These salads are too good to only be reserved for the starter course. Our list of the best salads in Charlotte includes everything from Asian-inspired flavors to a new take on a traditional burger. Start with our Scoop favorites (our favorites and reader-picks) and then browse by neighborhood and restaurant type.
Did we miss your favorite? Let us and other Scoop readers know in the comments.
SCOOP FAVORITES
Visit: 1100 Metropolitan Ave #100
Order: The insulate tritato with spinach, romaine, radicchio, ceci beans, salami calabrese, herb chicken, aged provolone, tomatoes, red onion, fresh basil, artichokes and vinaigrette. ($12)
Visit: 4905 Ashley Park Ln J
Order: Three popular options include the mozzarella salad with confit cherry tomato, local honey, focaccia and pancetta vinaigrette, the Caesar with mustard greens, romaine, shaved pecorino and focaccia and for brunch, the spinach and kale salad with mixed berries, goat cheese, spiced pecans and sherry vinaigrette.
Visit: 6706 Phillips Pl Ct.
Order: The Chinese Chicken Salad with candied cashews, sesame ginger dressing is a trusty go-to, while the new chopped salad with romaine, market vegetables, feta, crunchy quinoa and champagne vinaigrette is perfect for summer.
Visit: 601 S College St.
Order: Spring Greens with tomato, pickled green strawberry, watermelon radish, sunflower seeds, smoked goat cheese and white balsamic vinaigrette.
Visit: 4310 Sharon Road
Order: Chinese Chicken Salad – Grilled all natural chicken, mixed greens, Asian slaw, snow peas, red peppers, cilantro, green onion, tangerines, peanuts, carrot & beet curls, crispy noodles, crispy wontons with peanut ranch vinaigrette. ($14).
Visit: 303 S Church St.
Order: Queen’s Chop Salad – Endive, Little Gem lettuce, Pickled Peppers, Tomato, Cucumber, Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese, Marcona Almonds, Red Wine Vinaigrette ($10)
Visit:6902 Phillips Place
Order: Green Papaya Salad – Duck Confit, Thai Basil and Vietnamese Vinaigrette.
Visit: 2823 Selwyn Ave and 4331 Barclay Downs Dr.
Order: Kale berry salad: Kale, strawberries, blueberries, pickled red onion, pistachios, goat cheese, avocado, lemon vinaigrette ($11), with optional protein add-ons. Available at both locations.
Visit: 300 East Blvd
Order: Seared Ahi Tuna – Organic Greens, Avocado, Fried Wontons, Seared Rice Cake, Sesame Dressing, Wasabi, Shoyu.
Visit: 601 S Kings Dr A
Order: Grilled salmon and arugula salad – Grilled salmon filet, grilled zucchini, fresh arugula, capers, artichokes, bruschetta tomatoes in a Kalamata olive vinaigrette.
Visit: 4201 Congress St #190
Order:Thai Chicken Salad – mixed cabbages, cucumbers, edamame, Lime Cilantro vinaigrette, drizzled with Thai Peanut dressing.
Visit: 1100 Metropolitan Ave #125
Order: G’s House Salad. Mixed greens, goat cheese, apple caramelized onions, candied walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette.
KNOWN FOR GREENS
Visit: 4125 Park Rd., 9844 Rea Rd., 8022 Providence Rd.
Order: Mexican Caesar: FreeBird grilled chicken, cotija cheese, jalapeno peppers, tortilla chips and romaine lettuce with Mexican Caesar dressing.
Visit: 2000 South Blvd #300 and 4521 Sharon Road Suite 175
Order: Rawco Taco salad – Slices of avocado, pico de gallo, meaty walnut‐almond crumbles and cashew sour cream atop a bed of organic lettuce. Served with hot sauce and raw, herbed veggie triangles.
Visit: 1419 East Blvd.
Order: Kale and Collard Salad – Sauteed collards and kale, topped with roasted sweet potatoes, apples, broccolini and candied pecans. Tossed in an apple cider vinaigrette.
