Eat to your heart’s content at these nut allergy friendly restaurants in Canberra
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Your EpiPen will be taking a backseat when you dine at these delicious local hotspots.
I understand more than anyone that there are restaurants that do not take food allergies seriously, or on the other side of the spectrum, they are unwilling to make any compromises at all. Either way, you end up feeling like an absolute nuisance when this shouldn’t be the case, because NEWS FLASH, having a food allergy is no longer a foreign concept!
Now, as a self-proclaimed food connoisseur who happens to have a life-threatening allergy to peanuts and all tree nuts, it’s safe to say that I’ve eaten out a lot and managed to survive and thrive. So, to make it easier for you and your loved ones with a nut allergy, I’ve rounded up my top picks for restaurants in Canberra that are either completely nut-free or are incredibly accommodating to dietary requirements. And you’ll notice that my recommendations are mainly located in central or north Canberra, so if you have any suggestions for nut allergy friendly restaurants in the south, we’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Now, let out a sigh of relief because I can say with confidence that these places take nut allergies very seriously (as they should). Now save this list somewhere you won’t lose it and feast until you’re in a food coma!
Kinn Thai (City)
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Thai food is often a no-go for those of us with a nut allergy, but good news! I’m here to tell you that you can enjoy Thai food to the fullest without fear!
I’ve eaten at Kinn Thai countless times, and I haven’t had an allergic reaction once. A lot of the food on their menu is nut-free, including the most popular dishes! My personal favourites are the crab prawn rolls, the chilli jam soft shell crab, the hotpot tom yum, and the Masamune beef curry. And the staff are fantastic and very accommodating when you ask whether any of the dishes have nuts, so don’t be afraid to ask!
Shop FG03, 04/148 Bunda Street, Canberra City | kinncanberra.com.au
SoLita Pizzeria, Restaurant & Bar (City)
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In all honesty, Italian restaurants are relatively safe for us with nut allergies, but SoLita has become my personal go-to with friends and family because their dishes are just packed with flavour!
Their service has always been top notch and most (if not all) of their menu items, are nut-free. So don’t fret, stuff your face with all the pasta, pizza, and bread that your heart desires at Solita.
143 London Circuit, Canberra City | solita.com.au
CBD Dumpling House (City)
I know Chinese food can be a hit or miss when it comes to whether it’s nut-free or not, particularly when peanut oil is a prevalent ingredient. However, I’ve only ever had positive dining experiences at CBD Dumpling House and loved it so much that I even had my 22nd birthday dinner here! That says it all, right?!
Any dish with nuts in it is noted on the menu, but if you’d like to take extra precautions, raise your allergy to the staff member when you’re ordering, and they’ll be more than happy to double-check for you!
Shop FG13C/26 Narellan Street, Canberra City | facebook.com
Zaab (Braddon)
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To be completely transparent, I have never felt so well taken care of at a restaurant as I did at Zaab. I dined here for a work function, and the restaurant was told prior to my arrival about my nut allergy. When dinner took off, I was served my own nut-free set-course meal, which was a first for me and made me feel incredibly special.
Each dish was thoughtfully described, and the staff went above and beyond to ensure I felt comfortable. Not only was my meal absolutely delicious, but it was perfectly tailored to my dietary needs. Needless to say, I walked out feeling like a million bucks!
2/9 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | zaabstreetfood.com.au
Rebel Rebel (Acton)
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I tried Rebel Rebel for the first time last year for a friend’s birthday and honestly, I was a little nervous. Of course, I did do my research beforehand, but it had been a while since I had tried a new restaurant in Canberra, so I couldn’t help but feel a little anxious. But turns out, I had nothing to worry about!
We ordered the food we wanted, told the staff about my allergy, and they ensured that nothing we ordered contained nuts or would be contaminated at all. The dinner could not have gone better, but unfortunately, their desserts did contain nuts, so I skipped out on that. But overall, their food was ten out of ten and I would definitely go back.
23 Marcus Clarke Street, Acton | rebelrebeldining.com.au
Wukong Hotpot (Dickson)
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I know we’re heading into summer, but hotpot is just such a comforting meal that becomes the perfect reason to round up all your family and friends!
I’ve dined at Wukong Hotpot more times than I can count and have never experienced any issues. Their broth options are nut-free, and you can choose all the meats, seafood, vegetables, and noodles your heart desires. That’s right – you don’t have to deal with ordering any ambiguous dishes that ‘may contain’ nuts because you know exactly what’s going into your meal!
Pro tip: Be careful of the dipping sauce station because peanut paste is present. And if anyone does take peanut paste in their dipping sauce, make sure they don’t stick their chopsticks in the hotpot, and everyone uses the metal spatulas for the table!
G5/6 Cape Street, Dickson | @wukong_hotpot
Myanmar Corner (Casey)
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This little restaurant in Casey is what I’d call a hidden gem. I dined here with my family for the first time earlier this year, and I remember the slight anxious feeling I felt since this was not only a new restaurant, but also a new cuisine. And fortunately, I was blown away, to say the least.
After I raised my concern that I was allergic to nuts, the staff were incredibly understanding and assured me that there were only a couple of dishes on the menu that contained nuts. So of course, you know what that meant…we ordered almost everything on the menu, and none of it disappointed!
38/68 Dalkin Crescent, Casey | myanmar-corner.com
Tokyo Canteen (Kingston)
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Do not skip out on this delicious Japanese hotspot in Kingston, because they have everything from a classic bowl of ramen to udon carbonara, teriyaki salmon on rice, to a heartwarming Japanese curry with tempura prawn! And best of all, none of their dishes contain nuts – but you know the drill,let the staff know anyway, they won’t bite!
Shop 4/34 Eyre Street, Kingston | tokyocanteen.com.au
Sam Si Se Kki (Mitchell)
I adore Korean food because not only is it always a flavour bomb after flavour bomb, but for the most part, Korean dishes do not contain nuts. What a bonus, right?!
And when you go to this underrated restaurant in Mitchell, you may almost forget that you even have a nut allergy because their menu is completely nut-free to my knowledge (I’d raise your allergy anyway just in case!). So, if you’re looking for authentic, comforting, and mouthwatering Korean food, this is the place to visit. And while you’re at it, bring your family and friends because there’s so much on their menu that the only way to try it all is when you’re with a big group!
117 Flemington Road, Mitchell | facebook.com/sssk.cbr
Ramen O (multiple locations)
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Craving a warm and flavour-filled bowl of ramen? You can always count on Ramen O to hit the spot! And yes, none of their menu items contain nuts in it. So, if you haven’t given Ramen O a red hot go yet, kick your anxiety about trying a new restaurant to the curb and run, don’t walk! I promise you’ll be coming back for more.
Located in Belconnen, Canberra City, and Woden | ramen-o.com.au
Feature image: Zaab Bar Area by Widhiari Murti.
