.

Diver Surfside Cafe: Gluten-Free Breakfast in Surf City

Diver is one of those Surf City spots that feels like it belongs in a beach-town morning.

Coffee. Bowls. Breakfast. A laid-back cafe. The kind of place where you want to sit for a little while instead of grabbing something and immediately running out the door. The current menu includes smoothies, juices, bowls and breakfast food. (Toast)

One of my favorite details for gluten-free diners is that the toast they serve is gluten-free.

I would still tell the staff that you’re ordering for celiac disease so they can explain current preparation and cross-contact procedures. But having gluten-free toast already part of the equation makes breakfast much more enjoyable.

Coconut Cove: Waterfront Gluten-Free Dining in Surf City

Coconut Cove sits on the Intracoastal Waterway in Surf City, and the menu leans into seafood and tropical coastal flavors. The current lineup includes options such as fresh catch, shrimp ceviche, coconut rice, broccolini and seafood-focused entrées. (Coconut Cove)

Because menu items and kitchen procedures can vary, this is a restaurant where I would absolutely have the celiac conversation before ordering rather than assuming something is safe simply because the ingredients look gluten-free.

Ask about seasonings, sauces, marinades, shared cooking surfaces, fryers and preparation.

As far as Surf City atmosphere goes, though, this belongs on the list. It’s waterfront, coastal and still-in-vacation-mode—even if you live here.

Nautical Bowls: Gluten-Free Açaí Bowls in Surf City

Nautical Bowls in Surf City is a perfect post-beach refresh: cold, fruity and customizable superfood bowls that make sense after a day in the sun.

Even better for gluten-free diners, Nautical Bowls describes its offerings as gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free, with açaí and other superfood bowl bases, toppings and smoothies. (Nautical Bowls)

Topsail Steamer: Gluten-Free Seafood Boils on Topsail Island

If you’re staying in a beach house with family or friends, Topsail Steamer is a fun way to enjoy dinner together.

Topsail Steamer isn’t a traditional sit-down restaurant. Instead, you choose a ready-to-steam seafood pot, bring it back to your rental and cook the entire meal together.

Shrimp. Seafood. Sausage. Corn. Potatoes. Seasoning. Dump it all out on the table and suddenly you’re having the full coastal seafood-boil experience without having to figure out how to build one yourself.

This is one of the strongest gluten-free callouts on the list: Topsail Steamer specifically states that its steam pots and seasonings are gluten-free. The company notes that some baked goods are not gluten-free, so those should be checked separately. (Topsail Steamer)

Splash by the Sea: Gluten-Free Fried Food in North Topsail Beach

And then there is Splash.

I used to work here, which means I’ve also eaten here more times than I could possibly count.

Splash by the Sea is in North Topsail Beach, and if you’re gluten-free—especially if you have celiac disease—this is one I want you to know about.

The owner has celiac disease, so there is an understanding of gluten-free food in the kitchen that goes much deeper than simply having a few dishes marked GF.

The restaurant maintains a separate gluten-free menu and asks guests to alert their server about gluten intolerance so items can be prepared appropriately. Current diner reports also mention gluten-free fried shrimp and chicken prepared using a dedicated fryer. (Splash by the Sea)

And when you have celiac disease, you know exactly how exciting that is.

Planning a Gluten-Free Food Trip to Surf City and Topsail Island

Having celiac disease does not mean your beach vacation has to revolve around what you can’t eat.

You can still go to the beach with your friends.

You can still have the burger.

You can still sit around a charcuterie board.

You can still get dressed up for seafood and cocktails.

You can still dump a giant seafood boil across the table.

You can still get fried food.

And you can absolutely build an entire beach day around what you’re going to eat afterward.

The key is knowing where to look and what questions to ask. Before visiting any of these gluten-free restaurants in Surf City or Topsail Island, check the current menu, call ahead when needed and explain that you have celiac disease or a food allergy. Ask about shared fryers, cooking surfaces, sauces, seasonings and cross-contact.

So if you’re visiting Surf City, Topsail Island or North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, save this list before your trip.

And if you’re local?

Consider this your sign to start eating your way down the island.