Ivar's Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Ivar's cooks with: canola oil. Across the 55 menu items we analyzed, it averages 9.0g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
What oil does Ivar's fry in? The full answer
Eating at Ivar's soon? Build your order in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
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Safest Orders at Ivar's
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: Bowl of Clam Chowder + Bottled Water, 3.2g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Cup of Smoked Salmon Chowder | 2.7g |
| Bowl of Clam Chowder | 3.2g |
| Grilled Halibut Dinner | 4.0g |
| Crab Caesar Salad | 4.0g |
| Fish Taco | 5.0g |
Build your Ivar's order
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Build my orderWhat to Avoid at Ivar's
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Full Boat (feeds 3-4) | 45.0g |
| Salmon Caesar Salad | 28.3g |
| 5 Piece Cajun Fish 'N Chips | 27.0g |
| Shrimp Caesar Salad | 22.9g |
| Caesar Salad | 22.1g |
Every Ivar's item, ranked
All 55 items we have for Ivar's, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Milk | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Bottled Root Beer | 0.0g |
| Bottled Dr. Pepper | 0.0g |
| Cocktail Sauce | 0.0g |
| Ketchup | 0.0g |
| Barbecue Sauce | 0.0g |
| Lemonade | 0.0g |
| Shrimp Cocktail | 0.3g |
| Crab Cocktail | 1.0g |
| Cup of Clam Chowder | 1.6g |
| New York Cheesecake | 2.0g |
| Corn Bread | 2.6g |
| Cup of Smoked Salmon Chowder | 2.7g |
| Coleslaw | 3.2g |
| Bowl of Clam Chowder | 3.2g |
| Grilled Halibut Dinner | 4.0g |
| Crab Caesar Salad | 4.0g |
| Tartar Sauce | 4.3g |
| Kids Fish 'N Chips | 4.8g |
| Fish Taco | 5.0g |
| Fish Sandwich | 5.0g |
| Bread Bowl Clam Chowder | 5.0g |
| Halibut Caesar Salad | 5.0g |
| Kids Chicken 'N Chips | 5.4g |
| Grilled Salmon Dinner | 5.5g |
| Red Clam Chowder Cup | 5.8g |
| Fish & Chips (2-piece) | 6.0g |
| Tanker of Clam Chowder | 6.4g |
| Salmon 'N Chips | 6.5g |
| Halibut & Chips (2-piece) | 7.0g |
| French Fries | 7.0g |
| Fish & Chips (3-piece) | 9.0g |
| 4 Piece Fish 'N Chips | 10.0g |
| Kids Baby Prawns 'N Chips | 10.0g |
| Halibut 'N Chips | 11.0g |
| Jumbo Prawns 'N Chips | 11.0g |
| Scallops 'N Chips | 11.0g |
| Oysters 'N Chips | 11.0g |
| Red Clam Chowder Bowl | 11.5g |
| 5 Piece Fish 'N Chips | 12.0g |
| Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 13.0g |
| Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 13.0g |
| Chicken 'N Chips | 13.2g |
| Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad | 14.0g |
| Baby Prawns 'N Chips | 16.0g |
| 3 Piece Cajun Fish 'N Chips | 18.0g |
| Clams 'N Chips | 19.0g |
| 4 Piece Cajun Fish 'N Chips | 22.0g |
| Seafood Combo 'N Chips | 22.0g |
| Caesar Salad | 22.1g |
| Shrimp Caesar Salad | 22.9g |
| 5 Piece Cajun Fish 'N Chips | 27.0g |
| Salmon Caesar Salad | 28.3g |
| Full Boat (feeds 3-4) | 45.0g |
Frequently asked
Does Ivar's use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Ivar's cooks with: canola oil. Across the 55 menu items we analyzed, it averages 9.0g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
What oil does Ivar's cook with?
Our research indicates: Canola in the fryer, in the chain's own words on its nutritionals page: "We only use 0 grams trans fat canola oil". The chain's March 2024 ingredient list (ivars.com/s/ingredient_list03-24.pdf) names the rest: Red Clam Chowder is made with cottonseed oil; the Caesar dressing, the breadings and the corn muffin use soybean oil; the Tartar Sauce is canola. Caveat: the 02-2020 nutrition guide prints about 29% saturated fat on plain fries, which no canola fryer produces, so every deep-fried row is held at its ceiling rather than modelled from canola. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Ivar's use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Ivar's cooks with canola oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Ivar's seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Ivar's cooks with canola oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Ivar's?
Bowl of Clam Chowder is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Ivar's, at an estimated 3.2g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Ivar's?
Full Boat (feeds 3-4) is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Ivar's, at an estimated 45.0g 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.
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See where Ivar's 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.