Reading Time: 7 minutes 25 Restaurants That Are Surpisingly Keto-Friendly
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Several restaurants across the country offer low-carb, high-protein keto-friendly meals.
These restaurants offer fast food, casual dining, or full service. Some have keto-friendly meals on their menu; however, you might need to tweak your order to meet your keto needs. For example, you can order burritos and exclude rice and beans.
Are you going keto? Discover the best keto-friendly restaurants with locations nationwide below.
Table of Contents
1. Jimmy John’s
Jimmy John’s is one of the most popular restaurants for keto-friendly meals. They have carved out a niche in the restaurant industry known for freaky fast delivery and gourmet sandwiches.
The Unwich, also known as a lettuce wrap, is a popular menu item. Its contents include turkey, bacon, tuna salad, and veggies.
2. IHOP
International House of Pancakes (IHOP) has over 70 locations across the United States, serving crepes, pancakes, and other breakfast foods. You can tweak the menu items to suit your needs.
For example, add avocado and spinach to an entree for healthy monounsaturated fats. Furthermore, keto dieters can maximize the customized nutritional calculator to create their preferred meal.
3. Buffalo Wild Wings
You’ll likely cringe at the idea of “wings,” which are usually coated with sugary sauce. Nonetheless, Buffalo Wild Wings offer wings with zero carbs, even with their hot signature sauce.
Besides wings, the casual sports bar serves burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, and wraps. A good keto choice on the menu is traditional wings and celery sticks.
4. Chili’s
Drop by Chili’s if you’re looking for a steakhouse option. We bet the steak, fish, and veggie sides will wow you. Some dishes on their menu include bunless burgers and entrée salads with sides like grilled fish or fajitas. Consider lean proteins as well, and go easy on sugary sauces.
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5. Denny’s
Denny’s is a diner-style restaurant with a variety of breakfast foods. So whether you want scrambled eggs or want to build your omelet, Denny’s has many options to help you with a fresh start in the morning.
Try keto-friendly options like the Grand Slam (featuring eggs, bacon, and pancakes) or Garlic Peppercorn Sirloin with zucchini and non-starchy broccoli.
For discounts, see Denny’s $2 $4 $6 $8 Menu, Including $4 All You Can Eat Pancakes
6. Bonefish Grill
There’s a lot on the menu for keto dieters at Bonefish Grill. The fish and seafood restaurant has a section dedicated to grilled fish, including dishes like Chilean Sea Bass, Ahi Tuna Steak, and Atlantic Salmon.
Skip the sugary sauce and add lemon butter or drizzle olive oil to your food. Lemon butter is a good source of healthy fats. For added flavor, order your dish with chimichurri sauce or veggies.
7. Olive Garden
Though breadsticks and pasta seem like the most popular dishes at Olive Garden, you can load up on keto-friendly meals such as herb-grilled salmon, chicken piccata, parmesan-crusted zucchini, or stuffed mushrooms.
The seafood-centric restaurant makes its meals from scratch every day. Swap breaded sides or pasta for steamed broccoli or salad. Get ready to savor every bite when you visit Olive Garden.
8. Red Lobster
So long as you avoid cheddar biscuits at Red Lobster, you’ll stick to your keto diet. Typically, the classic seafood restaurant features “Create Your Own Feast” offerings, which allow you to create your seafood platter. Choose steamed lobster, grilled shrimps, or grilled scallops.
9. Boston Market
Although cornbread, mac, and cheese are a staple at Boston Market, dieters come in droves to enjoy The Rotisserie Prime Rib with Steamed Veggies. Don’t sleep on this dish; drop by to grab a bite when you’re in town.
10. Outback Steakhouse
The restaurant chain is famous for its affordable lunch combos, tasty appetizers, sizzling steaks, and baked potatoes. While Outback Steakhouse has several unhealthy foods on its menu, you can ditch them to stay keto-compliant.
Enjoy large cuts of steaks at Outback Steakhouse with a salad or green veggies as a keto-friendly side.
11. Shake Shack
Shake Shack can be keto-friendly if you’re ready to forego a bun.
Choose a burger with a lettuce wrap instead of potato buns. The classy burger patty contains zero carbs and 12g of fats, while the lettuce wrap consists of 1g of net carbs. Feel free to load up on a Smokeshack coated with cheese and bacon.
12. TGI Friday
The ambiance, hot food, and drinks are worth looking forward to when you visit TGI Friday. While appetizers are in demand, you can hop on the burger train at this keto-friendly restaurant.
Preferably, opt for a green-style burger, bacon-wrapped shrimp, and wings. Want more greens? Consider a Million Dollar Cobb Salad with grilled chicken.
13. Starbucks
Want a fresh-brewed coffee that won’t impact ketosis? Swing by Starbucks for some coffee to start your day.
