Best Gluten Free Brunch Spots Outside of Chicago
From light bites to a proper experience with mimosas, here are my favorite brunch spots within the Chicagoland suburbs- from Elmhurst to Naperville these are in my opinion the best of the best and where I find myself returning to the most!
Joy Bar | Glen Ellyn
Joy Bar is a fairly new smoothie/ juice bar located in Glen Ellyn. I discovered it last year when they opened and was a regular when I worked a few minutes away from the shop. At the time, it was the closest smoothie bar /affordable fresh juice place near me, despite it being about 40 minutes away. To this day, Joy Bar is my favorite stop in the suburbs for healthy bites.
Best For:
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Light bites/ snack
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Light lunch (wraps, salads)
What To Order:
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The Trinity on Gluten-Free Toast
Parking:
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Free but limited spaces
Egg Harbor Cafe | Naperville
With 15/20 locations right here in Illinois, Egg Harbor is my go-to for weekend brunch or breakfast meetings. The menu offers gluten-free, vegan, and Keto friendly options for those with dietary restrictions or preferences all while being tasty! My favorite location in the Western suburbs is the Naperville cafe. I find the entire dine in and takeout experience to be the most smooth and efficient compared to the other locations. Plus, the food is prepared in a better way than some of the other locations- more fresh, consistent in temperature, and overall the most enjoyable!
Best For:
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Breakfast
-
Lunch
What To Order:
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The GF Sweet Potato Skillet with goat cheese instead of mozzarella, eggs scrambled with no oil/ butter.
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GF Waffles with strawberries, Nutella and powdered sugar on top.
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Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice soup
Parking:
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Free- limited spaces in the parking lot
-
Busy on the weekends- located in the downtown area but there are garages within walking distance
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Nu Crepes | Elmhurst
The only thing I don’t like about Nu Crepes is how they’re closed on Monday’s.. and I always crave a crepe on that day (of course). I grew up in Elmhurst and when I was in high school Nu Crepes came to town. I’ve been hooked ever since and find myself making the commute on the regular. I love bring my laptop some days and setting up shop for a few hours. The cozy atmosphere is great for focusing- it’s less claustrophobic than a coffee shop or co-working space and the wifi is incredibly fast because there aren’t loads of people on it working remotely.
Best For:
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Breakfast/ Brunch
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Lunch
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Snacks
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Dessert
What To Order:
-
GF Lumberjacked crepe with ham
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GF Nutella Raspberry crepe
Parking:
-
Plenty- free parking spaces and the garage
Buttermilk | Geneva, Naperville
Buttermilk has two locations- one in Naperville and the other in Geneva. The restaurant is quite versatile in their offerings- from delicious fresh dishes to coffee bar options, Buttermilk is a one stop shop for your morning/ early afternoon food and drink needs.
Best For:
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Breakfast cocktails
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Breakfast/ Brunch
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Lunch
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Gluten- Free
What To Order:
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Strawberry Orange Juice
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The Wilbur Skillet
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GF Buttermilk Pancakes
Parking:
-
Plenty of free parking spaces
The Craftsman | Naperville
The Craftsman by Two Brothers Barrel House is located downtown Naperville serves breakfast on the weekends. Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays from 10AM-2PM on the first and second floor. I recommend getting there right when it opens or after noon to avoid the brunch rush and long wait time.
Best For:
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Bloody Mary’s/ brunch cocktails
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Breakfast/ Brunch
What To Order:
-
Bacon Bowl with scrambled eggs (Gluten-Free)
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Biscuits & Gravy
Parking:
-
Plenty of free parking spaces- limited but garages are within walking distance
There are so many amazing restaurants in the Western Suburbs. The above are but few of the places I have discovered over the years and find myself and loved ones going back to time and time again. What is your favorite brunch spot? Let me know in the comments below, along with your favorite item on the menu- I’ll be sure to give it a try
