Gluten-free fast food is coming to Sydney with the opening of Gluten Free Friends (GFF), the latest venture from the team behind Redfern bakery Donut Papi.

The new takeaway shop, located next to Marrickville train station, promises a safe haven for coeliacs with a gluten-free kitchen and list of suppliers.

Founders Kenneth Rodrigueza and Chris Palamara say they wanted to create a coeliac-friendly mash-up of fried food and decadent desserts, inspired by US fast food chain Popeyes and chef Christina Tossi’s New York dessert restaurant Milk Bar.

There’ll be fried chicken (from $8), fish burgers and breakfast sandwiches (from $7) on offer when the full menu launches about mid-May. In the meantime, the counter is stocked with a wide variety of gluten-free baked goods (think pistachio butter cake, strawberry iced doughnuts and lamingtons filled with chocolate buttercream).

“I love fast food for myself but I’ve never been able to just walk in and order some chicken nuggets and chips without worrying about cross-contamination,” says Palamara, who is allergic to gluten.

“The freedom of having fast food options that are gluten-free hasn’t existed in Sydney until now.”

About 11 per cent of Australian adults follow a gluten-free diet, with about 0.5 per cent of that figure diagnosed with coeliac disease (Coeliac Australia estimates 80 per cent of all sufferers remain undiagnosed). An allergy to gluten can cause inflammation of the small intestine, creating digestive problems, anaemia, fatigue and joint pain.

“It’s been a challenge to find suppliers because we’re very careful about who we choose,” Rodrigueza says.

“Just like us, they have to be 100 per cent gluten-free.”

Palamara says customers have been “beaming” at the choice, since GFF soft-launched at the weekend.

“While there’s some great options already out there, Sydney needed more options … somewhere new and special for people with coeliac disease and gluten intolerance.

There are plans to eventually cater for vegetarians and vegans, as the team flesh out their menu and figure out how to best adapt their recipes.

The takeaway joint is currently serving coffee (from Gabriel Coffee in Chatswood) and is set to introduce a menu of creative beverages over the coming weeks, including crum. lattes (made with gluten-free ‘milo’, from $6), hazy matcha (from $6) and hojicha (from $5.50).

“I feel like [this side of Marrickville] has a lot of potential,” says Rodrigueza, who plans to open a second Donut Papi location on nearby Marrickville Road later this year.

“We’re in talks with the council to get some outdoor seating approved … [and] we’re going to make it beautiful with colourful seating and pot plants, we’re quite excited.”

Gluten Free Friends, 4/359 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville; instagram.com/glutenfreefriendsforever