In this guide:
Why Dark Horse Works for Macro Trackers
Dark Horse is a neighborhood bar and grill known for burgers, wings, and pub fare. If you are tracking macros and eating out regularly, knowing how to order here is essential — because the difference between a 350-calorie, high-protein meal and a macro-wrecking order is usually just one or two substitutions.
The menu has hidden gems once you know the protein-to-calorie math. MacroMate has mapped out 17 optimized Dark Horse builds — including the Double Chicken Sandwich (No Bun) at 640 cal / 104g protein for cutting and the Full Rack BBQ Ribs with Fries at 1,350 cal / 100g protein for bulking.
The key at Dark Horse is knowing which items carry their weight in protein and which ones front-load fat or carbs with minimal payoff. This guide breaks down the best builds in each category with exact macros straight from the MacroMate database.
Best Dark Horse Orders for Cutting
The Double Chicken Sandwich (No Bun) is the top pick when you are in a caloric deficit at Dark Horse. At 640 calories with 104g protein, the protein-to-calorie ratio of 0.163 puts it among the most efficient cuts on the menu. The instructions: Order the grilled chicken sandwich with two chicken breasts (if available) and ask for no bun or sauce; use lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle as your base This is the build to memorize for deficit days.
Double Chicken Sandwich (No Bun)
Order the grilled chicken sandwich with two chicken breasts (if available) and ask for no bun or sauce; use lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle as your base
When cutting, the goal is maximum protein per calorie consumed. The Double Chicken Sandwich (No Bun) delivers 104g of protein for just 640 calories, leaving plenty of room in your daily budget for other meals. With only 0g of carbs and 20g of fat, the macro split is clean for a deficit.
MacroMate has 1 more Dark Horse Cutting build — the Grilled Chicken Salad at 360 cal / 55g protein. See all 2 Cutting builds in the app.
Best Dark Horse Orders for Bulking
For a caloric surplus at Dark Horse, the Full Rack BBQ Ribs with Fries is the anchor build. At 1,350 calories with 100g protein, it delivers serious mass-building fuel in a single order. Order guidance: Order a full rack of the tender smoked St. Louis-style ribs and keep the BBQ sauce, garlic bread and fries for a high-calorie meal
Full Rack BBQ Ribs with Fries
Order a full rack of the tender smoked St. Louis-style ribs and keep the BBQ sauce, garlic bread and fries for a high-calorie meal
Bulking at Dark Horse is about hitting high calories with enough protein to support muscle growth. The Full Rack BBQ Ribs with Fries at 1,350 cal / 100g protein achieves both. The 88g of fat content means calorie density is high — exactly what you need when eating for size.
MacroMate has 2 more Dark Horse Bulking builds — ranging from 700 to 900 calories. See all 3 Bulking builds ranked in the app.
Best Dark Horse Orders for Maintenance
Maintenance is about consistency, and the Flat Iron Steak Dinner (No Fries) at Dark Horse is built for it. At 530 calories with 56g protein, it hits a balanced macro profile you can order on autopilot. Choose the 8-oz charbroiled flat iron steak dinner and opt for a green salad instead of fries; skip the garlic bread
Flat Iron Steak Dinner (No Fries)
Choose the 8-oz charbroiled flat iron steak dinner and opt for a green salad instead of fries; skip the garlic bread
The Flat Iron Steak Dinner (No Fries) gives you 56g of protein at 530 calories — a ratio that works whether you are maintaining weight, slowly recomping, or just trying to eat well. 8g carbs and 26g fat round out a nutritionally balanced fast food meal.
MacroMate has 3 more Dark Horse Maintenance builds — ranging from 410 to 760 calories. See all 4 Maintenance builds ranked in the app.
Best Dark Horse Orders for Keto
Keto at Dark Horse means finding items with minimal carbs and solid protein. The Flat Iron Steak Dinner (No Fries) Keto delivers with just 8g of carbs and 56g protein at 530 calories. Order tip: See Maintenance section That carb count keeps you in ketosis while the 26g of fat maintains the keto macro split.
Flat Iron Steak Dinner (No Fries) Keto
See Maintenance section
The Flat Iron Steak Dinner (No Fries) Keto is genuinely keto-compatible at Dark Horse. Under 8g of net carbs with 56g protein means no need for creative substitutions — just order it as directed and you are covered for the day's fat and protein targets.
MacroMate has 4 more Dark Horse Keto builds — ranging from 360 to 900 calories. See all 5 Keto builds ranked in the app.
Dark Horse Ordering Hacks That Matter
Knowing the specific builds is only part of the equation. These ordering principles will help you stay on track at Dark Horse regardless of which build you choose.
Prioritize the Double Chicken Sandwich (No Bun) for protein efficiency. At 640 cal with 104g protein, the protein-to-calorie ratio of 0.163 is one of the best on the Dark Horse menu. Order the grilled chicken sandwich with two chicken breasts (if available) and ask for no bun or sauce; use lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle as your base
The Side Salad is your low-calorie anchor. At just 50 calories with 2g protein, this is the order when you are tight on your daily budget. Opt for the side salad from the Sides menu as a light, low-calorie option
Watch the add-ons. At Dark Horse, sauces, dressings, and sides can quietly add 200-400 calories to an otherwise lean order. Ask for sauces on the side, skip cheese where you can, and opt for water over soda — those three habits alone can save you 300+ calories per visit.
For keto, the Buffalo Wings (10 Wings, Dry Rub) is your go-to. Only 0g of carbs with 70g protein. Choose the plain or spicy dry-rub wings and skip the sweet sauces
What to Always Avoid at Dark Horse
Not every item at Dark Horse is worth the calories. These are the orders most likely to derail your macros — high in fat or carbs relative to their protein content.
Watch out for the Buffalo Wings (10 Wings, Dry Rub) (900 cal). At 900 calories with 70g protein, this has a low protein-to-calorie ratio that makes it a poor choice when cutting. If you order it, make sure you are in a surplus and it fits your goal for the day.
Watch out for the Double Patty Burger (No Bun) (760 cal). At 760 calories with 60g protein, this has a low protein-to-calorie ratio that makes it a poor choice when cutting. If you order it, make sure you are in a surplus and it fits your goal for the day.
Default sides and combos add up fast. At Dark Horse, the default sides — fries, chips, sugary drinks — can add 400-600 calories without meaningfully increasing your protein intake. Swap for a side salad, water, or nothing extra when cutting.
Dark Horse vs. Applebee's for Macros
Both Dark Horse and Applebee's are solid choices for macro tracking, but they have different strengths depending on your goal.
Dark Horse for cutting: The Double Chicken Sandwich (No Bun) at 640 cal / 104g protein is a strong deficit option. Compare that to what Applebee's offers — check the Applebee's macro hacks guide to see how they stack up side by side.
Dark Horse for bulking: The Full Rack BBQ Ribs with Fries at 1,350 cal / 100g protein is built for surplus. If you are choosing between the two chains on a bulk day, this is the Dark Horse anchor build.
The bottom line: both chains have macro-friendly options, but the best choice depends on your specific goal that day. MacroMate has 17 Dark Horse builds and a full Applebee's breakdown so you can compare directly. For more options across all chains, see our 15 best high-protein fast food orders.
MacroMate has 17 Dark Horse builds classified by goal — Cutting, Bulking, Maintenance, Keto — each ranked by protein-to-calorie ratio with exact order instructions. Looking for options at other restaurants? Check out our 15 best high-protein fast food orders, how to hit your macros eating out, and every chain ranked for cutting.
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