Eating Gluten-Free Near Madison Square Garden
Finding somewhere safe to eat near Madison Square Garden can feel like a whole event in itself when you have celiac disease. Whether you’re heading into New York City for a concert, catching the New York Rangers, or cheering on the Knicks, the last thing you want to do before sporting events is wander around Midtown hungry while trying to figure out which restaurants actually understand cross contamination.
The good news is that there are plenty of GF options around Madison Square Garden, from a quick bite before the game to sit-down restaurants with healthy options and classic gluten-free comfort food. And if you have celiac disease, I’ll help you look beyond a restaurant simply having free items on the menu. We’ll talk about the details that matter—like whether there’s a dedicated fryer, separate fryers, or a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, and which places offer the safest options for stricter dietary needs.
In this guide, I’m sharing some of the best places to find gluten-free food near Madison Square Garden so you can spend less time researching and more time enjoying NYC. Whether you’re craving Italian restaurant favorites, poke bowls, street food, or something sweet from a dedicated gluten-free bakery, you’ll have options to check out before or after your event.
Gluten-Free Near Madison Square Garden
1. Gluten-Free Vendor in MSG (only open for games)
If you’re going to a game at Madison Square Garden you’re in luck! MSG has a dedicated gluten-free stand in between sections 111 and 112! But this stand is only open during games – not concerts.
We recently attended a concert at MSG on a Saturday at the gluten-free stand was closed.
Gluten-Free Garden has gluten-free pizza, gluten-free hotdogs, gluten-free chicken fingers, and gluten-free cookies for dessert.
The prices are a bit expensive with the gluten-free pizza costing $14, but unfortunately, we’re used to expensive gluten-free prices.
I can’t comment on the quality of the food, but for the convenience, I would say Gluten-Free Garden is worth it!
2. Friedman’s Herald Square
Friedman’s is the most popular choice for gluten-free restaurants near Madison Square Garden. That’s because of their dedication to gluten-free options and safety.
Almost the entire menu at Friedman’s can be made gluten-free which explains why Friedman’s has such incredible Find Me Gluten Free Ratings!
Friedman’s is only a 3-minute walk from MSG which makes it the perfect dinner option before your game or concert.
3. Kati Shop (Dedicated Gluten-Free) – ONLY OPEN ON WEEKDAYS
On our most recent trip to Madison Square Garden I planned on trying Kati Shop, a dedicated gluten-free Thai quick-service restaurant. I was disappointed to discover it is only open Monday-Friday.
Kati Shop is similar to Chipotle in that you can customize your meal with the ingredients you like! You can choose your protein, your base, and other customizations. They also have great vegan options as well.
I would have loved to try Kati Shop because of its healthy, dedicated gluten-free menu. But because it’s open only during the week I haven’t tried it yet!
4. The Little Beet (Dedicated Gluten-Free) – Bryant Park closed on weekends, Broadway open on weekends
I LOVE The Little Beet! Their healthy and filling options are the perfect meal before a game or concert at MSG. They are also 100%, dedicated gluten-free as well!
But once again, The Little Beet location closest to MSG (Bryant Park) is closed on the weekends! But fortunately, their location on Broadway is open at noon on the weekends.
I recommend their chicken bowl and add sweet potato to it plus any other toppings you want. The chicken and the sweet potato were very filling after a long day of walking!
5. Modern Bread & Bagel (Dedicated Gluten-Free)
Modern Bread & Bagel is the hottest dedicated gluten-free restaurant on Instagram and Tik Tok. If you follow gluten-free Influencers, I’m sure you’ve seen them post their Modern Bread & Bagel bagel photos.
Look how incredible those 100% gluten-free bagel sandwiches look!
Modern Bread & Bagel is a bit far at a 21-minute walk from MSG. However, it is well worth it!
If you want a quick and easy dedicated gluten-free meal before your game or concert at MSG then I definitely recommend Modern Bread and Bagel!
5. Senza Gluten by Jemiko (Dedicated Gluten-Free)
Senza Gluten by Jemiko is the holy grail of dedicated gluten-free fine dining. It is my husband and my favorite gluten-free restaurant in NYC! My husband is not gluten-free and he ranks Senza Gluten by Jemiko as one of his favorite restaurants in the world. That’s how good it is!
With amazing food in NYC comes a hefty price tag. Senza Gluten by Jemiko is not a cheap and easy meal. However, if you’re celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, or are looking to have a fancy, enjoyable meal then this is the place for you!
You need a reservation to eat here so make sure you book on Open Table at least a week in advance. You will spend approximately two hours here, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time for dinner before your event at MSG.
If you want to know more about Senza Gluten by Jemiko you can read my full review of it here!
Gluten-Free Near MSG
These are your 5 best delicious gluten-free options near Madison Square Garden! If you’re visiting for a game, enjoy Gluten-Free Garden IN MSG for its dedicated gluten-free environment. Instead, if you want a quick and easy meal, grab a bagel or a slice of pizza from Modern Bread and Bagel. If you want an incredible high end, dedicated gluten-free facility with a welcoming atomsphere then Senza Gluten by Jemliko is it!
Final Thoughts on Eating Gluten-Free Near Madison Square Garden
Going to Madison Square Garden doesn’t have to mean settling for whatever packaged snack you can find at a concession stand. Between Gluten-Free Garden, the dedicated gluten-free kiosk inside MSG, and nearby restaurants like Friedman’s, Modern Bread and Bagel, and Senza Gluten by Jemiko, there are some genuinely exciting safe options to explore before, during, or after an event.
Whether you’re heading to Knicks games, a Rangers game, concert, or one of the Garden’s many special events, it’s worth checking current menu items and restaurant procedures before your visit. Gluten-free offerings and cross-contact protocols can change, so I always recommend confirming the details that matter to you directly with the restaurant or venue.
What I love most is that you don’t necessarily have to give up the classic favorites and comfort foods that make a night out in New York so much fun. You can grab food right inside the Garden or make dinner part of the experience by visiting one of the nearby dedicated gluten-free restaurants. And if you’re in the mood for something sweet afterward, a GF bakery like Modern Bread and Bagel gives you another reason to extend your night in the city.
The growing gluten-free community in New York has made attending major events much easier than it once was. Do a little planning ahead, choose the option that best fits your dietary needs, and then get back to the important part—enjoying your night at Madison Square Garden.