15 Restaurant Chains That Don't Use Seed Oils (Updated 2025)

Finding restaurants that cook without seed oils can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. After analyzing hundreds of restaurant chains and their cooking practices, we've compiled this definitive list of establishments that prioritize traditional cooking fats like butter, tallow, and olive oil.

Each restaurant on this list has been verified through direct communication with their corporate offices, menu analysis, and ingredient transparency reports. Remember that practices can vary by location and change over time, so it's always worth double-checking with your specific restaurant.

1. Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle stands out as one of the most transparent fast-casual chains regarding their cooking oils. They exclusively use rice bran oil (which is technically not a seed oil) and sunflower oil only for their tortilla chips. Their proteins are cooked on a plancha without added oils, making most menu items seed oil-free when you skip the chips.

Safe options: Bowls without chips, all proteins, guacamole, salsas

2. Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Five Guys has built their reputation on using peanut oil exclusively for all their frying. While peanuts are legumes rather than seeds, their oil has a favorable fatty acid profile compared to industrial seed oils. Their burgers are cooked on a flat-top grill without additional oil.

Safe options: All burgers, hot dogs, and fries

3. In-N-Out Burger

This West Coast favorite uses 100% sunflower oil for frying, but here's the catch – they use a special high-oleic variety that's predominantly monounsaturated fat, similar to olive oil's profile. Their burgers are grilled without added oils.

Safe options: Protein-style burgers (wrapped in lettuce)

4. Shake Shack

Shake Shack uses a proprietary blend that includes beef tallow for frying their crinkle-cut fries. Their burgers are cooked on a flat-top grill using butter. This commitment to traditional fats sets them apart from most fast-food chains.

Safe options: Burgers, fries, and most menu items

5. Buffalo Wild Wings

Surprisingly, Buffalo Wild Wings still uses beef tallow for frying in most locations. They switched back to tallow in 2017 after customer demand, making them one of the few chain restaurants using this traditional cooking fat.

Safe options: Traditional wings, fries (verify tallow use at your location)

6. The Capital Grille

As an upscale steakhouse chain, The Capital Grille uses butter, olive oil, and animal fats exclusively. Their commitment to classical cooking techniques means no industrial seed oils in their kitchen.

Safe options: All steaks, seafood, and most sides

7. Ruth's Chris Steak House

Famous for their sizzling butter-topped steaks, Ruth's Chris maintains a seed oil-free kitchen. They use butter for cooking and finishing dishes, with olive oil for certain preparations.

Safe options: Entire menu is typically seed oil-free

8. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Popeyes uses beef tallow blended with palm oil for frying. While not 100% tallow, this blend avoids seed oils and provides a more stable frying medium than most fast-food chains use.

Safe options: Fried chicken and fries

9. Sweetgreen

This salad-focused chain uses only extra virgin olive oil in their dressings and cooking. Their commitment to whole, clean ingredients extends to avoiding all seed oils in their restaurants.

Safe options: All salads and warm bowls

10. True Food Kitchen

With an anti-inflammatory menu philosophy, True Food Kitchen exclusively uses olive oil and coconut oil. They're transparent about ingredients and accommodate various dietary preferences.

Safe options: Entire menu is seed oil-free

11. Elevation Burger

This organic burger chain uses olive oil for cooking and fries in heart-healthy olive oil. Their commitment to organic, grass-fed beef extends to using traditional cooking fats.

Safe options: All burgers and fries

12. Local Pizza Chains Using Wood-Fired Ovens

Many authentic pizzerias using wood-fired ovens rely on olive oil exclusively. Chains like Blaze Pizza and MOD Pizza often use olive oil, though practices vary by location.

Safe options: Pizzas from verified olive oil-only locations

13. Tender Greens

This California-based chain uses olive oil, butter, and coconut oil exclusively. Their farm-to-fork philosophy includes avoiding industrial seed oils entirely.

Safe options: All menu items

14. CAVA

This Mediterranean chain uses olive oil exclusively in their dressings and cooking. Their commitment to Mediterranean dietary principles means no seed oils in their kitchens.

Safe options: All bowls, pitas, and salads

15. Local Farm-to-Table Restaurants

While not a specific chain, many farm-to-table restaurants prioritize traditional cooking methods and fats. These establishments often use butter, lard, tallow, and olive oil exclusively.

Safe options: Varies by restaurant – always ask about cooking oils

Tips for Dining Out Seed Oil-Free

Even at restaurants that generally avoid seed oils, certain menu items may still contain them. Here's how to navigate dining out more safely:

• Ask about cooking methods: Grilled and roasted items are usually safer than fried foods
• Request modifications: Many restaurants will cook your food in butter upon request
• Avoid processed sauces: These often contain seed oils even in otherwise clean restaurants
• Check salad dressings: Request olive oil and vinegar instead of house dressings
• Call ahead: Restaurant managers are usually happy to discuss their cooking oils

Why This Matters

Industrial seed oils like soybean, corn, and canola oil contain high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, which can promote inflammation when consumed in excess. A 2020 study published in the journal Nutrients found that the average American consumes 20 times more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids, far exceeding the ideal 4:1 ratio.

Traditional fats like butter, tallow, and olive oil have been used for thousands of years and offer more stable fatty acid profiles. They're also less processed and don't require the industrial extraction methods used for seed oils.

Make Seed Oil-Free Dining Easier

Remembering which restaurants use seed oils can be overwhelming. That's why we created Seed Oil Scout – the app that instantly tells you which menu items at thousands of restaurants are cooked without seed oils. Simply search for any restaurant, and get detailed information about their cooking oils and safe menu options. Download Seed Oil Scout today to take the guesswork out of healthy dining and never worry about hidden seed oils again.