Top 7 Gluten-Free Mediterranean Spots to Delight in Kitsilano, Vancouver

Erik Standaert

East is East is hands-down one of the most unique and soulful dining experiences you’ll find in the city. From the moment you walk in, you’re enveloped by the cozy, bohemian vibe—dim lighting, live music, and aromatic spices drifting from the kitchen. The décor and ambiance transport you somewhere between Istanbul and Kathmandu. I highly recommend the “Chai Feast”—a rotating selection of dishes from across the Silk Road served tapas-style. Every bite is rich, layered, and made with love. Personal standouts: the Afghan eggplant, lamb kebabs, and the mango butternut squash stew. And don’t miss their house chai—refillable, spiced to perfection, and served with a smile. The staff are warm and knowledgeable, and the entire experience feels like you’re a guest in someone’s beautifully curated home. Whether you’re a meat-eater, vegan, or gluten-free, there’s something flavorful and nourishing here for you. This isn’t just dinner—it’s a cultural experience. Perfect for date night, out-of-town visitors, or when you just need a warm soul-hug in the form of food.

Justin Malhi

A lot of gluten free options, pricey but the food is very solid. Waitress was kind and the vibe was lovely!

Yurii Chukhlatyi

Gluten free base pizza felt like it was served on a cracker. Other than that it’s a very lovely place with good atmosphere.

Jihan Mansour

I visited Vancouver from Ontario in May and chose Tayybeh to try some authentic Middle Eastern food. This restaurant is a MUST TRY!!! From the moment we walked in we were immersed in the Arabic culture from the music to decor and atmosphere. We ordered Turkish coffee to start from our pleasant server, and then enjoyed a variety of appetizers that were fresh, delicious and filling as we ordered some of our childhood favourites (foul, fetteh, kebbi and rice pudding among other selections). My brother is gluten free-and almost anything could be prepared without gluten. I was immediately reminded of sitting around my kitchen table enjoying a family home cooked meal. There is a beautiful story behind the evolution of this business and you can not leave without a delicious meal and the knowledge that you are helping displaced women from Syria find employment and who are supporting their families still in Syria and treating us to authentic Middle Eastern food while establishing a sense of community for themselves together in Canada. Clearly I can not say enough so I recommend that others try for themselves!

Helen Eldredge

Jessica Doig

My go-to place for Greek take out. I love their traditional recipes, especially the Greek salad! Convenient location on 4th makes it an easy stop via transit. Recommend the prawn souvlaki. If you are gluten-free, you can ask for extra Greek salad instead of the bread that comes with the souvlaki.

Joel Finbloom

We used Mr. Falafel to cater our large 200+ person event at UBC. The food was excellent! We received falafel, chicken shawarma, and beef shawarma wraps as well as salads and gluten-free options. Everyone at the conference loved the food, with multiple people coming up to me afterward to tell me how this was one of the best catered meals they've had at a conference or similar event. The staff were professional and timely. I'm vegetarian and I've eaten a lot of falafel and this is one of the best in Vancouver! On a separate occasion (non-catered) I had their falafel & eggplant wrap, which I also really enjoyed. I would highly recommend Mr. Falafel!