Carnivore Diet Restaurant Guide: How to Eat Out
Eating out on the carnivore diet is simpler than most people expect: order a steak or burger patties, ask for butter instead of sauce, and skip the sides. The key is knowing which restaurants make this easy and which ones will be a struggle. Steakhouses, Brazilian steakhouses, burger joints, and Korean BBQ are your best friends. Fast casual chains with grilled options work in a pinch.
What Are the Best Restaurant Types for the Carnivore Diet?
Steakhouses (Best Option)
Steakhouses are built for carnivore dieters. The entire menu revolves around quality meat cooked simply.
What to order:
- Ribeye, NY strip, or filet mignon
- Ask for no seasoning blend (many contain sugar or garlic powder) — just salt and pepper
- Request butter on top instead of compound butters that may contain herbs
- Add a side of bacon or shrimp for extra protein
Watch out for: Pre-seasoned cuts, sugar-based glazes on certain items, and sides that automatically come with the plate.
Brazilian Steakhouses (Churrascarias)
This is the carnivore diet in restaurant form. Servers walk around with skewers of different meats and carve them directly onto your plate. Fogo de Chão, Texas de Brazil, and local churrascarias are all excellent choices.
What to order:
- Everything on the skewers — beef, lamb, chicken, pork, sausage
- Flip your card to green and let the meat keep coming
- Skip the salad bar entirely
Why it works: You pay a flat price for unlimited meat with no judgment about how much you eat. This is the ideal carnivore dining experience.
Burger Joints
Most burger restaurants will serve you patties without the bun. Five Guys, Shake Shack, In-N-Out, and local burger spots all accommodate this.
What to order:
- Double or triple patties, no bun, no toppings (or just cheese if you include dairy)
- Add bacon and extra patties
- At In-N-Out: order a “Flying Dutchman” (two patties with cheese, nothing else)
- At Five Guys: order a bunless burger with bacon
Watch out for: Seasoning blends on patties (ask if they use anything beyond salt and pepper) and cooking oils — most chains cook on a flat grill with butter, but ask to be sure.
Korean BBQ
Korean BBQ restaurants let you grill your own meat at the table, giving you complete control over what goes on your plate.
What to order:
- Unmarinated beef options: brisket (chadolbaegi), beef tongue, and plain short ribs
- Avoid marinated options (bulgogi, galbi) as these contain sugar, soy sauce, and other non-carnivore ingredients
- Pork belly (plain, unmarinated)
- Ask for salt and sesame oil for dipping
Watch out for: Many Korean BBQ meats come pre-marinated. Specifically ask for unmarinated cuts.
Breakfast Diners
Diners are surprisingly carnivore-friendly since they all serve eggs and bacon.
What to order:
- Eggs any style (scrambled, fried, over easy) — request cooking in butter
- Bacon, sausage patties, or ham
- Ask for a side of extra eggs instead of toast and hash browns
How Do You Handle Chain Restaurants on Carnivore?
Not every meal out will be at a steakhouse. Here are strategies for common chains:
| Restaurant | What to Order | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chipotle | Bowl with double steak or barbacoa, cheese, sour cream only | Skip rice, beans, salsa |
| McDonald’s | Quarter pounders, no bun, no ketchup | Ask for extra patties |
| Wendy’s | Baconator, no bun | Solid protein-to-cost ratio |
| Chick-fil-A | Grilled nuggets (contain some seasoning) | Not perfectly strict but workable |
| Cracker Barrel | Country ham, eggs, bacon | Skip all sides |
| Waffle House | Eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese | Simple and cheap |
| Applebee’s | Riblet platter or grilled steak | Ask for plain preparation |
The general rule: any restaurant that serves grilled meat can work for carnivore. You just need to customize the order.
How Do You Ask Servers to Modify Your Order?
Be direct and polite. Here is a simple script:
“I have some food sensitivities, so I need to keep things simple. Could I get the [steak/burger patties/chicken] cooked in butter instead of oil, with just salt for seasoning? No sauce, no sides. Could I substitute the sides for extra meat or eggs?”
Most servers handle special requests routinely. Tips for smooth ordering:
- Frame it as an allergy or sensitivity rather than a diet choice — kitchens take allergies more seriously
- Be specific: “cooked in butter” is clearer than “no oils”
- Tip well: You are creating extra work, and a good tip ensures great service next time
- Do not apologize: Your order is valid and restaurants want your business
How Do You Handle Social Pressure When Eating Out?
Social situations are often harder than the food itself. Here are tested strategies:
The simple explanation: “I am doing an elimination diet for some health stuff.” This usually ends the conversation. People understand medical dietary needs without needing details.
The redirect: If someone pushes back, say “It is working really well for me” and change the subject. You do not owe anyone a nutrition lecture at dinner.
The confident order: Order without hesitation or lengthy explanations. Confidence is disarming. If you act like your order is completely normal (which it is), others will treat it that way.
The pre-eat strategy: If you know the restaurant will have limited options, eat a small meal before going out. This takes the pressure off needing to find a perfect carnivore meal and lets you focus on the social experience. Even ordering a side of eggs or a plain burger patty is enough when you are not starving.
What Hidden Ingredients Should You Watch For?
Restaurants add non-carnivore ingredients to foods that seem safe:
- Seed oils: Most restaurants cook in soybean, canola, or vegetable oil. Request butter or ask if they have beef tallow.
- Sugar in rubs and marinades: Steak seasonings, BBQ rubs, and glazes frequently contain brown sugar or honey.
- Flour in scrambled eggs: Some restaurants (including IHOP) add pancake batter to scrambled eggs for fluffiness.
- MSG and seasoning blends: Many contain corn starch, sugar, or other fillers.
- Sauces: Almost every restaurant sauce contains sugar, seed oils, or both.
If you are strict carnivore, the safest order at any restaurant is: plain steak, cooked in butter, seasoned with salt only. If you are more relaxed in your approach, standard restaurant preparations are usually close enough, especially if you are a beginner still adapting.
How Often Can You Eat Out on the Carnivore Diet?
There is no limit, but home cooking gives you the most control over ingredients and is far more cost-effective. A realistic approach for most people:
- Daily meals: Home-cooked from your meal prep
- 2-3 times per week: Eating out or ordering in
- Special occasions: Enjoy a steakhouse dinner without stressing about seed oils
Using an app like Vore to track your meals makes restaurant eating easier because you can log the protein content of your order and see how it fits into your daily targets, even when you cannot control every ingredient.
Eating out does not have to derail your carnivore lifestyle. For more tips on making carnivore work in the real world, explore our Carnivore Diet Lifestyle hub.