No pizza connoisseur in Hoboken or Jersey City is ever far from a tasty slice or pie. But for those following a gluten-free diet, this used to be a slightly trickier business. Not any more. More pizzerias are offering gluten-free pies and slices than ever before. Many are almost indistinguishable from their wheat counterparts. We came up with a list of all the places that offer this option, and more, in the area. Read on to discover gluten-free pizza spots in Hoboken + Jersey City.
Hoboken
Bin 14 | 1314 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @bin14winebar)
Dairy-Free Pizza: No
The menu mainly features Italian-inspired small plates and the pizza menu is equally strong. The style is more gourmet than classic, with choices such as taleggio & black truffle and cacio e pepe. Diners can opt for whole wheat or gluten-free crusts for a small upcharge.
Grimaldi’s | 411 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @grimaldis_hoboken)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
Grimaldi’s, whose coal-fired brick oven Margherita pizza has been a Hoboken staple since the 1990s, boasts one of the best gluten-free pies in Hoboken. Even gluten eaters often cannot tell the difference. The pies are made from rice and tapioca flour, and customers can choose from over 20 different toppings, dairy-free options are plenty.
Johnny Pepperoni | 219 11th Street #4323
(Photo credit: @johnnypepps)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
The restaurant makes a large variety of Italian-American classics and its pizzas are popular among Hoboken’s uptown families. For gluten-free eaters, there is a 12-inch thin-crust cauliflower pie, with over 15 choices of toppings. Johnny Pep’s is a BYOB, so don’t forget the gluten-free beer on your way over.
Margherita’s | 740 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @margheritasrestaurant)
Dairy-Free Pizza: No
The pizza menu is relatively meat-heavy but there is no lack of creative options. Many patrons love the red pizzas for the restaurant’s house-made Margherita sauce, but the white pies (one with mushroom and caramelized onion, the other with broccoli rabe and artichoke, both vegetarian) are no less interesting. All pies can be made gluten-free for an extra $2.
Napoli’s Neapolitan Brick Oven Pizza | 1118 Washington Street + 133 Clinton Street
(Photo credit: @napolishoboken)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
For gluten-free options, the pizzeria offers 10-inch cauliflower crust pies (which can be custom-built), as well as 12-inch gluten-free Margherita or cheese-only pies. The specialty pies, a favorite is buffalo chicken, can also be made gluten-free upon request. PS – this pizzeria offers heart-shaped pizzas on Valentine’s Day, so plan ahead for your gluten-free sweetheart!
Read More: Gluten-Free Dishes in Hoboken to Order
Otto Strada | 743 Park Avenue
(Photo credit: @ottostradahoboken)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
The pizza menu has close to 20 options ranging from the classics to more contemporary ones. All of the pizzas can be made gluten-free for a $3 upcharge. The vegan pie is topped with San Marzano tomatoes, roasted garlic cream sauce, toasted bread crumbs, oregano, and EVOO.
Pizza Republic | 406 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @pizzarepublicnj)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
The restaurant offers a 12-inch personal gluten-free pie with over 30 choices of toppings, including vegan cheese. But the options go beyond pizza: all of the restaurant’s 17 different types of mac’n’cheese can be made with gluten-free pasta. Between the pizza and mac’n’cheese, Pizza Republic has gluten-free comfort food covered.
Quality Pizza Co | 304 Washington Street
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Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
Quality Pizza Co serves up a variety of pizzas — including ones with gluten-free or cauliflower crust. There is also an option for vegan cheese topping if you’re looking for something completely dairy-free.
The Brick |1122 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @the_brick_hoboken)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
Although patrons can’t go wrong with the classics such as a Margherita or a cheese pie, it’s worth trying the vegan options, such as the BBQ Pulled Pork, made with pulled jackfruit and red onions. The pies can be made gluten-free upon request.
Tony Boloney’s | 263 1st Street, Hoboken + 363 Grove Street, Jersey City
(Photo credit: @tonyboloneys)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
The pizzeria is known for its fusion-style pies, and many of its most creative options can be made gluten-free. Some popular ones include Burrata (with a whole burrata on every slice), Ducktown (with ribeye, smoked bacon, and fresh mozzarella), and K-Pop Mic Drop (black sesame seed crust, gojuchang buldak fire, three kinds of cheese, and scallion). There is also a vegan and gluten-free option, topped with marinara, eggplant meatballs, pesto, NUMU vegan mozzarella, and basil.
Jersey City
Gino’s Pizzeria | 380 Central Avenue
(Photo credit: @ginospizzajc)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
The family-owned pizzeria has been serving Italian-American classics in The Heights neighborhood since the 1970s. It makes classic New York-style slices, as well as square Sicilian pies and deep pan pizzas. Gluten-free pizzas come in 12-inch pies.
John’s Pizzeria | 87 Sussex Street
Dairy-Free Pizza: No
This is the Jersey City location of an NYC restaurant whose coal-fired, brick oven, thin-crust pizza has been famous in New York since 1997. For diners who want something besides Margherita or Pizza Bianca, get the Vongole Pizza, topped with littleneck clam. All of the pizzas can be made whole wheat or gluten-free.
Loradella’s Family Pizzeria | 126 River Drive
(Photo credit: @loradellaspizzajc)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
The family-owned restaurant offers a kid-friendly arcade as well as a homestyle menu with many choices of pizzas, entrees, and sandwiches. Pizzas, including gourmet pies and slices, can be custom-built. Gluten-free and whole-wheat pies are available upon request. The patio here has amazing views of the NYC skyline, and its location near Newport Green park makes it a good option for a grab-and-go picnic.
