clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

11 Excellent Places to Eat While Shopping at Arcadia’s Santa Anita Mall

12 Places to Fuel up While Holiday Shopping at the Grove

The 16 Hottest New Restaurants in Los Angeles, December 2022

More in Los Angeles See more maps
Mango, cucumber, and mint salad at Bé Ù.
Mango, cucumber, and mint salad at Bé Ù.
Wonho Frank Lee

17 Fantastic Salads Worth Ordering in Los Angeles

It’s easy to to eat more vegetables with these gorgeous salads

by Eater Staff Updated
7 comments / new
View as Map
Mango, cucumber, and mint salad at Bé Ù.
| Wonho Frank Lee
by Eater Staff Updated
7 comments / new

Outsiders often think of Los Angeles as a land of chronic salad eaters and juice cleansers, and while that’s hardly the case for all of the county’s 10 million residents, there’s no denying that the region’s abundance of stunning produce is something to celebrate. For years local chefs have used what’s in season to create some of the country’s most iconic and crave-worthy salads. From Thai papaya salad at Bua Siam to the charred cauliflower salad at Tesse, here now are 17 fanciful salads worth ordering in LA.

Removed: endive salad at Momed, Chinese chicken salad at Feast From the East, shaved kale salad at the Window, free-range chicken salad at Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen, Horiatiki salad at Petros

Added: tomato salad at All Day Baby, sautéed salad at Paper Rice, strawberry-shrimp salad at Girl and the Goat, tuna conserva Salad at Great White, cucumber and mango salad at Bé Ù

The latest CDC guidance for vaccinated diners during the COVID-19 outbreak is here; dining out still carries risks for unvaccinated diners and workers. Please be aware of changing local rules, and check individual restaurant websites for any additional restrictions such as mask requirements. Find a local vaccination site here.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Papaya salad at Bua Siam

Copy Link

There are countless fantastic Thai restaurants across greater Los Angeles, but Valley diners know to trust Bua Siam for its spicy take on, well, just about everything. That includes the rockin’ papaya salad, served simply and with lots of zing.

12924 Sherman Way #4953, North Hollywood, CA 91605
(818) 765-8395
(818) 765-8395
A wooden table holds a white plate with fresh papaya salad on top.
Papaya salad from Bua Siam
Bua Siam

California chicken salad at California Chicken Cafe

Copy Link

With nine locations throughout Los Angeles, California Chicken Cafe is a convenient stop for salad that truly feels like a full meal. The order here is the California chicken, a hearty, protein-packed behemoth of rotisserie white meat, avocado, feta cheese, carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, croutons, and even fusilli pasta, all topped with a choice of dressing.

15601 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91436
(818) 789-8056
(818) 789-8056
View this post on Instagram

The taste of summer☀️#CaliforniaChickenCafe @kkarmalove

A post shared by (@californiachickencafe) on

House special sautéed salad at Paper Rice

Copy Link

For a salad that satisfies like few can, look no further than the sautéed salad at Paper Rice. Heaps of romaine hearts come topped with shrimp, beef, hard boiled eggs, and sweet onion. And best of all, the salad’s tangy, savory, and Vietnamese-inspired dressing is laced with beef and shrimp drippings.

20 Union St #150, Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 345-5333
(626) 345-5333
House special sauteed salad at Paper Rice in Pasadena.
House special sautéed salad at Paper Rice in Pasadena.
Cathy Chaplin

Dianne at Green Street Restaurant

Copy Link

This iconic salad in Pasadena mixes crunchy Asian noodles, chicken, toasted almonds, and sesame seeds over shredded lettuce for an addictive lunch. In fact, it's become so popular that Trader Joe's now has a "Pasadena" salad inspired by the Dianne at Green Street.

146 Shoppers Ln, Pasadena, CA
(626) 577-7170
(626) 577-7170

Charred cauliflower salad at Tesse

Copy Link

It’s can be challenging to get excited about cauliflower, but chef Raphael Francois utilizes his wood-burning stove to lightly char the main ingredient, then he carefully adds harissa, cucumber, almonds, and pomegranate for a beautiful and delicious salad.

