Easily find seed oil-free restaurants!
Eating out while avoiding seed oils can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re sharing where to find seed oil-free restaurants!
While the evidence on small amounts of seed oils causing harm is still limited, many people are becoming more mindful of the types of fats used in restaurant cooking.
Seed oils like soybean, canola, peanut, and corn oil are often heavily processed and used in large quantities, especially in fried or fast food. Studies also show that they could be quietly wreaking havoc on your hormones, digestion, and overall well-being.
For those trying to reduce their exposure, it may be worth choosing restaurants that cook with more traditional fats. Such as butter, tallow, or olive oil, rather than ones that drown dishes in industrial oils.
So, what restaurants don’t use seed oils in 2025? Check out our list of a few large chains & restaurants that don’t use seed oils:
Steak n’ Shake
As of early 2025, Steak ‘n Shake now uses beef tallow and all its restaurants for fries, onion rings, and chicken fingers.
True Food Kitchen
In 2022, True Food Kitchen switched to cooking exclusively with avocado and olive oils, working tirelessly to eliminate seed oils from every ingredient. Now, they’re proudly 100% seed oil free.
Outback Steakhouse
According to one interview by Tasting Kitchen, Chef Efrem Cutler (the VP of Research and Development for Outback’s parent company Bloomin’ Brands) confirmed Outback Steakhouse steaks are grilled using butter. As for the popular bloomin’ onion appetizer? They use beef tallow for that. This also isn’t new, apparently the chain has always used these ingredients for their foods.
That said, not all of their foods may be free of seed oils, such as some sauces and dressings, so it’s always best to double-check with your location.
Buffalo Wild Wings
According to Buffalo Wild Wings’ allergen guide, many of their foods are fried using “beef shortening”. However, some sauces and breading mixes contain vegetable oils, including soybean oil, so it’s important to order with caution.
On top of that, we learned some “ghost locations,” such as one in Atlanta, have been reported to use seed-oil blends. So, it’s always a good idea to double-check with your local store.
*Note that beef shortening is still highly processed and lacks nutritional benefits that unrefined beef tallow offers.
Need to find ‘no-seed oil restaurants near me’ in a pinch? I found the best seed oil-free restaurants app:
I recently discovered the Seed Oil Scout app, and it’s a total game-changer! It makes it incredibly easy to find seed oil-free restaurants in your area. It’s especially helpful when traveling somewhere new and unfamiliar.
The app lets you search by location, filter for seed oil-free options, and read real reviews from others who care about clean ingredients. While the app does have a $5.99/mo or $34.99/annual fee after the free trial, I found it super helpful when traveling to a new state. It’s such a relief to have a tool like this that helps you eat intentionally without all the guesswork.
Local Fats is another great option for sourcing seed oil free restaurants.
Here are more tips on how to find restaurants without seed oils:
While the list of larger chains is lacking for restaurants without seed oils, there’s still plenty of smaller, local chains across the country that are committed to cooking with healthy oils.
To find seed oil-free restaurants beyond our list and apps, try looking for small, locally owned spots that are: farm-to-table, focused on whole, real foods, paleo, or ancestral-style. These places usually care more about ingredient quality and may use better oils.
Check menus online for words like: avocado oil, olive oil, tallow, lard, or duck fat. Call ahead or ask your server what oils they cook and fry with.
When eating out, don’t overlook the obvious seed oil-free options…
Smoothie bars, juice shops, raw food cafés, and even some salad-focused spots typically avoid oils altogether. These establishments often focus on whole, fresh ingredients and are great go-tos when you want to avoid the risk of hidden seed oils in cooked or fried food.
Still, it’s always smart to check ingredient labels or ask if they use canola or soybean oil in any pre-made dressings or nut butters, just to be sure.
By combining app searches with mindful research and asking the right questions, you can enjoy meals out without compromising your values. With time, you’ll build a go-to list of trusted spots that align with your lifestyle.
Don’t miss our massive list of seed oil-free snacks!
