What oil does Cafe Rio fry in?
Cafe Rio cooks with soybean and canola oil.
In detail: soybean/canola blend for cooking (the chain's April 2025 nutrition sheet footnotes that its only soy-derived ingredient is highly refined soybean oil); creamy dressings on a soybean-oil mayo base. The flour tortillas are NOT a soybean-oil product: the chain's own panel prints 7 g saturated on 14 g fat (50%) for the 12-inch tortilla with a vegetarian mark and 0 g trans, which reads as a palm-type shortening.
Ordering at Cafe Rio? Build your meal in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderCafe Rio at a glance
| Fry oil (US) | Soybean and canola oil |
| Seed oils | Yes |
| Beef tallow | No |
| Peanut oil | No |
| Seed oil grade | C (6.1 g average per item, 99 items) |
| Is it a seed oil? | Soybean oil: Yes · Canola oil: Yes |
The 5 cleanest things to order at Cafe Rio
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.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Shredded Chicken Taco | 4.0g |
| Pork Barbacoa Taco | 4.0g |
| Chile Roasted Beef Taco | 4.0g |
| Fire Grilled Chicken Taco | 4.0g |
| Fire Grilled Salmon Taco | 4.0g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Build your Cafe Rio 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 orderWhy the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the Cafe Rio report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.
Frequently asked
What oil does Cafe Rio fry in?
Cafe Rio cooks with soybean and canola oil. In detail: soybean/canola blend for cooking (the chain's April 2025 nutrition sheet footnotes that its only soy-derived ingredient is highly refined soybean oil); creamy dressings on a soybean-oil mayo base. The flour tortillas are NOT a soybean-oil product: the chain's own panel prints 7 g saturated on 14 g fat (50%) for the 12-inch tortilla with a vegetarian mark and 0 g trans, which reads as a palm-type shortening.
Does Cafe Rio use seed oils?
Yes. Cafe Rio cooks with soybean and canola oil. Its seed oil grade is C, about 6.1 g of polyunsaturated fat per menu item.
Does Cafe Rio use beef tallow?
No. Cafe Rio cooks with soybean and canola oil, not beef tallow.
Does Cafe Rio use peanut oil?
Not that we can find. Cafe Rio cooks with soybean and canola oil. If you have a peanut allergy, ask the restaurant directly, because oils and suppliers can vary by location.
What is the lowest seed oil order at Cafe Rio?
Shredded Chicken Taco (4.0 g of polyunsaturated fat). Next: Pork Barbacoa Taco (4.0 g) and Chile Roasted Beef Taco (4.0 g).
Which Cafe Rio item has the most seed oil?
Chicken Burrito, at about 14.0 g of polyunsaturated fat as listed.