You can’t customize your salads and sandwiches there, but they have some keto-friendly menu options you can turn to. Sous vide egg bites, cheese, and meat trays will fit your keto diet.
14. California Pizza Kitchen
Are you on a keto diet and can’t have pizza? Salads are your go-to at this keto-friendly restaurant.
What’s not to love about a protein-packed California Cobb Salad? The chicken, avocado, basil, eggs, bleu cheese dressing, and Gorgonzola makes the salad a must-have. Another sumptuous meal option is the cedar-plank salmon with a green salad.
15. Pret A Manger
The sandwich shop chain has healthy options on its menu. However, you’ll need to carefully select your meals since some contain sugar, calories, and high sodium.
Low carb options at Pret a Manger include Tuna Nicoise Salad, Egg and Avocado Protein Pot, Smoked Salmon and Egg Protein Pot, etc.
16. Chick-Fil-A
Chick-Fil-A is the place to be if you crave chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, chicken strips, and nuggets. Choose from the breakfast sandwiches on the menu to kickstart your day.
Avoid English muffins or biscuits here. When you get famished at lunchtime, you can order a grilled chicken sandwich without buns or Cobb Salad with grilled chicken to sustain you through the afternoon.
17. Cracker Barrel
Though Cracker Barrel specializes in traditional southern cooking, you’ll find Grilled Sirloin Steak and Lemon Pepper Grilled Rainbow Trout as part of its keto-friendly offerings.
A benefit to eating here is that you can mix and match your entrees and sides to meet your nutritional needs. Satisfy your hunger with simple wraps and sides like coleslaw, cottage cheese, and salads.
18. Cheesecake Factory
From the name, you may think that Cheesecake Factory offers only cheese, but it has over 250 menu items.
If you are a keto dieter, save yourself the hassle of glancing through the endless menu and locate the restaurant’s Skinnylicious section, where you’ll find grilled salmon, lettuce-wrap tacos, and salads, to name a few.
19. P.F. Chang’s
At first glance, this Chinese restaurant’s noodles and rice dishes seem to have the majority stake of the menu item at P.F. Chang’s. But some dishes will fit into your keto eating plan.
Asian Caesar Salad topped with Salmon, Egg Drop Soup, and Hot and Sour Soup Cup are crave-worthy foods to eat at this restaurant. Like some keto-friendly restaurants, P.F. Chang’s allows you to customize your dishes.
20. Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Carrabba’s menu is chock full of carbs, but items like Grilled Asparagus with Prosciutto, Tuscan Grilled Fillet, Chicken Marsala, and The Polla Rosa Maria make the keto diet attainable. With flavorful dishes on its menu, you won’t miss eating pizza.
21. Seasons 52
The keto-friendly menu options at Seasons 52 will make you want to visit almost every day. The menu features four keto-friendly appetizers below 10g of carbs.
With an extra side, you’ll enjoy their appetizers and savory Lobster BLT Lettuce Wraps.
22. True Food Kitchen
This high-priced restaurant has a keto menu that offers keto-friendly food suggestions. Little wonder, True Food Kitchen ranks among the best keto-friendly restaurants around. A good pick is their seasonal ingredient salad with grass-fed beef.
23. Subway
Sandwiches and bread likely come to mind at the mention of Subway. So long you skip the bread, though, the sandwiches and salads are low-carb options if you’re on a ketosis journey.
Order their Chicken and Bacon Ranch Chopped Salad if you want a filling meal.
24. Applebee’s
Applebee’s has a wide range of keto-friendly proteins, including ribeye steak, grilled chicken breast, broccoli cheese soup, and sirloin with shrimp dipped in a creamy parmesan sauce.
These meals are a win if you’re on a keto plan. So embrace low carbs and let the croutons and appetizers take the back burner.
25. Chipotle
Hands down, Chipotle is a keto eater’s haven since it offers several keto-friendly options. While the restaurant is popular for its burritos and salads, its Keto Salad Bowl is crave-worthy as it contains tomatillo, carnitas, red chili salsa, and guac. Who needs tortillas from Chipotle when you have a perfect keto meal option?
Conclusion for Keto-Friendly Restaurants
This wraps up our list of best keto-friendly restaurants. With limited keto dishes on the menu of many restaurants, you’ll have to plan your meals, especially when you’re eating out.
So, pick and choose your spots from this list and savor the incredible keto servings. Stay keto!
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Erin is the mother of identical twin girls and their slightly older brother. She is a domestic engineer, and previously had a career leading customer service teams for a major HVAC company. Cleaning without harsh chemicals, and cooking easy and usually healthy meals are part of Erin's daily life. She volunteers with youth leaders, and genuinely wants to help others win. Erin has a degree in Communications, with a focus on Broadcast Journalism.