Are Steakhouses Keto-Friendly? Your Guide to Guilt-Free Dining

December 27, 2025 •

4 min read

Approximately 70-80% of calories in a ketogenic diet should come from fat, making a steakhouse, with its fatty cuts of meat and rich sauces, a surprisingly good fit for low-carb dining. However, navigating the menu requires knowledge to avoid hidden carbohydrates lurking in sides and glazes.

Quick Summary

Steakhouses are naturally aligned with the ketogenic diet due to their focus on high-fat, high-protein meats. This guide outlines how to order keto-compliant appetizers, main courses, and sides, while avoiding high-carb pitfalls like bread, potatoes, and sugary sauces. Discover clever menu customizations to stay in ketosis.

Key Points

Steakhouses Are Keto-Friendly: The core offerings of high-protein, high-fat meats like steak and prime rib align well with ketogenic macros.
Choose the Right Cuts: Fatty cuts such as ribeye, T-bone, and prime rib are best for increasing fat intake. Leaner cuts are also acceptable but may need extra fat.
Smart Sides are Essential: Avoid high-carb sides like potatoes and fries, and opt for non-starchy vegetables cooked in butter or olive oil, such as asparagus, mushrooms, or broccoli.
Control Your Sauces and Toppings: Ask for steaks without sugary glazes or marinades. Request extra butter or stick to simple, low-carb sauces, confirming their ingredients with your server.
Modify Your Order: When in doubt, ask for simple cooking methods and request ingredient swaps, such as asking for no croutons on a salad or substituting a veggie for a starchy side.
Strategize Appetizers and Dessert: Skip the bread basket and fried starters. Opt for shrimp cocktail, oysters, or a simple salad. Avoid all traditional desserts.

Savoring Steakhouse Fare on a Keto Diet

While a steakhouse might seem like a dieter's nightmare, it is, in fact, one of the easiest restaurants to navigate on a ketogenic diet. The core of any steakhouse menu—high-quality cuts of meat—are naturally carb-free and rich in protein and fat, fitting perfectly within keto macros. The secret lies in strategy: knowing what to order, what to modify, and what to avoid completely. A simple protein and non-starchy vegetable combination is the foundation of a successful keto steakhouse meal.

The Keto Steak: Prime Cuts and Ordering Tips

When ordering your main course, the steak itself is almost always a safe bet. Fatty cuts of meat are a keto dieter's best friend. Ribeyes, T-bones, and prime rib are excellent choices, providing a healthy dose of dietary fat. Leaner cuts like filet mignon or sirloin are also fine, but you may need to add extra healthy fat to your meal to meet your macros. When ordering, always specify how you want your steak cooked and, crucially, how you want it prepared.

Request no sugary glazes or marinades. Many steakhouse marinades contain sugar to enhance flavor, so it's best to ask for a plain, unseasoned steak. If you want flavor, use salt, pepper, or butter.
Ask for extra butter. Butter is a fantastic source of healthy fat. Request a side of butter to melt over your steak for added flavor and fat content.
Avoid sauces with a sugary base. Be cautious of sauces like barbecue or teriyaki. Peppercorn or bearnaise sauces can often be keto-friendly, but it's wise to double-check the ingredients with your server.

Keto-Friendly Appetizers and Starters

Resist the temptation of the bread basket, loaded potato skins, and fried calamari. Instead, opt for these delicious and low-carb alternatives:

Shrimp Cocktail: A classic choice, as shrimp and cocktail sauce without added sugar are perfectly keto.
Side Salad: Order a side salad with leafy greens and a simple vinaigrette (olive oil and vinegar) or a low-carb dressing like ranch or blue cheese on the side. Always ask for no croutons.
Oysters on the Half Shell: A naturally low-carb and protein-rich appetizer.
Stuffed Mushrooms: Confirm the stuffing contains keto-friendly ingredients, such as cheese and herbs, rather than breadcrumbs.

Navigating the Side Dish Gauntlet

The most challenging part of a steakhouse meal is often the side dishes, which are frequently loaded with hidden carbs. Skip the mashed potatoes, fries, and creamed corn. Opt instead for non-starchy vegetables.

