REGIONAL CHAIN · DC/NATIONAL · FOUNDED 2005
Elevation Burger
Organic better-burger. Hand-cut fries in olive oil. Dedicated fryer.
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At a glance
Vegetarian
Suitable
Plant-based: hand-cut potatoes in olive oil with salt.
Vegan
Suitable
Per Vegetarian Resource Group confirmation: "No meat items are prepared in the same fryer." Olive oil, dedicated fryer.
Gluten-Free
Suitable
Dedicated fryer for fries. In recent years, all fried menu items (onion rings, chicken tenders) transitioned to gluten-free breading — making the entire fryer celiac-safe.
Dairy-Free
Suitable
No dairy in fries or oil. Skip the "fancy" and "fiery" seasonings which contain milk.
Kosher
Caution
Ingredients kosher-compatible; no kosher certification.
Halal
Caution
Some locations serve halal beef per patron reports, but no chain-wide halal certification.
Elevation Burger is the eighth all-green chain on Frypedia — and the only chain in the atlas frying fries in olive oil. Founded in 2005 in Falls Church, Virginia, as the nation's first organic hamburger chain, Elevation hand-cuts its own potatoes and commits to a dedicated fryer where no meat items are ever prepared. In recent years they extended the commitment: breaded onion rings and chicken tenders are now gluten-free, making the entire fryer celiac-safe. The olive oil choice is unusual — more expensive than canola and with a lower smoke point — but it's the chain's distinguishing feature.
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Nutrition facts
Elevation Burger's published nutrition data for the serving size most comparable to an industry "medium" order. Values shown are per-serving and calculated against FDA 2020 Daily Values.
For comparison across chains, see our rankings pages — lowest sodium, lowest saturated fat, lowest calorie, and more.
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Ingredients, line by line
Annotated ingredient list
- Fresh potatoes Fine — Hand-cut in-store. Standard Russet-variety potatoes. No flavored coatings.
- Olive oil Fine — The distinguishing ingredient. The only national chain frying fries in olive oil. Monounsaturated-fat-dominant rather than the polyunsaturated-fat blends used by most chains.
- Salt Fine — Applied after frying, lightly.
VERBATIM FROM VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP ⓘ
"Elevation Burger cuts its own potatoes and fries them in olive oil. There are no flavored coatings on the potatoes nor any flavorings in the oil. We were also told that no meat items are prepared in the same fryer." — vrg.org investigation, with information provided by Elevation Burger employees.
Why olive oil matters in this category
Most fast-food chains fry in soybean, canola, or peanut oil. These are cheap, high-smoke-point, and relatively flavor-neutral — but they are also polyunsaturated-fat-heavy, which degrades faster under repeated heating. Olive oil is monounsaturated-fat-dominant, more heat-stable than people often assume, and carries a distinctive flavor that's readable in the finished fry. It's also substantially more expensive per gallon than canola. Elevation's commitment is a business cost that sits in the "brand promise" category.
The fryer story has gotten better over time
Early celiac patron reports (circa 2015-2018) noted that while fries were dedicated-fryer, chicken tenders were wheat-breaded — making cross-contact possible if a location shared fryers. In recent years, Elevation transitioned all breaded items to gluten-free breading. Patrons now report: "All the breading on chicken is gluten free!!! Had fried chicken tenders for the first time in forever." The entire Elevation Burger fryer is now gluten-free, which is rarer still than a dedicated-fries fryer.
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Oil & fryer setup
Primary oil
Olive oil
The only national chain frying fries in olive oil. Higher-cost, more flavor-forward than standard vegetable blends.
Fryer setup
Dedicated (fries + GF-breaded items only)
Per Elevation Burger: no meat items prepared in the same fryer. In recent years, the chain transitioned all breaded fried items (chicken tenders, onion rings) to gluten-free breading — making the entire fryer celiac-safe.
Cross-contamination
Minimal
Dedicated fryer, olive oil, GF breading across all fried items. Among the cleanest fryer setups in fast-casual.
Format
Hand-cut fresh
Fresh potatoes hand-cut in-store. No frozen product. No seasoning blends on plain fries (the "fancy" and "fiery" upgrades contain milk).
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Top-9 allergen status
Per the FDA's nine major allergens, as disclosed by Elevation Burger for Hand-Cut Olive Oil Fries.
✓ Milk
✓ Wheat
✓ Egg
✓ Soy
✓ Peanut
✓ Tree Nut
✓ Fish
✓ Shellfish
✓ Sesame
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Frequently asked questions
Are Elevation Burger's fries vegan?
Yes — Elevation Burger's fries are vegan by ingredient. Per Vegetarian Resource Group confirmation: "No meat items are prepared in the same fryer." Olive oil, dedicated fryer.
Are Elevation Burger's fries gluten-free?
Yes — Elevation Burger's fries are gluten-free by both ingredient and preparation. Dedicated fryer for fries. In recent years, all fried menu items (onion rings, chicken tenders) transitioned to gluten-free breading — making the entire fryer celiac-safe.
What oil are Elevation Burger's fries cooked in?
Elevation Burger's fries are cooked in Olive oil. Full oil and fryer details — including whether the fryer is shared with breaded items — are documented on this page.
Are Elevation Burger's fries dairy-free?
Yes — Elevation Burger's fries are dairy-free by ingredient and preparation. No dairy in fries or oil. Skip the "fancy" and "fiery" seasonings which contain milk.
How many calories are in Elevation Burger's fries?
A regular hand-cut olive oil fries order of Elevation Burger's fries contains 380 calories, 18g total fat (3g saturated fat), 310mg sodium, 48g carbs, and 5g protein. Source: Elevation Burger allergen/nutrition site (2023).
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In the wild
Elevation's hand-cut olive-oil fries, alongside an organic grass-fed burger.
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Sources
Every claim on this page is sourced. If a source is wrong, dated, or missing, tell us — we update quickly.
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Important — read before you eat
Ingredient formulations change, sometimes with no public announcement. Allergen risk at any fast-food restaurant depends on the specific location, the time of day, and the staff on shift. For severe allergies, confirm ingredients with the restaurant at the point of ordering, and when in doubt, ask about fryer and equipment cross-contact. This page is an independent reference — not medical advice.
