Salad has come a long way since the days when your mum would serve you up a piece of lettuce, a tomato, a couple of slices of cucumber, a boiled egg and a dollop of salad cream. Say goodbye boring salads and say hello to bowls bursting with vibrant veggies, piled high protein, great grains and some seriously good sauces packed full of flavour. Perfect for summer eating and even a treat to eat out. Don’t believe us? Try these for size.
King Street Townhouse
Stylish salads with a superfood boost at Great John Street Hotel and King Street Townhouse – when you are staying over in the city you may well be looking for a meal that’s light that will keep you going for a few hours. The roasted vegetable and quinoa salad available at both these hotels is a real winner, combining seasonal vegetables with artichoke, rocket and lemon dressing. Lovely.
www.eclectichotels.co.u
Go for Goi at Pho
This Vietnamese restaurant have an entire section of their menu dedicated to salad or Goi as they are traditionally known with at least 5 options available and some of the most exciting we’ve seen. Try the traditional Gỏi gà which is shredded chicken salad with Asian herbs, peppers & a chilli ginger dressing, whilst vegetarians can enjoy this without the chicken – Gỏi chay. Their dressing delivers a perfect punch of chilli, almost like a nutritious broth you can drink from the bowl afterwards. For something even more inventive, how about a combination of banana blossom, beef, peanut and starfruit – that’s the Gỏi bắp chuối. A truly stellar salad.
phocafe.co.uk/locations/manchester
Customise it at Pita Pit
Opt for a packed full box or pita stuffed with fresh salad to takeaway or eat in at this colourful Canadian eatery. It’s ideal for a healthy workday lunch and the salad boxes are brilliantly customisable. You can choose the protein that goes on the grill, and then select from a range of fresh veggies, seasoning and sauce. Ready in minutes, staff will serve you from the salad station ensuring that you get the combination you like the most! Plus their falafel are seriously good.
pitapituk.com/manchester
Skewered salads at Cabana
This Brazilian-inspired barbeque brings you the best of both worlds – the thrill of the grill paired with an impressive salad for a great summer experience. The Hipanema Salad is made with quinoa, avocado and squash topped with a tangy mango dressing and served with your choice of skewer. Pick from chargrilled Halloumi, Spicy Malagueta, Guava-cue Chicken or even juicy steak skewers. This superfood salad is also available gluten free.
cabana-brasil.com
Power bowls and punchy flavour at Banyan
Salad meets comfort food in a bowl bursting with nutrients. This is the reality at Banyan, the contemporary bar and kitchen in the Corn Exchange. The new powerbowls bring a combination of textures, flavours and temperatures together – so say goodbye to cold lettuce leaves and hello to excitement! If you like fruit salad the All Day Breakfast Bowl combines quinoa and chia seeds with yoghurt, blueberries, banana and almonds. For something savoury, the Middle Eastern Bowl is a salad with a twist, featuring grilled halloumi and falafel, spiced roasted vegetables, puy lentils, cauliflower rice and tahini dressing. A duck ramen option is also available.
arcinspirations.com/banyan-manchester
Authentic Thai at Chaophraya
A Thai restaurant and bar which is determined to spread the sunshine with its array of fresh salad. The chefs signature dish is Yum Ped Grob – also known as crispy duck salad which consists of strips of the crisp roasted meat tossed with shallots, cucumber, spring onions, celery and pomegranate in a signature dressing. Other inventive combinations include king prawn and mango, spicy beef and the ultimate fusion food: scallops and black pudding, served with fresh mango You can even try one of the most popular dishes Som Tum which is a salad and one of the most popular dishes in Thailand incorporating shredded papaya, carrots, garlic, palm sugar and more. Served with a sticky rice parcel, it’s a match made in heaven.
