by Chelsea Lin - 273 Reviews - 109 List
One trip to any fast food spot and you'll know that "salad" isn't always synonymous with "healthy." Rather than steak strips, bacon bits and creamy dressing, our favorite salad spots feature generous portions of gourmet greens and innovative ingredients. If you're looking for a low-cal meal that doesn't skimp on the flavor, try one of these top five restaurants.
Updated: January 15, 2009
A popular destination for FiDi workers watching their waistline, this popular lunch counter specializes in gourmet sandwiches and salads. Try the jalapeno-marinated tofu or Green Goddess salads if you're trying to stay healthy--even the chicken salad isn't your typical mayo-drenched concoction.
If you can get in the door at this Inner Richmond knockout (not an easy task), try one of their delicious Burmese salads--the tea leaf salad with imported leaves, veggies, dried shrimp, peanuts and split yellow peas is a balanced meal in a uniquely tasty bite.
Including this "health food" chain may sound like including McDonald's in a list of best burgers, but chain or not, the salads are legit. The Inner Sunset eatery is almost always full, and the custom-made salads (huge and inexpensive) are the stand-out.
If you don't mind shelling out $10 for a salad, this Financial District lunch spot does some of the city's best. All the usual ingredients are there, plus pea shoots, pistachios, golden beets, seared ahi and a laundry list of high-quality options.
