Good news: The keto diet trend is growing fast. (*)
Best news: More and more fast food places are adding keto dishes to their menus.
Eating fast food on keto used to seem like a farfetched dream. But now, it’s within every keto dieter’s reach.
Almost all famous fast food places already have low-carb options on their menu!
Don’t believe us?
Then you may want to check out our comprehensive list of the top 23 keto-friendly low carb fast food places!
Surprise: we have a few dessert shops on the list!
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get this show on the road!
23 Best Keto-friendly Fast Food Places
The first few places on our list are known for delivering the ultimate American comfort food—
Burger Chains
Fact: Burgers are the easiest and most accessible options keto dieters have. That’s why we placed burger joints at the top of our list.
Keto Tip: Remove the bread and avoid the fries and hash browns.
Let’s start with the world’s largest fast-food restaurant, not just in the US but worldwide.
1. McDonald’s
With over 13,428 locations all over the US, McDonald’s remains one of the most profitable franchises in the world, and there are many reasons why. (*)
In addition to its fantastic business model, McDonald’s remains at the top of the fast food game because of their low prices and amazing offerings.
That’s not all. Their crew will be more than willing to carry out a few tweaks to make your order keto. All you need to do is ask.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Breakfast Sandwiches
- Egg McMuffin: 3g net carbs
- Sausage McMuffin: 3g net carbs
- Sausage Biscuit: 1g net carbs
McBurgers
- McDouble: 3g net carbs
- Double Cheeseburger: 5g net carbs
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich: 2g net carbs
- Quarter Pounder with Cheese: 4g net carbs
- Big Mac: 5g net carbs
Salads
Keto Tip: Skip the croutons.
- Grilled Chicken Salad: 4g net carbs
- Side Salad: 1g net carb
2. Burger King
Of course, the second on our list is the second largest burger chain in the US.
This burger chain is known as the original home of the Whopper, which features a ¼ lb. patty made with 100% beef.
But more than that, they are also famous for their flame-broiled burgers, which are less greasy than other fast food burgers.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Flame-grilled Burgers
Keto Tip: Get it lettuce-wrapped.
Warning: The Impossible Burger Whopper may not suit people on the strict keto diet. (*)
- Whopper: 5.9g net carbs
- Bacon King: 10.3g net carbs
- Texas Double Whopper: 6.9g net carbs
- Hamburger: 0-1g net carb
Others
- Big Fish: 9g net carbs
- Chicken Jr.: 11g net carbs
3. Wendy’s
Of course, when creating this list, we cannot skip the home of the fresh, never-frozen beef!
Considered the third largest burger chain in the US, Wendy’s is known for not cutting corners regarding its ingredients. Case in point: their square patties. (*)
Puns aside, their menu is built on fresh and high-quality ingredients—from their never-frozen beef to the seasonal produce in their burgers and salads.
In addition to their delicious freshly cooked beef patties, their applewood smoked bacon is another reason keto dieters will love this fast food place.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Fresh-made Salads
Keto Tip: Order without the croutons.
- Parmesan Caesar Salad: 4g net carbs
- Southwest Avocado Salad: 10g net carbs
Hamburgers
Keto Tip: Order lettuce- wrapped.
- Baconator: 0-2g net carbs
- Big Bacon Classic: 1-3g net carbs
- Dave’s Single: 1-3g net carbs
Biscuits
- Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit: 0g net carb
- Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit: 0g net carb
4. Hardees/ Carl’s Jr.
Fun fact: Hardees and Carl’s Jr. are owned by the same company. (*)
Because of this, the items on their menu are quite similar. They just have different names.
The good thing is both menus are keto-friendly. (*)
Best Keto Tip: “low-carb” it.
When you order your burger low carb, it will be served with a lettuce bun instead of a traditional bun.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Charbroiled Burgers
- Famous Star with Cheese: 10g net carbs
- The Big Hardee: 11g net carbs
- Original Angus Cheeseburger: 8g net carbs
Biscuits
- Sausage and Egg Biscuit: 6g net carbs
- Loaded Omelet Biscuit: 0g net carb
5. In-N-Out Burger
At In-N-Out, quality is everything. That’s why they are known as one of the best burger joints in California.
Dedicated to delivering the needs and wants of their clients, In-N-Out continuously updates their menus with various interesting choices like Animal Style burgers, Double-Double, milkshakes, Hot Cocoa, and many more.
The menu update that all keto dieters should have their eyes on is the Protein Style burgers wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves instead of a bun.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
- Double-Double Protein-Style: 8g net carbs
- Hamburger Protein-Style: 8g net carbs
- Cheeseburger Protein-Style: 8g net carbs
6. Five Guys
Five Guys is the reigning burger chain in the UK, but it’s now slowly becoming popular in the US. (*)
This is not surprising since they have the most amazing French fries. But, unfortunately, you can’t have that on keto.
