Although fast food chains are most known for their… not-so-healthy menu itemsa handful of these places also offer salads on their menu. This is great when you need a quick and easy meal but don’t want to default to the usual fried meal chicken nuggetsgreasy cheeseburgersor salt fries. It’s also great if you want to diversify your fast food order by adding a little fiber and veggies.
Salads from chain restaurants often don’t get the flourishes they deserve (especially since places like Sweetgreen and Chopt overshadow them), but there are quite a few that compare to some of these more expensive salad places.
With this in mind, I tried salads from five famous fast-food chains to help you determine which ones are worth putting on your radar. From Panera’s classic Greek salad, which makes a great partner for smooth bread bowls and cheese sandwiches, to Chick-fil-A’s best-selling Cobb salad, made with your choice of chicken, here’s how they ranked, starting with my least favorite and counting down to the very best.
Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad
Brittany Natale/Eat this not that
Power supply: (Per 1 Salad without Dressing)
Calories: 440
Fat: 24 g (Saturated fat: 10 g)
Sodium: 1,160 mg
Carbohydrates: 28 g (fiber: 5 g, sugar: 19 g)
Egg white: 31 gr
I went through a period in college where I ordered Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad all the time, so I was curious to see if it tasted as good as I remembered. Made with grilled chicken, crunchy pecans, blue cheese crumbles and chopped apples, the actual salad part is tasty, but the chicken left something to be desired. In the future, I would order this $8.99 salad again without protein and add a side of chicken nuggets, if I want a more filling meal.
The appearance: A transparent, square container filled with a fresh lettuce mixture, pieces of red and green apple and a small amount of blue cheese. The chopped pecans and dressing were included.
The taste: This option was good, but the chicken could be better. It was too salty, had no appetizing texture and lacked flavor. Otherwise, the salad was delicious, with a fruity, tangy, slightly sour dressing, fresh lettuce and crispy apple slices that were so vibrant and colorful I couldn’t get over them. Although almost non-existent, the cheese provided a burst of flavor, while the pecans were crunchy and nicely chopped. I would order this salad again next time, without the chicken.
Chick-Fil-A Cobb Salad
Brittany Natale/Eat this not that
Power supply: (Per 1 Salad without Dressing)
Calories: 830
Fat: 60 g (Saturated fat: 13 g)
Sodium: 2,220 mg
Carbohydrates: 31 g (fiber: 5 g, sugar: 8 g)
Egg white: 42 gr
Chick-fil-A is synonymous with top-tier chicken, but the salads aren’t too shabby either. One of the most popular choices is the Cobb saladwhich allows you to customize exactly what type of chicken you want to put on it. From the long list of options – including regular nuggets, grilled nuggets, Chick-n-Strips, spicy fillet and spicy grilled fillet served cold – I chose the traditional nuggets, which were so tasty. I paid $14.55 for this salad which, while good, had competing flavors.
The appearance: A clear, medium-sized container filled with fresh lettuce, bright red grape tomatoes, chopped chicken nuggets, a dash of Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, a small amount of toasted corn kernels, a sliced hard-boiled egg, and crumbled bacon. Dried, charred tomato chunks and crispy red peppers are served, as well as an avocado-lime dressing packaged in a squeezable packet.
The taste: This salad reminded me of the McDonald’s salad shakes I used to order because of how delicious it tasted. My friend confirmed this feeling when he took a bite and said, “It feels like I’m eating a salad from 1997; it feels like a throwback.” The chicken was, unsurprisingly, great, with a juicy center and slightly crispy exterior. The lettuce wasn’t soggy, the hard-boiled egg was well cooked and thinly sliced, the cherry tomatoes were sweet and fresh, and the bacon had a nice salty edge.
However, I noticed that the corn and shredded cheese were barely noticeable since there was such a small amount. Also, the dressing was overly rich and creamy and did not pair well with the dried tomatoes and peppers. Overall, I felt like the flavors on this one were competing with each other.
