What oil does Costa Vida fry in?
Costa Vida cooks with canola and soybean oil.
In detail: canola/soybean blend (tortillas: canola oil; cooking: canola-soybean blend; creamy dressings: soybean-oil mayo base).
Ordering at Costa Vida? Build your meal in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderCosta Vida at a glance
| Fry oil (US) | Canola and soybean oil |
| Seed oils | Yes |
| Beef tallow | No |
| Peanut oil | No |
| Seed oil grade | B (5.1 g average per item, 85 items) |
| Is it a seed oil? | Canola oil: Yes · Soybean oil: Yes |
The 5 cleanest things to order at Costa Vida
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 |
|---|---|
| Bean & Cheese Salad (Regular) | 3.0g |
| Sweet Pork Salad (Small) | 3.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Salad (Small) | 3.0g |
| Sweet Pork Taco | 4.0g |
| Shredded Beef Taco | 4.0g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Build your Costa Vida 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 Costa Vida 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 Costa Vida fry in?
Costa Vida cooks with canola and soybean oil. In detail: canola/soybean blend (tortillas: canola oil; cooking: canola-soybean blend; creamy dressings: soybean-oil mayo base).
Does Costa Vida use seed oils?
Yes. Costa Vida cooks with canola and soybean oil. Its seed oil grade is B, about 5.1 g of polyunsaturated fat per menu item.
Does Costa Vida use beef tallow?
No. Costa Vida cooks with canola and soybean oil, not beef tallow.
Does Costa Vida use peanut oil?
Not that we can find. Costa Vida cooks with canola and soybean 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 Costa Vida?
Bean & Cheese Salad (Regular) (3.0 g of polyunsaturated fat). Next: Sweet Pork Salad (Small) (3.0 g) and Grilled Chicken Salad (Small) (3.0 g).
Which Costa Vida item has the most seed oil?
Chicken Burrito, at about 13.0 g of polyunsaturated fat as listed.