What oil does North Italia fry in?
North Italia cooks with Industry-default seed oil blend assumed (likely soybean or canola), not confirmed; North Italia has not published which oil goes in the fryer. They clearly do fry - calamari fritti, zucca chips (fried pumpkin/squash), crispy eggplant parmesan, crispy chicken strips, crispy parmesan french fries, pollo fritto, and crispy hash potatoes are all on the menu. The one oil they name by name is "good olive oil" for the bread-dipping starter, not the fryer..
The 5 cleanest things to order at North Italia
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 |
|---|---|
| Affogato | 1.0g |
| Salted Caramel Budino | 2.0g |
| Tiramisu | 2.0g |
| Arugula & Avocado Salad | 2.0g |
| Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast | 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 North Italia report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does North Italia use beef tallow?
No. North Italia cooks with Industry-default seed oil blend assumed (likely soybean or canola), not confirmed; North Italia has not published which oil goes in the fryer. They clearly do fry - calamari fritti, zucca chips (fried pumpkin/squash), crispy eggplant parmesan, crispy chicken strips, crispy parmesan french fries, pollo fritto, and crispy hash potatoes are all on the menu. The one oil they name by name is "good olive oil" for the bread-dipping starter, not the fryer., not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.