Growing up, I had a friend whose mom served salad with every single dinner. Every single one. Chicken? Side salad. Spaghetti? Side salad. Salad? Side salad. OK, maybe not that last one. I remember thinking, “I’m so glad I don’t have to eat salad every night.” Fast forward a few (or many) years…I could, and sometimes do, eat salad nightly. My friend’s mom would be so proud.

What I’ve come to learn—and love—is that salads can be as healthy or not-so-healthy as you wish; they can be filled with veggies, meat, seafood, or fruit; served warm or cold; and eaten as a main course, a side dish, or dessert (Jello salad counts, right?). In other words, they’re versatile—and very good!

On that note, lettuce check out some of the yummiest salads in our area.

Yum Woon Sen

Perfect on a warm sunny day, the yum woon sen (glass noodle salad) at My Thai Kitchen is a colorful delight composed of magic, gluten-free glass noodles, ground pork, celery, peanuts, and cherry tomatoes. Mixed with fresh lime juice and fish sauce, each brightly hued bite is both fun and flavorful. 

Fun fact: Glass noodles change color depending on what they’re cooked or steeped with—hence their “magical” nickname.

1465 Eureka Road, Suite 140, Roseville, 916-781-7811, eatatmythaikitchen.com

Ahi Tuna Salad

The ahi tuna salad at Soli’s is another “cool” (in every sense of the word) salad for a toasty summer night. Mixed greens, sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, pickled red onions, fresh lemon, and crunchy croutons are topped with fresh ahi tuna and drizzled with a spicy wasabi cream. If you’d rather go the less spicy route, try the balsamic vinaigrette instead. Served with warm garlic naan, it’s ideal a starter or as the main attraction.

Fun fact: Ahi can be eaten raw (sashimi, sushi, or poke), seared, grilled, sautéed or dried.

424 Lincoln Boulevard, Lincoln, 916-975-5903, solislounge.com 

Ginger Salad

Looking for a vegan, gluten-free salad that rises above the rest? Try the ginger salad at Burma Light. Expect romaine lettuce or cabbage (or both!) topped with loads of goodness: matchstick-sliced pickled ginger, fried garlic, yellow beans and powder, peanuts, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds. But wait, there’s more! They also toss in jalapeños, onions, cilantro, and oil. Enjoy each flavor-packed forkful on their dog-friendly patio.

Fun fact: Cilantro tastes good to most people, but there’s a small percentage of the population who, due to a genetic variation, thinks it tastes like soap.

703 East Bidwell Street, Suite 3, Folsom, 916-510-3176, burmalight.com

Greek Salad

Go Greek or go home! The Greek salad at Wally’s Pizza Bar takes the classic to another, all-American level by adding some of my favorite things: chickpeas, cucumbers, red and green onions, artichoke hearts, sharp feta, fresh Roma tomatoes, house-marinated kalamata olives, white beans, and parsley! All that goodness is tossed with crisp romaine lettuce and Wally’s house-made citrus dressing. With a punch of protein from the beans and plenty of good-for-you ingredients, this salad can be enjoyed on its own or alongside one of Wally’s gourmet pies, like my personal pick: the Mediterranean. 

Fun fact: Greek salad is also called horiatiki (village salad) or salata therini (summer salad).

4079 Cameron Park Drive, Cameron Park, 530-677-5205, wallyspizzabar.com

Taco Salad

Don’t you love when the dish your food comes in is edible? The taco salad from Encanto Cocina & Tequila Bar is served in a fried flour tortilla and filled with mixed greens, black beans, queso fresco, pico de gallo, avocado, crema, and a side of salsa. All the ingredients are locally sourced, providing the freshest, tastiest take on a taco salad I’ve had in maybe forever.

Fun fact: Rumor has it the first taco salad originated in Texas in the ’60s.

