The 7 Best Salad Spots in Ottawa That Don’t Taste Like Freshly Cut Grass
We’ve all been there, throwing whatever green vegetable we can find, putting on some mayo, and calling it a day in the name of fitness and calorie counting.
Given I was never a Michelin star chef to begin with, I figured it was time to stop subjecting myself to a horse’s diet just to lose a pound…in two months.
With that, I looked up some places that could help me keep my sanity up, my weight down, and my hunger pangs at bay because I didn’t want to eat another bland salad ever again.
Through a lot of taste tests, I managed to round up some of the best salad spots around Ottawa, and it’s spots like these that prove you CAN have great-tasting food without the guilt.
Lollo Salads & Coffee
– Media credit: lollosalads
Address: 60 George St
Contact Number: +1 613-518-1454
Operating Hours:
- Mon-Sat: 10:00am – 6:00pm
- Sun: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Must-Order: Sicilian Nicoise Salad
Lollo Salads & Coffee has a specialty in making fresh and hearty bowls of salad for lovers of leafy greens.
They have an extensive list of signature salads that are complemented by a variety of dressings, such as cashew caesar, pesto, tahini, lemon, and their special lollo dressing.
If you want extra protein in your salad, then consider ordering one of their options that include chicken, like the Chicken Caprese, Portofino Pesto, Italian Cobb, and The Lollito.
For fish lovers like me, I recommend getting their Sicilian Nicoise, which contains a healthy serving of tuna in olive oil mixed with greens. The tuna’s flavor is not too fishy and synergizes well with the freshness of the greens.
Whichever bowl you pick, everything is given in a very generous serving with no preservatives, so you’ll be getting your money’s worth with every bite.
Pro Tip:
You can buy some of their bottles of house dressings for takeout, such as the Maple Balsamic Dressing.
Green Rebel (Albert St)
– Media credit: greenrebelrestaurant
Address: 340 Albert St
Contact Number: +1 613-235-5999
Operating Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 11:00am – 2:00pm
- Sat-Sun: CLOSED
Must-Order: Vietnamese-style Salad
Green Rebel is a popular pick among those deep in the salad game (including us), and we found that one of its best locations is the one on Albert St.
There are some unique salad options, like the Vietnamese-style salad, which contains house-roasted chicken that has a nice and meaty taste to it without overpowering the rest of the veggies.
They also included two great vegan choices worth trying, namely the Vegan Caesar salad and the Tofu salad.
For a different take on the ordinary salad bowl, you can opt for the Taco Chicken salad that’s covered in ranch dressing and wrapped in a tortilla.
Now, salads usually aren’t warm, but their Warm Buddah Boxes prove that they should be more common.
For instance, their warm Bang Bang Chicken Bowl is a fusion of roasted chicken and gochujang aioli that really adds in heat and spice that you don’t usually feel in a normal salad.
Pro Tip:
You can request changes to some of the ingredients if you have any dietary restrictions.
Mad Radish (Stittsville)
– Media credit: eatmadradish
Address: 24 Iber Rd #4, Stittsville
Contact Number: +1 613-836-8623
Operating Hours:
- Mon-Thu: 10:30am – 10:00pm
- Fri: 10:30am – 9:00pm
- Sat-Sun: 11:00am – 9:00pm
Must-Order: The Smoking Gun Salad
Mad Radish is a local chain of restaurants for healthy eating around Ottawa, and we found out from locals that its Stittsville branch is favored for their vibrant salad bowls.
No bland-looking (or tasting) salads are to be found here, as each bowl is filled with an assortment of colors and flavors courtesy of fresh ingredients and dressings.
It was like a trip around the world ordering options like the Korean Bibimbowl. The kimchi was as fresh as it could be, while the spicy gochujang sauce added another layer of flavor to the dish.
Even their Mad Caesar bowl is a great take on a classic salad. The lemon-herb chicken and cilantro-lime tofu were the main centrepiece and really gave it that tangy taste.
The Smoking Gun is also one of our favorites, pairing fresh veggies with guacamole, Cotija cheese, and fiery Caesar dressing to give it a stronger flavor that’s characteristic of Mexican cuisine.
Pro Tip:
There are kid-friendly options that allow kids to choose their own toppings.
