Salad chains are thriving—and for good reason. With more people seeking healthier lunch and dinner options, they’re skipping traditional fast food in favor of leafy greens loaded with nutritious ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and lean protein.
As someone who eats salad for at least one meal most days of the week, I’m well-acquainted with the popular salad chains and appreciate their convenience for getting my greens on the go. While I usually prefer making salads at home due to the cost—a signature salad at these restaurants typically ranges from $13 to $15, with prices climbing if you build your own—I decided to put the most popular salads at these chains to the test to determine which one truly stands out.
To carry out this taste test, I went in person to each restaurant and ordered the most popular salad on the menu (excluding build-your-own, which is pretty popular) and got the salad with all of the exact ingredients as described, including the suggested dressing.
If you're one of those people who love the sound of fresh ingredients being tossed into that big metal bowl, you'll want to read on to see which salads you should try and which ones to avoid. Read on to see the salads ranked from my least favorite to the absolute best!
Panera Bread: Green Goddess Cobb Salad with Chicken
Per Serving:
- Calories: 500
- Fat: 28 g (Saturated Fat: 6 g)
- Sodium: 940 mg
- Carbs: 27 g (Fiber: 8 g, Sugar: 13 g)
- Protein: 39 g
Panera is often celebrated for its soups and sandwiches, but its salads also have a loyal following. Unfortunately, the Green Goddess Cobb Salad with Chicken didn’t live up to expectations. Featuring a mix of greens, bacon, egg, and chicken, this salad was the most disappointing of the bunch. The greens were limp, the chicken lacked flavor, and the avocado—usually the highlight—was unripe. The tomatoes weren’t juicy, and the shredded, soft bacon was unappetizing. While the Green Goddess dressing had a nice flavor, it wasn’t enough to make up for the salad’s overall shortcomings. This is one I wouldn’t order again.
Rating: 1/10
Saladworks: Sophie's Salad
Per Serving (1 Salad):
- Calories: 430
- Fat: 18 g (Saturated Fat: 5 g)
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Carbs: 48 g (Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 36 g)
- Protein: 20 g
I was excited to try Sophie’s Salad from Saladworks, as it features many ingredients I often use in my homemade salads, like bleu cheese, dried cranberries, and spring mix. While most of the ingredients looked fresh and appealing, the apples were a big letdown—they were brown and should never have been served.
The flavor of the salad was enjoyable overall, but the ratio of greens to toppings was way off. There was an overwhelming amount of dried cranberries, which are packed with sugar, making the salad far less healthy. And while I love cheese, it, along with the other toppings, felt more like the main event than an enhancement. As registered dietitian Ilana Muhlstein suggests, toppings should be "accessories," not the star of the dish.
I ended up pushing some toppings aside to make the salad a healthier choice. While I’d visit Saladworks again, next time I’ll customize the ingredient amounts to better balance flavor and nutrition.
Rating: 5/10
Just Salad: Honey Crispy Chicken Salad
Per Serving (without dressing):
- Calories: 380
- Fat: 15 g (Saturated Fat: 6 g)
- Sodium: 1,030 mg
- Carbs: 38 g (Fiber: 7 g, Sugar: 9 g)
- Protein: 23 g
This vibrant salad from Just Salad features a mix of greens, red cabbage, feta, roasted corn, and quinoa, making it both visually appealing and filling. The quinoa was a great addition as a healthy carb, and feta always adds a delicious touch to any salad! While I ordered this because of its popularity, I wouldn't have chosen crispy chicken on my own—it feels counterintuitive in a salad meant to be a healthier option.
The dressing, however, was a bit too tangy for my liking. That said, the combination of ingredients blended together beautifully, creating a satisfying and tasty dish. I’d happily return to Just Salad, but next time, I’ll opt to build my own salad creation for a more personalized and balanced experience.
Rating: 6/10
Sweetgreen: Guacamole Greens
Per Serving (1 Salad):
- Calories: 515
- Fat: 31 g (Saturated Fat: 5 g)
- Sodium: 334 mg
- Carbs: 27 g (Fiber: 14 g, Sugar: 3 g)
- Protein: 27 g
I’ve had great experiences with Sweetgreen’s fresh, crunchy, and satisfying salads in the past, so I was surprised that this one didn’t claim the top spot. The Guacamole Greens salad offers a tasty mix of avocado, tomatoes, red onions, and lime, but it fell short in a few areas. The chicken wasn’t as plentiful or juicy compared to the winning salad, which impacted its overall appeal.
While I loved the creamy avocado flavor, having half an avocado scooped into the salad wasn’t ideal—it was hard to cut with a fork and didn’t distribute evenly. Additionally, I wasn’t a fan of the tortilla chips, which felt unnecessary. I would have preferred to rely on the cabbage for crunch instead.
That said, this was still a very good salad, and Sweetgreen remains a go-to option whenever I spot one nearby.
Rating: 7/10
Chopt: Kale Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken
Kale Caesar with Chicken:
- Calories: 420
- Fat: 17 g (Saturated Fat: 6 g)
- Sodium: 835 mg
- Carbs: 28 g (Fiber: 7 g, Sugar: 5 g)
- Protein: 35 g
I’ve tried Chopt before and wasn’t impressed with how finely they chopped their salads—it felt more like coleslaw than a leafy green dish. Thankfully, this time was a completely different experience! The Kale Caesar Salad struck the perfect balance of parmesan cheese, croutons, and greens, creating a flavor and texture combination so good that I found myself craving another one the next day. (And let’s be honest, it’s not often that salads are addictive, but this one absolutely was!)
My only gripe is that the chicken costs extra—without it, the salad wouldn’t feel as complete. That said, the chicken was worth it: big, juicy chunks that elevated the dish to another level. I’ll definitely be adding this salad to my regular lineup and am eager to explore more items on Chopt’s menu.
Rating: 9/10