Find out if tempura is gluten-free, what it’s made from, the difference between panko, and what your gluten-free tempura options are.

Note: I am a proud Amazon, Chomps, MunkPack, and Thrive Market affiliate and am happy to recommend their service and products to you. Please know that as an affiliate, I may receive a small commission on the products you purchase after clicking through my links. For more info, please see my disclosure policy here.
If you love deep fried food, sushi, or Japanese food, you probably are familiar with tempura. Tempura battered food can be found in many restaurants and even in the frozen food aisle at many grocery stores.
Tempura batter crisps up like a dream and gives a ton of crunchy texture to whatever food it is that you coat it in after deep frying.
If you follow a gluten-free diet or are just getting started with one, you may be wondering how tempura foods fit into this lifestyle. Can you eat them? What are the ingredients in tempura?
Find out in this post what tempura is, what it’s made of, and if it’s gluten-free. Plus we’ll discuss the differences between tempura and panko, what tempura flakes are, and what some gluten-free tempura options are.
If tempura has been on your mind lately, discover how it can fit into your gluten-free diet here in this post!
What is tempura?
Tempura is a type of Japanese dish where foods like seafood, vegetables, or sushi get dipped in a batter, then deep fried. Tempura vegetables and shrimp are very popular dishes at sushi and Japanese restaurants.
Tempura adds a breading to the ingredients that’s fried, yet the texture is light and crispy.
What is tempura made of?
Tempura batter is made with flour, egg, and water. These basic ingredients are combined to create a light and crispy batter that’s delicious on shrimp, seafood, chicken, sushi, and vegetables.

What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in most wheat products, and acts as the “glue” that helps to hold wheat, barley, kamut, spelt, farro, durum, bulgur, rye, and semolina together to maintain their shape.
Gluten is naturally occurring, and therefore is impossible to strip away from the grain. If a grain naturally has gluten in it, there’s no way to make that food gluten-free.
Is tempura gluten-free?
Since tempura is made with all purpose flour, this food is not gluten-free. All purpose flour is made from wheat, making this not a good choice for a gluten-free diet.
Is tempura dairy-free?
Tempura contains no dairy ingredients and is considered safe for a dairy-free diet.
What is tempura used for?
Tempura is used as a breading for fried seafood, chicken, and vegetables. You can also tempura fry ingredients for sushi and use tempura flakes to add extra texture to sushi or other dishes.
Read on: Is sushi gluten-free?
Is tempura the same as panko?
Tempura and panko seem similar, but they are quite different. Tempura is the batter that’s used to make a crispy coating on fried seafood or vegetables. Whereas panko is a type of breadcrumb that’s used as a breading for some dishes.
While tempura is the batter, panko are the crumbs leftover from a special type of bread.
Read more about panko here: Is panko gluten-free?

