The title says it all: these are the salads we like in the Portland area. It’s by no means definitive. Want us to know about a salad you like? Fill out this form and we’ll share them at the end of the week.
Key:
JR = Judith Rich
MC = Meg Cotner
Caesar Salad: Apizza Scholls
Photo credit: Sherman’s Food Adventures
What’s in it: Whole leaf romaine, parmigiano-reggiano, house-made croutons, with house Caesar dressing.
A classic done right, I highly recommend trying Apizza Scholls’ version, which pairs beautifully with any one of their pizza pies. Try it with a meaty sensation such as Apizza Amore or their version of the Amatriciana. The salad dressing is creamy and rich, and a little goes a long way. For those who aren’t anchovy fans, you can ask for them on the side or to simply omit them. –JR
4741 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland. http://apizzascholls.com/
Chicken Salad: Arrosto
What’s in it: Baby arugula, escarole + radicchio, Arrosto chicken, pickled red onion, shaved Pecorino Romano, herbed breadcrumbs, lemon anchovy vinaigrette; served with a slice of focaccia.
This is a truly great salad—an interesting mix of greens, including the less-often featured escarole; great chicken spit-roasted onsite; tang from the pickled onions and an umami-packed creamy lemony vinaigrette to coat it all. Add the breadcrumbs at the end, after you mix everything up, and that adds an addictive crunchy texture. Love the tasty piece of focaccia that comes with it, too. To quote Robert Palmer, “simply irresistible.” –MC
2340 NE Sandy Blvd #3, Portland. http://www.arrostopdx.com
Whitefish Salad: Ben & Esther’s
Photo credit: Ben & Esther’s
What’s in it: Hearts of palm, other vegan ingredients (which are not disclosed).
Ben & Esther’s offers vegan Jewish-deli style fare and for an East Coast transplant, it brings back fond memories. The whitefish salad closely mirrors its namesake, except that it is plant based, but paired with a seedy bagel and all the fixins, it tastes like home. –JR
Two locations in NE Portland and one in San Diego. https://www.benandesthers.com/
La Pi (Northeastern Vegetarian Noodle Salad): Chin’s Kitchen
What’s in it: Cucumber, carrot, purple cabbage matchsticks, mung bean noodles, crispy red chiles, fresh cilantro.
Quite a big—and filling—-salad. I love the crunchy fresh vegetables paired with the chewy mung bean noodles, and the oil/vinegar dressing adds both depth and brightness to it all. This salad is meant to be shared (I have never been able to eat the entire thing myself), and it’s a great way to start off your meal of Dongbei cuisine at this 73-year-old Hollywood District classic. –MC
4126 NE Broadway, Portland. https://chinskitchenpdx.com
Wedge Salad: Clyde’s Prime Rib
What’s in it: Iceberg lettuce, bacon, bleu cheese crumbles, boiled egg, house dressing, fried onions, scallions.
Wedge salads are one of my favorites, and this one is set apart by its creamy dressing (traditional for a wedge salad) that is spicy from the addition of horseradish. The greens are always fresh, and while everything else in it is rich—cheese, egg, bacon, fried onions—there’s a nice balance in the salad. Plus I think wedge salads are fun to cut and eat with a knife and fork. I like getting it along with their happy hour burger or steak tips. –MC
5474 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland. https://www.clydesprimerib.com
Nam Khao: Cully Central/Khao Niew Lao Street Food
What’s in it: Crispy rice salad seasoned with fresh herbs, lime juice. Served self wrapped with green leaf lettuce.
One of the tastiest items on the menu, this Lao crispy rice salad is meant to be shared, but it’s so good, you’re going to want to eat it all yourself (and frankly, that’s not hard). Take the flavorful filling and spoon it into the fresh lettuce leaves that come with it, then, and as Jake Cohen says on Instagram, “shove it in your mouth.” It goes great with a beer or seltzer. So good. –MC
4579 NE Cully Blvd, Portland. https://www.khaoniewlaostreetfood.com
Very Spicy Papaya Salad: Eem
Photo credit: Eem
What’s in it: Peanuts, dried shrimp, tamarind, Thai chili, lime, tomato, garlic, long beans.
