What oil does Famous Dave's fry in?
Famous Dave's cooks with Smoked/BBQ meats in beef/pork/poultry fat (tallow/lard); fried items and mayo-based sides use soybean/vegetable oil; cornbread uses canola-soybean blend.
The 5 cleanest things to order at Famous Dave'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.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Grilled Pineapple Steaks | 0.0g |
| Collard Greens | 1.0g |
| Down Home Banana Pudding | 2.0g |
| Burger Patty Only (No Bun) | 2.0g |
| Beef Brisket (4 oz) | 3.0g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Why 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 Famous Dave's report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Famous Dave's use beef tallow?
Yes, at least for some items. Famous Dave's uses: Smoked/BBQ meats in beef/pork/poultry fat (tallow/lard); fried items and mayo-based sides use soybean/vegetable oil; cornbread uses canola-soybean blend. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.