Travelling Asia gluten free can be a daunting experience, so much so that it might put some people off visiting entirely. Being coeliac myself and recognising the stress that fellow gluten free people go through; I wanted to help, relieve some of that stress and reassure that travelling around Asia gluten free is very much doable. It does require a bit of extra planning and patience but this page will hopefully help. I have recently visited South East Asia and Japan and will share some tips, restaurant recommendations, reviews and much more.

ABOUT ME

My name is Frankie Poole and I was diagnosed with Coeliac disease 6 years ago. I'm from the UK and currently living in Australia. Being a coeliac has never been too much of a struggle at home but abroad, can prove tricky. Whether it's a language barrier, trying to go with the flow on a girls holiday or not knowing enough about local cuisine to make an educated guess - problems always seem to arise. I'm a massive foodie, I love to cook and eat at restaurants when I can. I managed to travel around Asia for three months in 2025 as a coeliac and enjoyed the unique cuisine of each country. My sister is also a coeliac and I want other coeliacs to be able to enjoy eating safely in these countries, without missing out on the local food offerings.

Every person diagnosed with coeliac disease will react differently to being 'glutened'. When it comes to cross-contamination, I will eat GF food fried in the same oil as gluten containing products. The fried foods mentioned across this page did not all necessarily have a dedicated GF fryer. Not all of the restaurants mentioned are dedicated gluten free facilities but are all places where I have been able to enjoy a gluten free meal.