But here’s one thing you’ll surely love: their burgers come with a wide range of low-carb and high-fat toppings.
Plus, they offer more than just hamburgers. They have sandwiches and beef burgers, giving you plenty of options.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Burgers
- Hamburger: 0g net carb
- Cheeseburger: 1g net carb
- Bacon Burger: 0g net carb
- Bacon Cheeseburger: 1g net carb
Beef Dogs
- All Beef Hotdog: 1g net carb
- Bacon Dog: 1g net carb
- Bacon Cheese dog: 2g net carbs
7. Jack in the Box
Last on our list of burger joints is Jack in the Box. And true to its name, fast food has many tricks up in its sleeves.
They started by introducing their first-ever two-way drive-thru intercom. (*) It was followed by a series of mind-blowing branding (with multiple failed attempts).
Today, Jack in the Box has the most expansive menu among all the burger joints on the list. Their offerings range from burgers, chickens, and fries to late-night snacks and breakfast dishes.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Burgers
- Bacon and Swiss Buttery Jack: 2g net carbs
- Jack with Cheese: 2g net carbs
- Double Jack: 8g net carbs
Salads
- Chicken Club Salad: 5.7g net carbs
- Grilled Chicken Salad: 6.8g net carbs
Breakfast
- Breakfast Jack: 1g net carb
- Sausage Breakfast Jack: 1g net carbs
Chicken Joints
Okay, fried chicken is not exactly the best option for keto. But we tried our best to navigate famous chicken joints’ menus to find something low carb to suit your needs.
Here are the amazing options we discovered:
8. Chick-fil-A
Home to the best and original chicken sandwich, Chick-Fil-A is here to satisfy your chicken cravings.
In addition to their chicken sandwich, they are also famous for their delicious and amazing sauces. But, unfortunately, they won’t fit your keto diet.
Good news, there’s one sauce with 0g net carbs—their buffalo sauce!
That’s not all. Chick-Fil-A is quite a keto haven since you can order their sandwiches bunless. They also allow you to ditch the breaded chicken and have it grilled instead.
Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Chicken Options
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich (no bun): 7g net carbs
- Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich (no bun): 14g net carbs
- Grilled Nuggets (8ct): 1g net carb
Sides
- Side Salad: 10g net carbs
- Kale Crunch Side: 7g net carbs
9. Zaxby’s
Honestly, navigating Zaxby’s menu to find a low-carb option is not the easiest thing in the world. That’s because they have plenty of menu options. But unfortunately, not all of their dishes can fit the keto diet.
Because of this, you must ensure that you already have a plan. These should include:
- Ditching the sauces.
- Swapping boneless chicken with traditional wings.
- Ordering the sandwiches bunless and breadless.
- Ditching the toast and opting for grilled chicken for your zalads.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Try:
Chicken
- Traditional Wings (5 ct): 3g net carbs
- Traditional Wings (10 ct): 6g net carbs
Zalads
- The House Zalad: 5g net carbs
- The Cobb Zalad: 9g net carbs
- Blackened Blue Zalad: 9g net carbs
10. KFC
KFC should be the last fast food place to come to mind when we talk about keto.
But here’s one good news: it’s not completely off-limits.
You should avoid many KFC dishes on keto—baked beans, sandwiches, fried and battered chicken, and many more.
However, you can still find a few keto KFC dishes here.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Chicken
- Grilled Chicken (All Varieties): 0g net carb
- Nashville Hot Grilled Chicken: 0g net carb
- Original Recipe Chicken: 8.7g net carbs
Sides
- Small Caesar Salad: 1g net carb
- Green Beans: 2g net carbs
Dipping Sauces and Condiments
- Buttermilk Ranch: 2g net carbs
- Creamy Buffalo Dipping Sauce: 2g net carbs
11. Popeyes
With their menu brimming with deep-fried and breaded food items, Popeye’s isn’t the best option for keto dieters.
But if you have no other option, there’s only one low-carb dish that you can order—the Popeye’s Blackened Tenders.
What is it? Well, it’s a non-battered and non-breaded version of their chicken tenders. To make it flavorful, it’s coated with blackened seasoning.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
- Blackened Tenders (3 ct): 2g net carbs
- Blackened Tenders (5 ct): 3g net carbs
Sandwich Shops
If you’re in a hurry and have no time to prepare your meals, sandwich shops are your safest bets. Just ditch the breads, and you’ll get a low-carb meal rich in protein, fats, and fiber!
P.S. Our sandwich shop recommendations offer the most amazing sandwiches that will certainly make your keto diet more exciting.
12. Subway
Soups, subs, and salads—are the dishes that make Subway a keto heaven!
Fact: You can keto-fy just about any Subway sandwich.
And if you wish to amp up your fiber consumption, their salads are your best bet.
