If you’ve ever bitten into a fast food fry and thought, “These just don’t taste like they used to,” you’re not imagining things. Decades ago, beef tallow was the gold standard for deep-frying—giving fries that unmistakably rich, savory flavor and perfectly crisp texture. But with the rise of vegetable oils and changing health trends, most chains ditched tallow in favor of cheaper, supposedly “healthier” alternatives. Thankfully, a few beloved restaurants are bringing back the old-school magic. These 6 chains still fry their potatoes in beef tallow, delivering a crave-worthy experience that’s as nostalgic as it is delicious.
1. Steak ‘n Shake
The classic diner chain made waves in early 2025 by returning to tradition. Steak ‘n Shake now fries everything—from their thin, crispy fries to onion rings and chicken tenders—in 100% beef tallow. This bold move wasn’t just about flavor nostalgia; it was a deliberate step away from processed seed oils.
Customers immediately noticed the difference. The fries emerge from the fryer with a distinctive golden-brown exterior that shatters satisfyingly with each bite, revealing a fluffy interior. The natural beef fat imparts a subtle richness that vegetable oils simply cannot replicate.
The chain proudly advertises this cooking method as part of their commitment to quality ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. For anyone seeking that authentic mid-century diner experience, their tallow-fried potatoes deliver a taste of American food history.
2. Popeyes
Louisiana flavor runs deep at Popeyes, where beef tallow is the unsung hero behind their famous Cajun fries. The chain has quietly maintained this traditional cooking method while competitors switched to cheaper alternatives. That distinctive Popeyes taste you can’t quite put your finger on? It’s the rich depth that only comes from beef fat.
Their signature fries feature a rustic, skin-on appearance with a generous coating of Cajun seasoning that sticks perfectly to the tallow-fried exterior. The high-heat stability of beef fat means these fries maintain their crunch longer than most fast-food offerings.
Beyond fries, the same beef tallow works magic on their legendary fried chicken, creating that unmistakable crust that’s kept fans coming back for decades. The combination of beef tallow and Cajun spices creates a flavor profile that’s impossible to duplicate at home.
3. Smashburger
Smashburger elevates side dishes to star status by using beef tallow across their entire fried menu. Their rosemary-garlic-olive oil thin-cut fries develop an almost glass-like crispness that conventional oils simply cannot achieve. The beef fat amplifies the herb infusion, creating layers of flavor in every bite.
Sweet potato fries get the same royal treatment, with the natural sugars caramelizing beautifully in the tallow. The result is a perfect balance of sweet and savory that makes these orange beauties addictively good. Perhaps most impressive is what happens to their Brussels sprouts.
These often-divisive vegetables transform into crunchy, nutty delights when kissed by beef fat at high temperatures. The outer leaves become paper-thin chips while the centers remain tender. This commitment to traditional cooking methods proves that sometimes the old ways really are the best ways.
4. Buffalo Wild Wings
Few pleasures match the satisfaction of biting into perfectly crisp wings. Buffalo Wild Wings achieves their signature crunch through beef shortening—a purified form of tallow that maintains all the flavor benefits with excellent heat stability. This old-school approach explains why their wings develop that distinctive texture fans crave.
The same beef fat works wonders on their fries, which develop a sturdy exterior that stands up beautifully to dipping sauces without going soggy. Even their vegetable options like cauliflower wings benefit from this traditional cooking method, with the mild beef flavor complementing rather than competing with their famous sauce selection.
Sports bar food isn’t typically associated with culinary tradition, but Buffalo Wild Wings’ commitment to beef tallow represents a refreshing resistance to cutting corners. This cooking method creates a depth of flavor that keeps customers returning even when there’s no game to watch.
5. Outback Steakhouse
The iconic Bloomin’ Onion—that spectacular spiral-cut, deep-fried onion—owes much of its cult following to beef tallow. Outback Steakhouse uses this traditional fat to create the perfect golden petals with a distinctive savory note that vegetable oils could never deliver.
The beef fat penetrates the batter, creating a rich flavor foundation that perfectly complements their signature dipping sauce. Their French fries follow the same cooking philosophy. Hand-cut daily and cooked to order in beef tallow, they develop a rustic, golden exterior with a fluffy interior.
As a steakhouse, Outback’s use of beef byproducts represents a nose-to-tail approach that reduces waste while maximizing flavor. This commitment to traditional cooking methods aligns perfectly with their Australian outback theme, where practical, flavor-forward cooking has always been valued.
6. Portillo’s
Portillo’s takes a middle-ground approach that honors tradition while accommodating modern preferences. Their crinkle-cut fries and onion rings are cooked in a blend that combines vegetable oil with beef tallow. This clever compromise delivers the flavor benefits of animal fat while maintaining a slightly lighter profile.
The distinctive crinkle cut creates more surface area for the beef tallow to work its magic, resulting in fries with alternating zones of crispness and tenderness. Their onion rings develop a substantial crunch that protects the sweet onion inside, creating the perfect textural contrast in every bite.
Portillo’s has been serving Chicagoland since 1963, and this balanced approach to frying represents their evolution while respecting culinary heritage. For many Midwest natives, these fries taste like childhood—a testament to how cooking methods become embedded in our food memories and regional identities.
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