141 Comments of Pure Restaurant Wisdom
Okay, so the Keto Twins dropped a video this week called "What We Actually Order on Keto When We Eat Out" and the comment section turned into a goldmine. Over 141 comments of people sharing their personal restaurant survival strategies, and honestly? Some of these are genius.
Whether you're strict carnivore or just keeping it animal-based, eating out is one of those things that sounds simple until you're actually sitting at a table staring at a menu full of breaded, sauced, and carb-loaded everything. The community has figured this out though, and the hacks are worth knowing.
The Restaurant Playbook (By Cuisine)
What I love about the comment section is how specific people got. This isn't generic "just order a steak" advice. These are tested, real-world orders from people who eat out regularly and have figured out exactly what works.
Mexican Restaurants
One commenter who has a standing biweekly lunch with her best friend shared her go-to: taco salad without the taco bowl and beans, with side sour cream and salsa. "They accommodate me without a problem," she wrote. That got 43 likes, which tells you a lot of people have been quietly doing the same thing.
Fajitas are another easy win. You get the sizzling plate of meat and just skip the tortillas. Most Mexican places won't even blink.
Pizza Places
Here's one that surprised me. Multiple commenters mentioned crustless pizza bowls. One person wrote: "Our corner pizza place has a crustless pizza bowl. It is so delicious that everyone loves it!" Papa John's apparently has a pizza bowl option now. And if your local place doesn't, you can always just order toppings on a plate. It feels weird the first time. After that, you realize you were only ever eating pizza for the toppings anyway.
Chinese and Asian Restaurants
One commenter found a great hack at their local Chinese buffet: the Mongolian grill station. "I get beef, egg, and onion with a lite or no sauce," they wrote. This is smart because you control exactly what goes on the plate and can skip the sugar-heavy sauces that hide in almost every Chinese dish.
And yes, sushi bars will accommodate you. One person mentioned ordering sushi rolls without the rice. "You get all your favorite ingredients without the carbs." Sounds weird until you try it. It's basically sashimi with extras.
Burger Joints
This one's the easiest. Lettuce-wrapped burgers are basically mainstream now. One commenter gets a triple cheeseburger from Steak 'n Shake and gives the bread to their dogs. Most fast food chains have some kind of bunless option at this point.
The Corn Starch Warning (Read This Before Ordering Wings)
This might be the most important hack in the entire thread, and it's not really a hack. It's a warning.
One commenter dropped this: "Be careful when ordering wings because some places coat the wings in corn starch before frying them to make them crispier and you will not be able to tell once cooked. Always ask them if they do anything to the wings before and after cooking them."
That comment got 11 likes and probably saved a lot of people from unknowingly eating a bunch of starch. It's one of those hidden carb traps that even experienced carnivore eaters miss. The wings look perfectly fine. They taste perfectly fine. But they've got a coating you didn't ask for.
Same goes for grilled chicken at some places. Marinades often contain sugar, soy sauce, and other ingredients you'd rather avoid. Always worth asking.
The "Eat Before You Go" Strategy
One commenter said something that made me laugh: "'Eat before you go' was my motto before going to my in-laws for dinner."
And look, this strategy gets a bad reputation because it sounds like you're giving up. But it's actually one of the smartest approaches for situations where you know the food options are going to be limited. Holiday dinners at someone else's house. Work potlucks. Birthday parties at restaurants where the menu is fixed.
Eating a solid meal beforehand means you're not starving when you get there, you're not making desperate food choices, and you can focus on actually enjoying the social part of the event instead of stressing about what's on your plate.
If you've dealt with the social pressure side of eating differently, we covered that whole dynamic in our piece on carnivore in social settings without becoming "that person".
The Purse Hack (Yes, Really)
One commenter casually mentioned bringing supplies in her purse: keto barbecue sauce, pork rinds, and even cauliflower rice. And while that might sound extreme to some people, it's actually pretty practical for someone managing a strict dietary protocol.
For strict carnivore, the purse version might be simpler. A packet of salt (restaurant food is sometimes under-seasoned for our taste), maybe some butter in a small container if you're that committed, or just your electrolyte packets. Speaking of electrolytes, one person mentioned carrying LMNT packets everywhere and mixing them into unsweetened iced tea at restaurants. That's a solid move.
If you're still dialing in your electrolyte protocol, Sarah wrote the full breakdown on dosing sodium, magnesium, and potassium and it's worth bookmarking. Restaurant meals are actually a good time to supplement since you don't always know how much sodium is in what you ordered.
The Mindset Shift
The comment that stuck with me most was from someone who wrote: "The most challenging aspect of the Keto lifestyle is to be in a social setting where food is involved. And it is always involved. But the more I just decline graciously, without feeling like I have to explain or justify myself, the more confident I become."
That's the real hack, honestly. All the menu tricks and restaurant orders help, but the actual breakthrough comes when you stop feeling like you owe everyone an explanation for what's on your plate.
Another commenter put it perfectly: "Do the best you can in any given situation, and move on." That's it. That's the entire restaurant strategy in one sentence.
Quick Reference: The Community's Top Orders
- Steakhouse: Steak and a side salad (easiest restaurant for carnivore, obviously). I dragged my non-carnivore friend Jess to a legendary Tampa steakhouse last fall, and she ordered the ribeye just to humor me. One bite and her exact words were, "Okay, I get it now." Sometimes the best pitch for this way of eating is just sharing a really good steak.
- Mexican: Fajita meat, taco salad without the bowl, carne asada plate
- Italian: Meatballs with sauce (hold the pasta), antipasto plates
- Chinese: Mongolian grill (beef and eggs, skip sauce), steamed meat dishes
- Burger joint: Lettuce-wrapped burgers, bunless with extra patties
- Pizza: Crustless pizza bowl, toppings-only order
- Sushi: Sashimi, riceless rolls
- Breakfast/brunch: Eggs, bacon, sausage (the easiest meal to eat out carnivore)
Breakfast and brunch were called out by multiple commenters as the easiest restaurant meal for this way of eating. Every diner in the country can give you eggs, bacon, and sausage without any modifications needed.
The Bottom Line
Eating out on carnivore isn't the obstacle it feels like in the beginning. The community has been doing this for years and the playbook is pretty well established at this point. Check the menu online before you go. Ask questions about preparation methods. Don't be afraid to make substitutions. And if all else fails, eat before you leave the house and enjoy the company. Having quality meat ready at home makes that strategy way easier. If sourcing good beef is still a pain point for you, a ButcherBox subscription means you've always got steaks on hand for a quick meal before heading out.
If you're still in your first month and everything feels complicated, our first 30 days guide covers the adjustment period and why it gets easier. Because it really does get easier.