Ruth's Chris Steak House Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Ruth's Chris Steak House cooks with: butter (steaks broiled at 1800F, served sizzling on a 500F plate with butter; kitchen described as largely seed-oil-free with olive oil for some prep per seedoilscout.com and a localfats.com phone survey "only butter") — but fried items (calamari, tempura onion rings, shoestring fries) are not confirmed and likely use a vegetable-oil fryer. Across the 18 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.7g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
Safest Orders at Ruth's Chris Steak House
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: Filet (11 oz), 2.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Shrimp Cocktail | 1.0g |
| Filet (11 oz, butter-topped) | 2.0g |
| Creamed Spinach | 3.0g |
| Lamb Chops (fresh mint) | 3.0g |
| Salmon & Shrimp (blackened, barbecue butter) | 4.0g |
What to Avoid at Ruth's Chris Steak House
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fried Calamari (Asian chili sauce) | 10.0g |
| Tempura Onion Rings (honey thai sauce) | 10.0g |
| Caesar Salad (creamy dressing) | 10.0g |
| Shoestring/Julienne Fries | 8.0g |
| Porterhouse for Two (40 oz, butter-topped) | 6.0g |
Every Ruth's Chris Steak House item, ranked
All 18 items we have for Ruth's Chris Steak House, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Shrimp Cocktail | 1.0g |
| Filet (11 oz, butter-topped) | 2.0g |
| Lobster Tail (drawn butter) | 2.0g |
| Creamed Spinach | 3.0g |
| Lamb Chops (fresh mint) | 3.0g |
| Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce | 3.0g |
| Ribeye (16 oz, butter-topped) | 3.0g |
| Garlic Mashed Potatoes | 3.0g |
| New York Strip (16 oz, butter-topped) | 3.0g |
| T-Bone (24 oz, butter-topped) | 4.0g |
| Salmon & Shrimp (blackened, barbecue butter) | 4.0g |
| Chocolate Sin Cake | 4.0g |
| Garlic Crusted Sea Bass (panko crust, lemon butter) | 5.0g |
| Porterhouse for Two (40 oz, butter-topped) | 6.0g |
| Shoestring/Julienne Fries | 8.0g |
| Fried Calamari (Asian chili sauce) | 10.0g |
| Tempura Onion Rings (honey thai sauce) | 10.0g |
| Caesar Salad (creamy dressing) | 10.0g |
Frequently asked
Does Ruth's Chris Steak House use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Ruth's Chris Steak House cooks with: butter (steaks broiled at 1800F, served sizzling on a 500F plate with butter; kitchen described as largely seed-oil-free with olive oil for some prep per seedoilscout.com and a localfats.com phone survey "only butter") — but fried items (calamari, tempura onion rings, shoestring fries) are not confirmed and likely use a vegetable-oil fryer. Across the 18 menu items we analyzed, it averages 4.7g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of B (Medium Risk).
What oil does Ruth's Chris Steak House cook with?
Our research indicates: butter (steaks broiled at 1800F, served sizzling on a 500F plate with butter; kitchen described as largely seed-oil-free with olive oil for some prep per seedoilscout.com and a localfats.com phone survey "only butter") — but fried items (calamari, tempura onion rings, shoestring fries) are not confirmed and likely use a vegetable-oil fryer. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Ruth's Chris Steak House use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Ruth's Chris Steak House cooks with butter (steaks broiled at 1800F, served sizzling on a 500F plate with butter; kitchen described as largely seed-oil-free with olive oil for some prep per seedoilscout.com and a localfats.com phone survey "only butter") — but fried items (calamari, tempura onion rings, shoestring fries) are not confirmed and likely use a vegetable-oil fryer, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Ruth's Chris Steak House seed oil free?
Largely yes. Our research indicates Ruth's Chris Steak House cooks with butter (steaks broiled at 1800F, served sizzling on a 500F plate with butter; kitchen described as largely seed-oil-free with olive oil for some prep per seedoilscout.com and a localfats.com phone survey "only butter") — but fried items (calamari, tempura onion rings, shoestring fries) are not confirmed and likely use a vegetable-oil fryer, which is not an industrial seed oil. Preparation can vary by location.
What is the safest thing to order at Ruth's Chris Steak House?
Shrimp Cocktail is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Ruth's Chris Steak House, at an estimated 1.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Ruth's Chris Steak House?
Fried Calamari (Asian chili sauce) is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Ruth's Chris Steak House, at an estimated 10.0g 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.
Compare other chains
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See where Ruth's Chris Steak House 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.