Fast food often gets a bad rap for being unhealthy, but surprisingly, many chains offer salad options. While McDonald’s might have exited the salad game in the US, other restaurants are stepping up. If you’re looking for a quick and relatively healthy meal on the go, knowing What Fast Food Has Salads is key.
This article explores salad offerings at popular fast-food chains, comparing taste, value, and ingredients to help you make informed choices.
Wendy’s: Cobb Salad Review
Wendy’s is a classic option for a quick salad. Their menu includes Caesar, Cobb, apple-pecan, and taco salads, providing some variety.
The Cobb Salad Experience
The Cobb salad at Wendy’s includes greens, tomatoes, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, cheddar cheese (instead of blue cheese), grilled chicken, crispy onions, and ranch dressing.
While the crispy onions added a pleasant crunch and flavor, the ranch dressing and grilled chicken were a bit bland. The salad, costing $9.13, was filling but the bowl felt flimsy, making it difficult to mix the ingredients. Some might remember Wendy’s salads as being more substantial in the past.
Zaxby’s: A Loaded Cobb Salad
Zaxby’s, known for its fried chicken, offers two “Zalad” options: Cobb and house.
Zaxby’s Cobb Salad Deconstructed
Zaxby’s Cobb salad is fully loaded with mixed greens, hard-boiled egg, cheese, carrots, red cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, fried onions, and fried chicken. The ratios of ingredients were well-balanced.
The salad includes cheddar jack cheese (instead of blue cheese) and a choice of ranch, honey mustard, or vinaigrette dressing. It also comes with a piece of Texas toast. Although the priciest option at $12.60, the portion size was generous, and the fried chicken complemented the salad nicely.
Chick-fil-A: Customizable Cobb Salad
Chick-fil-A, popular for its chicken, offers three salads: Cobb, spicy Southwest, and market.
Chick-fil-A’s Unique Cobb
Chick-fil-A’s Cobb salad contains mixed greens, roasted corn kernels, bacon, hard-boiled egg, tomatoes, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, and chicken nuggets. It is served with an avocado-lime ranch dressing.
A unique feature is the ability to customize the salad by substituting the nuggets with grilled, fried, cold, or warm chicken strips or fillets. Crispy bell peppers are used instead of fried onions. The avocado-lime ranch dressing stood out, pulling the flavors together. Despite the smaller packaging, the salad was densely packed and filling, costing $10.40.
Culver’s: Seasonal Salad Option
Culver’s, a Midwest-based chain known for its ButterBurgers, also offers salads, often listed with their seafood options.
Culver’s Strawberry Fields Salad
Culver’s offers seasonal options like the strawberry-fields salad, which includes mixed greens, chicken, blue cheese, strawberries, tomatoes, and pecans, with a choice of raspberry vinaigrette.
The abundance of fruit makes it feel more like a dessert. It’s a good option for those who don’t typically enjoy salads. At $9.77, it’s a relatively affordable option. However, the grilled chicken was a bit bland.
Conclusion: Finding the Best Fast Food Salad
When it comes to what fast food has salads, there are definitely options beyond the typical burger and fries. Each chain offers something different, catering to various tastes and preferences.
Chick-fil-A’s Cobb salad stood out due to its customizable options, flavorful dressing, and overall value. While Zaxby’s offered a larger and more substantial salad, Chick-fil-A’s price point and satisfying ingredients make it a top choice for a healthier fast-food meal. Whether you prefer a classic Cobb or a fruity seasonal salad, exploring these options can lead to a more balanced and enjoyable drive-thru experience.
