Mendocino Farms Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Mendocino Farms cooks with: Soybean-based mayo/aioli for most spreads; olive oil vinaigrettes on some salads; canola oil in some house dressings. Across the 78 menu items we analyzed, it averages 11.0g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
Ask Mendocino Farms to drop seed oils
1 person has asked so far.
One tap, anonymous, no signup. We keep each chain's total public so the demand is impossible to ignore.
Safest Orders at Mendocino Farms
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: Artisan Greens & Roasted Beet Salad + Bottled Water, 5.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Greek Lemon Chicken & Farro Soup (Cup) | 0.9g |
| Tomato Basil Soup (Cup) | 1.4g |
| Greek Lemon Chicken & Farro Soup (Bowl) | 1.8g |
| Tomato Basil Soup (Bowl) | 2.7g |
| Basil Pesto Shells (Small) | 3.6g |
What to Avoid at Mendocino Farms
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Not So Fried Chicken Sandwich | 28.8g |
| The Happy Hippie | 28.2g |
| Chimichurri Steak & Bacon | 26.8g |
| Chicken Parm Dip | 24.1g |
| Vegetarian Pesto Caprese | 23.4g |
Every Mendocino Farms item, ranked
All 78 items we have for Mendocino Farms, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Bottled Water | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Tangy BBQ Sauce | 0.0g |
| Jalapeno Salsa Verde | 0.5g |
| Pomodoro Sauce | 0.5g |
| Greek Lemon Chicken & Farro Soup (Cup) | 0.9g |
| Tomato Basil Soup (Cup) | 1.4g |
| Greek Lemon Chicken & Farro Soup (Bowl) | 1.8g |
| Tomato Basil Soup (Bowl) | 2.7g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie | 3.4g |
| Basil Pesto Shells (Small) | 3.6g |
| Quinoa Side Salad | 4.0g |
| Artisan Greens & Roasted Beet Salad | 5.0g |
| Mac & Cheese | 5.0g |
| Brownie | 5.0g |
| Caprese Sandwich | 5.0g |
| Ham & Gruyere Grilled Cheese | 5.0g |
| Southern Potato Salad (Small) | 5.4g |
| Brie & Apple Sandwich | 6.0g |
| House-made Coleslaw | 6.0g |
| Mac Daddy Tempeh Club | 6.0g |
| Kid's Grilled Cheddar Cheese Sandwich | 6.2g |
| Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich | 7.0g |
| Spicy Lemongrass Steak Banh Mi | 7.0g |
| Modern Tuna Melt | 7.0g |
| Kid's Grilled Turkey & Cheddar Sandwich | 7.2g |
| Basil Pesto Shells (Medium) | 7.3g |
| Kid's Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jelly | 7.4g |
| Kid's Crispy Chicken Tenders | 7.5g |
| 1/2 The Farm Club | 7.8g |
| Prosciutto & Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich | 8.0g |
| Braised Beef Short Rib Sandwich | 8.0g |
| BBQ Chicken & Kale Caesar Salad | 8.0g |
| Steak BLT | 8.0g |
| Pork Belly Banh Mi | 8.0g |
| Grilled Salmon Salad | 9.0g |
| 1/2 Vegan Banh Mi | 9.0g |
| Thai Mango Wrap | 9.5g |
| Herb Buttermilk Ranch | 9.5g |
| Avocado & Wheatberry Salad | 10.0g |
| BLTA Sandwich | 10.0g |
| Southern Potato Salad (Medium) | 10.6g |
| Thai Mango Salad | 10.8g |
| 1/2 Turkey Avo Salsa Verde | 10.9g |
| Market Club Sandwich | 11.0g |
| 1/2 Chicken Pesto Caprese | 11.1g |
| Chen's Crispy Rice Salad (with Chicken) | 11.6g |
| Chicken Milanese Sandwich | 12.0g |
| Chen's Crispy Rice Wrap | 12.5g |
| Tuna Salad Sandwich | 13.0g |
| The Seasonal GOAT Salad | 13.4g |
| Tuscan Pesto Salad | 13.9g |
| Avocado & Quinoa Superfood Ensalada | 14.2g |
| Basil Pesto Shells (Large) | 14.2g |
| 1/2 "Not So Fried" Chicken | 14.4g |
| Vegan Ranch | 14.5g |
| Not So Fried Chicken Salad Style | 14.7g |
| Chen's Crispy Rice Salad (with Tofu) | 14.7g |
| Golden State Cobb Salad | 15.0g |
| The Modern Caesar | 15.5g |
| The Farm Club | 15.7g |
| Avocado & Quinoa Superfood Ensalada Wrap | 16.4g |
| The Modern Caesar Wrap | 17.1g |
| Vegan Banh Mi | 17.4g |
| Golden State Cobb Wrap | 17.6g |
| Prosciutto & Chicken | 17.9g |
| Baja Green Goddess Salad | 18.3g |
| Baja Green Goddess Wrap | 20.8g |
| Southern Potato Salad (Large) | 21.4g |
| Heirloom BLT | 21.8g |
| Peruvian Steak Sandwich | 21.8g |
| Chicken Pesto Caprese | 22.1g |
| Turkey Avo Salsa Verde | 22.2g |
| Vegetarian Pesto Caprese | 23.4g |
| Chicken Parm Dip | 24.1g |
| Chimichurri Steak & Bacon | 26.8g |
| The Happy Hippie | 28.2g |
| Not So Fried Chicken Sandwich | 28.8g |
Frequently asked
Does Mendocino Farms use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Mendocino Farms cooks with: Soybean-based mayo/aioli for most spreads; olive oil vinaigrettes on some salads; canola oil in some house dressings. Across the 78 menu items we analyzed, it averages 11.0g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
What oil does Mendocino Farms cook with?
Our research indicates: Soybean-based mayo/aioli for most spreads; olive oil vinaigrettes on some salads; canola oil in some house dressings. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Mendocino Farms use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Mendocino Farms cooks with Soybean-based mayo/aioli for most spreads; olive oil vinaigrettes on some salads; canola oil in some house dressings, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Mendocino Farms seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Mendocino Farms cooks with Soybean-based mayo/aioli for most spreads; olive oil vinaigrettes on some salads; canola oil in some house dressings, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Mendocino Farms?
Greek Lemon Chicken & Farro Soup (Cup) is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Mendocino Farms, at an estimated 0.9g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Mendocino Farms?
Not So Fried Chicken Sandwich is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Mendocino Farms, at an estimated 28.8g 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
Me-n-Ed's Pizzeria · Mellow Mushroom · Menchie's · Metro Diner · Mighty Taco · Milio's Sandwiches
See where Mendocino Farms 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.