Fifty grams of protein is a realistic target for one sitting at Guzman y Gomez, but the way you get there changes the bill in calories by a wide margin. The menu data shows a spread of more than 500 Cal between the leanest and the heaviest ways to reach it, and most of that gap has nothing to do with protein.
This guide works from the same numbers as the GYG calorie calculator. It ranks the ways to hit 50 g and above, shows what the extra-meat add-on does to a bowl, a burrito and a mini, and flags where sodium climbs. For a broader list of strong choices, the high protein GYG menu page sorts every item by grams of protein.
Which GYG items reach 50 g of protein without any add-ons?
Five items clear 50 g as served: the Shredded Beef Brisket Enchilada (with Cheese & Queso) at 59.3 g, the Grilled Chicken Enchilada (with Cheese & Queso) at 59.1 g, the Pulled Pork Enchilada (with Cheese & Queso) at 52.9 g, and the Shredded Beef Brisket Nachos and Grilled Chicken Nachos at 52.4 g and 52.2 g.
They are also the most expensive way in. The grilled chicken enchilada is 1,150 Cal and 3,090 mg of sodium, roughly one and a half times the 2,000 mg a day that is often used as a reference. Both the enchilada and the nachos work as a once-in-a-while meal, not as a default.
| Item | Cal | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shredded Beef Brisket Enchilada (with Cheese & Queso) | 1,180 | 59.3 g | 112 g | 53.9 g | 3,070 mg |
| Grilled Chicken Enchilada (with Cheese & Queso) | 1,150 | 59.1 g | 112 g | 50.1 g | 3,090 mg |
| Pulled Pork Enchilada (with Cheese & Queso) | 1,130 | 52.9 g | 112 g | 51.5 g | 3,170 mg |
| Shredded Beef Brisket Nachos | 1,140 | 52.4 g | 76.7 g | 68 g | 1,750 mg |
| Grilled Chicken Nachos | 1,100 | 52.2 g | 77.1 g | 64.2 g | 1,770 mg |
Choosing the base: why a bowl beats an enchilada for protein per calorie
Protein per 100 Cal is a more useful yardstick than raw grams when calories matter. The Grilled Chicken Bowl delivers 6.7 g per 100 Cal (43.7 g for 655 Cal). The Grilled Chicken Burrito is close behind at 6.3 g per 100 Cal, with 48.2 g of protein in total.
Among cooked breakfasts, the Brekkie Bowl - Bacon stands out: 30.8 g of protein for 427 Cal, about 7.2 g per 100 Cal. The Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad is another efficient pick at 37.5 g for 579 Cal.
Grilled chicken or shredded beef brisket for a bowl or burrito?
Nearly identical on protein. The brisket bowl has 43.9 g against 43.7 g for chicken, and 688 Cal against 655 Cal. Chicken is the lighter of the two by 33 Cal, so choose it when the calorie count is the deciding factor. Our grilled chicken vs ground beef comparison shows how much further ground beef falls behind on protein.
Which filling should you skip if protein is the goal?
The pulled shiitake mushroom versions bring the least protein for the most energy: the Pulled Shiitake Mushroom Burrito has 32.2 g of protein at 895 Cal, against 48.2 g at 769 Cal for chicken. Shiitake is a good vegetarian pick for fibre, not for protein.
Adding extra meat: how to land between 50 g and 70 g
GYG lists an extra 100 g of grilled chicken at 144 Cal and 27.2 g of protein, and an extra 100 g of shredded beef brisket at 177 Cal and 27.4 g. Those two add-ons are the cheapest protein on the menu, at about 18.9 g per 100 Cal for chicken.
Mini bowl plus extra chicken: about 50 g for roughly 550 Cal
The Mini Bowl - Grilled Chicken has 24.2 g and 407 Cal. Add one extra chicken portion and it becomes about 51.4 g of protein for 551 Cal. That is the same protein as the five 50 g items above at roughly half the energy of the nachos.
Mini burrito with brisket: 54 g for about 640 Cal
Start with the Mini Burrito - Shredded Beef Brisket (26.6 g, 467 Cal) and add extra brisket: about 54 g of protein for 644 Cal. It stays in a burrito format, which suits eating on the move.
Full-size bowl plus extra meat: over 70 g, still under 900 Cal
The grilled chicken bowl with an extra chicken portion reaches about 70.9 g of protein for 799 Cal. The brisket bowl with extra brisket gives about 71.3 g for 865 Cal. The burrito version is higher on both: about 75.4 g and 913 Cal, because the flour tortilla adds 114 Cal that the bowl does not carry.
Keeping sodium in check on a high-protein order
Protein-heavy orders tend to be salty. The grilled chicken bowl carries 1,620 mg, the burrito 1,880 mg, and the brisket bowl 1,600 mg. Extra meat adds about 326 mg per 100 g of chicken. If you are eating this way several days a week, choose the bowl over the burrito, skip extra queso and sauces, and see the methodology page for how sodium figures are handled.
Quick ordering checklist
Want 50 g and do not mind the calories: grilled chicken nachos or the grilled chicken enchilada.
Want 50 g near 550 Cal: mini bowl with one extra chicken portion (about 51.4 g, 551 Cal).
Want 70 g or more under 900 Cal: full grilled chicken or brisket bowl with extra meat.
Breakfast: the bacon brekkie bowl gives 30.8 g for 427 Cal.
Choose a bowl over a burrito to drop 114 Cal with almost no protein loss (4.5 g).
Build your own version in the meal builder and watch protein and sodium move together.