Yes, a keto diet and Mexican food can work together, as long as you build your meal around meat, cheese, vegetables and avocado and go light on the tortillas, rice, beans and chips. Keto is a very low carbohydrate way of eating, and a lot of the starch in Mexican food sits on the outside of the dish, in the tortilla or on the side of the plate. Take that away and you’re left with grilled meat, peppers, onions, cheese and salsa, which fit the plan pretty well.
We’re a family restaurant in Aurora, not dietitians, so we won’t tell you how many carbs you should eat or promise any results. If you’re following keto for a health reason, your doctor or a dietitian is the right person to guide you. What we can do is tell you which of our dishes are easiest to adapt and how to ask for them. Everything we make is made to order, and almost anything can be prepared the way you like.
What is a keto diet, in plain terms?
A ketogenic diet keeps carbohydrates very low and gets most of its energy from fat, with a moderate amount of protein. The goal for most people is to shift the body into using fat for fuel. In everyday terms, that means cutting back on bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, sugar and most fruit, and leaning on meat, eggs, cheese, nonstarchy vegetables, nuts, oils and avocado.
People follow keto for different reasons and in different ways. Some are strict, some are more relaxed, and some do a general low carb diet that isn’t technically keto. Whatever version you follow, the same ordering ideas apply. You’re looking for the protein and the vegetables, and you’re asking us to hold the starches.
Which Mexican foods are high in carbs?
It helps to know where the carbohydrates hide. Tortillas, both flour and corn, are mostly starch. So are chips, taco shells and tostada shells. Rice is starch. Beans are a great food for a lot of diets because they bring fiber and protein, but they also carry a fair amount of carbohydrate, so most people on strict keto skip them or keep them small. Potatoes and fries are high in starch, and so are desserts like sopapillas and churros.
Sauces and chili are a gray area. Many chili sauces are mostly peppers, onions and spices, but some are thickened, and the amount you use matters. That’s one reason we suggest asking for chili on the side. You still get the flavor, and you decide how much goes on your food.
How to order keto friendly Mexican food at El Chubby’s
A lot of our best low carb options live on the specialties menu. Here are the swaps our kitchen can make for you.
The Carne Asada Bowl or Chicken Asada Bowl is a natural starting point, since a bowl skips the tortilla from the start. Our carne asada is thin strips of steak grilled with jalapeños, onions and tomatoes, so you get protein and vegetables cooked together. Ask us to leave out any rice or beans, and add guacamole or sour cream if you want more fat.
The Carne Asada Plate or Chicken Asada Plate works the same way. Ask for it without tortillas and skip any rice and beans, and you have a plate built around grilled steak or chicken. Add a side of guacamole from the sides menu and it’s a satisfying meal.
Taco salads are another good choice. Order a taco salad without the shell, and you get the fillings without the fried tortilla underneath. Salsa, sour cream and guacamole all fit well here, and chili on the side keeps you in control of the amount.
The Steak Order comes with three steak tacos, rice, beans and sliced avocado. If you love that plate, ask for the steak and avocado without the tortillas, rice and beans. It won’t look like tacos anymore, but it’ll taste like them.
Breakfast can work too. Huevos con Chorizo or Steak Rancheros are built around eggs and meat, so ask us to leave off the tortillas and any starchy sides. Since everything is made to order, just tell the counter what to skip.
Burgers are an option as well. Any burger can be smothered with your choice of chili, and you can ask to skip the bun and the fries. A bunless bacon cheeseburger smothered in hot green chili is a pretty good low carb lunch.
A few simple habits that make it easier
Ask for chili on the side. We make our green chili fresh every day, and we offer hot green, mild green and red. Having it on the side lets you enjoy the flavor while keeping track of how much you’re having.
Skip the chips if they tempt you, and use salsa as a topping on your meat instead. Fill up on protein and fat first. A plate of grilled steak with guacamole and cheese tends to be filling, and you’ll be less likely to miss the rice.
And be clear when you order. Something like “carne asada plate, no tortillas, no rice or beans, chili on the side” tells us exactly what you want, and it’s an easy request for us to make.
If you’re not strictly keto and just want to eat a little lighter, we have a broader guide on how to eat healthy at a Mexican restaurant that covers more of the menu.
Can you enjoy Mexican food and still stick to your plan?
You can. Mexican food has a lot of flavor in its meats, peppers, onions, salsas and chili, and none of that depends on a tortilla. The trick is knowing which parts of the plate to keep and which to leave behind, then asking for it the way you want it.
We’ve been cooking at 1191 S Abilene St in Aurora since 1991, and we’re happy to make your meal fit your plan. Stop by for dine-in, takeout or the drive-thru, or order online for pickup or delivery and add your notes to the order.
