Hopdoddy, Steak 'n Shake, and True Food Kitchen: Restaurants Going Seed Oil Free in 2026

Something is shifting in the restaurant industry. After decades of cooking everything in soybean oil and canola oil, a growing number of chains are publicly switching to tallow, butter, avocado oil, and other traditional fats — and marketing the change as a competitive advantage.

This is not a niche health food trend anymore. Mainstream chains with hundreds of locations are making the switch, and customers are lining up. Here is who has made the change, what they are cooking with now, and what it means for the seed oil free movement.

The Chains That Made the Switch

Hopdoddy Burger Bar

What changed: Hopdoddy switched their fryers from seed oils to beef tallow across all locations.

What they cook in tallow: Fries, onion rings, and all fried items. Their burgers are cooked on a flat-top grill with tallow as well.

Why it matters: Hopdoddy was one of the first multi-location chains to make the switch, and they did it loudly — marketing "tallow-fried" as a premium feature. Their locations span Texas, Arizona, Colorado, California, and several other states. They proved that a chain can switch fats and use it as a growth driver, not just a cost increase.

What to order: Their classic burger with tallow fries is completely seed oil free. Ask about sauces and dressings — some may still contain seed oils depending on the location.

Steak 'n Shake

What changed: Steak 'n Shake returned to cooking their fries and burgers in beef tallow — the same fat McDonald's used before their infamous 1990 switch.

What they cook in tallow: French fries and flat-top burgers. The change was rolled out across their locations with significant marketing emphasis on the "original recipe" angle.

Why it matters: Steak 'n Shake is a legacy American chain with over 300 locations. When a chain this size switches back to tallow, it signals to the industry that the economics can work at scale. Their marketing leans heavily into nostalgia — "the way burgers were meant to taste."

What to order: Their original steakburger and hand-cut fries are the cleanest options. Skip the milkshakes if you are avoiding seed oils — check individual ingredient lists.

True Food Kitchen

What changed: True Food Kitchen positions itself as a health-forward chain and has been using avocado oil and olive oil as their primary cooking fats.

What they cook with: Avocado oil for high-heat cooking, extra virgin olive oil for dressings and finishing. No soybean or canola oil in their standard preparations.

Why it matters: True Food Kitchen has 45+ locations across the US and is expanding aggressively. Their menu is designed by a doctor (Dr. Andrew Weil) and clean fats are part of their core identity — not an afterthought. This is the kind of chain that shows investors and other restaurant groups that health-forward positioning drives revenue.

What to order: Most of their menu is seed oil free by default. Their roasted chicken, seasonal fish, and grain bowls are all clean. Ask about specific sauces if you want to be thorough.

Other Chains and Restaurants Making Moves

Five Guys

Status: Five Guys has cooked their fries in peanut oil since day one. Peanut oil is technically a legume oil, not a seed oil — it is in a gray area for the seed oil community. Their burgers are cooked on a flat grill without added oil. Many people in the seed oil free community consider Five Guys acceptable.

In-N-Out Burger

Status: In-N-Out has long been a favorite of clean eaters. Their fries are cooked in sunflower oil — which is a seed oil — but their burgers are cooked on a flat grill with minimal oil. The protein-style option (lettuce wrap, no bun) is one of the cleanest fast food orders available.

Chipotle

Status: Chipotle cooks with rice bran oil, which is technically a seed oil but is sometimes considered a gray area due to different fatty acid composition. Their rice also contains rice bran oil. The cleanest Chipotle order avoids rice and tortillas: bowl with lettuce base, protein, fajita veggies, salsa, guacamole.

Local and Regional Chains

The fastest growth in seed oil free restaurants is happening at the local level. In cities like Austin, Nashville, Miami, and Los Angeles, independent restaurants and small chains are advertising "cooked in tallow" or "no seed oils" as a primary differentiator. Search "seed oil free restaurant [your city]" — you may be surprised at what comes up.

Why This Is Happening Now

Three forces are driving the shift:

1. Consumer Demand

The seed oil free movement has gone from a small corner of Reddit and Twitter to a mainstream consumer trend. Social media — particularly TikTok — has made "is it seed oil free?" a question that millions of people now ask before eating. Restaurants are responding to what their customers are vocally demanding.

2. The Taste Argument

Tallow fries genuinely taste better than seed oil fries. People who remember McDonald's pre-1990 fries describe them as life-changingly good — and the reason was beef tallow. Restaurants switching to tallow are getting rave reviews not because customers care about omega-6 ratios, but because the food tastes noticeably better.

3. Competitive Differentiation

In a crowded restaurant market where most chains serve identical food cooked in identical oils, switching to tallow or avocado oil is a way to stand out. Hopdoddy and Steak 'n Shake have turned their fat choices into marketing campaigns. Other chains are watching their same-store sales data closely.

What This Means for You

The Good News

Eating out seed oil free is getting easier every month. Two years ago, you had essentially zero chain restaurant options. Today, you have several — and the list is growing.

The Reality Check

Most restaurants still cook in seed oils. The chains listed above are the exception, not the rule. Your neighborhood Italian restaurant, Chinese takeout, and local diner are almost certainly still using soybean or canola oil. The 80/20 rule still applies: cook clean at home most of the time, and be strategic when eating out.

How to Accelerate the Trend

The most powerful thing you can do is spend your money at restaurants that cook clean — and tell them why. Leave reviews mentioning the clean cooking oils. Post about it on social media. When restaurants see that customers specifically choose them because of their cooking fats, it validates the investment and encourages others to follow.

How to Find Seed Oil Free Restaurants Near You

1. Search "[your city] tallow fries" or "[your city] seed oil free restaurant" on Google and Instagram
2. Check the Seed Oil Scout app or database if available in your area
3. Call ahead and ask — "What oil do you cook with?" is a perfectly normal question. If they say soybean, canola, or vegetable oil, you have your answer.
4. Check Reddit — r/StopEatingSeedOils frequently has threads about clean restaurants by city

Key Takeaways

• Hopdoddy, Steak 'n Shake, and True Food Kitchen have all switched away from seed oils at scale
• The shift is driven by consumer demand, better taste, and competitive differentiation
• Five Guys (peanut oil) and In-N-Out (flat-grill burgers) are gray area but relatively clean options
• Local restaurants in Austin, Nashville, Miami, and LA are leading the trend
• Most restaurants still cook in seed oils — the 80/20 rule remains your best strategy
• Support restaurants that cook clean — your dollars and reviews drive industry change

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