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Report Cards · Qdoba

Qdoba Seed Oil Report Card

GradeA
Avg PUFA/item3.9g
Items analyzed136
Cooking oilSoybean oil throughout
From the chain94%

Based on our menu research, Qdoba cooks with: canola and soybean oil. Across the 136 menu items we analyzed, it averages 3.9g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of A (Low Risk).

What oil does Qdoba fry in? The full answer

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Safest Orders at Qdoba

Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.

ItemPUFA
Brisket Birria0.4g
Ground Beef0.7g
Pork Carnitas0.9g
Street Style Pork Carnitas Tacos2.7g
Plant-Based Impossible3.0g

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What to Avoid at Qdoba

ItemPUFA
Double Protein Post-Workout Bowl (Steak)34.5g
Southwest Steak Burrito23.5g
QuesaBirria Quesadilla21.9g
Chicken Nachos (3-Cheese Queso)20.1g
Chicken Nachos (Queso Diablo)19.7g

Every Qdoba item, ranked

All 136 items we have for Qdoba, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.

ItemPUFA
Pico de Gallo0.0g
Salsa Roja0.0g
Salsa Verde0.0g
Roasted Tomato Salsa0.0g
Habanero Salsa0.0g
Chile Corn Salsa0.0g
Pickled Jalapenos0.0g
Pickled Red Onion0.0g
Apple Sauce0.0g
Barq's Root Beer (Regular)0.0g
Barq's Root Beer (Large)0.0g
Caffeine Free Diet Coke (Regular)0.0g
Caffeine Free Diet Coke (Large)0.0g
Cherry Coca-Cola (Regular)0.0g
Cherry Coca-Cola (Large)0.0g
Coca-Cola Zero (Regular)0.0g
Coca-Cola Zero (Large)0.0g
Coca-Cola (Regular)0.0g
Coca-Cola (Large)0.0g
Diet Coke (Regular)0.0g
Diet Coke (Large)0.0g
Diet Dr Pepper (Regular)0.0g
Diet Dr Pepper (Large)0.0g
Dr Pepper (Regular)0.0g
Dr Pepper (Large)0.0g
Fanta Orange (Regular)0.0g
Fanta Orange (Large)0.0g
Hi-C Flashin Fruit Punch (Regular)0.0g
Hi-C Flashin Fruit Punch (Large)0.0g
Mello Yello (Regular)0.0g
Mello Yello (Large)0.0g
Minute Maid Lemonade (Regular)0.0g
Minute Maid Lemonade (Large)0.0g
Minute Maid Light Lemonade (Regular)0.0g
Minute Maid Light Lemonade (Large)0.0g
POWERade Mountain Berry Blast (Regular)0.0g
POWERade Mountain Berry Blast (Large)0.0g
Gold Peak Classic Blend Tea (Regular)0.0g
Gold Peak Classic Blend Tea (Large)0.0g
Gold Peak Southern Tea (Regular)0.0g
Gold Peak Southern Tea (Large)0.0g
Gold Peak Classic Sweet Tea (Regular)0.0g
Gold Peak Classic Sweet Tea (Large)0.0g
Sprite (Regular)0.0g
Sprite (Large)0.0g
Dasani Water (16.9 fl oz)0.0g
Coca-Cola Bottle (20 fl oz)0.0g
Diet Coke Bottle (20 fl oz)0.0g
Gold Peak Unsweetened Black Tea (16.9 fl oz)0.0g
Gold Peak Green Tea (16.9 fl oz)0.0g
Gold Peak Peach Tea (16.9 fl oz)0.0g
Gold Peak Raspberry Tea (16.9 fl oz)0.0g
Honest Kids Apple Juice Box0.0g
Jarritos Lime0.0g
Jarritos Mandarin0.0g
Jarritos Pineapple0.0g
Jarritos Strawberry0.0g
Mexican Coke0.0g
Minute Maid Kids Apple Juice Box0.0g
Simply Orange Juice0.0g
Vitamin Water Power C0.0g
Vitamin Water XXX0.0g
Vitamin Water Zero Squeezed Lemonade0.0g
Lowfat White Milk (8 fl oz)0.1g
Lowfat White Milk (7 fl oz, California)0.1g
Lowfat Chocolate Milk (8 fl oz)0.1g
Lowfat Chocolate Milk (7 fl oz, California)0.1g
Sour Cream0.3g
Brisket Birria0.4g
Black Beans0.5g
Pinto Beans0.5g
Shredded Cheese0.5g
