gluten-free-latin-food-near-disney-springs
Gluten-Free Latin Food Near Disney Springs: What Sofrito Latin Cafe Tags GF
Most gluten-free guides for Disney Springs send you to the same few Mexican and Southern kitchens on property. Latin food gets left out, which is odd, because so much of it is built on corn, rice, beans, yuca and grilled meat.
Sofrito Latin Cafe, on Palm Pkwy about five minutes from Disney Springs, marks gluten-free dishes with a Gluten Free (GF) tag on its live menu. Those tagged dishes include Venezuelan arepas, Cuban roast pork, Argentine churrasco, Peruvian lomo saltado and Pabellón Criollo. It's a shared kitchen, not a certified gluten-free one. If you have celiac disease or a serious sensitivity, ask staff about fryers and cross-contact before you order.
Key Takeaways
- Sofrito Latin Cafe's online menu uses a GF tag. Order from tagged dishes, and recheck the tag on the day, since menus change.
- Gluten-free plates here cover several countries: Cuba, Argentina, Peru and Venezuela all appear on GF-tagged items.
- Three arepas carry the GF tag: Catira, Pelua and Queso de Mano.
- Some tagged dishes include fried parts, like the fries with Lomo Saltado. Ask about shared fryers if cross-contact matters to you.
- It's at 8607 Palm Pkwy, Orlando, open daily from 8am.
Which Sofrito Latin Cafe Dishes Carry the Gluten Free Tag?
Sofrito Latin Cafe tags gluten-free dishes directly on its online menu, and the current list spans arepas, slow-cooked meats, grilled steak and a fried yuca side.
Here's a sample of what carried the GF tag when this page was checked:
| Dish | What it is (per the menu) | Country label on menu |
|---|---|---|
| Roast Pork | 36-hour braised pork with coriander, garlic and cumin | Cuba |
| Churrasco | Grilled skirt steak topped with chimichurri | Argentina |
| Lomo Saltado | Stir-fried tenderloin strips, red onion, tomato, Peruvian yellow pepper, fries and white rice | Peru |
| Pabellón Criollo | Seasoned shredded beef, white rice, black beans, white cheese and sweet plantains | Venezuela |
| Fried Yuca al Cilantro Mojo | A side, tagged both Gluten Free and Vegan | Cuba |
| Catira | Arepa with shredded chicken and Gouda | |
| Pelua | Arepa with shredded beef and Gouda | |
| Queso de Mano | Arepa |
The menu also shows the GF tag on the Beef Picadillo, the Venezuelan and Colombian Empanadas, Sopa de Pollo, and three salads (House, Cobb, and Pepita & Apple). Tags can change between menu updates, so check the full menu before you go.
Gluten-Free Arepas in Orlando, Five Minutes From Disney Springs
Arepas are corn-based Venezuelan flatbreads, and Sofrito Latin Cafe tags three of them gluten-free: Catira, Pelua and Queso de Mano.
The arepa is the dish closest to the founders' story. Maria Molina, who opened Sofrito with her husband Carlos Calderon of Peru, described it to Spectrum News as "a Venezuelan traditional type of... white corn bread." The Catira and Pelua both pair a shredded filling with Gouda. One is chicken and the other is beef.
The arepas are listed in the arepa section of the breakfast menu, so check current serving times there. If you're new to the dish, Sofrito's guide on what an arepa is covers the basics.
A Gluten-Free Cuban Plate, Plus Four Countries on One Table
If you want gluten-free Cuban food in Orlando, the GF-tagged Roast Pork is the anchor: pork braised for 36 hours with garlic, cumin and coriander.
What sets this menu apart from a single-cuisine spot is the range. A gluten-free table here can hold Cuban pork, Argentine churrasco with chimichurri, Peruvian lomo saltado and Venezuelan Pabellón Criollo at the same time. Each one carries its country label on the menu, so you know exactly what you're ordering. That's useful when one person at the table eats gluten-free and everyone else doesn't want a compromise meal.
For a side, the Fried Yuca al Cilantro Mojo is tagged both Gluten Free and Vegan. It gets its own page soon, so we'll leave it there.
Shared Kitchen, Honest Answer: What to Ask Before You Order
Sofrito Latin Cafe isn't a certified gluten-free or dedicated celiac-safe kitchen, so a GF tag tells you the dish's ingredients, not how the kitchen prevents cross-contact.
That distinction matters most with fried food. The Lomo Saltado comes with fries, and the yuca side is fried. In many kitchens, fryers are shared with breaded items. Ask your server three things:
- Is the fryer shared with anything breaded or made with wheat?
- Can the dish come without the fried component if needed?
- Do any sauces or marinades on this plate contain gluten today?
Gluten-free directories already list Sofrito. findmeglutenfree's Orlando arepas page includes it, and Tripadvisor's gluten-free list for the Walt Disney World area does too. Those listings reflect guests' experiences, not a certification, so the staff conversation still comes first.
Getting Here From Disney Springs and the Palm Pkwy Hotels
Sofrito Latin Cafe sits on Palm Pkwy in the Lake Buena Vista hotel corridor, about five minutes from Disney Springs, with breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
It's a quick drive for anyone staying along Palm Pkwy or near Hotel Plaza Blvd. For a broader look at Cuban dining in the area, see our guide to the Cuban restaurant near Disney Springs.
Sofrito Latin Cafe 8607 Palm Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32836 (407) 778-4205 Sunday through Thursday: 8am to 9pm Friday and Saturday: 8am to 10pm
The Short Version
Sofrito Latin Cafe is a practical pick for gluten-free Latin food near Disney Springs. Its online menu tags gluten-free arepas, Cuban roast pork, churrasco, lomo saltado and Pabellón Criollo, so you aren't guessing from a generic menu. It's a shared kitchen, though. Ask about fryers and cross-contact, especially with dishes that come with fries or yuca.
FAQ
Can I order gluten-free dishes for pickup or delivery to my hotel?
Yes. GF-tagged items are on the online menu, and you can order through Sofrito's online ordering page. If you have a serious sensitivity, call (407) 778-4205 before ordering to ask about fryer use and preparation.
Are Sofrito's empanadas gluten-free?
The Venezuelan Empanada and Colombian Empanada both showed the GF tag on the live menu when this page was checked. Empanadas are usually fried, so the shared-fryer question applies here too.
Is there anything gluten-free and vegan on the menu?
The Fried Yuca al Cilantro Mojo is tagged both Gluten Free and Vegan. Check the menu for other items with both tags, since tags can change.
What time can I get a gluten-free breakfast near Disney Springs?
Sofrito Latin Cafe opens at 8am every day. The GF-tagged arepas are listed on the breakfast menu.
Which Latin dish works best for a gluten-free first visit?
Pabellón Criollo is a good place to start. It's shredded beef with white rice, black beans, white cheese and sweet plantains, and it carries the GF tag with no fried component listed in its description.