On The Border Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, On The Border cooks with: Soybean/corn blend (frying); canola (grill/sauté); dairy (queso, sour cream). Across the 91 menu items we analyzed, it averages 9.0g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
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Safest Orders at On The Border
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: Mesquite-Grilled Chicken Fajitas + Iced Tea, 3.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Pico de Gallo | 0.0g |
| Sour Cream | 0.5g |
| Tomatillo Chicken | 3.0g |
| Mesquite-Grilled Chicken Fajitas | 3.0g |
| Pick Two Fajitas - With Steak | 3.0g |
What to Avoid at On The Border
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Border Sampler | 46.1g |
| Classic Nachos (Chicken) | 28.0g |
| Kids Cheese Quesadilla | 27.9g |
| Endless Chips & Salsa | 27.0g |
| Chicken Flautas | 26.2g |
Every On The Border item, ranked
All 91 items we have for On The Border, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Salsa | 0.0g |
| Pico de Gallo | 0.0g |
| Sour Cream | 0.5g |
| Border Queso Dip | 0.9g |
| Black Beans | 1.0g |
| Refried Beans | 1.4g |
| Kahlua Ice Cream Pie | 2.0g |
| Original Queso | 2.0g |
| Kids Grilled Chicken | 2.0g |
| OTB Dip Trio | 2.0g |
| Guacamole | 2.0g |
| Mexican Rice | 3.0g |
| Tomatillo Chicken | 3.0g |
| Pick Two Fajitas - Chicken & Vegetables | 3.0g |
| Mesquite-Grilled Chicken Fajitas | 3.0g |
| Pick Two Fajitas - With Steak | 3.0g |
| Mesquite-Grilled Steak Fajitas | 3.0g |
| Ultimate Loaded Queso | 3.0g |
| Chicken Salsa Fresca | 3.0g |
| Chicken Tortilla Soup | 3.0g |
| Jalapeno-BBQ Salmon | 3.0g |
| Chips and Salsa | 3.0g |
| Classic Chicken Burrito | 3.6g |
| Seasoned Sauteed Shrimp Fajitas | 4.0g |
| Sopapillas | 4.0g |
| Kids Hamburger | 4.0g |
| Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos | 4.0g |
| Sizzling Apple Crisp | 4.0g |
| Tacos Al Carbon - Chicken | 5.0g |
| Southwest Chicken Tacos | 5.0g |
| Kids Nachos | 5.0g |
| Tacos Al Carbon - Steak | 5.0g |
| Chorizo Chicken Fajitas | 5.0g |
| Avocado With Red Chile Pesto Enchiladas | 5.0g |
| Chocolate Turtle Empanadas | 5.0g |
| Street-Style Mini Tacos | 5.0g |
| House Salad | 5.1g |
| Grilled Vegetables Fajitas | 5.4g |
| Chicken Fajitas | 5.6g |
| Loaded Queso | 6.0g |
| Steak Fajitas | 6.0g |
| Brisket Tacos | 6.0g |
| Loaded Carne Asada Tacos | 6.0g |
| Smoky Beef Brisket Enchiladas | 6.0g |
| Citrus Chipotle Chicken Salad | 6.0g |
| Pepper Jack Chicken Enchiladas | 6.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Salad (no shell) | 6.3g |
| Sizzling Fajita Salad with Chicken | 6.3g |
| Sizzling Fajita Salad with Steak | 6.4g |
| Grande Taco Salad | 7.0g |
| Taco Melts | 7.0g |
| Enchiladas Suizas | 7.0g |
| Queso Chicken | 7.6g |
| Classic Burrito | 8.0g |
| Fajita Quesadillas | 8.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Tacos | 9.0g |
| Three-Sauce Fajita Burrito | 9.0g |
| Tres Enchiladas | 9.1g |
| Border Brownie Sundae | 9.8g |
| Carne Asada | 10.0g |
| The Big Bordurrito | 10.0g |
| Guacamole Live | 10.9g |
| Shrimp Fajitas | 10.9g |
| Combo Fajitas (Chicken & Steak) | 11.0g |
| Dos XX Fish Tacos | 11.0g |
| Shrimp Tacos | 12.0g |
| Churros | 12.0g |
| Classic Chimichanga | 12.0g |
| Grande Fajita Nachos | 12.0g |
| Grande Taco Salad (Chicken, fried shell) | 12.2g |
| Kids Corn Dog | 13.1g |
| Enchiladas (Chicken) | 14.0g |
| Pulled Pork Carnitas Fajitas | 14.1g |
| Enchiladas (Cheese) | 15.0g |
| Beef Taquitos | 16.0g |
| Crispy Beef Tacos | 16.0g |
| The Ultimate Fajita | 16.1g |
| Kids Cheeseburger | 16.9g |
| Ranchiladas | 17.5g |
| Empanadas | 21.7g |
| Smothered Beef Burrito | 22.0g |
| Monterey Ranch Chicken Fajitas | 22.3g |
| Kids Chicken Tenders | 22.7g |
| Signature Queso | 23.5g |
| Firecracker Stuffed Jalapenos | 24.1g |
| Chicken Flautas | 26.2g |
| Endless Chips & Salsa | 27.0g |
| Kids Cheese Quesadilla | 27.9g |
| Classic Nachos (Chicken) | 28.0g |
| Border Sampler | 46.1g |
Frequently asked
Does On The Border use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, On The Border cooks with: Soybean/corn blend (frying); canola (grill/sauté); dairy (queso, sour cream). Across the 91 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 On The Border cook with?
Our research indicates: Soybean/corn blend (frying); canola (grill/sauté); dairy (queso, sour cream). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does On The Border use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates On The Border cooks with Soybean/corn blend (frying); canola (grill/sauté); dairy (queso, sour cream), not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is On The Border seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates On The Border cooks with Soybean/corn blend (frying); canola (grill/sauté); dairy (queso, sour cream), which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at On The Border?
Pico de Gallo is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at On The Border, at an estimated 0.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at On The Border?
Border Sampler is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at On The Border, at an estimated 46.1g 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 On The Border 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.