Costa Vida Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Costa Vida cooks with: canola and soybean oil. Across the 85 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.1g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Costa Vida fry in? The full answer
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Safest Orders at Costa Vida
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: Sour Cream + Bottled Water, 1.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Bean & Cheese Salad (Regular) | 3.0g |
| Sweet Pork Salad (Small) | 3.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Salad (Small) | 3.0g |
| Sweet Pork Taco | 4.0g |
| Shredded Beef Taco | 4.0g |
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Pick your meal, sides, sauces and drink in the app and see your seed oil total before you order. It logs to your day in one tap. Free on iPhone and Android.
Build my orderWhat to Avoid at Costa Vida
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Chicken Burrito | 13.0g |
| Chicken Quesadilla | 13.0g |
| Creamy Tomatillo Dressing | 13.0g |
| Chicken Enchiladas | 12.0g |
| Chicken Tacos (3) | 12.0g |
Every Costa Vida item, ranked
All 85 items we have for Costa Vida, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Limonada | 0.0g |
| Honey Habanero Salsa | 0.0g |
| Mango Salsa | 0.0g |
| Pico de Gallo | 0.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Sauce | 0.0g |
| Salsa Fresca | 0.0g |
| Horchata | 0.2g |
| Salsa Roja | 0.5g |
| Tomatillo Cilantro Sauce | 0.5g |
| Black Beans | 1.0g |
| Pinto Beans | 1.0g |
| Sour Cream | 1.0g |
| Cheese | 1.0g |
| Side Rice | 1.0g |
| Side Beans | 1.0g |
| Roasted Green Chile Sauce | 1.5g |
| Tres Leches | 2.0g |
| Sweet Cinnamon Tortilla | 2.0g |
| Cilantro Lime Rice | 3.0g |
| Tortilla (flour) | 3.0g |
| Guacamole | 3.0g |
| Bean & Cheese Salad (Regular) | 3.0g |
| Sweet Pork Salad (Small) | 3.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Salad (Small) | 3.0g |
| Kids Taco | 3.0g |
| Chicken Tortilla Soup | 3.0g |
| Key Lime Pie | 3.0g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie | 3.0g |
| Red Enchilada Sauce | 3.5g |
| Sweet Pork Taco | 4.0g |
| Shredded Beef Taco | 4.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Taco | 4.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Taco | 4.0g |
| Grilled Steak Taco | 4.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Salad (Regular) | 4.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Salad (Regular) | 4.0g |
| Grilled Steak Salad (Regular) | 4.0g |
| Cheese Enchilada | 4.0g |
| Kids Quesadilla | 4.0g |
| Kids Enchilada | 4.0g |
| Chips & Guacamole | 4.0g |
| Queso | 4.5g |
| Chips & Salsa | 5.0g |
| Sweet Baja Shrimp Taco | 5.0g |
| Sweet Pork Salad (Regular) | 5.0g |
| Shredded Beef Salad (Regular) | 5.0g |
| Shredded Beef Enchilada | 5.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Enchilada | 5.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Enchilada | 5.0g |
| Grilled Steak Enchilada | 5.0g |
| Cheese Quesadilla | 5.0g |
| Bean & Cheese Baja Bowl | 5.0g |
| Chips & Queso | 5.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Quesadilla | 6.0g |
| Grilled Steak Quesadilla | 6.0g |
| Sweet Pork Nachos (Small) | 6.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Baja Bowl | 6.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Baja Bowl | 6.0g |
| Grilled Steak Baja Bowl | 6.0g |
| Bean & Cheese Burrito | 7.0g |
| Sweet Pork Baja Bowl | 7.0g |
| Shredded Beef Baja Bowl | 7.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Burrito | 8.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Burrito | 8.0g |
| Grilled Steak Burrito | 8.0g |
| Sweet Pork Burrito | 9.0g |
| Sweet Pork Tacos (3) | 9.0g |
| Shredded Beef Burrito | 9.0g |
| Bean & Cheese Nachos (Regular) | 9.0g |
| Tomatillo Ranch Dressing | 9.5g |
| Steak Salad | 10.0g |
| Sweet Pork Enchiladas | 10.0g |
| Sweet Pork Nachos (Regular) | 10.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Nachos (Regular) | 10.0g |
| Grilled Steak Nachos (Regular) | 10.0g |
| Steak Burrito | 11.0g |
| Chicken Salad | 11.0g |
| Sweet Pork Quesadilla | 11.0g |
| Cilantro Lime Ranch | 11.0g |
| Chicken Enchiladas | 12.0g |
| Chicken Tacos (3) | 12.0g |
| Chicken Burrito | 13.0g |
| Chicken Quesadilla | 13.0g |
| Creamy Tomatillo Dressing | 13.0g |
Frequently asked
Does Costa Vida use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Costa Vida cooks with: canola and soybean oil. Across the 85 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.1g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Costa Vida cook with?
Our research indicates: canola/soybean blend (tortillas: canola oil; cooking: canola-soybean blend; creamy dressings: soybean-oil mayo base). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Costa Vida use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Costa Vida cooks with canola and soybean oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Costa Vida seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Costa Vida cooks with canola and soybean oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Costa Vida?
Bean & Cheese Salad (Regular) is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Costa Vida, at an estimated 3.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Costa Vida?
Chicken Burrito is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Costa Vida, at an estimated 13.0g 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 Costa Vida 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.