The Best Salads in San Diego

What’s changed this round: Extraordinary Desserts, Encontro North Park, Lucky’s Lunch Counter, and Lana enter while Grater Greens, Nate’s Garden Grill, and Pokez Mexican Restaurant depart.

Choice Juicery

Find a variety of grab-and-go organic salads and juices at this popular superfood cafe with outposts across the city including downtown and Solana Beach. Stop in for salad in a very laidback setting or take a bowl to go with its convenient online ordering. Ready-to-eat salads go for $13 with the option to upgrade to a gluten-free wrap for an extra $3. The Macho Taco Salad, made with walnut taco “meat,” romaine, tomato, bell pepper, red cabbage, cilantro, and cashew chipotle dressing, stands out, as does the meat-free coconut Cobb with romaine, avocado, marinated hearts of palm, quinoa, cherry tomatoes, coconut “bacon,” and cashew ranch dressing.

Haven Farm and Table

A farm-to-table experience that lives up to its namesake, Haven Farm and Table has light pour in from its glass ceiling while its menu remains deeply rooted in the earth. Nestled on a three-acre Encinitas farm, the restaurant’s ethos is best captured in the Foxy Greens salad — an arrangement made with baby greens, beet greens, arugula, salanova, romaine, and little gems. The bowl gets finished with cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, carrots, and crunchy grains, all doused in a seasonal vinaigrette. There’s also an arugula pear salad with whipped goat cheese and candied pecan crumble.

Lotus Cafe & Juice Bar

In the historic heart of Encinitas, Lotus Cafe and Juice Bar specializes in wholesome, primarily vegetarian dishes, including a rainbow of fresh salads — 10 different options, to be exact. Many ingredients are organic, such as the leafy base of the Soulful Salad, topped with carrots, red onions, jicama, red cabbage, tomato, and organic sunflower sprouts, then drizzled with a creamy dill dressing. The Spiritual Spinach Salad makes for another compelling option: olives, artichoke hearts, and feta are served on a bed of spinach. Both can be customized with protein additions like tuna, tempeh, tofu, vegetable “chicken,” or blackened chicken.

Burma Place

San Diego finally has its own take on vegetarian Burmese tea leaf salad. Crisp romaine gets tossed in a flavorful fermented green tea leaf dressing and mixed with fried yellow split peas, sesame and sunflower seeds, peanuts, tomatoes, jalapeños, and crushed dried shrimp. Samosa salad — featuring curried potato bites atop cabbage, cucumber, mint, and cilantro finished with pea powder and a tangy tamarind dressing — might be a better fit for heavier appetites. Other options (under $17) include ingredients like mango, noodles, rock mushroom, and pea powder.

Our Green Affair

Choose from the restaurant’s list of cheekily named signature bowls and salads, with the option to customize by adding extra toppings. Fan favorites include the Hot Chick — a bold mix of goat cheese, roasted corn, crispy tortilla chips, avocado, and spicy hot chicken, all tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing. The Thai Me Up layers tofu over a bed of fresh greens, paired with crisp chayote, mango, and crunchy Japanese peanuts finished with a zingy spicy cashew dressing. The café’s spin on the Caesar salad, questionably named the Seize Her, comes with kale, romaine, alfalfa sprouts, and shaved Parmesan.

Lana

Upscale, coastal, and welcoming, this neighborhood venue along Solana Beach’s Highway 101 uses seasonal and local produce to assemble satisfying salads like the Lana chopped salad, a romaine-based dish with radicchio, chickpeas, tomatoes, soppressata, seascape cheese, and red wine vinaigrette. Take it up a notch by pairing it with a warm, comforting soup like the butternut squash soup with spiced pepitas, creme fraiche, nutmeg, and chive. The honey ginger salad comes with curly endive, Napa cabbage, radicchio, snap peas, crushed peanuts, and crispy wontons.

Parakeet Cafe

Parakeet’s inventive menu features a line up of nutrient-dense salads that are far from boring. Vibrant and inviting, the restaurant has multiple outposts in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Newport beach — all of which are dotted with bird motifs and filled with a laidback California energy that pairs well with salads like the mediterranean quinoa salad with feta, cucumbers, pickled onions, mint, and pico de gallo. Crunchy Chinese salad makes for a colorful option: kale, roasted bell peppers, edamame, pickled cabbage and cucumbers, and crispy brown rice are tossed with a turmeric dressing. Upgrade any salad by adding chicken, tofu, or avocado.

The Greenspot Salad Company

Nearby workplaces turn to this salad company to cater high-quality lunch and never-boring salads, like the Superfood with spinach, kale, broccoli, roasted sweet potato, quinoa, and avocado, tossed in a lemon dressing. Customize your own salad with greens like spring mix or kale, vibrant vegetables such as red cabbage and red bell pepper, dressings including Tahini Goddess, and proteins like grass-fed steak and tofu. Save this spot for a weekday lunch (the company closes on Saturday and Sunday).

Mary's Gourmet Salads

This charming shop perched on La Jolla’s Pearl Street offers build-your-own salads along with an extensive list of house-designed bowls from the Super Food salad with avocado, roasted sweet potatoes, goji berries, and quinoa, to the Chinese chopped salad with red bell pepper, mandarins, green onions, and wonton strips dressed with a miso ginger dressing. Go for a 32-ounce or 48-ounce salad, or build your own with the choice of two greens, three vegetables, a dressing, and toppings. There are two storefront locations in town, one in La Jolla and the other in Ocean Beach, where the cozy atmosphere feels welcoming and friendly.

