When living or vacationing in a resort town, there are two things that always go hand-in-hand; amazing views and even better food. When visiting Ocean City, Maryland you’re guaranteed to get both. However, when you have certain dietary choices or restrictions, eating out can prove to get slightly complicated. That’s why Explore OC has curated a list of our favorite gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dining options around town to make finding your next meal a breeze!
Located just off the boardwalk on 18th Street, Malia’s Cafe is the perfect spot to grab your favorite vegetarian bite before heading towards the water for a day at the beach! Options like gluten-free waffles and veggies make this hideaway spot a locals favorite!
If pancakes are more your speed, Happy Jack Pancake House offers an entire gluten-free menu with plenty of pancake and waffle options that are made with their house gluten-free batter. Choose from Elvis pancakes to strawberry waffles, at Happy Jack Pancake House, the options are endless.
When looking for the perfect grab-n-go snack to take to the beach, stop by Pablo’s Bowls! They are the perfect one-stop-shop for fresh produce juices and smoothies but are known for Pablo's legendary Acai Bowls. At Explore OC we personally recommend their Pineapple Express bowl, but with an entirely vegan and vegetarian menu there's plenty of items to choose from to fit your specific needs!
Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill is known for their amazing happy hour specials and pet-friendly environment. But did you know that At Macky’s when you order one of their delicious sandwiches, you can choose to swap out your bread and have your sandwich served on a bed of lettuce and tomato instead!
If you’re looking for a full-scale vegan menu, My Thai OC has you covered! Their specially curated vegan menu has everything from appetizers to soups and sauteed dishes. You’ll be sure to find something you love with these traditional Thai family recipes!
Have you tried Kombucha yet? If not you need to stop by Real Raw Organics in Ocean City! Kombucha is a healthy, fermented tea containing live probiotics, vitamins, and electrolytes. Real Raw is one of the only kombucha brewers on the Eastern Shore and features a fully organic menu serving everything from acai bowls to vegan "crab"cake sandwiches!
What’s a trip to Ocean City, Maryland without one of our world-famous crab cakes? The Hobbit offers many gluten-free options on their menu, but the standout is their gluten-free crab cake! Made with fresh Maryland jumbo-lump crabmeat, Old Bay, and chef’s blend of vegetables, you will be more than impressed when you take a bite!
We’ve all heard of the plant-based burger... But have you ever tried one? Fish Tales is one of the only restaurants in Ocean City that’s serving up the beyond burger and you have got to try it out! The Beyond Burger is the world’s first plant-based burger that looks, cooks, and satisfies like beef without the soy, gluten or any GMOs!
If you’re looking for the best tacos and margaritas in OC but still need to keep it gluten-free, you need to check out Mother’s Cantina. Most of the items on their menu are naturally gluten-free, but if you’re not sure just ask your server and they will be happy to assist you. At Mother’s Cantina, their entire staff is trained on gluten-free dining and they even have a special fryer for gluten-free items only!
Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free, Ocean City is jam-packed with restaurants that will satisfy your dietary needs without the headache or frustration! Click here to Explore more dining options around OC!