Are tacos gluten-free? Corn tortillas are, ask about the griddle

Tacos on corn tortillas can be. A corn tortilla is made from masa and water and cooked on a hot griddle (comal), and it’s naturally gluten-free. Flour tortillas are wheat.

What to check

• The tortilla: corn or flour? In much of central and southern Mexico, corn is the default; further north and in tourist areas, flour tortillas are common. Some tortillas mix corn and wheat, so ask if it’s 100% corn.
• The griddle: a corn tortilla warmed where flour tortillas were just toasted picks up gluten. Ask whether they share the comal.
• Hard shells and tostadas: fried, so ask about the fryer.
• The fillings: marinades and sauces can contain soy sauce, beer or flour. Grilled meat, beans, salsa, onion and coriander are usually straightforward.

Outside Mexico

Taco places elsewhere often use bought-in tortillas. Ask to see the pack, or ask for the gluten-free tortillas by name.

Keep reading

• The Hidden-Gluten Watchlist: the 15 forbidden names and the ones to check
• Gluten-free Mexico: corn tortillas and cross-contact
• Is corn gluten-free?
• Shared fryers and gluten

Sources: Coeliac UK, NHS, Codex Alimentarius (gluten-free = 20 mg/kg or less), EU Regulation 1169/2011, and our own country guides. Last checked: 28 September 2026. We inform, we don’t diagnose: for medical questions, your doctor or dietitian has the last word.