When done properly, salads are a thing of beauty. This list honors the restaurants going above and beyond a bowl of side salad made with wilted lettuce and bottled vinaigrette. We believe a great salad should be light, fresh, and, most of all, exciting. Check out our list to see our favorite entrée salads inspired by Thai, Burmese, and Italian cuisine, among others.
1. Mandalay Restaurant (San Francisco)
The Bay Area’s first Burmese restaurant serves up a famous salad with no leafy greens. Instead you’ll find Burmese tea leaves, toasted lentils, ground shrimp, fried garlic, green peppers, sesame seeds, peanuts, and dressing. We find this salad impressive because it combines into an incredible, cohesive textural experience.
2. Jo’s Modern Thai (Oakland)
The Yum Pla Dook Phu here is served with a side of little gem lettuce to scoop the salad ingredients into and eat like a little wrap. The salad is made with fried catfish that specks the salad like little crispy croutons. It also features mango, avocado, cashew, herbs, and shallot. The salad is balanced by a fish sauce lime dressing that is acidic and savory.
3. Daytrip (Oakland)
We love their celery salad because it defies the expectations of leafy salads. The base is thinly sliced celery, and it’s topped with lemon verbena and habanero oil along with shavings of cheese. It’s crunchy, spicy and aromatic.
4. Souvla (San Francisco)
The Greek salads here are made with lamb, pork, or veggies. What takes their salads to the next level is their dressing made with buttermilk powder, yogurt, and herbs which provides a tangy, freshness to all of their dishes.
5. Trick Dog (San Francisco)
Our favorite dish here is the kale salad topped with a shaved cheese and an egg yolk dressing. We love the textural contrast between the creamy avocado and crispy toasted pepitos.
6. Be Steak A (Campbell)
This Italian-inspired steakhouse in Cambell serves a new take on the Caesar that goes all out on the umami. The croutons are swapped for parmesan crackers and they top it with a soy sauce-marinated egg. We love that it’s savory and rich while staying light and crisp. Don’t miss out on their cucumber salad marinated in soy sauce and topped with sesame seeds, herbs, and edible flowers.
7. Burma Choice (San Jose)
This is another Burmese restaurant, this time in the South Bay. The chicken salad here is made with lettuce tossed in a tangy, garlicky dressing. It’s tossed with fried onions, pea powder, jalapeños, and pieces of fried chicken. We love that there’s a lot of fun textures and savory components.
8. Bertucelli’s La Villa Gourmet (San Jose)
This hot spot for sandwiches in San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood has a secret weapon — great salads. You can find potato and macaroni salads, as well as a Caesar salad made with penne noodles and homemade croutons. The ceci salad combines green beans, kidney beans, and garbanzos. Don’t sleep on the caprese salad.
9. Bombera (Oakland)
This exciting Mexican restaurant incorporates seasonal fruit into their cosecha salad. Little gem is combined with cucumber, jicama, mint, and toasted pumpkin seeds. It’s also beautifully presented.
10. Burdell (Oakland)
The salads here rotate with the seasons, but you’re always sure to find something exciting. The heirloom tomato and fried oyster salad has red onion, dill ranch, and creole spice. The chicory salad uses shinko pear, chocolate mint, and torpedo onions.
11. Grégoire (Berkeley)
It’s not often that salads make up a majority of a menu, but at Grégoire seasonal ingredients make salads the star. We love their leek and smoked Gouda quiche served with roasted Brussels sprouts, balsamic vinaigrette, and baked yams. You can also get smash pork patties with cheese and bacon served in a salad form. You can also find their food truck at Off the Grid events.
Looking for more clean eating options other than salads? Check out our 15 Favorite Vegetarian-Friendly Food Truck Dishes from 2024.