8500 Sunset Blvd Suite B, West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 360-3866
(310) 360-3866
The charred cauliflower salad from Tesse
The charred cauliflower salad from Tesse
Mona Holmes

Also featured in:

Nam khao tod at Night + Market Song

Copy Link

This dish encapsulates everything that’s so great about Thai cuisine: the perfect balance of sweet, spice, salt, and funk. Loaded with Thai fermented sausage, plenty of chile jam, and crunchy fried rice, it’s a good way to start the meal at this Silver Lake spot.

3322 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 665-5899
(323) 665-5899
Nam Khao Tod salad at Night + Market Song
Night + Market Song
Emily Knecht

Also featured in:

Tomato salad at All Day Baby

Copy Link

It doesn’t get any better than late-summer tomato salads, and the one served at All Day Baby can do no wrong. The seasons juiciest tomatoes are quartered and topped with a Cajun-style X.O. sauce that includes heaps of lil’ dried shrimp, and served in a rich puddle of salt and pepper mayonnaise.

3200 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 741-0082
(323) 741-0082

Also featured in:

Burrata salad at Croft Alley

Copy Link

Croft Alley’s burrata salad exemplifies the restaurant’s style — simple, comforting, and elegant — with baby kale, tomato jam, olive oil, and a mustard vinaigrette, served with a Bub & Grandma’s baguette.

8428 Melrose Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90069

Caesar at Dan Tana's

Copy Link

Everything about Dan Tana’s screams old-school, from the red checkered tablecloths to those massive plates of chicken Parmesan. As one would expect of such an establishment, the Caesar is a must-order with its crisp romaine and garlicky dressing. It is the ideal complement for a red sauce kind of meal.

9071 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
(310) 275-9444
(310) 275-9444

Also featured in:

McCarthy at Polo Lounge

Copy Link

The Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge is synonymous for people-watching and its McCarthy Salad. Named after polo player Neil McCarthy, a frequent hotel guest in the 1960s, the remixed classic Cobb winds up on nearly every table, with nearly 600 salads sold in the hotel each week.

9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA
(310) 887-2777
(310) 887-2777
The McCarthy from the Beverly Hills’ Polo Lounge
The McCarthy from the Polo Lounge
The Beverly Hills Hotel

Also featured in:

Mango, cucumber, and mint salad at Bé Ù

Copy Link

Who says that salads need to include greens? This sweet and spicy creation from chef Uyen Le includes chunks of mangoes, a smattering of cucumbers, and plenty of fresh mint, all tossed in a well-balanced dressing. Crushed peanuts and sesame rice crackers add crunch to the mix.

557 N Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 928-2135
(323) 928-2135
Mango, cucumber, and mint salad at Bé Ù.
Mango, cucumber, and mint salad at Bé Ù
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Mediterranean gem at Sycamore Kitchen

Copy Link

The Hatfields’ Sycamore Kitchen somehow managed to create salads that diners regularly choose over the pastries. The go-to is the Mediterranean gem, a bountiful blend of gem lettuce, chicken, dates, hazelnut, radicchio, grapes, bleu cheese, and red wine vinaigrette.

143 S LA Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 939-0151
(323) 939-0151

Also featured in:

Kale sea salad at Âu Lạc

Copy Link

Vegan spot Âu Lạc takes its salads seriously. The lacinato kale and sea vegetable salad is full of flavor with spiced almonds, cucumber, kimchi, a macadamia “cheese” kale crisp, and a teriyaki dressing.

710 W 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-2533
(213) 617-2533

Also featured in:

Shrimp and crispy greens at Girl and the Goat

Copy Link

Shrimp and strawberries go together like peas and carrots at Girl and the Goat. This seasonal salad also includes avocado, pickled vegetables, and pepitas — all coated in a lime and herb dressing that brings all the ingredients together.

555-3 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 799-4628
(213) 799-4628
Shrimp and crispy greens at Girl and the Goat.
Shrimp and crispy greens at Girl & the Goat
Matthew Kang

Also featured in:

Tuna conserva salad at Great White

Copy Link

It doesn’t get any fresher than Great White’s tuna conserva salad. Brimming with avocado, snap peas, and tomatoes — consider this salad a modern, California-style niçoise.

