Navigating Keto: Is PF Chang's Egg Drop Soup Keto?

November 7, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 20 studies indicate that the ketogenic diet is one of the most effective for weight loss in a relatively short time frame. For those on this low-carb journey, dining out can be a challenge, prompting the crucial question: Is PF Chang's egg drop soup keto?

Quick Summary

Restaurant-style egg drop soup, including PF Chang's, is often too high in carbohydrates for a ketogenic diet due to a cornstarch thickener. Homemade versions, however, can be easily modified to be low-carb by omitting starch.

Key Points

Hidden Carbs in Restaurant Soup: PF Chang's egg drop soup is thickened with cornstarch, making it unsuitable for a strict keto diet.
Cornstarch is the Culprit: The starchy thickener is the primary reason for the high carbohydrate content.
Control is Key with Homemade: Make your own keto egg drop soup at home using a keto-friendly thickener like xanthan gum or extra egg yolk.
Strategic Ordering at Restaurants: When dining out, avoid thick sauces, rice, and noodles, opting for plain proteins and low-carb vegetables.
Not All 'Gluten-Free' is Keto: A gluten-free item doesn't guarantee it's low-carb.
Plan Ahead for Success: Check a restaurant's nutritional information online before dining.

Understanding the Carb Count in Restaurant Egg Drop Soup

While a basic, homemade egg drop soup consisting only of broth and eggs is inherently keto-friendly, commercial and restaurant versions often include hidden carbohydrates. The primary culprit is the thickening agent used to achieve the classic viscous texture. Many restaurants, including PF Chang's, utilize cornstarch for this purpose. For those on a keto diet, which typically limits net carb intake to 20-50 grams per day, the addition of cornstarch can quickly push a dish over the acceptable carb limit.

Nutritional information from sources like CalorieKing and Nutritionix indicates that a bowl of PF Chang's egg drop soup can contain a significant number of carbohydrates. The general consensus is that the bowl size, in particular, contains too many carbs to fit into a strict ketogenic diet.

The Difference: Restaurant vs. Homemade Keto Egg Drop Soup

Restaurant egg drop soup typically uses cornstarch as a thickener and may include other high-carb flavorings. Homemade keto versions, in contrast, replace cornstarch with keto-friendly thickeners like xanthan gum or extra egg, use low-sodium flavorings, and often a high-quality bone broth base.

Comparison Table: Homemade Keto Egg Drop Soup vs. PF Chang's Bowl


Feature	Homemade Keto Egg Drop Soup	PF Chang's Egg Drop Soup (Bowl)	Consideration for Keto
Carbohydrate Source	Minimal to none (from vegetables)	Cornstarch thickener	High Risk. A significant source of carbs from the thickener makes the restaurant version non-keto.
Thickening Agent	Xanthan gum, extra egg yolk, or omitted entirely	Cornstarch	Crucial Distinction. The primary reason the restaurant version is not suitable.
Net Carbs	Typically 3g or less per bowl	Reportedly around 11g for 1/4 of a bowl serving, or as high as 43g for a full bowl.	High Risk. Varies by serving size but often exceeds typical keto limits.
Ingredients	High-quality broth, fresh ginger, garlic, eggs, soy sauce or aminos	Stock, ginger, soy sauce, eggs, green onions, and cornstarch	High Risk. Unknown quality of base ingredients and high carb thickeners.
Control	Full control over ingredients, carbs, and sodium	Dependent on restaurant's standard recipe	Full Control is Key. The ability to control ingredients is central to successful keto eating.

How to Enjoy Keto-Friendly Chinese Food

Successfully navigating the menu at PF Chang's or other Chinese restaurants while on a ketogenic diet requires a few strategic choices. Avoid thick sauces, skip rice and noodles (request extra vegetables instead), and focus on plain-prepared proteins and low-carb vegetables. Always deconstruct your order if necessary, and understand that restaurant egg drop soup is likely off-limits.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict

In summary, while egg drop soup can be keto-friendly in its simplest form, the version at PF Chang's is not suitable for a strict ketogenic diet due to the cornstarch thickener. A bowl can contain a significant amount of carbohydrates. The best approach for keto dieters is to make a low-carb version at home or strategically order at restaurants by avoiding thick sauces, rice, and noodles, opting for plain protein and extra vegetables.

Here is a delicious keto egg drop soup recipe from Low Carb Yum.

How to Make Keto Egg Drop Soup at Home

Use low-sodium chicken broth or high-quality bone broth.
Replace cornstarch with xanthan gum or an additional egg yolk.
Whisk eggs slowly into simmering broth.
Season with care, using low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos, fresh ginger, garlic, and white pepper.
Garnish with fresh green onions.

Can I Order Hot and Sour Soup Instead?

Likely Not Keto: Most restaurant hot and sour soups are also thickened with cornstarch and often contain additional carbs.

What About Other PF Chang's Menu Items?

Proceed with Caution: Many PF Chang's dishes may contain hidden sugars or starchy marinades. Check nutrition information online or ask for sauce on the side.

Is Gluten-Free Egg Drop Soup Always Keto?

No: Gluten-free doesn't mean low-carb; other starches can be used for thickening.

Can I Just Eat a Small Portion?

Depends: A small portion might not kick you out of ketosis, but the risk and carb density are high. For strict keto, it's generally best to avoid.

What if the Menu Description Seems Keto?

Assume Hidden Carbs: Many seemingly simple Asian dishes contain hidden sugars or starches, especially in sauces. Unless explicitly advertised as keto, assume it's not.

How to Plan Ahead for Restaurant Dining?

Check the Menu Online: Many restaurants have nutritional information available online to help you plan.

How Does the Keto Diet Affect the Body?

Metabolic Shift: Keto forces the body into ketosis, burning fat for energy instead of glucose, requiring consistently low carb intake.

Is It Possible to Maintain Ketosis While Dining Out?

Yes, with Strategic Planning: It's possible by focusing on whole foods, controlling portions, and being mindful of sauces and side dishes.

What is Xanthan Gum and is it Keto?

Xanthan Gum is Keto-Friendly: It's a zero-carb, plant-based thickener that doesn't impact blood sugar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, standard copycat recipes and general restaurant practices confirm that PF Chang's egg drop soup is thickened with cornstarch, which is a high-carb ingredient.

The carb count varies significantly by serving size. A large bowl can contain a high number of carbs, with some reports suggesting over 40 grams.

While it never hurts to ask, it is highly unlikely a restaurant can prepare a specific menu item like egg drop soup without its standard thickening agent.

You can use a small amount of xanthan gum or an additional egg yolk to achieve a thicker consistency without adding carbohydrates.

Opt for dishes with plain-prepared proteins and request extra low-carb vegetables instead of rice or noodles. Always avoid thick, sweet sauces.

No, hot and sour soup at most restaurants is also thickened with cornstarch and contains other high-carb ingredients, making it unsuitable for a keto diet.

Yes, by making egg drop soup at home with bone broth, eggs, and keto-safe seasonings, you can create a delicious and very low-carb meal.

Look out for rice, noodles, cornstarch (often used to thicken sauces), and added sugars in sauces. Avoid dishes with a sweet or glazed appearance.