Eating low-carb or keto doesn't mean you can never hit the drive-thru. Almost every chain has high-protein, low-carb options if you know what to order — usually by ditching the bun, the tortilla or the rice. We pulled real nutrition data from our database to rank the genuinely low-carb fast food options at the major chains.
Each item below is listed with its total carbs, so you can see exactly where it fits your daily carb budget. If you're hunting for keto fast food or just no bun fast food that won't blow your macros, this ranked list of real fast food keto options is built entirely from menu items you can order today — no secret-menu hacks required.
How we ranked these low-carb items
Every carb, protein and calorie figure below is official, brand-published nutrition data stored in our database and matched to the exact menu item. We ranked strictly by total carbohydrates so you can see, at a glance, which real menu items fit a keto or low-carb budget. Recipes and availability vary by country, so always confirm against your local menu before you order.
The lowest-carb fast food items
Ranked by total carbohydrates — these are real menu items, no "secret hacks" required:
| Chain | Item | Carbs | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nando's | Boneless Chicken Breast | 0 g | 56 g | 390 |
| Chipotle | Side of Chicken | 0 g | 32 g | 180 |
| Nando's | Boneless Chicken Thigh | 0 g | 28 g | 220 |
| Nando's | Pulled Chicken | 1 g | 46 g | 180 |
| McDonald's | Scrambled Eggs | 1 g | 13 g | 140 |
| Subway | Black Forest Ham (6″, no bread) | 2 g | 10 g | 60 |
| Nando's | Chicken Thigh Skewer | 4 g | 29 g | 240 |
| Dunkin' | Bacon & Cheddar Omelet Bites | 7 g | 17 g | 280 |
| Chipotle | Side of Queso Blanco | 7 g | 10 g | 240 |
| Domino's | Hot Buffalo Wings | 9 g | 15 g | 260 |
| Starbucks | Bacon & Gruyère Egg Bites | 9 g | 19 g | 300 |
How to order low-carb at each chain
#### McDonald's
Order any burger "no bun" — a McDouble or Double Cheeseburger becomes essentially beef and cheese. Scrambled Eggs (1 g carb, 13 g protein) are a clean keto breakfast. Skip the fries, hash browns and ketchup. See the McDonald's menu for the full line-up.
#### Subway
Ask for any sub "in a bowl" or as a salad instead of in bread. Black Forest Ham, turkey and grilled chicken fillings are all very low-carb once the bread is gone — just watch sweet sauces and croutons. Browse the Subway menu to see what's available.
#### Chipotle
Chipotle is one of the easiest keto chains: build a bowl with chicken or steak, cheese, guac, sour cream, lettuce and salsa, and simply skip the rice, beans and tortilla. A side of chicken alone is 0 g carbs and 32 g protein.
#### Nando's
Flame-grilled chicken is naturally zero-carb. Boneless Breast (0 g carb, 56 g protein) or thighs with a leafy side make a near-perfect keto plate. Avoid the rice, chips and rolls — see the Nando's menu for the grilled options.
#### Wings & egg bites
Plain or buffalo wings (avoid honey/BBQ glazes), Dunkin' omelet bites and Starbucks egg bites are all convenient low-carb snacks under 10 g carbs.
Keto fast food rules of thumb
- Lose the carrier: no bun, no tortilla, no rice, no breading.
- Beware sweet sauces: BBQ, honey-mustard, teriyaki and ketchup are sugar bombs. Stick to mayo, ranch, mustard, hot sauce or cheese.
- Drink zero-carb: water, diet soda, unsweetened iced tea, or black coffee.
- Eggs and grilled chicken are your friends at any time of day.
Want lower-carb without going full keto? Many of these picks also appear in our best fast food for weight loss guide, and you can compare carbs and protein across chains on our compare tool. And if you're vegetarian, see our McDonald's vegan & vegetarian options.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best low-carb fast food? Grilled chicken leads the way. Nando's Boneless Chicken Breast (0 g carbs, 56 g protein) and Chipotle's Side of Chicken (0 g carbs, 32 g protein) are the lowest-carb items we track, both with zero carbohydrates.
Can you eat keto at fast food restaurants? Yes — the key is losing the carrier. Order burgers "no bun", subs "in a bowl", and Chipotle bowls without rice, beans or tortilla. Eggs and grilled chicken are reliably low-carb at almost any chain.
What fast food has no carbs? In our data, Nando's Boneless Chicken Breast, Nando's Boneless Chicken Thigh and Chipotle's Side of Chicken all come in at 0 g carbs, while Nando's Pulled Chicken and McDonald's Scrambled Eggs are just 1 g.
Is Subway keto-friendly? It can be — order any sub as a salad or "in a bowl" to drop the bread. A Black Forest Ham filling without bread is just 2 g carbs (60 kcal). Watch out for sweet sauces and croutons.
All figures are official, brand-published nutrition data from our database. Recipes and availability vary by country, so always check before you order.
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