chaophraya.co.uk
Surf and turf meets salad at Vapiano
Express Italian restaurant Vapiano are serving up the much loved duo of surf and turf as you have never seen it before – and it still rhymes. Introducing Reef’n’Beef with fresh fillet, king prawns, grilled vegetables and salad. It’s ideal for carb avoiders, packed with protein and massive portions are available. For something lighter, why not try a sweet twist on the traditional Greek salad? There’s the Strawberry Spinach option with raspberry maple dressing. Delicious with goats cheese, red onion and pine nuts.
uk.vapiano.com
Try Thai with Thaikun
Fresh herbs and spices with immune boosting properties are combined with vegetables for a vibrant taste of Thailand. Ideal for summer is their chicken salad with lemon roasted rice and kefir lime leaf – a great citrus zing! It’s also available for vegetarians with mushrooms instead of the meat. This vibrant Spinningfields restaurant offers some of the most inventive salads we’ve seen. How about their Som Tum, shredded raw papaya tossed with roasted peanuts lime, chilli, tomato, fine beans and dried shrimp? Or to really impress you can opt for crispy sea bass served on mixed salad with roasted cashews.
thaikhun.co.uk
Salad meets refreshment at Rosylee
This NQ restaurant and bar serves elegant salads you can enjoy in a prime Stevenson Square location or outside on their terrace! Simple, satisfying salads include options of sliced avocado, grilled chicken breast and halloumi. Rosylee are famous for their cocktails – and now you can even eat a salad which is equally refreshing – their watermelon, feta and mint combination, served as a starter – and it’s good-lookin’ too.
rosylee.com
Spicy salads served in an edible bowl at Wahaca
This colourful Corn Exchange restaurant is serving up Mexican-inspired salads, inside an ingenious bowl made from a crispy tortilla. Choose from either the Sonora Salad which features avocado, beans and lettuce in a light chipotle dressing, topped with a choice of fresh cooked meats if you fancy. There’s even a brand new option of scallop and shrimp ceviche for those looking for ultra lean protein. The Super-charged Salad is ideal for vegetarians and contains roasted corn, avocado, spelt and pumpkin seeds paired with jalapeño pickled carrot.
wahaca.co.uk/locations/manchester
Half-price salad and inventive toppings at Infamous Diner
Enjoy a salad which is both inspiring and indulgent US-style at Infamous Diner! You’ll get a great cobb salad base with your choice of topping – and all are buy one get one free Monday to Friday! The salad consists of avocado, chopped baby gem, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, egg and ranch dressing which can be combined with the likes of beetroot falafel, chicken and bacon, pulled pork or luxurious crispy panko fried halloumi.
infamousdiner.co.uk
A series of salads at Cosy Club
Whether you think meat makes a meal or you’re a veggie, there will be a salad to suit you at Cosy Club. These are substantial salads which are meals in themselves, served in a popular Corn Exchange location. The Thai-beef salad is packed with flavour, whilst the feta option is like a pumped-up Greek salad and certainly generous, piled high with the cheese, olives, mixed leaf, tomato and dressing. Chicken and chorizo is also a winning combination.
cosyclub.co.uk/manchester
An array of colours and flavours at Artisan
There are so many options at Artisan kitchen and bar you can either pick one signature salad as a main meal or combine three smaller servings. These include beautiful pomegranate and sultana couscous, a Caesar salad with pecorino and an inventive bacon crumb and their raw chopped salad with a peanut dressing. Add grilled chicken, succulent beef short rib or even poached salmon for a small extra charge.
artisan.uk.com
Pick and mix at Oak Street Cafe NQ
Located in the Craft and Design Centre, this cafe always has three homemade salads to choose from. Two of them are always vegan and gluten free and substantial too, accompanied by a chunk of Norlander bread baked at Barbican in Chorlton. These are out-of-the-ordinary flavour combinations, which have included soya, sesame broccoli and tofu and Thai 7-spice potatoes. Options change regularly so you’ll never be bored – and you can tuck in whilst surrounded by inspirational art!
craftanddesign.com/oak-st-cafe-bar