The Green Door Restaurant & Bakery
– Media credit: thegreendoorrestaurant
Address: 198 Main St
Contact Number: +1 613-234-9597
Operating Hours:
- Tue-Sun: 11:30am – 8:30pm
- Mon: CLOSED
Must-Order: Mung Bean Noodle Salad
What better way to get a nice serving of salad than to go to one of the most well-known vegetarian restaurants in Ottawa, The Green Door?
Instead of ordering a single bowl, this buffet-style restaurant allows you to keep coming back for more of their tasty salads made from fresh produce each day.
What’s nice about this kind of setup is that you can try a bit of everything all at once, like getting a portion of their crowd-favorite avocado salad, then topping it off with a serving of broccoli slaw.
If you like something different, I recommend going for the Mung Bean Noodle salad. It has a firm texture to it and is complemented well by the savoriness of the ginger-tamari dressing.
Since their menu rotates depending on the season, you may find more great salad options to try out, so it’s worth coming back to from time to time.
Pro Tip:
It’s cheaper to opt for a takeout container than a dine-in dish due to the pay-by-weight buffet.
The Chopped Leaf
– Media credit: thechoppedleaf
Address: 140 Trainyards Dr #3
Contact Number: +1 613-241-2467
Operating Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 11:00am – 6:00pm
- Sat: 11:00am – 5:00pm
- Sun: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Must-Order: Berry Bliss Salad
For a nice selection of salads that hit the right spot without adding unnecessary calories, head on over to The Chopped Leaf at the Trainyards.
From our experience, every salad that you order here is made with high-quality ingredients that really lock in the flavor, whether it be the romaine lettuce or the grape tomatoes.
Aside from the usual veggie salads, their new Berry Bliss salad is a great addition to the lineup. Packed with strawberries, blueberries, and green apples, it’s a refreshing twist that you barely see anywhere else.
All of their salads come with a whole wheat pita chip and their signature dressing, so you know how to differentiate them from other places.
Some of you will also be glad to know that any of their options can be made gluten-free just by removing a few ingredients, which is always a plus for those who need it.
Pro Tip:
All of the salad bowl options can be converted to wraps on request.
Zolas Restaurant
– Media credit: zolasrestaurant
Address: 2194 Robertson Rd, Nepean
Contact Number: +1 613-721-0227
Operating Hours:
- Mon-Thu: 7:30am – 9:00pm
- Fri: 7:30am – 10:00pm
- Sat: 8:00am – 10:00pm
- Sun: 8:00am – 9:00pm
Must-Order: Arugula and Brussels Sprouts Salad
Zolas is an Italian restaurant in Nepean that doubles as a great salad spot with its variety of greens mixed with authentic Italian ingredients.
While the location serves salads both on their “Blunch” and “Dinner” menus, we recommend going there for dinner as you get slightly more options.
One such option exclusively for dinner is the Feta salad. The Roma tomatoes and Kalamata olives used are both zesty and juicy, which spreads to the rest of the ingredients.
Another noteworthy salad that’s a must-try is the Arugula and Brussels Sprouts salad, which is available anytime throughout the day. The Dijon and horseradish dressing in this dish has that slight peppery essence to it.
We suggest booking a table early, since the place does get moderately busy with people who love their salads (and other mouthwatering meals, of course).
Pro Tip:
Go on a Friday or Saturday night to enjoy your salad with great live jazz music.
Sweet n Salad
– Media credit: sweetnsaladca
Address: 1615 Orléans Blvd #109
Contact Number: +1 613-824-4446
Operating Hours:
- Mon-Sat: 11:00am – 9:30pm
- Sun: 11:00am – 8:30pm
Must-Order: Tuna Delight Salad
Sweet n Salad on Orléans Blvd may sound like a weird pairing of food choices for some, but it’s still very much a healthy salad spot with sweet desserts on the side.
At the time of writing, there are six main salad bowls ranging from the simple Vegan Heaven option dressed in balsamic vinegar to the more lively “The Fiesta” salad with chicken, Tex-Mex cheese, and cilantro cumin.
I love me some tuna, so I had to try out their Tuna Delight, and I suggest you do the same. It had some pasta, edamame, a boiled egg, and parsley flakes, a combo that gave it that umami flavor without making it too salty.
The great thing about the nature of their business is that if it were ever your cheat day, you’ve got instant access to their selection of sweets to balance things out.
Pro Tip:
Salads are customizable with various toppings, so you can build your own bowl.