Everything Keto at El Pollo Loco

The basics of ordering Keto at El Pollo Loco

• Ketchup has a lot of sugar, so while it may not knock you out of ketosis, it is typically not recommended on a keto diet.

• Water, coffee and tea are safe beverages for keto. You'll want to avoid soda completely. Diet sodas like Diet Coke, Coke Zero, and Diet Pepsi are all sugar free and keto-friendly. However, the artificial sweeteners in these drinks are known to increase sugar cravings, so we would not recommend them [Source].

What Counts as Keto?

Keto doesn’t necessarily mean zero carbs. A keto diet typically limits net carb intake to less than 50 grams per day—stricter versions of keto can be as low as 20 grams of net carbs a day. [Source]

What are net carbs and why do people doing keto count them instead of total carbs? Net carbs equal total carbs minus fiber, because the carbs in fiber are not digested and don’t cause the blood sugar increase that knocks you out of ketosis. [Source]

We’ve made a tool that lets you filter El Pollo Loco menu items by net carbs. By default, this tool will show menu items under 20g of net carbs. Everybody has a different ketosis threshold, but most people will need to get under 50g net carbs to reach ketosis. General advice for people starting with this diet is to start with 50g, and go lower if your body is not reaching ketosis.

If you’re trying to eat a low-carb diet rather than a keto diet, we recommend you check out the list of low-carb menu items at El Pollo Loco. How many carbs is low-carb? This depends on your weight, but is typically defined as less than 130g of carbohydrates per day [Source].

What Restaurants are Keto Friendly?

If you’re new to keto, you might be struggling with adjusting to this new way of eating. After all, it's not just a diet change, but an entire lifestyle change. Not only are your options more limited than ever, but sometimes you have to [explain what you're doing] to the people you're dining with!

Luckily in the few years alone, keto has gone from a niche diet a mainstream one. The spotlight has only grown on keto-friendly meals, with its proven track record of helping people with weight loss, as well as blood sugar control for type 2 diabetes [Source].

More and more restaurants are beginning to introduce low carb options to cater to those following a keto diet. Here are some our recommendations if you're looking for keto-friendly options at Chicken restaurants.

Chipotle

One of the most popular fast-casual restaurants, Chipotle offers a variety of keto-friendly options. For your entrée, you can choose from a chicken, steak, or carnitas burrito bowl with lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Just be sure to skip the rice and beans.

Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A is another great option for those following a keto diet. For your main entrée, you can choose from a grilled chicken sandwich (without the bun of course), grilled nuggets, or a Cobb salad. And don’t forget to add a side of avocado ranch dressing – it’s delicious!

Panera Bread

Panera Bread is a great place to go for a quick and healthy meal. For your main entrée, you can choose from a variety of salads, including the popular Greek salad and the chicken Caesar salad. Just be sure to ask for no croutons and skip the bread.

P.F. Chang’s

P.F. Chang’s is a great option if you’re looking for something a little more filling. For your main entrée, you can choose from a variety of chicken, steak, and shrimp dishes. Just be sure to ask for no rice.

Texas Roadhouse

Texas Roadhouse is the classic place to go when you’re craving a steak. For your main entrée, you can choose from a variety of steak, chicken, and shrimp dishes. As long as you don’t get rice you are eating very keto-friendly!

These are just a few of the many keto-friendly restaurants that are out there. Next time you’re feeling hungry, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to find a delicious and keto-friendly meal.

On our Every Keto Option At Every Fast Food Chain Index, we have keto options at restaurant. Good luck, and happy ketosis!