Chipotle custom salad
Brittany Natale/Eat this not that
Power supply: (Per 1 Salad)
Calories: 1,045
Fat: 61 g (Saturated fat: 18 g)
Sodium: 2,370 mg
Carbohydrates: 99 g (fiber: 17 g, sugar: 18 g)
Egg white: 27 gr
I didn’t know Chipotle offered salads until I placed this order. On previous visits I have just ordered burritos or burrito bowls. I paid $15.73 for it this extra large saladwhich was more than worth the money. Even though it was incredibly filling (and felt more like two meals in one), I was pleased with the taste and price and would definitely order it again.
The appearance: A heavy salad packed in an oval container with an aluminum top. You can customize your salad here, and mine was packed with fajita-style veggies, including red and green peppers, white rice, guacamole, queso, shredded cheese, black beans, diced tomatoes and more.
The taste: Wow, a lot happened here, but in a good way. This salad is packed with flavor, especially since you can customize your order and add whatever you like. The rice wasn’t dry or overly mushy, the guacamole was fresh, the fajita-style vegetables were well made, the shredded cheese tasted high quality, and the queso added a creamy and savory touch. The dish overall was slightly spicy and included a bed of lettuce that wasn’t soggy or wet, which I loved.
However, I felt the dressing wasn’t necessary for this as there were so many flavors swirling around. This salad was delicious, but was very heavy and may not be what you want if you are in the mood for a lighter meal.
Subway tuna salad
Brittany Natale/Eat this not that
Power supply: (Per 1 Salad)
Calories: 310
Fat: 24 g (Saturated fat: 4 g)
Sodium: 390 mg
Carbohydrates: 10 g (fiber: 4 g, sugar: 5 g)
Egg white: 15 gr
It should come as no surprise that sandwiches are Subway’s most-ordered menu items, but don’t sleep on the famous chain’s salad offerings. With choices like the Veggie Delite Salad, Club Salad and more, the eatery’s salads are excellent if you’re craving Subway but don’t want a low-carb option. I got this one for $9.19 Tuna Salad because I’ve heard good things about it, and I’m happy (and somewhat relieved) to say that it tasted really, really good.
The appearance: A round black plastic bowl with a clear plastic lid filled with chopped lettuce, sliced peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, red onions and so much cheese. The highlight of this salad was the two large scoops of tuna mixed with mayonnaise. I ordered this salad with dressing, but I couldn’t see if it was already on it.
The taste: Shockingly awesome. Everything about this salad tasted fresh and healthy, which caught me off guard because I didn’t expect to enjoy a salad from Subway. It had two large scoops of freshly made tuna, which was not overly salty or mushy; the peppers and cucumbers had great crunch and tasted freshly chopped, and there was plenty of grated cheese that didn’t taste rubbery at all. These ingredients were placed on a bed of lettuce, which was nice and crispy. This salad was delicious and turned out to require no dressing.
Panera Bread Greek Salad
Brittany Natale/Eat this not that
Power supply:
Half portion with apple as a side dish (per 1 order)
Calories: 210
Fat: 18 g (Saturated fat: 4.5 g)
Sodium: 570 mg
Carbohydrates: 9 g (fiber: 2 g, sugar: 4 g)
Egg white: 4 gr
Oh, Panera Bread, how I love you. What’s great about Panera is that it’s consistent: I’ve been ordering from here since high school, and the dishes rarely disappoint. One menu item I always order is the Greek salad. It’s fresh, light and a great addition to soups and sandwiches. This salad cost me $7.39 for a half portion, and I plan on ordering more in the future.
The appearance: This salad is made with sliced cucumbers, thinly sliced pieces of red onion, bright red cherry tomatoes, a handful of crumbled feta cheese, and fresh lettuce. The dressing, a delicious vinegar, is served on the side, which is nice because it helps keep your salad from getting soggy before you dig into it.
The taste: Although one of the tamer salad choices at Panera, this popular choice is an absolute classic. The vegetables were fresh and tasty: the red onion gave a kick, while the cherry tomatoes had a sweet and juicy taste. The cheese tasted high quality and the vinegar based dressing brought it all together.
Overall, this salad won first place because it is light without feeling skimpy and has a bright, refreshing, versatile flavor that you can enjoy with a variety of sandwiches and soups. I also felt that the ingredients were of very high quality and the price was reasonable. All in all excellent.
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