Portillo's Seed Oil Report Card
Source: Portillo's FAQ, read October 18, 2026. Our French fries are not vegan, as they are cooked in a blend of vegetable oil and beef tallow.
Based on our menu research, Portillo's cooks with: beef tallow and vegetable oil blend. Across the 163 menu items we analyzed, it averages 7.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does Portillo's fry in? The full answer
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Safest Orders at Portillo'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: Classic Beef Bowl, 1.9g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Side Garden Salad (no dressing) | 0.4g |
| Classic Beef Bowl | 1.9g |
| Italian Beef (Regular Sandwich) | 2.0g |
| Chicago-Style Hot Dog | 2.8g |
| Chili Cheese Dog (Regular) | 2.8g |
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Build my orderWhat to Avoid at Portillo's
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| French Fries (Jumbo) | 56.0g |
| Chicken Tenders (20 Piece) | 40.0g |
| Spicy Chicken Chopped Salad (with dressing) | 31.9g |
| Chicken Al Diavolo | 29.8g |
| Classic Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken (with dressing) | 28.8g |
Every Portillo's item, ranked
All 163 items we have for Portillo's, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| BBQ Sauce | 0.0g |
| Diet Coke (Large) | 0.0g |
| Dr. Pepper (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Dr. Pepper (Large) | 0.0g |
| Hi-C Flashin Fruit Punch (Large) | 0.0g |
| Strawberry Hibiscus Agua Fresca (Large) | 0.0g |
| Cherry Coke (Large) | 0.0g |
| Coke (Large) | 0.0g |
| Iced Tea (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Fanta Orange Soda (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Kids Fruit Cup | 0.0g |
| Hi-C Flashin Fruit Punch (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Iced Tea (Large) | 0.0g |
| Sweet Tea (Large) | 0.0g |
| Coke Zero (Large) | 0.0g |
| Diet Coke (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Minute Maid Lemonade (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Apple Juice | 0.0g |
| Strawberry Hibiscus Agua Fresca (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Coke Zero (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Coke (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Root Beer (Large) | 0.0g |
| Sprite (Large) | 0.0g |
| Cherry Coke (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Minute Maid Lemonade (Large) | 0.0g |
| Fanta Orange Soda (Large) | 0.0g |
| Root Beer (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Sprite (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Apple Slices | 0.0g |
| Sweet Tea (Regular) | 0.0g |
| Milk | 0.2g |
| Chocolate Milk | 0.2g |
| Chocolate Shake (Regular) | 0.4g |
| Vanilla Shake (Regular) | 0.4g |
| Strawberry Shake (Regular) | 0.4g |
| Dr Pepper Shake (Regular) | 0.4g |
| Side Garden Salad (no dressing) | 0.4g |
| Salted Caramel Shake (Regular) | 0.4g |
| Strawberry Malt (Regular) | 0.5g |
| Dr Pepper Shake (Large) | 0.5g |
| Vanilla Malt (Regular) | 0.5g |
| Chocolate Shake (Large) | 0.8g |
| Vanilla Shake (Large) | 0.8g |
| Strawberry Shake (Large) | 0.8g |
| Vanilla Malt (Large) | 0.8g |
| Chicken Noodle Soup | 0.8g |
| Strawberry Malt (Large) | 0.8g |
| Salted Caramel Shake (Large) | 0.8g |
| Strawberry Shortcake | 1.7g |
| Classic Beef Bowl | 1.9g |
| Italian Beef (Regular Sandwich) | 2.0g |
| Onion Rings | 2.6g |
| Kids Fries | 2.6g |
| Cup of Original Chili with Cheese and Onion | 2.7g |
| Chicago-Style Hot Dog | 2.8g |
| Kids Hot Dog Meal | 2.8g |
| Chili Cheese Dog (Regular) | 2.8g |
| Kids 2 Piece Chicken Tender Meal | 2.9g |
| Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake (Regular) | 2.9g |
| Kids Hamburger | 3.0g |
| Hot Giardiniera Sauce | 3.0g |
| Italian Beef (Big Beef Sandwich) | 3.1g |
| Gravy Bread | 3.1g |
| Oreo Shake (Regular) | 3.1g |
| Onion Rings (Large) | 3.5g |
| Oreo Shake (Large) | 3.9g |
| Jumbo Hot Dog | 4.0g |
| Hot Dog with Everything (Jumbo) | 4.0g |
| Chili Cheese Dog (Jumbo) | 4.0g |
| Tamale in Cup of Chili | 4.0g |
| Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake (Large) | 4.1g |
| Tamale | 4.7g |
| Beef N Cheddar Croissant | 4.7g |
| Lemon Cake Shake (Regular) | 4.8g |
| Regular Mostaccioli (with Meat Sauce) | 4.9g |
| Regular Spaghetti (with Meat Sauce) | 4.9g |
| Cheese Sauce | 5.0g |
| Spicy Chicken Sandwich | 5.2g |
| Strawberry Lemon Cake Shake (Regular) | 5.2g |
| Birthday Cake Shake (Regular) | 5.2g |
| Regular Spaghetti (with Marinara Sauce) | 5.5g |
| Regular Mostaccioli (with Marinara Sauce) | 5.5g |
