Finding a totally WAPF-compliant restaurant is a challenge! There are some places that only used approved oils that have recently incorporated unapproved seed or vegetable oils. As a point of reference, I will list restaurants that have WAPF approved ingredient quality and will make notes for items I avoid on their menus, whether for specific ingredients or oils. Some of the “bad oils” to avoid are corn, canola, cottonseed, sunflower, safflower, soy, grapeseed, and rice bran oils. Other organic seed oils, like sesame, fragile nut oils, and organic olive oil should not be heated.
I will give full disclosure that my family rarely eats out because it is so hard to find a place that checks all of my boxes but the establishments listed below check enough boxes (sometimes with a few menu exclusions) that we occasionally enjoy a meal away from home.
WAPF has recommendations on the 12 Spoons website. There is also an app available called Seed Oil Scout with recommendations for establishments that are seed oil free or can make substitutions (but ingredient quality, even at restaurants NOT using seed oils, is not always what I want it to be).
Wild Pastures, Boulder
Wild Pastures is affiliated with the same people who brought you PaleoValley meat sticks and supplements. There meats are all pasture-raised and there is grass-fed tallow in their fryer…major bonus to have organic french fries again! Unfortunately, their buns are currently conventional. While they make their cheese in house, the ingredients are not organic so I skip cheese as well. There isn’t a bad oil in sight, so indulge in whatever sauces pique your interest. The keto milkshakes are really delicious and don’t contain sugar…I’m pretty sure the ingredients for the shakes aren’t organic but the pasture-raised dairy was worth the small exception.
Zeal, Boulder
100% grassfed beef and lamb from nearby Buckner Farms, coconut oil in the fryer, traditionally fermented dosa batter, and organic, housemade sourdough are my main reasons for going to zeal but their organic smoothies are also great. They use as many organic ingredients as possible but you may need to ask questions if an ingredient is a concern. They use sunflower oil in some of their sauces and dressings so I avoid those but didn’t have any problems asking questions on the phone or in person.
Dry Storage, Boulder
Organic, heirloom grains are the base for their lightly sourdough croissants and breads…a wonderful treat if you get there early enough for a good selection.
JustBe Kitchen, Boulder, downtown Denver, DTC
Another 100% gluten free restaurant, the original, downtown location of JustBe Kitchen is right off of I-25 near the big REI downtown. Their tortillas are not to be missed and staff is very helpful if there are allergens you need to avoid. My kids love JustBe’s sweet potato hashbrowns. The kitchen only uses coconut oil and olive oil in their dishes so you’re safe there.
True Food Kitchen, Denver/Cherry Creek
While True Food is a chain, they have better ingredient quality than your other options. They do use grapeseed oil in some dishes so I always double check with the server before ordering but I know I can always get a grass-fed burger or an incredible bowl.
**Some people think Flower Child (in Boulder and Denver/Cherry Creek) is a good option and, while they have some good ingredients (grass-fed beef, wild fish) I have found that bad oils are in almost everything. They have kombucha on tap, which is great, but I don’t choose to eat here anymore because the bad oil piece is SO important!**