1604 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291
(424) 744-8403
(424) 744-8403
Tuna conserva salad at Great White.
Tuna conserva salad at Great White
Matthew Kang

Also featured in:

More in Maps

Kale salad at Jame Enoteca

Copy Link

South Bay Italian powerhouse Jame Enoteca constructs one of the meanest kale salads in town. Every sweet and spicy serving includes plenty of fresh herbs, Parmesan, avocado, cilantro, scallions, and an almond vinaigrette.

241 Main St, El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 648-8554
(310) 648-8554

Also featured in:

Taco salad at Salads 2000

Copy Link

Salads 2000 is the spot for powerful, do-it-yourself salads and pre-picked options like the taco salad, which naturally comes with cheese, chips, avocado, sour cream, black olives, and more.

901 W Victoria St A2, Compton, CA 90220
(310) 635-5738
(310) 635-5738

More in Maps

Loading comments...

© 2022 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Papaya salad at Bua Siam

12924 Sherman Way #4953, North Hollywood, CA 91605

There are countless fantastic Thai restaurants across greater Los Angeles, but Valley diners know to trust Bua Siam for its spicy take on, well, just about everything. That includes the rockin’ papaya salad, served simply and with lots of zing.

12924 Sherman Way #4953, North Hollywood, CA 91605
(818) 765-8395
(818) 765-8395
A wooden table holds a white plate with fresh papaya salad on top.
Papaya salad from Bua Siam
Bua Siam

California chicken salad at California Chicken Cafe

15601 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91436

With nine locations throughout Los Angeles, California Chicken Cafe is a convenient stop for salad that truly feels like a full meal. The order here is the California chicken, a hearty, protein-packed behemoth of rotisserie white meat, avocado, feta cheese, carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, croutons, and even fusilli pasta, all topped with a choice of dressing.

15601 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91436
(818) 789-8056
(818) 789-8056
View this post on Instagram

The taste of summer☀️#CaliforniaChickenCafe @kkarmalove

A post shared by (@californiachickencafe) on

House special sautéed salad at Paper Rice

20 Union St #150, Pasadena, CA 91103

For a salad that satisfies like few can, look no further than the sautéed salad at Paper Rice. Heaps of romaine hearts come topped with shrimp, beef, hard boiled eggs, and sweet onion. And best of all, the salad’s tangy, savory, and Vietnamese-inspired dressing is laced with beef and shrimp drippings.

20 Union St #150, Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 345-5333
(626) 345-5333
House special sauteed salad at Paper Rice in Pasadena.
House special sautéed salad at Paper Rice in Pasadena.
Cathy Chaplin

Dianne at Green Street Restaurant

146 Shoppers Ln, Pasadena, CA

This iconic salad in Pasadena mixes crunchy Asian noodles, chicken, toasted almonds, and sesame seeds over shredded lettuce for an addictive lunch. In fact, it's become so popular that Trader Joe's now has a "Pasadena" salad inspired by the Dianne at Green Street.

146 Shoppers Ln, Pasadena, CA
(626) 577-7170
(626) 577-7170

Charred cauliflower salad at Tesse

8500 Sunset Blvd Suite B, West Hollywood, CA 90069

It’s can be challenging to get excited about cauliflower, but chef Raphael Francois utilizes his wood-burning stove to lightly char the main ingredient, then he carefully adds harissa, cucumber, almonds, and pomegranate for a beautiful and delicious salad.

8500 Sunset Blvd Suite B, West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 360-3866
(310) 360-3866
The charred cauliflower salad from Tesse
The charred cauliflower salad from Tesse
Mona Holmes

Nam khao tod at Night + Market Song

3322 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

This dish encapsulates everything that’s so great about Thai cuisine: the perfect balance of sweet, spice, salt, and funk. Loaded with Thai fermented sausage, plenty of chile jam, and crunchy fried rice, it’s a good way to start the meal at this Silver Lake spot.

3322 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 665-5899
(323) 665-5899
Nam Khao Tod salad at Night + Market Song
Night + Market Song
Emily Knecht

Tomato salad at All Day Baby

3200 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

It doesn’t get any better than late-summer tomato salads, and the one served at All Day Baby can do no wrong. The seasons juiciest tomatoes are quartered and topped with a Cajun-style X.O. sauce that includes heaps of lil’ dried shrimp, and served in a rich puddle of salt and pepper mayonnaise.

