Costa Vida Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Costa Vida cooks with: canola/soybean blend (tortillas: canola oil; cooking: canola-soybean blend; creamy dressings: soybean-oil mayo base). Across the 84 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.2g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
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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 |
|---|---|
| Limonada | 0.0g |
| Pico de Gallo | 0.0g |
| Sour Cream | 1.0g |
| Cheese | 1.0g |
| Tres Leches | 2.0g |
What 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 84 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 |
| Pico de Gallo | 0.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Sauce | 0.0g |
| Honey Habanero Salsa | 0.0g |
| Salsa Fresca | 0.0g |
| Mango Salsa | 0.0g |
| 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 |
| Sweet Cinnamon Tortilla | 2.0g |
| Tres Leches | 2.0g |
| Cilantro Lime Rice | 3.0g |
| Tortilla (flour) | 3.0g |
| Guacamole | 3.0g |
| Sweet Pork Salad (Small) | 3.0g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie | 3.0g |
| Chicken Tortilla Soup | 3.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Salad (Small) | 3.0g |
| Kids Taco | 3.0g |
| Key Lime Pie | 3.0g |
| Bean & Cheese Salad (Regular) | 3.0g |
| Red Enchilada Sauce | 3.5g |
| Grilled Chicken Taco | 4.0g |
| Chips & Guacamole | 4.0g |
| Grilled Steak Salad (Regular) | 4.0g |
| Kids Quesadilla | 4.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Salad (Regular) | 4.0g |
| Kids Enchilada | 4.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Taco | 4.0g |
| Shredded Beef Taco | 4.0g |
| Sweet Pork Taco | 4.0g |
| Grilled Steak Taco | 4.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Salad (Regular) | 4.0g |
| Cheese Enchilada | 4.0g |
| Queso | 4.5g |
| Chips & Salsa | 5.0g |
| Chips & Queso | 5.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Enchilada | 5.0g |
| Shredded Beef Enchilada | 5.0g |
| Shredded Beef Salad (Regular) | 5.0g |
| Sweet Pork Salad (Regular) | 5.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Enchilada | 5.0g |
| Cheese Quesadilla | 5.0g |
| Sweet Baja Shrimp Taco | 5.0g |
| Grilled Steak Enchilada | 5.0g |
| Bean & Cheese Baja Bowl | 5.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Baja Bowl | 6.0g |
| Sweet Pork Nachos (Small) | 6.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Baja Bowl | 6.0g |
| Grilled Steak Baja Bowl | 6.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Quesadilla | 6.0g |
| Grilled Steak Quesadilla | 6.0g |
| Bean & Cheese Burrito | 7.0g |
| Shredded Beef Baja Bowl | 7.0g |
| Sweet Pork Baja Bowl | 7.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Burrito | 8.0g |
| Grilled Steak Burrito | 8.0g |
| Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Burrito | 8.0g |
| Sweet Pork Burrito | 9.0g |
| Sweet Pork Tacos (3) | 9.0g |
| Bean & Cheese Nachos (Regular) | 9.0g |
| Shredded Beef Burrito | 9.0g |
| Tomatillo Ranch Dressing | 9.5g |
| Steak Salad | 10.0g |
| Sweet Pork Enchiladas | 10.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Nachos (Regular) | 10.0g |
| Sweet Pork 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/soybean blend (tortillas: canola oil; cooking: canola-soybean blend; creamy dressings: soybean-oil mayo base). Across the 84 menu items we analyzed, it averages 5.2g 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/soybean blend (tortillas: canola oil; cooking: canola-soybean blend; creamy dressings: soybean-oil mayo base), 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/soybean blend (tortillas: canola oil; cooking: canola-soybean blend; creamy dressings: soybean-oil mayo base), which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Costa Vida?
Limonada is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Costa Vida, at an estimated 0.0g 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.