| Chocolate Eclair Cake | 5.7g |
| Rodeo Burger (Single) | 6.2g |
| Ribs (Half Slab) | 6.3g |
| Meatball with Sauce and Cheese | 6.6g |
| Side of Meatballs | 6.7g |
| Broiled Chicken Sandwich | 6.9g |
| Bag of Potato Chips | 7.0g |
| Kids Slice of Cake | 7.0g |
| Chardiniera Dog, Chicago Style | 7.1g |
| Char-Grilled Italian Sausage | 7.2g |
| Baked Mostaccioli (without Sauce) | 7.3g |
| Large Spaghetti (with Meat Sauce) | 7.4g |
| Large Mostaccioli (with Meat Sauce) | 7.4g |
| French Fries (Regular) | 7.8g |
| Large Spaghetti (with Marinara Sauce) | 7.8g |
| Large Mostaccioli (with Marinara Sauce) | 7.8g |
| Char-Grilled Maxwell St Chardiniera Dog | 7.8g |
| Chocolate Cake Shake (Regular) | 7.9g |
| Dr Pepper Cake Shake (Regular) | 7.9g |
| Chicken Tenders (4 Piece) | 8.0g |
| Single Cheeseburger | 8.2g |
| Salted Caramel Spice Cake Shake (Regular) | 8.3g |
| Birthday Cake | 8.7g |
| Polish Sausage Sandwich with Everything | 9.0g |
| Strawberry Lemon Cake Shake (Large) | 9.2g |
| Maxwell Street Polish Sandwich (Plain) | 9.3g |
| Birthday Cake Shake (Large) | 9.5g |
| Lemon Cake Shake (Large) | 9.6g |
| Baked Mostaccioli (with Marinara Sauce) | 9.7g |
| Lemon Cake | 9.8g |
| Rodeo Burger (Double) | 9.9g |
| Baked Mostaccioli (with Meat Sauce) | 10.0g |
| Hamburger (Single) | 10.1g |
| Italiano Bowl | 10.1g |
| Breaded Fish Sandwich | 10.3g |
| Italian Beef and Sausage Combo Sandwich (Regular Sandwich) | 10.3g |
| Single Bacon Cheeseburger | 10.4g |
| Plant-Based Garden Dog | 10.4g |
| Comeback Dipping Sauce | 10.8g |
| Fettuccine Alfredo | 10.9g |
| Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake Shake (Regular) | 11.1g |
| French Fries (Large) | 11.2g |
| Breaded Chicken Sandwich | 11.8g |
| Chicken Tenders (6 Piece) | 11.8g |
| Oreo Cake Shake (Regular) | 11.8g |
| Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce | 12.0g |
| Chili Cheese Fries | 12.1g |
| Bacon Burger (Single) | 12.2g |
| Chicago Combo Bowl | 12.4g |
| Ribs (Full Slab) | 12.6g |
| Onion Rings (Jumbo) | 13.1g |
| Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce | 13.2g |
| Hot and Saucy Beef Sandwich | 13.3g |
| Garlic Bread | 13.4g |
| Cheese Fries | 13.9g |
| Cheesy Garlic Bread | 14.0g |
| Meatball Sandwich | 14.4g |
| Salted Caramel Spice Cake | 14.9g |
| Triple Cheeseburger | 15.1g |
| Double Bacon Cheeseburger | 15.4g |
| Salted Caramel Spice Cake Shake (Large) | 15.4g |
| Italian Beef and Sausage Combo Sandwich (Big Beef and Sausage Sandwich) | 15.6g |
| Chocolate Cake Shake (Large) | 15.7g |
| Dr Pepper Cake Shake (Large) | 15.7g |
| Oreo Cake (Slice) | 15.7g |
| Double Cheeseburger | 15.8g |
| Chocolate Cake | 16.0g |
| Rigatoni Ala Vodka | 16.0g |
| Bacon Burger (Double) | 17.2g |
| Hamburger (Double) | 17.7g |
| Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake Shake (Large) | 20.2g |
| Oreo Cake Shake (Large) | 20.9g |
| Penne All Arrabbiata | 23.1g |
| Chopped Salad (with dressing) | 23.4g |
| Greek Salad with Chicken (with dressing) | 23.7g |
| Classic Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken (with dressing) | 28.8g |
| Classic Caesar Salad (with dressing) | 28.8g |
| Chicken Al Diavolo | 29.8g |
| Spicy Chicken Chopped Salad (with dressing) | 31.9g |
| Chicken Tenders (20 Piece) | 40.0g |
| French Fries (Jumbo) | 56.0g |
Frequently asked
Does Portillo's use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Portillo's cooks with: beef tallow and vegetable oil blend. Across the 163 menu items we analyzed, it averages 7.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does Portillo's cook with?
Our research indicates: Fries cooked in a beef tallow + vegetable oil blend (moderate PUFA); mayo, salad dressings and the chocolate cake use soybean oil (high PUFA). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Portillo's use beef tallow?
Yes, at least for some items. Our research indicates: beef tallow and vegetable oil blend. Beef tallow is far lower in PUFA than seed oils.
Is Portillo's seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Portillo's cooks with beef tallow and vegetable oil blend, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Portillo's?
Classic Beef Bowl is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Portillo's, at an estimated 1.9g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Portillo's?
French Fries (Jumbo) is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Portillo's, at an estimated 56.0g 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 Portillo'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.