To stick to your low-carb diet, make sure to shy away from their creamy soups and sweet sauces like teriyaki and marinara.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Subs
- Italian BMT: 3g net carbs
- Classic Italian: 8g net carbs
- Roast Beef: 5g net carbs
- Subway Club: 2g net carbs
Protein Bowls
- Black Forest Ham Protein Bowl: 9g net carbs
- Chicken and Bacon Ranch Protein Bowl: 9g net carbs
- Oven-roasted Turkey Bowl: 8g net carbs
13. Jimmy John’s
Like Subway, you can order just about any sandwich in Jimmy John’s without the bread. They made it so easy for you that they have a name for breadless sandwiches—unwich.
When you order your unwiches, they wouldn’t just remove the bread. Instead, they will wrap the sandwich fillings with lettuce.
Not only will this option help lower your calorie and carbohydrate intake, but it can also boost your fiber consumption!
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Keto Tip: Avoid ordering a combo to save both money and carbs.
Favorites
- Spicy East Coast Italian Unwich: 9g net carbs
- Billy Club Unwich: 5g net carbs
- Hunter’s Club Unwich: 2.2g net carbs
Originals
- The Pepe Unwich: 5g net carbs
- Big John Unwich: 2g net carbs
- Tuna Unwich: 4g net carbs
14. Jersey Mike’s
This sandwich is known for offering a sub above all. This means that they make sure that their subways are of the highest quality at all times.
They use delicious red wine and vinegar blend, locally-grown produce, and freshly sliced and grilled meats to do this.
But more than that, Jersey Mike’s is another keto-friendly sandwich shop because it gives you the option to ditch the bread.
All you need to do is order the sandwich in a tub; they already know what to do!
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Cold Subs
- Jersey’s Favorite Shore: 9g net carbs
- The Veggie: 9g net carbs
- Club Supreme: 8g net carbs
Hot Subs
- Mike’s Famous Philly: 9g net carbs
- Big Kahuna Cheesesteak: 11g net carbs
- Chipotle Chicken Cheese Steak: 11g net carbs
15. Arby’s
Are you craving juicy and savory roast beef sandwiches? If so, then Arby’s is the sandwich place to go!
Good news: They recently expanded their menu to include healthier and leaner fillings like turkey, chicken, and many more.
And you can order all these without the bun!
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Slow Roasted Beef
- French Dip & Swiss (no au jus): 2g net carbs
- Fire-roasted Philly Roast Beef: 4g net carbs
- Smokehouse Brisket: 2g net carbs
Market Fresh
- Turkey Avocado Club: 5g net carbs
- Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich: 8g net carbs
- Turkey Gyro: 5g net carbs
Pizza
Pizza chains are the last to jump into the keto bandwagon. Most pizza chains have yet to introduce a keto-friendly option to their menu.
Luckily, we found two pizza chains that do. Here they are:
16. Blaze Pizza
Blaze is known for making its pizzas right in front of you. Not only that, they have a build-your-own pizza offering too!
As if that’s not enough, they recently upgraded their menu to include a keto-friendly option that has become quite popular—the Blaze Keto Crust.
This crust comprises cauliflower rice, mozzarella cheese, flaxseed, casein protein, whey protein, eggs, spices, yeast, and cultured brown rice.
Warning: Please remember that the keto crust (1g net carb) is different from their cauliflower crust. (14g net carbs).
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Keto Tip: Choose your toppings wisely.
Vegetable Toppings
- Spinach
- Green Bell Pepper
- Mushrooms
- Red Onions
Cheese Toppings
- Feta
- Parmesan
- Goat
- Ricotta
- Vegan
- Mozzarella
Protein Toppings
- Applewood Bacon
- Grilled Chicken
- Italian meatballs
- Italian Sausage
- Pepperoni
- Smoked Ham
- Salami
17. Papa John’s
Papa John’s is the latest fast food establishment to join the keto trend. And their entry is no other than the Papa John’s Crustless Pizza Bowls. (*)
It’s a mixture of their popular toppings (cheese, meat, and veggies) baked and served in a tub.
Warning: Despite their low-carb options, Papa John’s menu is still packed with high-carb meals, so make sure to choose wisely. (*)
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
- Alfredo Crustless Pizza Bowl: 12g net carbs
- Garden Veggie Bowl: 15g net carbs
- Italian Meats Trio Bowl: 18g net carbs
Mexican
Eating Mexican cuisines is the way to go if you want to add more flavor to your keto diet. While it may seem difficult to eat at Mexican fast food restaurants when on keto, you can succeed in doing so by sticking with the following tips:
- Ditch the chips, shells, and tortilla wraps.
- Replace beans and rice with salsa and guacamole.
- Shy away from quesadillas.
- Order meat entrees.