Ancho Chile BBQ Sauce0.5g
Lite Sour Cream0.5g
Flour Tortilla (5.5")0.5g
Ground Beef0.7g
Queso Diablo0.8g
Pork Carnitas0.9g
Seasoned Brown Rice0.9g
3-Cheese Queso0.9g
Guacamole (2 oz)1.0g
Flour Tortilla (10")1.2g
Kids Side Black Beans with Cheese1.4g
Cilantro Lime Rice1.5g
Fajita Veggies1.8g
Guacamole (4 oz)1.9g
Flour Tortilla (12.5")2.1g
Crispy Tortilla Strips2.6g
Street Style Pork Carnitas Tacos2.7g
Loaded Tortilla Soup3.0g
Plant-Based Impossible3.0g
Grilled Adobo Chicken3.3g
Picante Ranch Dressing3.9g
Mexican Street Corn4.0g
Citrus Vinaigrette4.8g
Cheese Quesadilla5.0g
Kids Taco Meal5.0g
Chicken Burrito Bowl5.5g
Kids Quesadilla Meal6.0g
Chocolate Chunk Cookie6.0g
Spicy Tequila Lime Steak6.1g
Cholula Hot & Sweet Chicken Bowl6.3g
Fresca Chicken Bowl7.0g
Grilled Steak7.9g
Smoked Brisket Bowl8.0g
Steak Burrito8.0g
Chicken Quesadilla8.0g
Soft Flour Tacos (3, Chicken)8.0g
Crispy Corn Tacos (3, Ground Beef)8.0g
Churro Chips & Dip8.1g
Street Style Chicken Tacos8.2g
Chicken Queso Bowl8.4g
Chile Crema8.4g
Ground Beef Burrito9.0g
Brisket Birria Burrito9.0g
Cholula Hot & Sweet Chicken Burrito9.4g
Chocolate Brownie9.9g
Chicken Burrito10.0g
Steak Burrito Bowl10.0g
Fajita Veggie Post-Workout Bowl10.2g
Chicken Queso Burrito11.5g
Chips & Guac14.0g
Citrus Lime Chicken Salad14.2g
QuesaBirria Burrito14.4g
Three Cheese Nachos15.0g
Tortilla Chips15.1g
Chicken Protein Bowl15.3g
Queso Diablo & Chips15.4g
Chips & Queso16.0g
Steak Fajita Quesadilla17.0g
Queso Fundido & Chips17.6g
Chicken Nachos (Queso Diablo)19.7g
Chicken Nachos (3-Cheese Queso)20.1g
QuesaBirria Quesadilla21.9g
Southwest Steak Burrito23.5g
Double Protein Post-Workout Bowl (Steak)34.5g

Frequently asked

Does Qdoba use seed oils?

Based on our menu research, Qdoba cooks with: canola and soybean oil. Across the 136 menu items we analyzed, it averages 3.9g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of A (Low Risk).

What oil does Qdoba cook with?

Our research indicates: Soybean oil throughout — rice, grilled proteins, queso and tortillas all contain soybean oil; chips fried in a canola/soybean/sunflower vegetable oil blend. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.

Does Qdoba use beef tallow?

No. Our research indicates Qdoba cooks with canola and soybean oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.

Is Qdoba seed oil free?

No. Our research indicates Qdoba cooks with canola and soybean oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.

What is the safest thing to order at Qdoba?

Brisket Birria is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Qdoba, at an estimated 0.4g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.

What should I avoid at Qdoba?

Double Protein Post-Workout Bowl (Steak) is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Qdoba, at an estimated 34.5g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.

What are seed oils?

Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.

Compare other chains

Taco Bell · Chipotle · Moe's Southwest Grill · Del Taco · Taco John's · Taco Cabana

See where Qdoba lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.

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