Bartaco Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Bartaco cooks with: Canola oil in the fryer (chips, crispy items, churros); Bartaco runs a dedicated gluten-free fryer for chips and corn tortillas kept separate from the fryer used for gluten items like churros, and keeps fish/shellfish and soy out of the fryer and off the grill. No single official oil-name document turned up (bartaco.com/nutrition just links out to an EveryBite widget with no oil listed); canola is reported consistently across independent crowdsourced allergen sites, and an official bartaco press recipe for its fried avocado tacos calls for generic "vegetable oil.". Across the 36 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.6g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
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Safest Orders at Bartaco
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
Cleanest full order: Crispy Oyster Taco + Pomegranate Limonada, 1.1g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Crispy Oyster Taco | 1.1g |
| Tres Leches | 1.2g |
| Mushroom Taco | 1.6g |
| Seared Chorizo Taco | 1.7g |
| Roasted Duck Taco | 1.8g |
What to Avoid at Bartaco
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Plantains | 23.8g |
| Chopped Salad | 12.1g |
| Roasted Half Chicken | 9.5g |
| Mediterranean Cauliflower Bowl | 9.3g |
| Chicken Tortilla Soup | 9.2g |
Every Bartaco item, ranked
All 36 items we have for Bartaco, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Crispy Oyster Taco | 1.1g |
| Tres Leches | 1.2g |
| Churros | 1.4g |
| Mushroom Taco | 1.6g |
| Steamed Brown Rice | 1.6g |
| Seared Chorizo Taco | 1.7g |
| Roasted Duck Taco | 1.8g |
| Chile-Lime Shrimp Taco | 2.0g |
| Black Beans | 2.0g |
| Sesame Ribeye Taco | 2.0g |
| Spiced Chicken Verde Taco | 2.0g |
| Lobster Ceviche | 2.0g |
| Tuna Tataki Taco | 2.2g |
| Key Lime Pie | 2.5g |
| Pistachio Cauliflower Taco | 2.9g |
| Falafel Taco | 2.9g |
| Chocolate Pudding | 3.0g |
| Salsa Verde + Chips | 3.2g |
| Salsa Roja + Chips | 3.2g |
| Duck Birria | 3.3g |
| Glazed Pork Belly Taco | 3.6g |
| Korean BBQ Ribeye Bowl | 3.6g |
| Guac + Chips (Small) | 4.0g |
| Kale Caesar | 4.6g |
| Ahi Tuna + Crispy Rice Bowl | 5.4g |
| Guac + Verde + Roja | 5.8g |
| Baja Fish Taco | 6.0g |
| Street Corn | 7.8g |
| Esquites (Street Corn off Cob) | 8.0g |
| Guac + Chips (Large) | 8.2g |
| Chicken Tortilla Soup | 9.2g |
| Mediterranean Cauliflower Bowl | 9.3g |
| Roasted Half Chicken | 9.5g |
| Chopped Salad | 12.1g |
| Plantains | 23.8g |
Frequently asked
Does Bartaco use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Bartaco cooks with: Canola oil in the fryer (chips, crispy items, churros); Bartaco runs a dedicated gluten-free fryer for chips and corn tortillas kept separate from the fryer used for gluten items like churros, and keeps fish/shellfish and soy out of the fryer and off the grill. No single official oil-name document turned up (bartaco.com/nutrition just links out to an EveryBite widget with no oil listed); canola is reported consistently across independent crowdsourced allergen sites, and an official bartaco press recipe for its fried avocado tacos calls for generic "vegetable oil.". Across the 36 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.6g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Bartaco cook with?
Our research indicates: Canola oil in the fryer (chips, crispy items, churros); Bartaco runs a dedicated gluten-free fryer for chips and corn tortillas kept separate from the fryer used for gluten items like churros, and keeps fish/shellfish and soy out of the fryer and off the grill. No single official oil-name document turned up (bartaco.com/nutrition just links out to an EveryBite widget with no oil listed); canola is reported consistently across independent crowdsourced allergen sites, and an official bartaco press recipe for its fried avocado tacos calls for generic "vegetable oil.". Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Bartaco use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Bartaco cooks with Canola oil in the fryer (chips, crispy items, churros); Bartaco runs a dedicated gluten-free fryer for chips and corn tortillas kept separate from the fryer used for gluten items like churros, and keeps fish/shellfish and soy out of the fryer and off the grill. No single official oil-name document turned up (bartaco.com/nutrition just links out to an EveryBite widget with no oil listed); canola is reported consistently across independent crowdsourced allergen sites, and an official bartaco press recipe for its fried avocado tacos calls for generic "vegetable oil.", not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Bartaco seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Bartaco cooks with Canola oil in the fryer (chips, crispy items, churros); Bartaco runs a dedicated gluten-free fryer for chips and corn tortillas kept separate from the fryer used for gluten items like churros, and keeps fish/shellfish and soy out of the fryer and off the grill. No single official oil-name document turned up (bartaco.com/nutrition just links out to an EveryBite widget with no oil listed); canola is reported consistently across independent crowdsourced allergen sites, and an official bartaco press recipe for its fried avocado tacos calls for generic "vegetable oil.", which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Bartaco?
Crispy Oyster Taco is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Bartaco, at an estimated 1.1g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Bartaco?
Plantains is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Bartaco, at an estimated 23.8g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.
Compare other chains
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See where Bartaco lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.