The word salad is no longer synonymous with wilty Boston lettuce and ranch dressing, especially in Toronto. Our health-conscious city is chock full of salad bars with protein-packed dishes on the menu (think: fresh produce, crunchy grains, and exotic sauces). There’s no reason to sacrifice taste for a healthy lunch or dinner – but be warned, this list may change the way you eat forever. [Image credit: iStock.com/ehaurylik]
From avocado, carrot, sunflower sprout stuffed bowls with tasty dressings, to wrapped super foods and micro greens, Fresh offers Toronto’s vegan and vegetarian foodies an incredibly huge selection of healthy (as well as filling) snacks and meals. With locations across the city, from the Annex to Queen West, you’ll find it easy to stop in for a deliciously fresh meal.
Every day there are exciting new specials to choose from at this super trendy salad bar in Toronto’s west end. Loved by Dundas West locals and businesses surrounding it, The Goods offers ton of takeout and catering options, specializing in salad boxes that don’t skimp on flavor. Next time you need a boost, try the vegan, gluten-free, organic, 80% raw Chuck Norris bowl and wash it down with a Carrot Top smoothie.
Toronto professionals working in the centre of the city know well the hidden gem inside the Hudson’s Bay Centre. Not only does Salad Days offer an incredibly fresh menu of soups, salads and sandwiches, but it also features huge portions at prices that won't break the bank. You can choose from over a dozen salads, wraps and lunch specials like grilled salmon with mashed sweet potatoes, stuffed vine leaves and a Greek salad. Yum!
This Yonge Street salad bar is a central hangout for the Ryerson crowd and others in the hood looking for a quick but satisfying lunch. At Basil Box, a salad bar with an Asian flair, you’re the chef. Choose from an assortment of veggies, noodles, proteins, sauces and other accoutrements to create your own salad. After all that hard work, treat yourself to a sweet Mango rice parfait for dessert ;)
A ray of sunshine on the shady side of Queen Street East in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood, Pulp Kitchen is one of the top spots on the east side for a designer salad. Not only does this spot specialize in fresh pressed juices, smoothies and healthy elixirs but it also offers a selection of delicious salads, which host hearty ingredients like roasted beets and gluten-free tofu.
Greens, grains, and mostly gluten-free, Toronto's Urban Herbivore is a favourite west-end pit stop for salad lovers and heath-conscious foodies alike. Fresh produce is hand-picked from local farmers, and menu items change with the season. You can design you own salad here or order one that is predesigned. There’s a good amount of seating inside, but on nicer days, pop outside to the benches for a little Kensington Market people-watching.
Look no further than AAamazing Salad if you are on the hunt for a scrumptious salad in Toronto's Kensington Market. Whether you order a salad, wrap, bowl, soup, or juice, every dish on the menu is prepared (or tossed) with only the freshest ingredients. You can get your salad straight-up or try heartier options like the Buddha Bowl, chock full of grated veggies on a bed of soba noodles, and topped with peanut sauce.