Eating Out Friday: Fast Food Burger Chains

Low Carb at Fast Food Chains

*I live in Southern California and will be listing restaurants I am familiar with from my area of the world for my Eating Out Friday posts*

For my first Eating Out Friday I thought the classic fast food burger chain would be a good start.  It's easy, cheap and lazy when you just don't feel like cooking.  You shouldn't eat it every day but on occasion when it's just "one of those days" it can really hit the spot and not derail your Low Carb Lifestyle.  With that said, on to the goods!

Carls Jr aka Hardees:  One of the few restaurants that actual has low carb food on their regular menu.  I've listed those as well as some of the bigger items.  Order big as I don't feel like there's enough meat in regular size burgers to be filling without the bun.
Nutritional Calculator HERE.
Low Carb Six Dollar Burger - 8 net carbs (6 net carbs if no ketchup)
Low Carb Chicken Club - 6 net carbs
Mushroom Six Dollar Burger - 5 net carbs (request Low Carb Style)
Guacamole Bacon Six Dollar Burger - 6 net carbs (request Low Carb Style)
Santa Fe Turkey Burger - 4 net carbs (request Low Carb Style)
Santa Fe Chicken - 6 net carbs (request Low Carb Style)
Steak & Egg Breakfast Burrito NO TORTILLA - 6 net carbs (request served in a bowl)


McDonalds: You are pretty safe with any burger or charbroiled chicken sandwich, lettuce wrapped and no ketchup.  I've listed the bigger burgers to be more filling.
Menu Explorer HERE.
Angus Bacon and Cheese - 7 net carbs (request lettuce wrap)
Angus Mushroom and Swiss - 7 net carbs (request lettuce wrap)
Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese - 4 net carbs (request lettuce wrap and no ketchup)
Premium Grilled Chicken Club - 3 net carbs (request lettuce wrap)
Premium Grilled Chicken Ranch BLT - 2 net carbs (request lettuce wrap)
Premium Bacon Ranch Salad w Grilled Chicken - 6 net carbs (add 4 carbs for Caesar Dressing or Balsamic Vinaigrette.  Other flavors are more)
Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Salad - 6 net carbs (add 4 carbs for Caesar Dressing)
Side Salad - 3 net carbs (add 4 carbs for Caesar Dressing or Balsamic Vinaigrette)
Small Iced Coffee with Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup - 8 net carbs


In n Out: They have a pretty limited written menu but a much larger secret menu. :)  No official carb counts so I pulled the below one from fatsecret.com.  I highly suggest sticking with the double as their patties are pretty thin.
Double Double Protein Style (means 2 patties, 2 cheese and lettuce wrap) - 8 net carbs 


Anywhere you go, if you see a burger option on the menu, that's probably what you want to get.  Get plenty of bacon, cheese, avocado/guacamole or other low carb toppings but make sure to ask them to make it a lettuce wrap (or use a knife and fork) and no ketchup!

I know there are tons of other places so be on the lookout for next weeks Eating Out Friday!

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