6 Unhealthiest Meals You Can Order in Restaurants

Dining out is often a chance to indulge in delicious food, but some menu items can be nutritional nightmares. With oversized portions, high amounts of sodium, unhealthy fats, and sugar, certain restaurant meals can quickly derail even the healthiest eating habits. While it is fine to treat yourself occasionally, it’s essential to recognize when a meal is loaded with hidden dangers. Here are six of the unhealthiest meals you can order in restaurants—dishes that might look tempting but can seriously impact your health.

1. Loaded Nachos with Extra Toppings

Nachos are a beloved appetizer or shared snack, but when fully loaded, they transform into a calorie and fat explosion. Restaurants often pile nachos high with ground beef, sour cream, multiple layers of cheese, guacamole, jalapeños, and salsa. While each of these toppings adds flavor, they also add excessive calories, unhealthy fats, and sodium. A large platter of loaded nachos can exceed 2,000 calories—more than most people should consume in an entire day. The high sodium content from both the chips and processed toppings is particularly concerning, contributing to high blood pressure and heart problems. While sharing might reduce your portion size, the temptation to overeat on such a calorie-dense dish is hard to avoid, making loaded nachos one of the unhealthiest restaurant options.

2. Fried Chicken and Waffles

This Southern classic may seem like comfort food at its finest, but fried chicken and waffles is a nutritional disaster. The crispy, golden-brown fried chicken is loaded with unhealthy trans fats and sodium due to the deep-frying process, while the waffles, often doused in sugary syrup, are made from refined carbohydrates. This meal can easily top 1,500 calories, and its mix of fat, sugar, and sodium can leave you feeling sluggish and bloated. The high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat in the fried chicken, combined with the sugar rush from the syrupy waffles, make this dish especially harmful for those looking to maintain heart health or manage their weight. Though it may taste delicious, the combination of fried food and sugary carbs is one to avoid when aiming for a healthier dining experience.

3. Deep-Dish Pizza with Meat Toppings

Pizza is often considered a go-to comfort food, but deep-dish pizza, especially when loaded with meat toppings, can be one of the unhealthiest meals you can order. Deep-dish pizza is known for its thick, buttery crust that holds layers of cheese, meat, and sauce. While the dish may be satisfying, it is packed with unhealthy ingredients. A single slice of deep-dish pizza can easily surpass 500 calories, but most people eat two or more slices, making this meal reach between 1,500 and 2,000 calories per serving. The combination of refined carbohydrates from the crust, saturated fat from the cheese, and processed meats like pepperoni and sausage contributes to high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease. Additionally, the sodium content is through the roof, with a single slice often exceeding 1,000 milligrams of sodium, more than half the recommended daily intake. This indulgent pizza might be delicious, but it’s one of the worst choices for your health.

4. Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine Alfredo may appear to be a simple pasta dish, but don’t be fooled by its innocent appearance. This creamy Italian dish is one of the unhealthiest meals you can order in a restaurant. The sauce, made from heavy cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese, is loaded with calories, fat, and sodium. One serving of Fettuccine Alfredo can pack in over 1,200 calories and upwards of 60 grams of fat, much of which is unhealthy saturated fat. The portion sizes at many restaurants are often much larger than what you’d make at home, increasing the calorie count even more. When you add garlic bread or breadsticks on the side, the calorie and fat content can easily skyrocket. If you’re watching your heart health or trying to maintain a balanced diet, this indulgent pasta dish is definitely one to skip.

5. Cheeseburger with Bacon and Fries

The classic cheeseburger and fries combination may be a staple of American dining, but when you add bacon to the mix, it becomes one of the most unhealthy meals you can order. A typical bacon cheeseburger is made with a fatty beef patty, a slice or two of cheese, and strips of bacon, all of which are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. The average cheeseburger with bacon can easily contain over 1,000 calories on its own, but when you add a side of fries, the calorie count skyrockets even further. A large serving of fries alone can add another 500 calories, making this meal a caloric and fat-laden bomb. The high levels of sodium, cholesterol, and trans fats from both the burger and fries contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity. While it may be a popular choice, the bacon cheeseburger with fries is one of the unhealthiest options available at any restaurant.

6. Fish and Chips

Fish is generally considered a healthy protein, but when it’s battered and deep-fried, as in the classic fish and chips dish, it becomes one of the unhealthiest meals you can order. The fish is typically coated in a thick batter made from refined flour and then deep-fried in oil, which absorbs an excessive amount of unhealthy trans fats. A typical serving of fish and chips can contain over 1,200 calories, much of it coming from the deep-fried batter and greasy fries. The dish is also incredibly high in sodium, with salt being added to both the fish and the fries. The high fat content, especially trans fats, and the large portion sizes make fish and chips a particularly poor choice for those concerned about heart health, cholesterol levels, or maintaining a healthy weight. While the dish may be delicious, the negative health effects far outweigh the enjoyment.

Final Thoughts

Dining out can be an enjoyable experience, but it’s important to be mindful of the nutritional value of the meals you order. Many restaurant dishes are loaded with excessive calories, unhealthy fats, sodium, and sugar that can harm your health if consumed regularly. The six meals highlighted in this list are some of the worst offenders when it comes to unhealthy restaurant options. From deep-fried indulgences to heavy, creamy pasta dishes, these meals can sabotage your efforts to maintain a healthy diet. The next time you dine out, consider choosing lighter options that are grilled, baked, or steamed, and save these calorie-packed meals for very rare occasions. By making more mindful choices, you can enjoy eating out without compromising your health or wellness goals.