Just BE Kitchen Brings Delicious Gluten-Free Meals to Boulder

 

 

For people with celiac disease, allergies, sensitivities or other dietary restrictions, dining out can be stressful. Even after calling the restaurant ahead of time and informing the server upon arrival, cross-contaminated foods often still end up on the table.

 

Fortunately, there’s a new restaurant in town where diners don’t have to worry about accidental exposures. Just BE Kitchen, Colorado’s largest gluten-free restaurant group, recently opened a new location in Boulder.

 

 

The 2,100-square-foot space is located at 2500 30th St #101. It opened quietly in December, and held a grand opening ceremony in early March. It’s been growing in popularity ever since.

 

“We’ve long had our sights on becoming ‘the Chipotle of gluten-free dining,’ bringing allergen-free food to multiple communities,” says founder Jennifer Peters, who opened the first Just BE Kitchen in Denver’s LoHi neighborhood in 2017. “Our big plans for rapid, yet strategic growth include opening 10 more locations across the country in five years.”

 

 

And while diners who need to be careful around gluten will certainly gravitate toward Just BE Kitchen, the eatery hopes to have an even broader appeal.

 

“We’re passionate about offering comfort food that’s anti-inflammatory to health-conscious families, high-performance athletes, those living with food allergies and anyone seeking an ooey, gooey, stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal that just so happens to be allergen free,” says Peters.

 

 

Some of those “stick-to-your-ribs” meals include shepherd’s pie made with slow-roasted brisket and sweet potato whip, as well as a “Fulfilled Burrito” made with house-made gluten-free tortillas, cheddar wiz and chili. Or, sink your teeth into chicken and dumplings, mixed vegetable curry or grilled French toast, made with almond flour bread and toasted coconut flakes. There’s even a kids’ menu, plus a bone broth bar with a choice of toppings.

 

 

None of the menu items contain gluten, refined sugars, soy, corn, peanuts and seed oils. They’re also 99 percent free of legumes, dairy and grains. The seasonal menu will change twice a year.

 

Helpfully, each menu item also contains specific labels designating it as egg-free, vegan, vegetarian, keto, Whole30 and beyond. “I was so tired of all the ‘healthy’ menu items at restaurants being either a salad, açai bowl or a large-style protein,” says Peters. “First-time diners are frequently floored that our food is not only delicious, but also anti-inflammatory and allergen-free.”

 

 

The new Boulder location is Just BE Kitchen’s third brick-and-mortar restaurant. After opening in LoHi seven years ago, Peters opened a second location in the Denver Tech Center in 2022 next to the Golden-based gluten-free brewery Holidaily Brewing Company. And if Just BE Kitchen sounds familiar to you, but you haven’t visited one of the other locations, maybe you saw it on TV: The restaurant was featured on an episode of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

 

 

For now, Just BE Kitchen’s Boulder location is open every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and serves breakfast and lunch. If you’re on the go, you can also buy bulk meals that are ready to reheat and eat at home. The eatery also does catering and private events. And. in the future, Just BE Kitchen plans to offer more wellness programming in Boulder, including a “Mindful Market” retail area with allergen-free pickles, ketchup, salad dressings and salsa.