When lunchtime rolls around, there's no end to boring, unhealthy options. There are burgers, Chinese takeout, pizza, sandwiches, and plenty of other ways to put yourself into a food coma via a sad desk lunch even before you hit the 3 p.m. wall. But according to the New York Times, it's chopped salad that reigns supreme in the Northeast, and the trend is making its way across the country. (Credit: Simply Salad)
From Chop't to Just Salad to Saladworks and even to Subway, every week it seems like another chain comes along to offer us even more chopped salad options. But which one is the best? We put 10 of the country's most popular chopped salad chains to the test, and one emerged as a clear winner. Sometimes a salad is the perfect way to get your lunch on. Vegetables for health and wellness, protein to fill you up, and enough food to nix your hunger but not put you in a food coma are all good reasons to consider it. Plus, in mixed company, salads are allergy- and vegan/vegetarian-friendly. Everyone wins!
Salads chopped to oblivion might sound kind of weird, but hear us out! Chopping the salad with a mezzaluna (a crescent moon-shaped blade with two handles, rocked >over produce to chop it) allows all the pieces to get coated evenly in your dressing, provides you with bite-sized pieces that are easy to eat, and allows you to get a bite of each topping in each bite. Some argue that the ideal salad is one in which there are large chunks of every component, so you can mix and match the flavors and textures with every bite, but the fact remains that there are lots of people who have jumped on the chopped salad bandwagon, and probably eat one every day of the week.
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As the popularity of chopped salads has increased, the number of places that offer them has expanded nationwide. Some of the most recognizable names, Chop't and Saladworks, have gone viral up the East Coast and beyond, while many remain regional favorites. We have ranked some of the most popular chains according to pricing (using the most popular pre-made salad, chicken Caesar), variety of add-ons, chopping method, customization, and green-ness of the chain. Click here to find out which chain came out on top.
- Rosemary Pantaleo, The Daily Meal
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