El Barrio
$$ • Mexican Restaurant
Most Recent Reviews
The tacos are amazing!!! The waitress was very knowledgeable and confirmed that everything on the menu minus maybe 3 entrees could be made gluten free. Did not get chips and dip so wasn’t able to confirm that it was a separate fryer, but based on other reviews I believe they are safe. Definitely would go again.
Fantastic experience! They were very knowledgeable and accommodating! Food and service was great. Everything on their menu is gf or can be made gf except the meatloaf and enchiladas! Highly recommend.
One of my favorite places. Prices are awesome for the quality of the food. They don’t have a GF menu but tell your server that you have celiac and they will make your items with corn tortillas instead of flour. Most items are GF. I usually get the tacos. The guacamole and salsa is delicious. One member of my party had the steak and really enjoyed it. Cocktails are excellent! The atmosphere is nice. I have been for dinner only and there is usually a 30 minute wait, so be prepared to have a drink at the bar or to visit with friends before being seated. Our bill usually averages $20 to $25 a person- higher or lower depending on alcohol and # of apps. I highly recommend that you visit!
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Good COVID-19 protocols for takeout orders (as of June 2020)
More Reviews
Staff was knowledgeable, and there is a separate fryer for chips! Everything can be made GF except the chicken enchiladas and the meatloaf. Definitely a new favorite in Bham!
Fantastic celiac dining experience! Staff was very knowledgeable and I get to have safe Mexican. Wooo hoooo! Do NOT miss the charro beans and the au gratin potatoes. 🤤
Our server was Chandler, and he was awesome! I am allergic to gluten, dairy, and soy, and I felt very confident and the food was DELISH!
I know a lot of us vacation in the panhandle and traveling with any allergy can be very challenging. We found this restaurant in Birmingham, AL. Amazing!!
They go above and beyond to make sure there isn’t any cross contamination. We recommend 10/10. I got the steak tacos and my fiancé got the plantain nachos.
Dedicated GF
GF Menu Items
- — Tacos, Tortillas
Other
- — Lunch
- — Online ordering
- — Dinner
HUGE FAN OF EL BARRIO!! Only 2 things on the menu can’t be made GF (meatballs and chicken enchiladas). I got the chicken tacos w/ corn tortillas, rice and beans, and the cornbread. The only thing I tested with my Nima was the cornbread but it passed, which is pretty impressive for a non-dedicated place. It’s so nice to be able to have chips and salsa out too! Just wish it was a little bigger so wait times weren’t so long but if you go around 4, there’s no wait and still great food!
This place is amazing! They are very proactive in mitigating damage via cross-contact and contamination.
They have a tasty menu filled with various options for celiac patients.
I would definitely suggest giving this place a try!
My favorite spot in bham! All but 2 items are gf. Don’t skip the cornbread!!!
I read up on this restaurant before making the trip, best decision we made to eat here! The staff are very sweet and we were seated fairly quickly during lunch. I told my server I was GF and they told me what two items couldn’t be made GF which is the meatloaf and enchiladas. Ordered the potato taquitos and a main course and it was AMAZING!! Highly recommend!
I called before we went and asked about gluten free options. I was told they don’t have it marked on their menu but are known to cater to those with celiac disease. Just let my waiter know and they will take care of me. And that they did, one of the best Mexican restaurants that I have been to. Delicious!
Had a great experience! Could eat the chips (dedicated fryer just shrimp is also fried in it but not battered shrimp) the guacamole, and the romaine salad with chicken. They said all but 2 items on their menu can be made gluten free
Staff was very knowledgeable. When I asked about the chips, she immediately talked to me about the other gluten free things and knew what could and could not be made gluten free. It was delicious and I felt very safe eating there
Have eaten here many times and have never gotten sick. They always mark CELIAC 3x on a ticket with a gluten allergy which makes me feel very confident with my food.
I ate here twice recently while visiting from out of town. Both times the wait staff assured me what was GF and not and checked with the kitchen to make sure. But the lack of info on the menu and large number of gluten containing items definitely made me nervous. I had the trout and the vegan tostada.
Really had high hopes given the good reviews, but I'm on day 4 of recovering from lunch at El Barrio. Food was good, waitress was super nice, but within an hour I was already regretting it. I was clear that I needed gf, and reminded the waitress more than once. But this is the worst I've been glutened in over 2 years, worse than any mild cross contamination reaction I've had. Don't risk it, it's not worth it.
Got the chicken escabeche, and the waitress double checked in the back that it was gluten free before putting in my order. So good!
Two kids with celiac. Loved the food and had no issues!!
Very tasty Mexican takeout while on a road trip passing through the 'Ham! Accommodating of me (the celiac in the group) with delicious al pastor tacos, and the non-celiac happy with flour tortilla green enchiladas. The pickled onions on the tacos were SO good. The staff was knowledgeable and, as a bonus, respectfully masked up while serving up the takeout.
Very knowledge staff. Will grill corn tortillas as a substitute for you!
So Good!! As soon as I mentioned gluten free, our server quickly let me know I couldn't eat the tortilla chips if I'm sensitive to cross contamination. She was very knowledgeable and gave me suggestions on what to eat. Great place and delicious!
Amazing! Our server, Juan was super attentive and paid strict attention to my husband’s MANY allergies. The food was amazing! I had pulled pork plantain nachos - best meal I’ve had all year! We’ll be back!
I came here because of the other reviews I had read and they were all accurate. The moment I said "gluten free" the waiter knew exactly what I needed to order and avoid. I was also impressed because he knew the difference between people who voluntarily choose to eat gluten free and those who have celiac. I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant where the server was so knowledgeable about celiac and gluten free from the moment you mentioned it. The food was DELICIOUS!!! My group shared a grilled corn on the cob as an appetizer and I had the chicken tacos as m y entree. The best part was I felt great afterwards--no mistakes or cross contamination. I would recommend this to anyone with celiac looking for a good meal at a fair price.
Awesome tacos and drinks and they are celiac safe. They explained how they organize ingredients so that they minimize cross contamination.
Love this place. The food is amazing. Just give it a try.
Best GF Mexican food in BHam! I'm celiacs and never have a problem. No so lucky at Babalu's in Lakeview.
Very good food. I had the Pork dish that comes with sweet potatoes, and a bunch of other stuff. Loved it! I normally would take off a star for not having gluten free items labeled or a separate menu, but it was so good I couldn't. My server was very in tune with celiac and recommended the avocado and veggies rather than chips and salsa. Highly recommend this place!
Great food, great Celiac options. A lot of their menu is naturally gluten free, so they don't actually tell you what is and isn't on the menu. The moment I told the waiter I have Celiac's he was instantly giving me suggestions. This included suggesting he bring me soft corn tortillas because the corn chips were fried in the same oil as some flour tortillas and he knew cross contamination would be a problem. I had the Pork and Steak Tacos with corn tortillas and they were delicious. Pork was my favorite. I felt comfortable as the waiter discussed how they would contain my food and he knew what he was talking about.. Great option!
