What oil does Fogo de Chao fry in?
Fogo de Chao cooks with Churrasco meats are fire-roasted on skewers over an open flame, seasoned with just rock salt (no added cooking oil); sides vary by prep — Pao de Queijo is baked with corn oil, Crispy Polenta is deep-fried (fryer oil not disclosed, assumed soybean/vegetable), mashed potatoes and caramelized bananas use butter, farofa is sauteed with bacon fat (fogodechao.com/menu, fogodechao.com/menu/side-dishes, fogodechao.com/menu/chicken-lamb-and-pork).
The 5 cleanest things to order at Fogo de Chao
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 |
|---|---|
| Filet Mignon | 1.0g |
| Caramelized Bananas | 1.0g |
| Fraldinha (Bottom Sirloin) | 1.0g |
| Lamb Chops | 1.0g |
| Cold-Smoked Salmon (Market Table) | 1.0g |
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 Fogo de Chao report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Fogo de Chao use beef tallow?
No. Fogo de Chao cooks with Churrasco meats are fire-roasted on skewers over an open flame, seasoned with just rock salt (no added cooking oil); sides vary by prep — Pao de Queijo is baked with corn oil, Crispy Polenta is deep-fried (fryer oil not disclosed, assumed soybean/vegetable), mashed potatoes and caramelized bananas use butter, farofa is sauteed with bacon fat (fogodechao.com/menu, fogodechao.com/menu/side-dishes, fogodechao.com/menu/chicken-lamb-and-pork), not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.