What oil does First Watch fry in?
First Watch has not publicly confirmed exactly which oil it fries in. Here is what its menu tells us about the seed-oil load, and the cleanest things to order.
The 5 cleanest things to order at First Watch
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 |
|---|---|
| Fresh Seasonal Fruit | 0.0g |
| Blood Orange Citrus Sparkler | 0.0g |
| Passion Fruit Mint Sparkler | 0.0g |
| Berry Lime Sparkler | 0.0g |
| Million Dollar Bloody Mary | 0.0g |
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 First Watch report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does First Watch use beef tallow?
First Watch has not disclosed using beef tallow, and chains without a disclosure typically fry in seed oils. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.