2023 Vine Street, Suite 200, El Dorado Hills, 916-673-9279, encantoedh.com

Singapore-style Walnut Prawn Salad

The Singapore-style walnut prawns salad is one of the more popular menu items at Folsom Palace—and for good reason. Lettuce, deep-fried prawns, carrots, cucumbers, red cabbage, and crispy rice noodles with a light walnut cream sauce make for a meal that’s equal parts hearty and healthy. And because the restaurant uses only natural and fresh ingredients—with minimal sodium and oil and no MSG—you can rest assured that you’re filling your belly (to the brim!) with the good stuff.

Fun fact: Walnut trees grow at a rate of 24 inches per year reaching 40-60 feet tall and can produce walnuts for more than 100 years.

1169 Riley Street, Folsom, 916-983-8880; 3941 Park Drive, Suite 10, El Dorado Hills, 916-936-0808; 5450 Sunrise Boulevard, Suite E, Citrus Heights, 916- 963-8888, folsompalace.com

Berry Cool Salad

Everything on the menu at Placerville Public House is scratch-made and locally sourced, including their beloved berry cool salad. Go small or go big (depending on if you want to share or not) with spinach, fresh berries and mint, cucumber, sunflower seeds, and feta tossed in a refreshing lemon poppy seed vinaigrette. Berry cool…and berry good, indeed!

Fun fact: The healthiest berries are believed to be blueberries, raspberries, goji berries, strawberries, and acai berries. 

305 Main Street, Placerville, 530-303-3792, placervillepublichouse.com

Roasted Cauliflower Quinoa Salad

Farm-to-fork then fork-to-mouth! Try the roasted cauliflower quinoa salad with organic spinach and arugula, roasted tri-colored cauliflower, and red onions from Garden of Eat’n. Also in the mix is tri-colored quinoa, garbanzo beans, and pumpkin seeds. The homemade jalapeño-lime vinaigrette ties it all together for a nutritious, delicious meal.

Fun fact: Quinoa is a grain, but it’s also a flowering plant with edible seeds.

1228 Galleria Boulevard, Suite 130, Roseville, 916-771-0630; 2000 Blue Oaks Boulevard, Suite 110, Roseville, 916-829-8101; 1850 Grass Valley Highway, Suite 320, Auburn, 530-885-4500, gardenofeatn.com

Cajun Shrimp Salad 

Craving a Cajun salad with a kick? What if you could watch the sunset over a beautiful setting while eating said salad? The dream can come true when you order the Cajun shrimp salad (and dine before it gets dark!) at Crawdads on the Lake. The salad—which covers all the food groups, thanks to mixed greens, Cajun-spiced shrimp, sliced hard-boiled egg, radish, cotija cheese, quinoa, tomatoes, and pumpkin seeds with Baja ranch dressing—is decidedly delicious and almost as pretty as the lakefront view!

Fun fact: Onion, celery, and bell pepper are known as the “holy trinity” of Cajun cuisine.

9900 Greenback Lane, Folsom, 916-989-9243, crawdadsonthelake.com

Mango Chicken Salad

Enjoy a salad and hang out on the picturesque patio at Relish Burger Bar. They have several standouts to choose from, but the mango chicken salad gets our vote. With shredded cabbage and lettuce, fresh citrus mango slaw, avocado, marinated grilled chicken, crispy rice noodles, and sesame ginger dressing, it’s easy to see why the crowd goes wild.

Fun fact: Mangos are related to cashews and pistachios and are a good source of dietary fiber.

1000 White Rock Road, El Dorado Hills, 916-933-3111, relishburgerbar.com 

by Julie Ryan
Burma Light photo by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmedia. Encanto Cocina & Tequila Bar  and Folsom Palace photos by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmedia. Wally’s Pizza Bar photo courtesy of Wally’s Pizza Bar. Placerville Public House and Relish Burger Bar photos by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmedia. Garden of Eat’n photo by Francisco Chavira, edited by Elizabeth Gore. Crawdads on the Lake photo by GreyDot Media. Other photos courtesy of their respective restaurants.