Presented in partnership with The Heart of Ontario.
All photos by Steph Wallcraft.

There’s gluten-free galore in the Heart of Ontario region!

Heart of Ontario is an umbrella term for the region of Hamilton, Halton, and Brant, which also includes Burlington, Stoney Creek, and the villages of Dundas and Waterdown, among others. This area is well-known for its great hiking and waterfall viewing along the Niagara Escarpment. We recently shared how to make the most of a day trip to Tew Falls and the village of Dundas, which you can find here.

Now, we’re expanding on that for those who need or want to eat gluten-free. Take a look below at the amazing places we sampled while exploring the Heart of Ontario. There’s so much food in this region for gluten-free folks to safely enjoy! 

Hamilton

The Mule (41 King William St, Hamilton) – This funky restaurant and bar, located on the trendy stretch of King William Street in downtown Hamilton, has a 100% gluten-free kitchen that unleashes an endless torrent of tacos and other Mexican-inspired delights. From fried fish tacos to breaded shrimp chimichurri, coated chicken, and much more, every creation is a treat you won’t believe you can actually eat safely in a restaurant. Bring a designated driver and enjoy the margaritas and tequila tasting flights. This is a busy spot, so reservations are highly recommended!

Planted in Hamilton (211 Locke St S, Hamilton) – Head to Locke Street to find Planted in Hamilton, where the kitchen is fully gluten-free and vegan. There are meal options such as vegan fish and chips, falafel, or macaroni and cheese, or you can grab smoothies and baked goods at the take-out counter. The French crullers are absolutely epic, but they frequently sell out unless you head in early. Fortunately, the rest of the donuts, squares, cupcakes and cookies are just as worth the trip, and my daughter enjoyed a gluten-free and dairy-free root beer float, a treat she hadn’t had in years!

BakeHealthi (1119 Fennell Ave E Unit 17, Hamilton) – This small owner-operated gluten-free bakery can be tricky to spot: it’s located at the back of a small strip mall on Hamilton Mountain. But it’s well worth the trip for the fresh-baked bread and buns that are so soft and delicious that you really can eat them warm straight out the bag! BakeHealthi also stocks sweets from Marci’s Bakery (221 Barton St Unit I, Stoney Creek) and Fairly Frosted (currently not operating out of a storefront), which makes it a wonderful one-stop shop for supporting several gluten-free Hamilton-area businesses.

Dundas

Bangkok Spoon Deluxe (57 King St W, Dundas) – Craving Asian food after a full day of outdoor exploring? This Thai joint in downtown Dundas has plenty of gluten-free options, and staff are well-acquainted with accommodating celiac disease and other dietary restrictions. We opted for the Thai fresh rolls, which were large and light but surprisingly filling, and a heaping plate of pad Thai. Delicious!

Detour Coffee (41 King St W, Dundas) – Detour is a popular local chain of coffee shops in the Hamilton area. This location is on the picturesque main strip of downtown Dundas and makes a great cup of coffee to enjoy indoors or on the seasonal patio. There’s a rotating selection of gluten-free sweets to enjoy as well (but note that if you also need to be dairy-free and/or vegan, there were no options for both dietary needs when we made our visit).

Beanermunky Chocolate (50 King St W, Dundas) – Don’t miss this whimsical chocolate shop when visiting the village of Dundas! They have multiple gluten-free and dairy-free/vegan options, both in their display case of house-made products and among the inventory on their shelves. We still catch ourselves dreaming about the chocolate-covered candied citrus peel and ginger slices!

Dyment’s Market & Bakery (416 Fallsview Rd E, Dundas) – This farm market is just around the corner from Tew Falls, making it a great spot to stop in for some post-hike goodies. The bakery mostly produces gluten-based products, but there are a few gluten-free options on the shelves and in the freezers, and the produce and wide selection of Covered Bridge Chips are worth the stop on their own.

Burlington

Burro (4-480 Brant Street South, Burlington) – From the owners of The Mule comes Burro, a satellite location based in downtown Burlington. Though the menu is similar to the one from Hamilton, there are a few differences (if you can get the elotes ribs, don’t miss them; they’re like street corn in rib form!). The vibe is also a little different in this smaller spot, which is quieter with a more family-friendly atmosphere.

Kelly’s Bake Shoppe (401 Brant St, Burlington) – Last but certainly not least, head south on Brant Street from Burro and you can’t miss Kelly’s Bake Shoppe, which was started by a mother-daughter team and has been providing gluten-free and vegan treats to downtown Burlington and beyond since 2012. The bright and colourful storefront can’t be missed, which is great news because you’ll definitely want to stop in! The selection varies by season but always includes several types of cupcakes, brownies, muffins, cookies, and more. Don’t miss the Kelly-O’s, which are a whole lot like another dark chocolate and vanilla-filled cookie you know well!