Now that we’ve got that covered. Here are the Mexican fast food restaurants that you can eat at:
18. Taco Bell
With over 7000 locations all over the US, Taco Bell is your most accessible option for satisfying your Mexican cravings.
When you order their tacos without the shells and wraps, they’ll serve them in a bowl so you can enjoy a convenient and hassle-free meal.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Bowls
- Mini Skillet Bowl (no potatoes): 5g net carbs
- Fiesta Taco Salad: 10g net carbs
- Power Menu Bowl: 6g net carbs
Burritos
- 5-Layer Beefy Burrito: 6g net carbs
- Steak Burrito: 1g net carbs
- Beef Burrito Supreme: 8g net carbs
19. El Pollo Loco
Famous for their fire-grilled chicken, you’re sure that you can find great keto options at El Pollo Loco!
In addition to fire-grilled meals, this is the home to the world’s first keto burrito. It’s packed with a lettuce blend, chicken breast, avocado slices, cabbage, pico de gallo, and a creamy cilantro dressing.
In short, it has everything you need to stay on keto.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Burritos and Tacos
- Keto Burrito: 9g net carbs
- Keto Taco: 5g net carbs
Bowls
- Grande Avocado Chicken Bowl: 3g net carbs
- Double Protein Mexican Caesar Bowl: 4g net carbs
Salads
- Double Chicken Avocado Salad (no corn): 4g net carbs
- Classic Tostada Salad: 4g net carbs
20. Chipotle
Tacos, bowls, and burritos are made right in front of you. This is what Chipotle is known for.
Despite the seemingly high-carb food items we’ve mentioned, Chipotle has lots of keto items in store for you.
Case in point: their guacamole that’s made with 48 handpicked perfect avocadoes, which are hand mashed throughout the day.
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
Keto Tip: The key to eating keto at Chipotle is to choose the right keto toppings, meats, and salsas.
Meats
- Barbacoa: 1g net carb
- Chicken 0g net carb
- Steak: 0g net carb
- Carnitas: 0g net carb
- Sofritas: 6g net carbs
Toppings
- Romaine Lettuce: 0g net carb
- Monterey Jack Cheese: 1g net carb
- Fajita Veggies: 4g net carbs
- Queso Blanco: 4g net carbs
- Sour Cream: 2g net carbs
- Guacamole: 2g net carbs
Salsa
- Tomatillo Green/ Red Chili Salsa: 3g net carbs
- Fresh Tomato Salsa: 3g net carbs
Cafes/ Desserts Shop
Coffee and dessert shops are the last places you want to visit when on keto. Well, not anymore. Most shops have already updated their menu to include a few keto-friendly items. Check them out below:
21. Starbucks
Starbucks may not be the best option if you want a full meal. However, they’re an excellent choice if you’re looking for a keto drink.
Best Low-carb Drinks to Order:
- Keto Frappuccino: 5.5g net carbs
- Keto Mocha: 5.3g net carbs
- Keto Pink Drink: 4.5g net carbs
- Keto Chai Tea Latte: 3.7g net carbs
22. Dunkin’ Donuts
On the other hand, Dunkin’ Donuts is more famous for its food items than its coffees (they seem a bit watery).
But good news: they’ve recently expanded their menu to include more keto options. So make sure to hold the bread on all their sandwiches, and you’re good to go.
Best Low-carb Dishes and Drinks to Order:
Sandwiches
- Sausage, egg, and Cheese: 3g net carbs
- Turkey sausage, egg white, and cheese: 6g net carbs
Drinks
- Keto Almond Joy Latte: 4g net carbs
- Cinnamon Low Carb Latte: 3g net carbs
23. Dairy Queen
You may know Dairy Queen for having the best dessert—Blizzards!
Unfortunately, you can’t eat that on keto.
The good news is, that DQ now has an extensive breakfast menu.
Best news: they are low in carbs (as long as you get rid of the bun)!
Best Low-carb Dishes to Order:
- Bacon Biscuit Sandwich: 3g net carbs
- Ham Biscuit Sandwich: 3g net carbs
- ½ lb Cheese GrillBurger: 6g net carbs
24. Dutch Bros
Dutch Bros keto drinks are a new line of low-carbohydrate, sugar-free beverages that are designed to help you stay on track with your keto diet. The drinks are sweetened with stevia, and they come in a variety of flavors including coffee, tea, and smoothies.
The Bottom Line
The idea of keto-friendly fast food may seem absurd to you before. Now, we’re pretty sure that this list has already changed your mind.
But we want to leave you with a gentle reminder. Just because the dishes are keto doesn’t mean they are high quality.
After all, fast food items are still fast food items, and you can’t expect them to be nutrient-dense. Because of this, it’s okay to consume fast food dishes only occasionally.
But if you want to maintain good health in the long run, you must prioritize well-balanced and nutritious meals in your diet.
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