Best Keto Fast Food Options at 30+ Restaurants - Stay in Ketosis

Finding Keto-Friendly Options at Popular Fast Food Restaurants

When following a ketogenic diet, you drastically reduce your carb intake to reach a metabolic state of ketosis. This often requires avoiding common fast food menu items that are loaded with carbs, sugars, and fillers. However, with the right choices, you can satisfy fast food cravings while sticking to your keto goals. Here are tips for ordering low-carb meals from over 30 top fast food chains.

Keto-Friendly Options at Burger Joints

Bunless burgers and fresh salad toppings make building keto-approved meals easy at most burger restaurants.

• In-N-Out - Protein Style burgers or grilled chicken on lettuce leaves
• Five Guys - Lettuce wrapped burgers with extra veggies
• Smashburger - Double Smashed burger wrapped in lettuce
• Fuddruckers - Bunless 1/3 lb. or 1/2 lb. burgers
• Shake Shack - Lettuce wrapped ShackBurger or Shroom Burger

Keto Choices at Sandwich Shops

Skip the bread and order delicious low-carb salads and lettuce wrapped subs at these sandwich chains.

• Subway - Salad bowls or lettuce wrapped subs
• Jimmy John's - Unwich lettuce wrapped options
• Jersey Mike's - Sub in a Tub with veggies
• Firehouse Subs - Lettuce wrapped subs
• Potbelly - Sandwiches as salads or lettuce wrapped

Keto Meals at Mexican Chains

Stick to tacos on lettuce leaves, bowls, and other low-carb options at these Mexican style spots.

• Chipotle - Salad bowls, lettuce wrapped tacos
• Qdoba - Burrito bowls without rice or beans
• Taco Bell - Power Bowl, soft taco lettuce wraps
• Moe's Southwest Grill - Salad bowls
• Baja Fresh - Tacos and burritos in lettuce wraps

Keto Fast Food with Chicken

These chains offer keto-friendly grilled, fried, and rotisserie chicken.

• Chick-fil-A - Grilled nuggets, grilled chicken sandwiches
• Raising Canes - Grilled chicken fingers
• KFC - Grilled chicken, pot pie bowl
• Popeyes - Blackened chicken tenders
• Boston Market - Rotisserie chicken, salad bowls

Fast Food for Keto Breakfast

Keep breakfast low-carb by skipping the bun, biscuit, or pancakes.

• Starbucks - Sous vide egg bites, bacon, sausage
• Dunkin' - Bacon, egg, and cheese on a wake-up wrap
• McDonald's - Sausage McMuffin or burrito minus muffin
• Sonic - Breakfast bowls or sandwiches in lettuce wrap
• Carl's Jr. - Low carb breakfast burritos or bowls

Keto Sides and Drinks

Order these low sugar beverages and low-carb sides.

• Water - Always keto friendly!
• Diet sodas - Coke Zero, Diet Dr. Pepper, etc.
• Unsweetened iced tea
• Salads - With low-carb dressing
• Green vegetables - Broccoli, green beans, etc.

Tips for Ordering Keto Fast Food

Follow these suggestions to stay in ketosis when eating fast food:

• Skip the bread, bun, tortilla, or biscuit
• Ask for extra lettuce leaves or veggies instead of bread
• Order grilled chicken or burgers instead of breaded and fried
• Choose green veggies, salads with low-carb dressing, cheese
• Avoid sugary sauces, dressings, and condiments
• Stick to water, unsweetened tea, diet sodas
• Check nutrition info online to stay under carb limits

Keto Fast Food Guide by Restaurant

Here is a more detailed look at how to order low-carb options at over 30 of the most popular fast food chains.

Arby's

Select Bun-free sandwich options such as:

• Roast beef, chicken, and steak as lettuce wraps
• Market Fresh salads with vinaigrette dressing

Burger King

Order bunless burgers such as:

• Whopper, bacon cheeseburger, rodeo burger wrapped in lettuce
• Veggie burger without bun or ketchup

Carl's Jr./Hardee's

Low-carb choices include:

• Charbroiled sliders or burgers in lettuce buns
• Low carb breakfast bowls with eggs and meat
• Crisscut fries

Chick-fil-A

Select grilled chicken items like:

• Grilled nuggets, grilled chicken sandwiches
• Grilled market salads with vinaigrette dressing
• Waffle potato fries

Chipotle

Build a keto bowl or lettuce wrapped tacos using:

• Chicken, steak, carnitas, barbacoa
• Fajita veggies, lettuce, salsa
• Cheese, guacamole

Culver's

Order items such as:

• Bacon butterburger wrapped in lettuce leaves
• Grilled chicken sandwich without the bun
• Side salads with blue cheese dressing

Dairy Queen

Low-carb options include:

• Grilled chicken sandwich with mayo
• Hamburger, chicken strips
• Side salad

Five Guys

Customize your burger wrapped in lettuce with:

• Bacon, mushrooms, grilled onions, jalapeos
• Extra lettuce, tomato, pickles, mustard

In-N-Out

Order Protein Style burgers and sandwiches wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun.

Jimmy John's

Choose Unwich options with lettuce replacing bread like:

• J.J. Gargantuan, Italian Night Club
• Vito, Beach Club

KFC

Go for grilled chicken or make a pot pie bowl with:

• Diced grilled chicken
• Mashed potatoes and gravy
• Green beans

McDonald's

Build your own salad or order items such as:

• Bacon McDouble without bun
• Sausage McMuffin or burrito without muffin
• Grilled chicken sandwiches

Panera

Try a salad or bowl option like:

• Steak & blue cheese salad
• Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup Bowl
• Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich as a salad

Panda Express

Choose entree bowls without rice or noodles, such as:

• Chicken with mixed veggies
• Beef with broccoli

Popeyes

Order blackened tenders, bone-in chicken, or a salad like:

• Blackened Ranch Salad
• Naked Chicken Tenders

Shake Shack

Build lettuce wrapped burgers or get a chicken sandwich with:

• 'Shroom Burger
• Chick'n Shack

Sonic Drive-In

Try breakfast or chili options such as:

• Bacon, egg, and cheese bowls
• Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger lettuce wrapped
• Hot dogs
• Chili Cheese Coney, Tots

Subway

Order salads and lettuce wrapped sandwiches like:

• Steak and Cheese Salad Bowl
• Chicken & Bacon Ranch Melt Unwich

Taco Bell

Build a bowl or lettuce wrapped tacos using:

• Seasoned beef, steak, chicken
• Lettuce, cheese, guacamole
• Pico de gallo

Wendy's

Try bunless burgers or salads:

• Baconator without the bun
• Grilled chicken sandwich as a salad
• Side Caesar salad

Tips for Keto Success Eating Fast Food

It's possible to stick to a ketogenic diet without completely avoiding fast and convenience foods. Follow these tips:

• Research nutrition info online before heading to the restaurant
• Choose grilled, baked, broiled meats instead of breaded and fried
• Skip the carb-heavy bun, bread, tortilla, biscuit
• Ask for extra lettuce leaves or have items lettuce wrapped
• Order plenty of low-carb veggies and salad options with keto-friendly dressings
• Avoid menu items with sugary sauces, glazes, and condiments
• Stick to unsweetened tea, coffee, water, and diet sodas
• Balance occasional fast food with mostly whole, nutrient-dense keto foods

With the right choices and preparations, you can satisfy fast food cravings without falling out of ketosis. Pay attention to your order and enjoy keto-friendly menu items in moderation.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.