Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Ordering chicken and waffles when you have celiac disease usually means a nervous conversation with the server and a lot of hoping for the best. Good news for Arizona folks: a handful of spots across the state have gone all in on gluten-free cooking, some with entire kitchens dedicated to it.
That means you can order fried chicken and fluffy waffles without playing cross-contamination roulette. Here are four places from Phoenix to Tucson to Tempe where the plate comes out crispy, loaded, and safe to eat.
1. Jewel’s Bakery & Cafe, Phoenix, AZ
Every single thing on the menu here is 100% gluten-free, from the fluffy pancakes to the famous chicken and waffles to the cinnamon rolls and cupcakes in the pastry case. That means no separate order, no worried questions, and a dedicated gluten-free kitchen doing the work.
The Classic Chicken and Waffles pairs hot buttermilk fried chicken with fluffy Belgian waffles, and it holds up against any regular version. Other draws include the Popcorn Chicken and Donut Hole combo, the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich, and vegetarian biscuits and gravy.
You’ll find the cafe at 4041 E Thomas Rd in Phoenix. It’s a family-owned spot that leans on local ingredients for breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch.
Hours run Tuesday through Sunday with both daytime and evening service, and the place is closed Mondays. Sunday afternoons and Saturday mornings get busy, so a weekday visit is calmer.
Reservations are accepted, and there’s usually plenty of free parking.
2. Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro, Tucson, AZ
Celiac travelers passing through Tucson finally get to relax at a spot where the whole kitchen is 100% gluten-free. The chicken strips and waffles are a signature, and the country fried chicken keeps regulars coming back.
Beyond the chicken and waffle plate, the menu covers a proper breakfast lineup: two-egg plates with house potatoes and toast, blueberry pancakes, breakfast burritos, and a grass-fed beef burger for lunch. The bakery side turns out cupcakes, spice cake rolls, and a lemon poppy waffle that regulars single out.
The bistro sits at 5845 N Oracle Rd, up toward the Oro Valley end of town, in colorful, casual quarters. It leans quiet and cozy, which makes it an easy morning stop.
Open daily from 8 AM to 2 PM, so this is a breakfast-and-lunch destination rather than a dinner one. Weekend mornings pull the biggest crowds.
Parking is free and generally easy to find.
3. Coop by cowpig, Tucson, AZ
What started as a food truck grew into a full 4th Avenue spot, and the gluten-free story here is personal. The owner’s mother has celiac disease, so the team perfected a tender recipe she could eat, and that same care shows up on every plate.
The chicken tenders are hand-battered and cooked to order, and the spicy gluten-free chicken and waffles is a standout. You can also load up on Tucson Fries or grab the Bourdain Burger from the smashed-burger side of the menu, with a Cluck Box option to keep it simple.
Find it at 429 N 4th Ave in Tucson, a casual counter-service place that’s good for watching sports and welcomes dogs. Kids get their own menu and high chairs are on hand.
Hours stretch later than the bakeries, running until 8 PM most nights and 10 PM on Friday and Saturday. Weekend evenings are busiest, and street parking around 4th Avenue can take a minute.
Reservations aren’t accepted.
4. Daily Jam – Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant, Tempe, AZ
Right in the middle of Mill Avenue, this brunch spot turns the gluten-free waffle into something worth a special trip. The Red Velvet Waffle comes in a gluten-free version, and yes, you can pair it with chicken for a proper chicken-and-waffle plate.
Staff here take cross-contamination seriously, and the gluten-free options run deep. Many dishes work with a simple gluten-free substitution, so the Signature Chicken and Waffles, Farmers Market Benedict, and even avocado toast can be adjusted to fit.
The dining room sits at 310 S Mill Ave in Tempe, a low-key, urban-chic space with a patio and a college-town buzz thanks to the ASU crowd nearby.
Open daily from 7 AM to 3 PM, it’s built for breakfast and brunch rather than dinner. Weekend mornings fill up fast, and parking on Mill Avenue can be a hunt, so aim early on a weekday if you want a mellow table.
Dogs are welcome on the patio.
