Nathan's Famous Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Nathan's Famous cooks with: corn oil. Across the 99 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 Nathan's Famous fry in? The full answer
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Safest Orders at Nathan's Famous
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: Hot Dog + Bottled Water, 2.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Hot Dog | 2.0g |
| Chili Dog | 3.0g |
| Bacon Cheddar Dog | 3.0g |
| Pretzel Dog | 3.0g |
| Hamburger | 3.0g |
Build your Nathan's Famous order
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 Nathan's Famous
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Hot Honey Half Chicken | 38.9g |
| BBQ Bacon Tribeca Chicken Sandwich (Double) | 27.4g |
| Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (Double) | 25.2g |
| Hell's Kitchen Chicken Sandwich (Double) | 24.3g |
| Southern Chicken Sandwich (Double) | 22.5g |
Every Nathan's Famous item, ranked
All 99 items we have for Nathan's Famous, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Bottled Water | 0.0g |
| Original Mustard | 0.0g |
| Vanilla Shake | 1.0g |
| Chocolate Shake | 1.0g |
| Hot Dog | 2.0g |
| Vanilla Milkshake | 2.0g |
| Ghirardelli Chocolate Milkshake | 2.0g |
| Strawberry Milkshake | 2.0g |
| Oreo Cookie Milkshake | 2.0g |
| Butterscotch Pralines Milkshake | 2.0g |
| Hot Dog Topping Chili | 2.0g |
| Nathan's Creamy Orange Shake | 2.1g |
| Chili Dog | 3.0g |
| Bacon Cheddar Dog | 3.0g |
| Pretzel Dog | 3.0g |
| Hamburger | 3.0g |
| Philly Cheesesteak | 3.0g |
| Bacon Cheese Dog | 3.0g |
| Jalapeno Bacon Cheese Dog | 3.0g |
| Coney Island Clam Chowder Bowl | 3.0g |
| New England Clam Chowder Bowl | 3.0g |
| Lobster Bisque Bowl | 3.0g |
| Pretzel Bites - 7pc | 3.0g |
| David's Chocolate Chip Cookie | 3.0g |
| David's Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Brownie | 3.0g |
| Cheese Dog | 4.0g |
| Hot Dog (large/footlong) | 4.0g |
| Cheeseburger | 4.0g |
| Chili Bacon Cheese Dog | 4.0g |
| Original Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 4.0g |
| Original Hot Dog | 5.0g |
| Bacon Cheeseburger | 5.0g |
| Original Patty Melt | 5.0g |
| Patty Melt with Bacon | 5.0g |
| Original Coney Burger | 5.0g |
| Grilled Chicken BLT Sandwich | 5.0g |
| Pretzel Bites - 13pc | 5.0g |
| Hell's Kitchen Burger | 6.0g |
| Manhattan Burger | 6.0g |
| BBQ Bacon Tribeca Burger | 6.0g |
| Chopped Cheese Hero | 6.0g |
| Chopped Chicken Cheese Hero | 6.0g |
| Cheesy Tater Kegs - 5pc | 6.0g |
| Fries - Regular | 6.0g |
| NY Cheesesteak Dog | 6.6g |
| Chili Cheese Dog | 7.0g |
| Corn Dog | 7.0g |
| New York Cheesesteak | 7.0g |
| NY Attitude Burger (Single) | 7.4g |
| Crinkle-Cut Fries | 8.0g |
| Corn Dog on a Stick | 8.0g |
| Bacon Cheese Fries | 8.0g |
| Jalapeno Bacon Ranch Fries | 8.0g |
| Buffalo Cheese Fries | 8.0g |
| Chicken Club Sandwich (Single, Grilled) | 8.7g |
| Fish Sandwich | 9.0g |
| Double Cheeseburger | 9.0g |
| Fries - Large | 9.0g |
| Chicken Club Sandwich (Double, Grilled) | 9.3g |
| Corn Dog Nuggets - 10pc | 10.0g |
| Chicken Wings | 10.0g |
| Cheesy Tater Kegs - 9pc | 10.0g |
| NY Attitude Burger (Double) | 10.8g |
| Chicken Tenders | 11.0g |
| Southern BBQ Chicken Sandwich | 11.0g |
| Onion Rings | 12.0g |
| Crispy Chicken Sandwich | 12.0g |
| Chicken Tenders (4 pc) | 12.0g |
| Kids Hot Dog Meal (with small fries) | 12.0g |
| Spicy Southern Chicken Sandwich | 12.0g |
| Spicy Asian BBQ Chicken Sandwich | 12.0g |
| Garlic Hot Honey Shrimp | 12.0g |
| Home Style Chicken Tenders | 12.0g |
| Islander Fish Sandwich | 13.0g |
| Southern Fish Sandwich | 13.0g |
| Batter-Dipped Onion Rings | 13.0g |
| Fried Clam Strips | 14.0g |
| Fried Clam Sandwich Boat | 14.0g |
| Coney Island Fish & Chips | 14.0g |
| Fried Shrimp Boat (10pc) | 14.0g |
| Corn Dog Nuggets - 15pc | 14.0g |
| Southern Chicken Sandwich (Single) | 14.8g |
| Famous Crinkle-Cut Fries (Regular) | 15.0g |
| Shrimp & Chips | 15.0g |
| Seafood Sampler | 16.0g |
| Hell's Kitchen Chicken Sandwich (Single) | 16.7g |
| Cheese Fries | 17.0g |
| Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (Single) | 17.6g |
| Chili Cheese Fries | 18.0g |
| Corn Dog Nuggets - 20pc | 18.0g |
| BBQ Bacon Tribeca Chicken Sandwich (Single) | 19.4g |
| Buffalo Chicken Tenders | 19.6g |
| Famous Crinkle-Cut Fries (Large) | 20.0g |
| Southern Chicken Sandwich (Double) | 22.5g |
| Hell's Kitchen Chicken Sandwich (Double) | 24.3g |
| Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (Double) | 25.2g |
| BBQ Bacon Tribeca Chicken Sandwich (Double) | 27.4g |
| Hot Honey Half Chicken | 38.9g |
Frequently asked
Does Nathan's Famous use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Nathan's Famous cooks with: corn oil. Across the 99 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 Nathan's Famous cook with?
Our research indicates: Famous crinkle-cut fries fried in 100% corn oil (very high PUFA, ~15-20g per order); hot dogs are all-beef (low PUFA). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Nathan's Famous use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Nathan's Famous cooks with corn oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Nathan's Famous seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Nathan's Famous cooks with corn oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Nathan's Famous?
Hot Dog is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Nathan's Famous, at an estimated 2.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Nathan's Famous?
Hot Honey Half Chicken is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Nathan's Famous, at an estimated 38.9g 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 Nathan's Famous 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.