See More: A Guide to Pizza in Jersey City
Tino’s Artisan Pizza |199 Warren Street
(Photo credit: @tinosartisanpizzaco)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
The pizzas have five different crust options: regular, sourdough, gluten-free, cauliflower, and focaccia. Gourmet options are plenty, such as Roman Zucchini (with shaved Parmigiano, garlic roasted zucchini, basil, and EVOO) and Tartufo (with sausage, cremini mushrooms, and white truffle oil). Vegan pizzas are also available. Patrons can also purchase gluten-free dough balls here, for an at-home pizza night.
Two Boots | 133 Newark Avenue
(Photo credit: @twobootspizza)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
This is the Jersey City location of a New York favorite with cheerful, family-friendly vibes. All small and medium pies can be made gluten-free. Vegan options are plenty. The menu also offers gluten-free brownies and gluten-free doughs.
Sage Pizza | 485 Marin Boulevard
(Photo credit: @sage.eats)
Dairy-Free Pizza: Yes
The no-frills restaurant makes thin-crust Neapolitan personal pizzas. The menu consists mostly of classics such as Margharita and Rosso. Meat eaters can choose the Soppressata Spicy and Sweet Pizza (as the name suggests), or the pepperoni pizza. Gluten-free cauliflower crust is available.
A Trip to Hoboken’s First Bagel Shop: Hoboken Hot Bagels
Here in New Jersey, there are three major food groups: pizza, pasta, and bagels. Hoboken has always been a frontrunner in the Italian restaurant department, but as recently as the early '80s, the City was without a traditional bagel shop. Hoboken's first, Hoboken Hot Bagels, opened in 1983 and still stands proudly — and relatively unchanged — at 634 Washington Street. The shop was started by Dick Wehr Jr. and is now run by his son, Richard. Richard's daughter, Francesca, is also a Hoboken business owner: a licensed social worker providing mental health counseling through her company Francesca Wehr, LCSW. We caught up with Richard and Francesca to talk about all things Hoboken, bagels, and business-owning. Keep reading to learn more about Hoboken's first bagel shop and the family behind it.
Origin Story
This story begins not with Dick or Richard but with Dick's wife, Jane Milo Wehr. Her father owned Campus Music in Hoboken and the neighboring property at 634 Washington Street. In 1983, Jane's father wanted to sell the property — and noticing a gap in the market, Dick Wehr decided to start a bagel store (Well, technically three. He opened two other stores in New Jersey, too).
Read More: Leo’s Grandevous Italian Restaurant — One of Hoboken’s Oldest Local Eateries
Richard was in high school at the time and was involved in the business from the get-go: baking, helping customers, and supporting his father in any way he could. As he puts it, his dad was the "brains and the money," while Richard was "the muscle."
Ten years later, in 1993, Dick wanted to sell the business and offered it up to Richard. For Richard, it was a no-brainer. He took over the Hoboken location and Ridgefield Park location. He's been in Hoboken ever since.
And like the ownership, not much has changed about Hoboken Hot Bagels since its inception. The recipes are the same ones originated by Dick Wehr and the equipment — including the bagel mixer — was purchased by Dick back in the '80s. Richard says that this old-schooler mixer "makes Hoboken Hot Bagels what they are."
What's On The Menu?
Hoboken Hot Bagels is exactly what you want from a New Jersey bagel shop: no frills, no fancy bells and whistles. Just bagels, cream cheeses (made in-house), breakfast sandwiches, and some chips.
But if there's a standout menu item, it's the everything bagel, which Dick Wehr used to say he invented. Richard doubts this, but Dick certainly invented his own kind of everything bagel. Both sides of the bagel are dipped into the seed mixture, ensuring maximum coverage with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic, onion, and salt. It's very garlicky and very good.
Richard's go-to menu item is the everything bagel with sliced nova, scallion cream cheese, capers, and onions. Francesca, his daughter, is vegan-leaning, so opts for the everything bagel with the onion tofu spread.
HG pro tip: if there's a line outside, stay in it. Richard says this is when the bagels are fresh out of the oven, putting truth to the name Hoboken Hot Bagels.
Generational Impact
The first-hand exposure to running a business undoubtedly impacted Richard, and that impact was passed down to the next generation of Wehrs. Richard's daughter, Francesca is a licensed therapist and runs her own counseling practice here in Hoboken called Francesca Wehr, LCSW.
Mental health services may seem like a far cry from the bagel business (though, bagels are their own form of therapy), but Francesca says her father and grandfather played an instrumental role in her career.
"Seeing my dad run the business made the idea of starting a business seem like something that could be done," Francesca shared. "I saw my dad do it, I saw my grandpa do it, so it was just this natural progression of things. I didn't really think too much about the risks involved — but I learned along the way." For Francesca, it felt like a natural next step in her career; and Hoboken was the natural location.
See More: The Best Bagel Spots in the Montclair Area For Your AM Bagel Run
For Richard, it's the people that make the place. "As I've grown older and been here long enough, you see the new people coming and going — but I still have so many original friends that were here, and are still here," he remarked about owning a business in Hoboken. "It's a wonderful town; people are very friendly."
Hoboken Hot Bagels is open 6AM-2PM every day of the week (except Sundays, when it opens at 7AM). You can order in person or online, and keep up with Hoboken Hot Bagels on Instagram here.