What are tempura flakes?
Tempura flakes are the bits of tempura that are leftover from making other tempura dishes. These are generally broken down and can be used as a breading for other dishes or used on top of sushi or as a garnish.
Are there any gluten-free tempura options?
It’s possible to find restaurants with gluten-free tempura, but it’s not too common. If you do find a restaurant with this option, make sure that there is a dedicated gluten-free fryer so there’s no potential for cross contamination with other ingredients with regular all purpose flour.
If you love tempura and can’t fathom a world where you can’t enjoy food that’s been fried with it, a great option for you is to make your own at home.
Try one of these gluten-free tempura recipes to dip whatever your heart desires in it before frying and getting that light, crispy breading.
- Gluten-free Tempura from Just One Cookbook
- Gluten-free and Dairy-free Tempura Batter Recipe from VeryWellFit
- Gluten-free Tempura Recipe from GFF Magazine
- Gluten-free Tempura Recipe from Japanese Cooking 101
If you’re interested in some other common Japanese ingredients and how they fit into a gluten-free diet, you might want to check out some of these posts.
- Is eel sauce gluten-free?
- Is mirin gluten-free?
- Is imitation crab gluten-free?
- Is teriyaki sauce gluten-free?
- Is tamari gluten-free?
- Is rice gluten-free?
- Is wasabi gluten-free?
If you enjoy tempura fried foods, I hope this post has been helpful to you getting the answers you need to decide on whether this food should stay in your diet. Most tempura contains gluten, but if you make it yourself at home with a gluten-free flour, you can still enjoy this ingredient any time you like.
If you loved this post, I hope that you’ll share it with your friends on Facebook and pin it for future reference on Pinterest.
Love this post? You might also want to check out these!
Find out if your favorite foods and ingredients contain gluten with these posts!
Which whole grains are gluten-free?
Find out which whole grains are gluten-free and safe to eat on a gluten-free diet. Learn the 12 whole grains to stock your gluten-free pantry with in this article.
Is Jello gluten-free?
Jello is the wiggly, jiggly, transparent treat that most of us enjoyed as kids. If you eat a gluten-free diet, you might be wondering if it’s gluten-free. Find out the details and the answer to that question in this post.
Are marshmallows gluten-free?
If you’re on a gluten-free diet, you may be wondering: are marshmallows gluten-free? Find out if there is gluten in marshmallows and 5 brands of marshmallows are that are gluten-free in this post.
Are Rice Krispies gluten-free?
Are you a fan of Rice Krispies? If so, you may have wondered if rice krispies are gluten-free, especially if you follow a gluten-free diet. Find out the details and the answer to that question in this post.
Is soy sauce gluten-free?
Is soy sauce gluten-free? Find out in this article where I share what your options for soy sauce are on a gluten-free diet.
Is Quinoa Gluten-free?
Is quinoa gluten-free? If you follow a gluten-free diet, you may have been wondering if this food is safe for you to eat. In this post, you’ll learn what quinoa is, how to enjoy it, and if it’s good for a gluten-free diet.
Is Rice Gluten-free?
If you’re following a gluten-free diet, you may be wondering if rice is gluten-free and safe to eat. In this post, we’ll discuss the different types of rice and whether or not you should add them to your regular rotation on a gluten-free diet.
Is Cornstarch Gluten-free?
Find out if cornstarch is safe for a gluten-free diet, the health benefits, and discover some gluten-free cornstarch brands.
Is Honey Gluten-free?
Find out if honey is safe for a gluten-free diet, the health benefits, and discover some gluten-free honey brands.
Are Oreos gluten-free? Are Oreos dairy-free?
If you love Oreos and avoid gluten or dairy for health reasons, you may be wondering if these favorite cookies are gluten-free or dairy-free. In this post, we’ll go through everything you need to know about Oreos and if you’ll want to include them in your diet if you have allergies or food intolerances.
Is corn gluten-free?
Is corn gluten-free? Find out if corn contains gluten, if different types of corn contain gluten, and if this ingredient is safe for a gluten-free diet.
Is oatmeal gluten-free?
If you love oats and oatmeal for breakfast or adding oats to your baked goods, you might be wondering if these are safe for a gluten-free diet. Find out in this post!
Are Doritos gluten-free?
Do you follow a gluten-free diet and wonder if Doritos are gluten-free? This post will give you all the information you need to know to make an informed decision on whether to enjoy these or not if you’re gluten free.
Is coffee gluten-free?
Do you love coffee and just getting started with a gluten-free diet? This post will give you all the information you need to know about gluten and coffee.
Is Ice Cream Gluten-free?
Are you an ice cream lover? Find out if ice cream is gluten-free, which brands are safe for a gluten-free diet, and how to order ice cream out.
Is Cheese Gluten-free?
If you love cheese and follow a gluten-free diet, you may be wondering which types of cheese are safe for you. Find out in this post if cheese is gluten-free and what to look out for.
Is Cream Cheese Gluten-free?
Wondering if cream cheese is safe for your gluten-free diet? Discover what cream cheese is made of, what brands are gluten-free, and things to be aware of when eating cream cheese on a gluten-free diet.
matt says
Hi good article! but, your statement of “Gluten is naturally occurring, and therefore is impossible to strip away from the grain. If a grain naturally has gluten in it, there’s no way to make that food gluten-free.” is not strictly true as it is actually possible to “de-glutenize” wheat, there are many products now available that use this ingredient.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Thanks for your comment, Matt. Fair point. There are “gluten-free wheat starch” products, and as long as they are labeled as certified gluten-free, they should be safe. As a general whole, I haven’t seen very many of these products on the shelves with what I buy and shop for. Maybe it is different for you? Thanks for sharing your perspective!