Grilled or Steamed Asparagus: Often served simply with butter and salt, making it an ideal keto side.
Sautéed Mushrooms: A savory and fat-friendly side, usually cooked in butter.
Broccoli or Green Beans: Request them steamed or sautéed in butter and ask for extra butter or olive oil.
Cauliflower Mash: Many modern steakhouses now offer this as a low-carb alternative to potatoes.

Comparison Table: Keto-Friendly vs. Non-Keto Steakhouse Options


Item Category	Keto-Friendly Choices	High-Carb Alternatives (Avoid)
Entrées	Ribeye, Filet Mignon, Grilled Salmon, Lobster Tail, Pork Chops	Breaded or sugar-glazed meats, pasta dishes
Sides	Sautéed Spinach, Grilled Asparagus, Sautéed Mushrooms, Side Salad (no croutons)	Mashed Potatoes, French Fries, Creamed Corn, Baked Potato, Rice
Sauces	Herb Butter, Bearnaise (verify ingredients), Peppercorn Sauce (verify ingredients)	Barbecue Sauce, Teriyaki Glaze, Sweet Chili Sauce
Appetizers	Shrimp Cocktail, Oysters on the Half Shell, Cheese Plate	Bread Basket, Loaded Potato Skins, Fried Appetizers
Desserts	Berries with a dollop of whipped cream (check for sugar)	Any Cake, Cheesecake, or Ice Cream

Crafting a Keto-Compliant Meal

To build a satisfying keto meal, start with a high-fat, high-protein entrée. A prime rib or a New York strip is an excellent foundation. For a leaner cut like a filet, ask for extra butter or opt for a rich blue cheese topping. For sides, pair your meat with a large side salad with an oil and vinegar dressing and a portion of grilled asparagus or sautéed mushrooms. For a Brazilian steakhouse, enjoy the wide variety of meats, cheeses, and salad bar items, but be wary of sugary dressings and glazed meats. This approach ensures you meet your macros without compromising flavor or satisfaction. One resource that offers good insight into general principles for dining out keto is available here: https://naturalforce.com/blogs/nutrition/eating-out-on-keto.

Conclusion: A Keto-Friendly Culinary Haven

Steakhouses can be a culinary haven for those on a ketogenic diet, provided they are approached with a solid plan. By focusing on simple, high-quality meats and non-starchy vegetables, and making a few key substitutions, you can enjoy a delicious and indulgent meal without breaking ketosis. The key is to communicate your dietary needs clearly to your server, ensuring a truly guilt-free dining experience. With this guide, you can confidently navigate any steakhouse menu and enjoy a flavorful, keto-compliant feast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a full steak dinner can be keto-friendly by focusing on the meat and choosing appropriate low-carb side dishes like steamed broccoli, asparagus, or sautéed mushrooms instead of potatoes or bread.

Fattier cuts of steak like ribeye or T-bone are excellent choices for keto, as they provide a higher fat content. You can also opt for leaner cuts like filet mignon and add extra butter to boost the fat content.

Many steakhouse sauces, especially those with sugary bases like barbecue or teriyaki, are not keto-friendly. Stick to simple preparations with salt, pepper, and butter, or ask for a simple peppercorn or bearnaise sauce, confirming ingredients with your server.

To avoid hidden carbs, always ask your server about the ingredients in glazes and sauces. Request to swap starchy sides for non-starchy vegetables like broccoli or spinach, and skip the complimentary bread basket.

Safe keto appetizers include shrimp cocktail (check cocktail sauce for sugar), oysters on the half shell, or a simple side salad with oil and vinegar dressing and no croutons.

Stick to water, unsweetened iced tea, or black coffee. Some alcoholic beverages are lower in carbs, but it's best to consult a guide for keto-friendly alcohol. Avoid sugary sodas, juices, and most cocktails.

Yes, steakhouse salads can be keto-friendly, but with modifications. Order your salad with no croutons, and choose a low-carb dressing like ranch, blue cheese, or a simple oil and vinegar. You can also ask for extra avocado for healthy fats.