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Backstreet Cafe has good salads
Backstreet Cafe has good salads
Photo: Official Site

Here Are Houston's Best Salads, According to the Readers

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Backstreet Cafe has good salads
| Photo: Official Site

Salads might not be the most attractive menu item in a city of steak and 'cue-loving carnivores, but it's during these sweltering summer months that some of the best fruits and veggies are in season. Plus, there's a trend toward veggie-centric dishes that is bringing gourmet salads and skillfully prepared vegetable dishes back into the spotlight. So, last week Eater asked: Where are Houston's best salads?

Below, in no particular order, are the top answers we received. Hit the tipline, comment here, tweet or Facebook if there's a good place that should be added to the map.


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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Coltivare

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Several of you chimed in for the salads at this tiny Heights-area eatery. The garden adjacent to the dining area provides veggies and herbs for the place, ensuring fresh ingredients for several vegetable-forward dishes and delectable summer salads.

Dish Society

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One of the newer places on the map, this Tanglewood-area eatery offers a build-your-own-salad option in addition to some custom creations from chef Johnny Romo (formerly of Apothecary in Austin). There's also a Farmers Market Salad which changes every week.

Huynh Restaurant

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Local chef Amanda McGraw tweeted us her favorites, which include the goi vit at this Vietnamese staple. The popular dish combines duck with red onion and shredded cabbage. (The chef also recommends Houston's kale salad and Barnaby's Sausalito Salad.)

Pronto Cucinino

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Houston photographer Eric Sauseda (Groovehouse) opts for the Spinaci salad here. It's made with spinach, crispy pancetta, mushrooms, chopped eggs, goat cheese, and topped with a warm honey balsamic vinaigrette.

Revival Market

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Reader Kathy writes: "Revival Market's Kale Caesar salad is my favorite salad, and I go there almost weekly to satisfy my craving for it. It has high quality anchovies, pecans, crispy lemon slices, and feta. Yum!"

Local Foods

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Kathryn J. emailed us to vote for the Asian Chicken Salad at Local Foods. It's a personal favorite, too: Peanut sauce and a ginger-soy dressing top sprouts, green beans, wontons and toasted cashews. [Multiple Locations]

Barnaby's Cafe

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Lindsay M. suggests the Chinese Chicken Salad, which is blanketed with tortilla chips and cold shredded chicken breast then tossed in honey-lime vinaigrette and spicy cilantro-peanut dressing. [Multiple Locations]

Jenni's Noodle House

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Mary D. Facebooked us to say that the Teddy's Not Gay (TNG) is her "favorite favorite!" It's a noodle-packed salad with vegetables, tofu and buckwheat pasta, topped off with ginger-jalapeno soy sauce. Here's the story behind the dish. [Multiple Locations]

Backstreet Cafe

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This brunch hotspot also offers creative salads throughout the day. Personal favorites are the Endive Salad that consists of butternut squash, apple, hazelnuts and figs. For a less healthy but delightfully satisfying Southern option choose the fried green tomato salad that's covered in bleu cheese crumbles, pecans and mushrooms.

Green Vegetarian Cuisine

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Anna T. recommends the kale salad at this vegetable-centric eatery. It's a lighter option of kale bunches tossed in brown sugar, garlic and red pepper.

Ruggles Cafe Bakery

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Glitter Karaoke's Robin Wong suggests the salads at Ruggles Cafe Bakery, which packs a number of classic options. Ordering a salad here might make you feel less guilty for polishing off a white chocolate bread pudding. (Note: It's not to be mistaken with Ruggles Green, which also has great options, like the chicken curry salad with carrots, jicama, raisins, toasted almonds and dried mango.)

JerryBuilt Homegrown Burgers

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It might have "burgers" in the name, but Jenny S. says: "JerryBuilt Homegrown Burgers' Summer Salad is one of my favorite!"

Adair Kitchen

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An anonymous tipster shares that the salads here are among the most inventive in the city. Perfect for the jaded salad eater, some of the palate-provoking options include the Shredded Kale & Quinoa or the Steak + Grapefruit, Blackened Shrimp & Goat Cheese; there's also build-your-own-salad option.

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Coltivare

Several of you chimed in for the salads at this tiny Heights-area eatery. The garden adjacent to the dining area provides veggies and herbs for the place, ensuring fresh ingredients for several vegetable-forward dishes and delectable summer salads.

Dish Society

One of the newer places on the map, this Tanglewood-area eatery offers a build-your-own-salad option in addition to some custom creations from chef Johnny Romo (formerly of Apothecary in Austin). There's also a Farmers Market Salad which changes every week.

Huynh Restaurant

Local chef Amanda McGraw tweeted us her favorites, which include the goi vit at this Vietnamese staple. The popular dish combines duck with red onion and shredded cabbage. (The chef also recommends Houston's kale salad and Barnaby's Sausalito Salad.)

Pronto Cucinino

Houston photographer Eric Sauseda (Groovehouse) opts for the Spinaci salad here. It's made with spinach, crispy pancetta, mushrooms, chopped eggs, goat cheese, and topped with a warm honey balsamic vinaigrette.

Revival Market

Reader Kathy writes: "Revival Market's Kale Caesar salad is my favorite salad, and I go there almost weekly to satisfy my craving for it. It has high quality anchovies, pecans, crispy lemon slices, and feta. Yum!"

Local Foods

Kathryn J. emailed us to vote for the Asian Chicken Salad at Local Foods. It's a personal favorite, too: Peanut sauce and a ginger-soy dressing top sprouts, green beans, wontons and toasted cashews. [Multiple Locations]

Barnaby's Cafe

Lindsay M. suggests the Chinese Chicken Salad, which is blanketed with tortilla chips and cold shredded chicken breast then tossed in honey-lime vinaigrette and spicy cilantro-peanut dressing. [Multiple Locations]

Jenni's Noodle House

Mary D. Facebooked us to say that the Teddy's Not Gay (TNG) is her "favorite favorite!" It's a noodle-packed salad with vegetables, tofu and buckwheat pasta, topped off with ginger-jalapeno soy sauce. Here's the story behind the dish. [Multiple Locations]

Backstreet Cafe

This brunch hotspot also offers creative salads throughout the day. Personal favorites are the Endive Salad that consists of butternut squash, apple, hazelnuts and figs. For a less healthy but delightfully satisfying Southern option choose the fried green tomato salad that's covered in bleu cheese crumbles, pecans and mushrooms.

Green Vegetarian Cuisine

Anna T. recommends the kale salad at this vegetable-centric eatery. It's a lighter option of kale bunches tossed in brown sugar, garlic and red pepper.

Ruggles Cafe Bakery

Glitter Karaoke's Robin Wong suggests the salads at Ruggles Cafe Bakery, which packs a number of classic options. Ordering a salad here might make you feel less guilty for polishing off a white chocolate bread pudding. (Note: It's not to be mistaken with Ruggles Green, which also has great options, like the chicken curry salad with carrots, jicama, raisins, toasted almonds and dried mango.)

JerryBuilt Homegrown Burgers

It might have "burgers" in the name, but Jenny S. says: "JerryBuilt Homegrown Burgers' Summer Salad is one of my favorite!"

Adair Kitchen

An anonymous tipster shares that the salads here are among the most inventive in the city. Perfect for the jaded salad eater, some of the palate-provoking options include the Shredded Kale & Quinoa or the Steak + Grapefruit, Blackened Shrimp & Goat Cheese; there's also build-your-own-salad option.

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