What oil does Potbelly fry in?
Potbelly cooks with Soybean oil (in mayo and 'Potbelly oil' drizzle); canola/soybean blend in house oil — confirmed in Potbelly allergen guide.
The 5 cleanest things to order at Potbelly
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 |
|---|---|
| Garden Vegetable Soup | 0.0g |
| Sweet Heat BBQ | 0.2g |
| Grilled Chicken & Cheddar (Regular) | 1.6g |
| Grilled Cheese (Regular) | 1.6g |
| Dream Bar | 1.8g |
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 Potbelly report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Potbelly use beef tallow?
No. Potbelly cooks with Soybean oil (in mayo and 'Potbelly oil' drizzle); canola/soybean blend in house oil — confirmed in Potbelly allergen guide, not beef tallow. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.