Visit: 274 S. Sharon Amity Rd
Order: The Kale Cobb: Massaged kale with tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, bleu cheese, pecan wood bacon, hard boiled egg and pickled red onions with vegan coconut milk ranch.
Visit: Multiple locations in Uptown, Dilworth and Ballantyne
Order: Cajun Crunch salad. Crisp romaine lettuce, applewood smoked bacon, cheddar jack cheese, toasted pecans, and all natural Cajun chicken breast with honey mustard dressing.
UNEXPECTED GREENS
Visit: 235 West Tremont Avenue Suite 101 and 2001 E 7th St.
Order: Take your burger in a bowl. Add your choice of beef, chicken, black bean or salmon burger to mixed greens, bacon, tomato, red onion, guacamole, egg, sweet potato and dressing.
Visit: 1600 W Morehead St
Order: Tahini Salad. Four traditional falafel cakes on a bed of mixed greens, topped with red onion, cucumber, feta cheese, tomato, pepperoncini & toasted sesame seeds – with tahini dressing or garlic-parsley.
Visit: Multiple locations in South End, Matthews, Steele Creek and the Lake
Order: The Thunderbird Salad. Mixed sweet greens, shoepeg corn, applewood smoked bacon, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, fried onions with a BBQ buttermilk ranch dressing (Perfect with BBQ chicken).
Visit: Multiple locations in Dilworth, Ballantyne and around the Lake
Order: BBQ Chicken Salad – Romaine lettuce, red cabbage, pulled BBQ chicken,Roma tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, avocado, spicy corn slaw, cilantro and topped with crispy onion straws and of course, the BBQ Ranch dressing.
Visit: 1750 Camden Rd #112
Order: Tomato and mozzarella salad. Wild baby arugula, romaine, grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, red peppers & pesto vinaigrette.
Visit: 15105 John J Delaney Dr. and 1514 East Blvd.
Order: Sonoran Salad. Mixed Greens, Borracho Beans, Shredded Cheese, Salsa, Red Onion, Tortilla Strips with Ranch.
UPTOWN WALKABLES
Halcyon Flavors from the Earth
Visit: 500 S Tryon St.
Order: Roasted Trout Salad with Fried Green Tomatoes. Corn. Cucumbers. Radish. Bacon. ($15). Available for brunch, lunch and dinner.
Visit: 201 S Tryon St #101
Order: Insalata Reef’n Beef: Beef fillet and shrimp on mixed leaf salad and grilled vegetables, cherry tomatoes, green onions with parmesan cheese. Recommended with our arugula-mustard dressing.
Visit: 201 S College St.
Order: Curried chicken salad. Red Grapes, Endive, Pecans and Fresh Tarragon with Baby Greens.
Visit: 401 North Tryon St.
Order: Kale chicken Caesar – Baby Kale, Tomatoes, Croutons, Grated Parmesan, Bacon, Grilled Chicken, Caesar Dressing.
Visit: 222 S Tryon St.
Order: Chilled shellfish salad – Tender jumbo shrimp and jumbo lump crabmeat, dressed in fresh-squeezed lemon and olive oil and served on a bed of mixed greens, tomatoes and diced peppers.
Visit: 200 S College St.
Order: Metaboost salad – Spinach, kale & field greens, goat cheese, mango, almonds, carrots, edamame, balsamic vinaigrette.
Visit: 150 N College St.
Order: Kale with farro, roasted turkey, pickled vegetables, cranberries, spanish almonds and feta.
Visit: 435 S Tryon St #100
Order: Thai Beef Salad – Cucumber, Shitake mushrooms and Tomato with Thai Chili Vinaigrette.
BALLANTYNE & SOUTH CLT SALADS
Visit: 7417 Waverly Walk Avenue
Order: Field greens – Candied Walnuts. Pecorino. Poached Pear. Pickled Onion. Lemon Vinaigrette.
Visit: 3429 Toringdon Way #104
Order: French Quarter – Avocado, Cayenne, Cucumber, Parsley, Red Onion, Red Pepper, Shrimp, Spinach, Brown Rice OR Spring Mix, Creamy Avocado Sauce.
