Trendiest Salad Spots In NYC

In a perfect world, we all have time to make our own kale salad at home for our hectic workday. In reality, we find ourselves scrambling to get to work on time, which forces us to buy a quick lunch at the office. But don’t resort to a cheap slice of pizza that won’t keep you full or energize you during the workday. Salads are a healthy and easy option, and have become the latest healthy go-to. This is a guest post by Stefani Pappas, Clinical Nutrition Master’s Student at New York University and Dietetic Intern.

Not only does a large green salad help provide several servings of vegetables, but it also has become quite popular to
partake in this healthy trend. You don’t have to resort to simple lettuce and tomato; delicious salad spots have been popping up all across NYC, and are trying to keep up with the demand of the growing health-conscious population. 

More salad chains are trying to diversify their menu, and are including superfoods, whole grains, homemade dressings, and a variety of interesting topping assortments. Many salad locations also give you the power to customize your healthy meal. With all of these new and innovative salad bars on every corner, some certainly outdo the rest. Here are five of the best salad spots to visit on your next lunch break in NYC.

Sweetgreen 1164 Broadway
With four locations in NYC, this health-nut spot serves amazing organic salads, soups, wraps, juices, and delectable
frozen yogurt. They source locally and use all organic ingredients, partnering with local farmers to help support the community. They focus on three main principles: delicious, healthy, and transparent. They have signature salads, including the amazing Kale Caesar salad. Their seasonal menu and make your own options are convenient and delicious. Although their regular menu does not have many vegan options, the make-your-own salad has a variety of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices.

The Butcher’s Daughter   19 Kenmare Street
One of the trendiest healthy spots in NYC, this place is know for its fresh juice bar, but also features a killer lunch menu. Although there are only a few salads on the menu, they are not to be missed. Treat yourself to a salad and refreshing juice. They too are committed to sourcing locally and focusing on organic food. The entire menu is vegetarian and non-dairy. Many items
are vegan and gluten-free, and they are good about substitutions here if you have additional dietary restrictions. The Best Kale Salad and a Water Flower Juice are some personal favorites.

CHOPT  80 Pine Street
With locations in the financial district, Brookfield place and Spring Street, this popular salad spot gets very busy. Long waiting lines here, but they have a speedy system to get the line moving and get you your salad fast. There salad menu has a ton of variety, and the staff is very friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable. They make the dressings homemade from scratch every day. You can customize your own salad, try an exotic destination salad, or get my personal favorite grain salads. This spot too sources locally, and the website even has a nutrition calculator if you have additional nutrition and/or allergen concerns.

Reviver   934 8^th Avenue
Reviver is the nutritious foodie’s heaven. Based on the four food principles of balanced, nutritious, clean, and pure food, they list the calories here and even give you a Reviver Score based on 10 key nutrients (the closer the score is to 100, the better). Fantastic salads with homemade dressing, soups, tacos, sandwiches, and whole meals are offered at this innovative spot. The North Shore Mahi Mahi salad is one of the best salads here. They have a slew of options for vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, and gluten free eating. Monica Reinagel, MS, LN of the Nutrition Diva Podcast helped develop this menu with the Reviver chefs, so it’s both nutritious and delicious.

Fresh & Co 85th & Lexington Ave
Although this salad chain may not be as trendy as some of the other contenders, it’s still a great option when you’re in a pinch. You can choose from salads, collard green wraps, Paninis, soups, sandwiches, or my favorite- the quinoa bowls. Fully organic, and they have a slew of vegan and gluten-free options. If you have a sweet tooth, their raw chocolate nut bar is to die for. Located practically on every corner of the city, this is definitely a must-try for the average city girl.

What other salad spots do you think deserve to make the list? Comment below!

Looking for other healthy restaurants and spots in NYC?  Read some of Stefani’s other guest posts below:

I’d like to thank Stefani Pappas, CPT for this great guest post!  She is currently a dietetic intern pursuing her career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She is a Master’s in Clinical Nutrition Student at New York University. Stefani has a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences from the Pennsylvania State University, with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. She is a contributing writer for Elite Daily, member of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer, and Equinox Fitness Instructor. Stefani is dedicated to leading a healthy and active lifestyle, and inspiring others to do the same. Follow her on Twitter & Instagram @stefhealthtips for more nutrition and fitness tips!