Gourmet Island

Tucked into a business park on Ruffin Road, this hidden gem serves more than just office workers. For over 20 years, the Nasser family has been dishing up fast, fresh meals, including an extensive selection of salads. Grab a seat on the open-air patio and enjoy options like the Bar-B-Que ranch chicken salad made with blue cheese, corn, and black beans with chipotle ranch dressing. Some daily specials become so popular they earn a spot on the main menu like the arugula salad featuring roasted beets, walnuts, and sun-dried tomatoes, all tossed in a tangy raspberry vinaigrette. Stop by during the week (the venue is closed on Saturday and Sunday).

Crafted Greens

This East County spot serves up an organic menu of sandwiches, platters, and, of course, crisp salads. Try the Guacamole Greens, a hearty mix of corn, black beans, avocado, tomatoes, grilled onions, white cheddar or vegan cheese, and crispy tortilla strips, all tossed in a zesty lime cilantro vinaigrette. Enjoy it as-is or add a choice of protein (chicken, grass-fed steak, cajun-seared ahi tuna, or salmon) for a more filling meal.

Daofu Restaurant

Within seconds of ordering at Daofu Restaurant, expect the complimentary house salad to arrive — marinated house-made tofu rested on a handful of curly greens dressed with a pulpy raspberry dressing. This dish showcases the kitchen’s skill and serves as a soft onramp to the bold spices that define the main plates. More filling salads — all of which ring in under $11 — include the Alaskan smoked salmon salad served on a bed of mixed greens with the choice of lemongrass pineapple dressing, fish sauce, or a miso dressing.

Donna Jean

Donna Jean recently moved its seasonally driven kitchen to North Park, bringing along its aptly named Really Good Salad — local greens tossed in a roasted garlic vinaigrette with pickled raisins, shaved root vegetables, and toasted pistachios. For a plant-based twist on a classic, try the vegan Caesar, made with butter lettuce, dairy-free Parmesan, and house-baked croutons. Snag a table in the lively dining room or on the breezy patio to soak up the rustic and comforting atmosphere.

Loving Hut

Vegan cuisine and sustainable values are at the core of Loving Hut, a globally influenced vegan restaurant with a fully plant-based menu. The Heavenly salad is an all-time favorite made with shredded cabbage, carrots, onions, and bell pepper with thin strips of fried tofu and soy protein, a handful of Vietnamese mint leaves (like pepper and fish mint), and crushed peanuts with a tamarind-spiced sweet and sour dressing. Check out either locations (North Park or Mira Mesa) for a mellow ambiance and unfussy — but deeply satisfying — vegan fare.

Wolf in the Woods

Tucked into historic Mission Hills, Wolf in the Woods brings a quiet confidence to the neighborhood. Among the standout dishes in the Farmer’s Giving section of the menu is an unassuming yet exceptional Brussels sprout salad (best paired with a sweet corn and piñon soup). This infinitely shareable bowl features finely shaved Brussels sprouts and crunchy fennel, balanced by the sharp bite of red onion and tossed in a creamy cashew dressing. It’s finished with crushed curry cashews, chives, and, ideally if you order one, a chilled glass of Spanish wine.

Encontro North Park

The corner restaurant-bar has a handful of salad options that are just as satisfying as they are nutritious. An Italian chopped makes for a solid first choice — baby gem and iceberg gets tossed with red onion, pepperoncini, garbanzos, pepperoni, feta dressing, and Parmesan. Other options include a spinach and bacon salad, baby kale, a farm salad with a tangy dijon dressing, and a Baja Caesar variation with jalapeños, grilled corn, and Tajín.

Tribute Pizza

Pairing a neo-Neapolitan-style pizza with one of Tribute’s exceptional salads is the correct way to experience this beloved North Park pizzeria. The seemingly simple Elaine Benes Little Big Salad — with heirloom tomatoes, vegetables, and marinated garbanzo beans in a bright red wine vinaigrette — tastes far from basic. The Betrayal of Caesar by the Coward Brutus has been a crowd-favorite from the start, with kale spotted with Calabrian chile and a garlic dressing finished with wood-fired focaccia croutons.

Extraordinary Desserts

There’s more to Extraordinary Desserts than head-turning cakes. The dessert institution also offers a deeply seasoned Caesar salad (a vegan rendition can be made) with organic romaine hearts, housemaid garlic croutons, and Italian white herb anchovies that doesn’t disappoint. Other salads — like the berry mixed greens with toasted pistachios and a raspberry vinaigrette or antipasti with salami and garbanzo beans — make just as good pairings with a grilled cheese sandwich and creamy tomato soup.

Lucky’s Lunch Counter

This nostalgic diner-inspired venue has everything needed for the perfect, seemingly infinitely customizable salad. Build your own bowl by choosing either spring mix, baby spinach, or romaine for the base, up to five toppings (tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers, pepperoncini, bacon, and more), a dressing, and any protein extras like chopped turkey, chicken breast, or tuna salad. Those with decision fatigue may prefer a house option like the strawberry chicken salad with candied walnuts and avocado.

Seréa

Catch the sunset on the patio of this seaside restaurant stationed at the Hotel Del Coronado with a beet salad worth splurging on — thick wedges of crimson and golden beets served alongside supremed orange segments and fresh figs, all over a swath of almond ricotta. A frenzy of mustard greens crowns the dish, topped with toasted pepitas, a dusting of strawberry powder, orange zest, and a final swirl of sherry vinaigrette.