Visit: 14825 Ballantyne Village Way
Order: Harvest kale salad – kale, brussels sprouts, cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds, beets, acorn squash, garbanzos, sherry vinaigrette.
Visit: 7800 Rea Rd A
Order: Yum Kung salad. Shrimp mixed with cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, mint, cilantro, scallions, chili powder, lemon juice and fish sauce. Served on a bed of Romaine lettuce.
Visit: 10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy
Order: Ultra greens sald – Local provisions, cloth-bound cheddar, champagne vinaigrette. ($13)
Visit: 14815 Ballantyne Village Way Suite 150
Order: Grilled chicken cobb salad. Field Greens, cucumbers, tomatoes onion, Gorgonzola crumbles, hardboiled egg, avocado, smoked bacon, grilled chicken breast.
Visit: 13735 Conlan Circle
Order: Strawberry salad with salmon – Mixed greens and spinach topped with sliced strawberries, walnuts,red onion, goat cheese, and finished with our house-made strawberryvinaigrette
Visit: 2000 Hwy 160 West, Fort Mill
Scoop reader’s pick: California chopped salad with field greens, avocado, tomatos, cucumber, red onion, gorgonzola cheese and tried onions.
Southern Salads and Sandwich Company
Visit:2000 Hwy 160 W., Fort Mill
Scoop reader’s pick: The opportunities are endless at Southern Salads and Sandwich Company, where you can add scoops of their homemade BBQ or pimento cheese to any salad. Our pick is the harvest salad with sliced apple, craisins, grapes, chopped pecans with shrimp and raspberry vinaigrette.
SOUTH PARK GREENS
Visit: 4777 Sharon Rd Suite 125
Order: Burrata salad – mixed local greens, granola, strawberries with grilled lemon vinaigrette.
Visit: 4625 Piedmont Row Dr.
Order: Poached pear salad with chicken – mixed greens with white wine poached pears, spiced pecans, feta and honey dijon mustard vinaigrette.
Visit: 6705 Phillips Place Court
Order: Nova Scotia Lobster Salad. Baby greens, tomatoes, onions and avocado in a cilantro lime vinaigrette.
Visit: 3920 Sharon Rd.
Order: Grilled shrimp and strawberry salad: Mixed greens, goat cheese, jicama, spiced pecans, balsamic vinaigrette.
Visit: 720 Gov Morrison St #120
Order: Sharon’s Salad. Baby spinach, kale, quinoa salad, tabouleh, beets, goat cheese and mint vinaigrette.
LAKE NORMAN
Visit: 20210 Henderson Rd., Cornelius
Order: Citrus Crab Louie – avocado, egg, brown butter saltines.
Visit: 130 Landings Dr., Mooresville
Order: Brussel sprouts sald – almonds, bacon, dried blueberries, Manchego cheese and grilled salmon.
Visit: 416 S Main St., Davidson
Order: While you can’t go wrong with a build your own bowl, the Roman chef’s creation salad boasts cast-iron chicken, onion wisps, lemon cauliflower, romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, hummus and caesar peppercorn dressing.
Visit: 17830 Statesville Rd., Cornelius
Order: The Thai steak salad – marinated tenderloin tips, Asian noodles, peanuts, cabbage, grape tomatoes, mint, fresh avocado and mango. ($22)
Visit: 215 South Main Street, Davidson
Order: Fried goat cheese salad – Sunny Creek Farm’s Field Greens, Beets, Red Onion, Pecans, White Balsamic Vinaigrette. ($12)
Visit: 13812 Cinnabar Place, Huntersville
Order: The Spinach salad – with bacon, candied pecans and feta cheese. Protein choices include chicken and shrimp, but we prefer the grilled salmon.
Visit: 15906 Old Statesville Rd., Huntersville
Order: The Santana salad – romain and iceberg lettuce topped with cucumbers, tomatoes, jalepenos, black olives, cheeses and cilantro-lime vinaigrette. ($11)
Visit: 19918 North Cove Rd., Cornelius
Order: The Kale caesar with grilled chicken – simplicity at its best with kale, parmesan, chicken and a homemade dressing.
