But just as important as the taste was the assurance that my meal was indeed gluten-free. With the exception of the fortune cookies, the server clearly stated, “gluten-free” every time a dish was presented to me, a nice touch for the those concerned about mix-ups in the kitchen.

After my recent meal I had a chance to speak with manager Emily Collins, who was eager to explain the steps they take to ensure a gluten-free dining experience. Much like process we wrote about in our review of Webber Grill, Ben Pao tracks your food from table to kitchen and back, with the manager signing off on the order. This ticket follows your order throughout the kitchen. Collins said the possibility of cross contamination is reduced by boiling cooking utensils before each order and using dedicated woks.

Unlike Webber, their kitchen and processes are not approved by the Celiac Disease Center, but by the time my interview was over Collins was pledging to look into it.

All in all, Ben Pao’s is an excellent go-to spot for celiacs and their GF brethren. The dining experience is almost as effortless as my pre-celiac days, a rare and welcome change.