Cuisines that are often gluten-free friendly

Some cuisines are built on ingredients that are naturally gluten-free, like rice, corn, lentils, chickpea flour, teff and plain grilled meat. That makes ordering easier, but it is never a guarantee. Recipes vary between kitchens, so tell staff you are coeliac and ask about each dish.

1. Indian. Coeliac UK notes that poppadoms are usually made with rice and lentil flour, and that curry sauces are mostly thickened with chickpea flour or yoghurt.

   Ask about: naan and other breads. Hing (asafoetida) is often processed with wheat. Ask about shared fryers, and about tandoor ovens also used for bread.

2. Mexican. Corn tortillas, corn chips, plain beans, salsa and grilled meat are the usual gluten-free base.

   Ask about: flour tortillas, and tortillas or chips that are not 100% corn. Beans or sauces may be thickened with flour, and chips may be fried in a shared fryer.

3. Thai. Rice, rice noodles and coconut-milk curries are common starting points.

   Ask about: soy sauce and oyster sauce. Some fish sauces contain wheat, and curries may be thickened with flour. Ask whether the wok is shared.

4. Japanese. Steamed rice, sashimi and rice-based dishes are the staples.

   Ask about: regular soy sauce (shoyu), which contains wheat. Ask for tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce instead. Barley miso, udon, ramen and tempura all contain gluten. Soba can be blended with wheat, and barley tea (mugicha) is often served with meals.

5. Ethiopian. Injera is traditionally made from teff, which is naturally gluten-free.

   Ask about: whether the injera is 100% teff, because some restaurants add wheat or barley flour. Kolo, a snack, is made with barley.

6. Steakhouses and grills. A plain steak, baked potato and steamed vegetables are naturally gluten-free.

   Ask about: marinades and seasoning blends, and au jus, which often contains wheat flour. Fries may share a fryer with breaded food, and some baked potatoes are coated in flour.

On the site:

• Mexican: Xica in San Francisco, a gluten-free Mexican kitchen, and Azteca in London, which serves corn tortillas.
• Thai: Tamo in Antwerp and Pai in Toronto.
• Japanese: Gluten Free T's Kitchen in Tokyo.
• Steak and grill: Riscky's Steakhouse in Fort Worth (gluten-free menu), American Cut in New York, The Keg in Whistler, and El Gran Paraíso, a parrilla in Buenos Aires.
• There are no Indian or Ethiopian places on the site yet.