3200 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 741-0082
(323) 741-0082

Burrata salad at Croft Alley

8428 Melrose Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90069

Croft Alley’s burrata salad exemplifies the restaurant’s style — simple, comforting, and elegant — with baby kale, tomato jam, olive oil, and a mustard vinaigrette, served with a Bub & Grandma’s baguette.

8428 Melrose Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90069

Caesar at Dan Tana's

9071 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA

Everything about Dan Tana’s screams old-school, from the red checkered tablecloths to those massive plates of chicken Parmesan. As one would expect of such an establishment, the Caesar is a must-order with its crisp romaine and garlicky dressing. It is the ideal complement for a red sauce kind of meal.

9071 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
(310) 275-9444
(310) 275-9444

McCarthy at Polo Lounge

9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA

The Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge is synonymous for people-watching and its McCarthy Salad. Named after polo player Neil McCarthy, a frequent hotel guest in the 1960s, the remixed classic Cobb winds up on nearly every table, with nearly 600 salads sold in the hotel each week.

9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA
(310) 887-2777
(310) 887-2777
The McCarthy from the Beverly Hills’ Polo Lounge
The McCarthy from the Polo Lounge
The Beverly Hills Hotel

Mango, cucumber, and mint salad at Bé Ù

557 N Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Who says that salads need to include greens? This sweet and spicy creation from chef Uyen Le includes chunks of mangoes, a smattering of cucumbers, and plenty of fresh mint, all tossed in a well-balanced dressing. Crushed peanuts and sesame rice crackers add crunch to the mix.

557 N Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 928-2135
(323) 928-2135
Mango, cucumber, and mint salad at Bé Ù.
Mango, cucumber, and mint salad at Bé Ù
Wonho Frank Lee

Mediterranean gem at Sycamore Kitchen

143 S LA Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA

The Hatfields’ Sycamore Kitchen somehow managed to create salads that diners regularly choose over the pastries. The go-to is the Mediterranean gem, a bountiful blend of gem lettuce, chicken, dates, hazelnut, radicchio, grapes, bleu cheese, and red wine vinaigrette.

143 S LA Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 939-0151
(323) 939-0151

Kale sea salad at Âu Lạc

710 W 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Vegan spot Âu Lạc takes its salads seriously. The lacinato kale and sea vegetable salad is full of flavor with spiced almonds, cucumber, kimchi, a macadamia “cheese” kale crisp, and a teriyaki dressing.

710 W 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-2533
(213) 617-2533

Shrimp and crispy greens at Girl and the Goat

555-3 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Shrimp and strawberries go together like peas and carrots at Girl and the Goat. This seasonal salad also includes avocado, pickled vegetables, and pepitas — all coated in a lime and herb dressing that brings all the ingredients together.

555-3 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 799-4628
(213) 799-4628
Shrimp and crispy greens at Girl and the Goat.
Shrimp and crispy greens at Girl & the Goat
Matthew Kang

Tuna conserva salad at Great White

1604 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291

It doesn’t get any fresher than Great White’s tuna conserva salad. Brimming with avocado, snap peas, and tomatoes — consider this salad a modern, California-style niçoise.

1604 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291
(424) 744-8403
(424) 744-8403
Tuna conserva salad at Great White.
Tuna conserva salad at Great White
Matthew Kang

Related Maps

Kale salad at Jame Enoteca

241 Main St, El Segundo, CA 90245

South Bay Italian powerhouse Jame Enoteca constructs one of the meanest kale salads in town. Every sweet and spicy serving includes plenty of fresh herbs, Parmesan, avocado, cilantro, scallions, and an almond vinaigrette.

241 Main St, El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 648-8554
(310) 648-8554

Taco salad at Salads 2000

901 W Victoria St A2, Compton, CA 90220

Salads 2000 is the spot for powerful, do-it-yourself salads and pre-picked options like the taco salad, which naturally comes with cheese, chips, avocado, sour cream, black olives, and more.

901 W Victoria St A2, Compton, CA 90220
(310) 635-5738
(310) 635-5738

Related Maps