Guasaca

I ordered two avocado arepas and asked beforehand three times what on the menu was gluten free. I was assured everything was gluten free except the crispy chicken. The next day I got very sick, likely from the arepas themselves.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

If you ask for the GF arepas, they can make them separately for you!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

Other Characteristics

• Good for takeout

I didn’t get sick afterwards. And I ate them as left overs and didn’t get sick.

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Offers delivery
• Offers online ordering

They DO have Gluten Free arepas now, and the regular arepas are the only thing that contains gluten.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dairy-free
• Good for takeout

I love their arepas but they are not gluten free. They made an announcement September 2019 that this was a mistake their employees had been making. Hopefully they release their new GF ones soon. Very disappointed, but they are trying to fix their wrong.

Very gluten friendly food allergies chart. The food was fresh and very good! I will definetly eat here again!

Easy to figure out what is safe to eat. Delicious arepas, nice outdoor seating area. I’ll go back!

I ate a vegetarian salad, and had a bad reaction. Not for people with celiac, there must be cross contamination as their are items containing gluten here. Gluten sensitive people, however may be ok.

Celiac friendly?

No

Heli will see to it that you are well taken care of and is striving to make his location and ALL locations aware of the needs of the GF community.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Like everyone else is saying, the arepas are no longer gluten free. I went here a few years ago and had no problems. This time, I noticed something was different - the arepas seemed chewier and were not crumbling like before. I didn't think the company would change them to wheat, but after I looked it up I see they have. It's extremely disappointing that they not only would change the recipe to something that's not even authentic (arepas are supposed to be all corn) but also that they would not make the change more obvious with better signage and labeling. You're making people sick here! What a disappointment :(

Celiac friendly?

No

AREPAS ARE NOT GLUTEN FREE. The posted their allergen menu on their website, says the contain wheat.

Celiac friendly?

No

WARNING! The arepas are NO LONGER GF!! They recently posted an allergen menu citing wheat in the arepas and shredded beef. This is concerning because people have typically been assured that this place is GF. Thus, I’m listing it as “unsafe” due to the conflicting information and poor communication. https://guasaca.com/allergens-chart/

Celiac friendly?

No

My rating is based entirely off of being celiac friendly. Unfortunately it’s pretty apparent a lot of people that do not have celiac consider themselves to be.

The food was fine, staff was working hard. Basically an assembly line “Moe’s” type restaurant with arepas. If you have celiac you’re hyper aware of feed prep. Food utensils came into contact with food with gluten and back into the bin with the gluten free food.

My wife who has a sensitivity was more than fine here. I took the gamble and was not. This was the only location I ate at for days outside of food I made for myself.

I hate providing a 2 rating for a hard working restaurant but the reviews that are posted are inaccurate and it needs to balance out.

If you just have a sensitivity you’re probably more than good, if you have celiac and are sensitive, this place doesn’t work.

Celiac friendly?

No

I've eaten here many times, some being fine and others not. After eating an arepa and also the chips, I was sick the next day. I then went to the new Hillsborough Street location the following trip and planned to only eat a bowl, but the manager there assured me there is no flour in their arepas. I was fine. Perhaps it was just the chips?

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Minus one star for staff telling us all the arepas are gluten free (from other reviews, sounds like nope). I had a bowl and it was amazing: plentiful, delicious, fresh.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Celiac friendly?

Yes

tasty and reliable. to play it 100% safe, get the bowls - which are delicious, esp. the veggie bowls that come with guascaca

I agree with previous review. Durham staff told me there's flour in the arepas. so I got a bowl like I do at Moe's

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Just spoke to a manager at the Durham location and the arepas have wheat flour in them. None of the kitchen staff knew the different between corn flour and wheat flour. Stick to bowls and salads

So many options and completely delicious. Went with a fellow gluten free friend. I have a wheat allergy and my friend has celiac. Both of us walked out stuffed and very happy. No reaction for either of us. We've gone twice and will be back.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Great food and friendly staff. My son and I both eat gluten free: he has celiac I have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. It was my second time, his first. Clearly something he ate (plain arepa or chips) had gluten in it. He got sick within a couple of hours of eating there. I'm still fine. My advice- if you're gluten sensitive, it's probably fine. If you have celiac disease I would be very careful.

Celiac friendly?

No

The arepas were delicious! Grateful for this find while in Raleigh!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Ah-mazing! If it wasn't for the 18 previous reviews here I wouldn't have believed it was gluten free!

Really good food, they know what is gluten free and what is not. Inexpensive as well. Impressed.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

One of my favorite places in Raleigh. So flavorful and so inexpensive.

Wow! Great flavors and atmosphere! Extra points for offering GF arepas (corn flat breads) filled with fresh avacados, plantains, caramelized onions and meats & cheeses. Sauces are flavorful and their guacamole mixture called Guasaca is friggin amazing! I will definitely be going back!!!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Love this place. When you ask about gluten free they are very knowledgeable.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

So delicious!

My daughter has celiac disease. We ate at Guasaca tonight, and she got sick two hours later. Whatever she had, it had gluten in it for sure.

Celiac friendly?

No

Everything is gf, really good tasting food, and a unique experience. They say there's a chance of cross contamination with the arepas, but after asking a lot of questions, my husband decided to try them. He has celiac and did not get sick.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

a little confusion on weather the bread had any wheat in it. mixed messages on that.

This is probably my favorite restaurant in Raleigh!! I've eaten here many times. Each time I brought someone who was not gluten intolerant such as myself. They loved the food as well. The food is fresh & prepared on site.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

My family and I ate here for the first time and I'm the only GF person in the group and EVERYBODY loved it....great options! Might be put on the FAV list!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Simple and fresh options all gluten and dairy free except sour cream & cheese toppings. Sauces are yummy. Guasaca is delicious! Budget friendly.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Love the food!! Everything is gluten free and delicious!!

We went to Guasaca for dinner today. The food was really tasty, and everything is gluten free except for the arepa wraps, which could possibly have cross contamination. They make everything from scratch daily. You can tell. :)

Fantastic restaurant! Awesome gluten free selection!

delicious! everything Gf!

Amazing food, I spoke to the owner and he assured me that everything on the menu is gluten free. The only thing he said I should be cautious of are the arepas because although they are made from corn, the manufacturer didn't guarantee them being free of gluten. I love this place!