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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

by Amber Ambrose
1 comment / new
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Backstreet Cafe has good salads
| Photo: Official Site
by Amber Ambrose
1 comment / new

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.


· All Other Eater Guides [-EHOU-]

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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.
3320 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 880-8463
(713) 880-8463

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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.
5740 San Felipe St #100, Houston, TX 77057
(832) 538-1070
(832) 538-1070

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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.)
912 St Emanuel St, Houston, TX 77003
(713) 224-8964
(713) 224-8964

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.
1401 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 528-8646
(713) 528-8646

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!"
550 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 880-8463
(713) 880-8463

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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]
2555 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 255-4440
(713) 255-4440

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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]
414 W Gray St, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 522-8898
(713) 522-8898

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]
2027 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056
(713) 621-4200
(713) 621-4200

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.
1103 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 521-2239
(713) 521-2239

Also featured in:

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.
6720 Chimney Rock Rd Ste Y, Houston, TX 77081
(832) 649-4184
(832) 649-4184

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.)
2365 Rice Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
(713) 520-6662
(713) 520-6662

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!"
3501 W Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77025
(713) 664-2874
(713) 664-2874

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.
5161 San Felipe St Ste 390, Houston, TX 77056
(713) 623-6100
(713) 623-6100

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Coltivare

3320 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
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.
3320 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 880-8463
(713) 880-8463

Dish Society

5740 San Felipe St #100, Houston, TX 77057
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.
5740 San Felipe St #100, Houston, TX 77057
(832) 538-1070
(832) 538-1070

Huynh Restaurant

912 St Emanuel St, Houston, TX 77003
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.)
912 St Emanuel St, Houston, TX 77003
(713) 224-8964
(713) 224-8964

Pronto Cucinino

1401 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77019
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.
1401 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 528-8646
(713) 528-8646

Revival Market

550 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
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!"
550 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 880-8463
(713) 880-8463

Local Foods

2555 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77019
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]
2555 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 255-4440
(713) 255-4440

Barnaby's Cafe

414 W Gray St, Houston, TX 77019
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]
414 W Gray St, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 522-8898
(713) 522-8898

Jenni's Noodle House

2027 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056
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]
2027 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056
(713) 621-4200
(713) 621-4200

Backstreet Cafe

1103 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77019
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.
1103 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 521-2239
(713) 521-2239

Green Vegetarian Cuisine

6720 Chimney Rock Rd Ste Y, Houston, TX 77081
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.
6720 Chimney Rock Rd Ste Y, Houston, TX 77081
(832) 649-4184
(832) 649-4184

Ruggles Cafe Bakery

2365 Rice Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
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.)
2365 Rice Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
(713) 520-6662
(713) 520-6662

JerryBuilt Homegrown Burgers

3501 W Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77025
It might have "burgers" in the name, but Jenny S. says: "JerryBuilt Homegrown Burgers' Summer Salad is one of my favorite!"
3501 W Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77025
(713) 664-2874
(713) 664-2874

Adair Kitchen

5161 San Felipe St Ste 390, Houston, TX 77056
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.
5161 San Felipe St Ste 390, Houston, TX 77056
(713) 623-6100
(713) 623-6100

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