DC is where the politicians congregate, and many of them do like their salads. Heck, it’s actually an unwritten law that if anyone in the US wants to remain healthy, then they need to incorporate salads into their diets.
The problem is that salads can’t really compare in yumminess to such delicacies as pizza, fried chicken, and cheeseburgers. The good news is that some salads are actually both healthy and delicious, and that’s especially true in the DC area.
If you’re ever in Washington, DC, and you’re in need of a good salad that actually tastes good, then order these specific salads at the following restaurants:
The Charred Corn Salad at the Eastern
This is a wine bar on 7th St SE in the Eastern Market, where you can find chef Walfer Hernandez offering several terrific salads. On your first visit, you should try the charred corn salad, which is brimming with Latin deliciousness. It starts with a base of arugula and kale, with toppings that include queso fresco, cilantro crema, and slices of avocado. They then add some pieces of crisp apples to add a nice textural contrast and to enhance the flavor, and it’s one fine salad to enjoy at the patio table.
The Village Salad at Plaka Grill
You’ll find this fast-casual restaurant on W Broad St in Falls Church, and this is where you go for a Greek salad. No other Greek salad comes close to their Village Salad, which uses basic chunks of feta and vegetables instead of lettuce. They even have decent tomatoes even in the middle of winter.
Then they top things off with the Chicago-style gyro meat spiked with lamb, and you have a meal that can actually satisfy your hunger.
The Salade Burrata at Bistro Cacao
Bistro Cacao is a classic French restaurant on Massachusetts Ave NE in Capitol Hill, where you can get delicacies like escargot. But this is also where you can get the Salade Burrata, which is a somewhat decadent salad that features burrata as the star of the show.
This contains a ball of cream and mozzarella, which then combines with roasted acorn squash, sharp arugula, and an olive oil and citrus dressing. Then it’s garnished with orange segments, candied walnuts, and pomegranate seeds.
The Broccoli Salad at Café Riggs
This is a rather expensive hotel brasserie, which means it’s a French restaurant with a more relaxed setting. It’s in the Penn Quarter on F St NW.
Come here if you have the budget, and then order the broccoli salad. It features some crunchy broccoli florets, with the sauteed jalapeños and toasted quinoa adding even more texture and enhanced flavor. Dressed with a garlic and sesame vinaigrette, it’s crisp and spicy.
The close rival of the broccoli salad at Café Riggs is the kale version of the Caesar salad. Aside from kale, it also has crispy chickpeas and avocados, along with a vegan dressing.
The Guacamole Greens Salad at Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen now has about 160 locations all over the country, but it started out in a dorm room in Georgetown University. There, a bunch of students started a food business when they realized how crummy campus food really was at the time. It was also in those dorm rooms where they hosted their first taste tests, and during those early days, the Guacamole Greens Salad was the top favorite.
It’s still among the most popular options in Sweetgreen these days, even has the brand has become a billion-dollar business. It’s not surprising how popular the restaurant has become, since they offer healthy yet delicious salads while the Sweetgreen menu prices remain eminently affordable.
The Guacamole Greens Salad features roasted chicken, plus avocado, red onions, tomatoes, shredded cabbage, spring mix, tortilla chips, lime squeeze, and lime cilantro jalapeño vinaigrette. It’s delicious and healthy, with a surprising flavor profile you won’t normally find in your usual salad.
The Big Salad at Bubbie’s Plant Burgers and Fizz
If you’re adhering to a vegan diet, then try the Big Salad here. It offers a 48-ounce portion with candied pecans and almond-based cheese crumble. This is big enough to sate your hunger.
And while you’re there and you’re missing the taste of grilled chicken, you may as well succumb to the temptation and take advantage of the chicken option for just an extra $2. That gives you some grilled chicken, though you can really go all out and ask for fried chicken instead.
Lahpet Thoke at Thamee
You’ll find this Burmese restaurant on H St NE, where they’ve been offering this traditional pickled tea leaf salad since 2019. It’s a great option, as the tangy tea leaves sure mix nicely with the tomatoes, cabbage, cilantro, and lime dressing. You also have the option of adding panko fried shrimp or some curried chicken, to enhance the taste and for the added protein.