What oil does Los Portales fry in?
Los Portales cooks with Fry oil undisclosed. 'Los Portales' is not a chain: this entry groups several unrelated independent Mexican restaurants that share the name (menus read for McDonough GA, Glen Burnie MD, Norwalk CT, Englewood CO, Phoenix OR and Minneapolis MN). None of them names its fry oil; the menus only say items are deep fried. Soybean/vegetable oil (US restaurant default) is assumed for chips, chimichangas, taquitos, flautas, chile rellenos, taco shells and bowls, fries and fried desserts, and in rice and refried beans. Carnitas and tamales may use lard (undisclosed). Items are estimates and each dish is one that appears on at least two of these menus..
The 5 cleanest things to order at Los Portales
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 |
|---|---|
| Pico de Gallo | 0.0g |
| Jamaica | 0.0g |
| Tamarindo | 0.0g |
| House Salad | 1.0g |
| Sour Cream | 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 Los Portales report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Los Portales use beef tallow?
No. Los Portales cooks with Fry oil undisclosed. 'Los Portales' is not a chain: this entry groups several unrelated independent Mexican restaurants that share the name (menus read for McDonough GA, Glen Burnie MD, Norwalk CT, Englewood CO, Phoenix OR and Minneapolis MN). None of them names its fry oil; the menus only say items are deep fried. Soybean/vegetable oil (US restaurant default) is assumed for chips, chimichangas, taquitos, flautas, chile rellenos, taco shells and bowls, fries and fried desserts, and in rice and refried beans. Carnitas and tamales may use lard (undisclosed). Items are estimates and each dish is one that appears on at least two of these menus., not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.