A person could be forgiven for thinking that there are no keto-friendly options at a restaurant called the Cheesecake Factory; in fact, there are actually plenty of choices for the low-carb lifestyle. Be aware that the portions at this restaurant tend toward the enormous, and order accordingly.
What are the 12 best Cheesecake Factory keto options? To stay keto-friendly at the Cheesecake Factory, focus on the meat and vegetables. Don’t be shy about asking to omit or substitute parts of the meal, or to order from the “wrong” parts of the menu.
One of the best ways to get what you want and stay within your desired macros is to make the menu work for you. If you want to get an appetizer as an entrée, go ahead. If you want to swap out high-carb sides for fresh grilled vegetables, just ask.
You can also ask the server to split your meal and wrap up half in the kitchen. Cutting carb counts in half makes many more menu items keto-friendly, and the portions here are so huge that you’ll be plenty satisfied anyhow.
The 12 Keto Options to Eat at Cheesecake Factory
California Omelet: This is a solid choice any time of the day. It is made with eggs, two types of cheese, avocado, mushrooms, tomatoes, onion and garlic, and sour cream – all for only 8 grams of net carbs.
Note that it also has 1140 calories and 96 grams of fat. This is probably at least two meals; splitting it in half also means that you drop down to 4 grams of net carbs.
Seared Tuna Tataki Salad: Enjoy seared rare Ahi tuna over mixed greens with wasabi vinaigrette, avocado, and tomato. It has 12 grams of net carbs as served, and if you skip the tomato, it will have even fewer.
Grilled Branzino with Mediterranean Salsa: The delicious fish filet is topped with tomatoes, garlic, and herbs in olive oil, and accompanied by fresh vegetables. You get protein, good fats, and 9 grams of net carbs.
Buffalo Wings: This is in the appetizer portion of the menu, but you can certainly order it as your entrée. Macros are 1120 calories, 109 grams of protein, 69 grams of fat, and 14 grams of net carbs. Split it in half and the carb count also splits in half.
Glamburger (without the bun): Order any of the Cheesecake Factory’s famous Glamburgers without the bun; they can wrap it in lettuce or serve it knife-and-fork style. Macros depend on which one you choose, but any of them should fit nicely into a keto diet. Skip mayo, ketchup, and sauces.
Choices include Bacon-Bacon Cheeseburger, Factory Burger, Stuffed Cheddar Burger, Smokehouse BBQ Burger (omit onion strings), Mushroom Burger. Sandwiches work here too, such as California Cheese Steak and Southwest Chicken Sandwich.
Spinach, Mushroom, Bacon, and Cheese Omelette: This comes in at only 2 grams of net carbs for the omelette. The menu lists it with breakfast potatoes, which are not keto-friendly, but you can substitute green beans or any other low-carb vegetable.
Crispy Crab Bites: From the appetizer section of the menu, these little crab cakes are served with a keto-friendly mustard sauce. The total counts are 410 calories, 15 grams of protein, 31 grams of fat, 19 grams of total carbs, 2 grams of fiber, and 17 grams of net carbs.
Skinnylicious Tuscan Chicken: You get grilled chicken and vegetables with balsamic vinaigrette, served over whole-grain farro. This meal is high in protein and fiber at 590 calories, 81 grams protein, 21 grams fat, 19 grams of total carbs, 5 grams of fiber, and 14 grams of net carbs.
Grilled Steak or Salmon: Steak choices include New York strip, ribeye, and filet mignon. The menu shows mashed potatoes, but ask to substitute a side salad, sautéed spinach, broccoli, or grilled asparagus. Macros vary depending on your choices, but this should work with a keto diet plan.
Farm-Fresh Eggs: Two eggs, any style. They come with breakfast potatoes and bread; as above, ask to substitute low-carb veggie sides. The eggs come in at 260 calories, 17 grams of protein, 20 grams of fat, and 3 grams of carbs.
You can also add sides of bacon or grilled ham for extra protein without extra carbs (the ham has 1 gram of carbs, bacon has zero).
Stuffed Mushrooms: This appetizer dish features mushrooms stuffed with herbs and cheeses, and served in a wine sauce. They are high in protein and fat and low in carbs at 510 calories, 15 grams of protein, 42 grams of fat, 19 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber, and 15 grams of net carbs.
For a mix-and-match keto feast, pair the mushrooms with the farm-fresh eggs listed directly above.
Pan-Seared Branzino with Lemon Butter: This mild white fish filet is served with butter, lemon, and fresh vegetables. It’s a protein-packed, keto-friendly meal at 880 calories, 47 grams of protein, 71 grams of fat, 14 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber, and 10 grams of net carbs.
What to Avoid at the Cheesecake Factory
Unfortunately, the first answer here has to be cheesecake! It’s loaded with white sugar and served on a graham cracker or cookie crust. None of the desserts are keto-friendly.
Even their “low-licious” cheesecake has 30 grams of net carbs; however, if you split it with a dining companion or take half of it home, it just might work if you’re careful with the rest of the food.
Otherwise, if you’re dining with a group who insists on ordering dessert, get a coffee and ask the kitchen to top it with unsweetened heavy cream and a dash of cinnamon for a zero-carb treat.
Other foods to avoid include anything battered and fried, pasta, pizza, burgers or sandwiches with their buns, French fries, pancakes and waffles, and any sweet beverages.
What Other Restaurants Does the Cheesecake Factory Own?
The Cheesecake Factory also owns and operates the North Italia, Flower Child, and Grand Lux Café restaurants and the RockSugar Southeast Asian Kitchen. If you’ve reviewed the menu items here, look for similarities at their other restaurants.
What Are the Most Extravagant Dishes at the Cheesecake Factory?
The Crispy Chicken Costoletta comes in at 2610 calories and the Bistro Shrimp Pasta is the highest-calorie entrée offered at any national chain restaurant at 3210 calories and 89 grams of saturated fat.
Why Is the Cheesecake Factory Menu So Huge?
The Cheesecake Factory menu reads like a book with about 250 items at any one time, and menu items are changed out twice a year (for 40 years!). The menus are bound like books and are intended, at least in part, to spur conversations among diners.
Can I Get Extra Sauce?
As much as you want! If there’s a particular sauce that you like and it fits into your macros, just stop by the bakery. They’ll sell you a bottle that you can take home. The Cheesecake Factory makes about 100 sauces fresh every day.
Can I Make Cheesecake Factory Food at Home?
Yes, you can. The Cheesecake Factory has customer favorite recipes on their website, including Tuscan Chicken, so that you can make the dishes at home in your own kitchen. Better yet, you can adapt them to be keto-friendly and enjoy them without the guilt.