I was once told that it’s the salads in Thai cooking that are the spiciest. Enter Eem’s papaya salad (Som Tum) and it is indeed spicy but oh so flavorful, and perhaps surprisingly refreshing, probably because of the tamarind tang. It’s very easy to find this salad on any Thai restaurant menu, but It’s my favorite version of papaya salad in Portland. That and Eem’s white curry with the brisket burnt ends is a match made in heaven. –MC
3808 North Williams Avenue Street, Portland. https://www.eempdx.com
Olivier Salad: Friendly Food
What’s in it: Cubed potatoes, carrots, pickles, beef, onion, egg, mayo.
This is what I traditionally call potato salad at home and something my mom would often make. It’s not your American potato salad but more of a European version with meticulous preparation as its key standout. While the ingredients aren’t complex, it’s delicious and satisfying and the generous portion at Friendly Food makes this salad a great value. –JR
4830 SW Scholls Ferry Road, Portland.
Gabi’s Caesar: Gabbiano’s
What’s in it: Little Gem lettuce, croutons, anchovy, egg, Parmesan.
I had this recently and absolutely loved it. Fresh greens (Little Gems are an heirloom variety of Romaine, and tastes better) and an umami-packed creamy dressing with a moderate number of croutons (a good thing in my book). I could eat this every day. –MC
5411 NE 30th Avenue, Portland. https://www.gabbianospdx.com
Herring Under a Fur Coat: Kachka
What’s in it: Herring, potatoes, onions, carrots, beets, mayo, eggs.
This is one of Kachka’s most iconic dishes and it is a visual showstopper with all the pretty layers—plus it tastes great and offers a variety of textures. It’s a unique mix of fish, vegetables, and eggs. It might look like a dip but really—-it’s a salad. As they say on the menu: “7 layer dip. but russian. and actually a salad.”
960 SE 11th Avenue, Portland. http://www.kachkapdx.com/menus
Zapatista Salad: Laughing Planet
What’s in it: A bed of romaine lettuce topped with Smart black beans, jack cheese, pico de gallo, non-GMO tortilla chips, side of avocado lime dressing.
I get this pretty regularly, often topped with grilled chicken to make a solid meal out of it. The ingredients are all very compatible with each other, and it’s never been anything but consistently delicious, in my experience. My only regret is that I forget to ask if I can have an extra serving of the avocado lime dressing because it’s just so excellent. –MC
Various locations. https://laughingplanet.com/menu
Butcher Chop Salad: Laurelhurst Market (Lunch only)
What’s in it: arugula, Iceberg, turkey, salami, red onions, giardiniera, Provolone, toasted sunflower seeds, housemade creamy vinaigrette.
This is a super satisfying lunch salad—meaning it only appears on the lunch menu. It’s a wonderful mix of thinly sliced and shaved vegetables and meats. Truly great omnivore eats. The greens stay fresh and crisp, the meats and cheese are savory, the toasted sunflower seeds add crunch, and the creamy vinaigrette is tangy and maybe a little spicy. I like to get a pickled egg on top, too—definitely recommended. It all ends up being very filling and satisfying. –MC
3155 E Burnside, Portland. https://www.laurelhurstmarket.com/lunch
Kale salad: Life of Pie
Photo credit: Life of Pie
What’s in it: Kale and arugula with parmesan, toasted breadcrumbs, honey-lemon vinaigrette.
This was one of the first things I ate when I visited Portland to consider moving here. It’s simple but high quality and you get a lot in a serving. –MC
3632 N Williams Avenue, Portland.. https://lifeofpiepizza.com
Tabouli Salad: Nicholas Restaurant
Photo credit: Nicholas Restaurant
What’s in it: Parsley, mint, quinoa, lemon, olive oil, tomatoes, onions.
Not only is this salad refreshing and made with high quality ingredients, a little goes a long way. It’s wonderful to share with another person at the beginning of your meal and pairs nicely with the oversized freshly-baked pita that Nicholas serves to every customer. –JR
Various locations in SE, NE, and Gresham. https://www.nicholasrestaurant.com/
Insalata Nostrana: Nostrana
Photo credit: Nostrana
What’s in it: Radicchio, parmigiano, