Top 5 Salads

1

Macho Salad

By
The salad that started it all. Prior to our dearly beloved Macho, no salad had ever been credited with organizing a group of people and inciting a societal movement. No small feat for a salad. Now, close you eyes and picture a world where salads can talk. Mmm, hold onto that image tightly. Still have it? Good. In that lush, bountiful world stretching out before you, Macho is our universal language — a “Great Unifier” deserving of highest praise and fanfare. Behold! Open your eyes and experience why Chicagoans go out of their way and brave Michigan Avenue crowds just to stick a fork in this thing. Not to discredit the rest of this list, but if you only try one of the Top 5 Salads, I feel sad for you, but you best make it Macho.

Ingredients
  • Mixed Greens
  • Rotisserie Chicken
  • Avocado
  • Dates
  • Goat Cheese
  • Almonds
  • Corn
  • Cornbread Croutons
  • Vinaigrette Dressing
Texture
All The Same All The Textures
Dressing
Kinda Bland Delicious
Greens Ratio
All Greens Perfect Mix
2

Antique Taco Salad

By
¡Ay dios mío! Call me loco, amigo. But the best damn dish at this here taco joint has absolutely nada to do with tacos. Unless tortilla strips count? Maybe they do count. Anyway, this little ensalada packs a mighty big punch with crunch. It’s like a fiesta in your mouth, and this is one party you won’t want to miss. Quite possibly the best kept salad secret in the city. Run don’t walk to Wicker Park today. Surprise and delight the server behind the counter. ¡Sí! Place your order with confidence to flex your insider salad knowledge and impeccable taste. ¡Sí! De nada, amigo. De nada.

Ingredients
  • Add: Avocado
  • Kale
  • Strawberries
  • Apples
  • Red Pepper
  • Onion
  • Queso Fresco
  • Spicy Peanuts
  • Cranberries
  • Sesame
  • Tortilla Strips
  • Pomegranate Vinaigrette Dressing
Texture
All The Same All The Textures
Dressing
Kinda Bland Delicious
Greens Ratio
All Greens Perfect Mix
3

Health Nut Salad

By
I’m nuts about this salad. All hits, no filler. It’s got exactly what the people want, nothing more. Just make sure to toss it all in a giant bowl before eating. They tend to serve it in layers — which frankly is unacceptable. You gotta have even ingredient distribution, know what I mean? That’s Salad 101. Salads violating this foundational principle with compressed layers of ingredients are but two bread slices away from being a sandwich. And this isn’t Top 5 Sandwiches, now, is it? Didn’t think so. That’s a completely different website. But I digress, I’ll let it pass. A testament to how good this salad really is.

Ingredients
  • Add: Roasted Turkey
  • Field Greens
  • Spiced Almonds
  • Podda Pecorino Cheese
  • Avocado
  • Cucumbers
  • Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing
Texture
All The Same All The Textures
Dressing
Kinda Bland Delicious
Greens Ratio
All Greens Perfect Mix
4

Shaw’s Signature Seafood Salad

By
Ahoy, matey. Feast your eyes on the most decadent salad pearls can buy. It shivers me timbers two different ways. First, it costs a whopping $32 (!!!). Yar, you read that right. So if you’re looking for cheap eats, maybe don’t start with this one. Second, if you do decide to belly up, it’s actually KINDA SORTA WORTH IT, if you can even believe that statement. Thirty-two U.S. dollars! Indulgent to say the least. But for that price, thankfully, it’s definitively as seafood-forward as any one salad can possibly be. Allergic to greens? Walk the plank with relative ease. Shellfish allergy? Abandon ship immediately. Here’s a pro tip: If you just can’t bring yourself to plunk down all your hard-earned booty on this here beauty, save your coins by splitting it with a friend. That brings the ransom down to just $16, a relative steal on the high seas.

Ingredients
  • Iceberg Lettuce
  • Crab Claws
  • Shrimp
  • Avocado
  • Hard Boiled Egg
  • Tomato
  • Hearts of Palm
  • Black Olives
  • Cucumber
  • Vinaigrette Dressing
Texture
All The Same All The Textures
Dressing
Kinda Bland Delicious
Greens Ratio
All Greens Perfect Mix
5

The Chickpea

By
Purpose-built for salad skeptics. If you’re skeptical of salads, well then I’m not sure what you’re doing reading a salad website in the first place. But if you have doubts — or if you happen to know someone who does — then boy are you in luck, because this salad is made especially for you. It’s loaded with so many delicious non-salad distractions: gigantic chickpea fritters, crispy fried chicken strips, tzatziki sauce that’s not so subtly disguised as dressing, the list goes on... You might just forget you’re eating a salad, for cryin’ out loud. You’re welcome.

Ingredients
  • Add: Fried Chicken
  • Kale
  • Chickpea Fritters
  • Crispy Onion Straws
  • Chopped Veggies
  • Mont Amore Cheese
  • Tzatziki Sauce
  • Chee Vinaigrette Dressing
Texture
All The Same All The Textures
Dressing
Kinda Bland Delicious
Greens Ratio
All Greens Perfect Mix
Is there a salad that should make this list?  Submit A Salad

No Slouch

Quinoa Salad

By Reno

Marisol Salad

By Marisol

Shepherd Salad

By Mezza

Feta, Avocado & Crispy Chickpeas Salad

By Nando's Peri-Peri Chicken

+Lemon & Herb Chicken

BBQ Chicken Salad

By Native Foods

Chopped Salad

By Owen & Engine

Warm Quinoa Salad

By Parson's

Seasonal

Ponderosa Salad

By Parson's

Chickpea Salad

By Parson's

Southwest Salad

By Protein Bar

Avocado Salad

By Publican Tavern

Pub Salad

By Pub Royale

+Egg, +Chicken Tikka

Avocado Salad

By Quiote

Southwestern Salad

By Reno

+Organic Smoked Chicken

Spinach & Endive Salad

By Lula Cafe

Frisee Spinach Salad

By Reno

Kale Salad

By Reno

Insalate Rucoletta Con Grana E Carciofi

By Riccardo Trattoria

Gem Salad

By S.K.Y.

Wrightwood Salad

By Smoke Daddy

Crunchy Red Salad

By Split Rail

Guacamole Greens

By Sweetgreen

Arugula Salad

By 3 Arts Club Cafe

Gem Lettuce Salad

By 3 Arts Club Cafe

Taqueria Salad

By Tortas Frontera

+Crispy Chicken or Garlic Shrimp

Brussels Sprouts & Kale Salad

By Union Pizzeria

RIP

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

By Winchester

Original Top Five Salad

RIP

Insalata Romana

By Eataly

Supernatural Chopped Salad

By Beatrix

Ensalada De Mercado

By Big Star

Ensalada De Big Star

By Big Star

Super Salad

By Bite Cafe

Brussels & Kale Salad

By Blue Door Farm Stand

BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad

By Cheesecake Factory

Chicken Ranch Salad

By Chicago Diner

Cindy’s House Salad

By Cindy’s

Heirloom Butternut Salad

By Daisie’s

RIP

Smoked Whitefish & Bibb Salad

By Dillman's

California Salad

By Doc B's Fresh Kitchen

+Faroe Island Salmon

RIP

Wrightwood Salad

By Dunlay's

Three-Grain & Arugula Salad with Miller Farm’s Chicken

By Beatrix

Simple Greens Salad

By Etta

Kale & Quinoa Salad

By Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea

Vegetable Salad

By Fat Willy’s

+Blackberry Vinaigrette Dressing

Maple Roasted Squash Salad

By Forbidden Root

Lil Salad/Big Salad

By Funkenhausen

Athenian Traditional Greek Salad

By Greek Islands

+Gyro Meat

Everything Green Salad

By Handlebar

Ella’s Garden Salad

By Hannah's Bretzel

+Smoked Turkey

Jimmy Ching

By Left Coast

+Sustainable Salmon

Caesar Salad

By Lonesome Rose

Baby Gem Salad

By Lonesome Rose

Malnati Salad

By Lou Malnati's

Gotta Try

Grilled Romaine

You gotta try the Grilled Romaine salad at ERIS Brewery & Cider House! It was so fresh. The flavor combinations were great. The smokiness of the romaine, combined with the crunch of freshness, was unbelievable.

Ella’s Garden Salad

Delicious variance in textures — especially love the small cubes of fresh mozz and roasted cashews. Add turkey and avocado for ultimate deliciousness! The dressing is great, but I always need a little extra to get an even distribution.

Winter Squash Salad

The salty notes from the Parmesan, the crunch from pecans and pumpkin seeds and the overall hearty presentation make this salad feel like more of a meal than a simple appetizer.

Xoco Salad

Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Tuna Nicoise Salad

Let Your Greek Flag Fly

Add: Blackened Chicken Breast

Market Salad

Midwestern Winter Salad

Baby Gem Salad

Add: Crispy Pork Belly, Poached Egg

Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Shredded Brussels Sprouts

Caesar Salad

Chop Salad

Del Mar

Salade Lyonnaise

Endive Salad

Red Beet Salad

Mediterranean Salad

Blackwood Chopped Salad

Add: Lean Brisket, Ranch Dressing, Chicago Style BBQ Sauce on Side

Crab Stuffed Avocado

I’ll allow it.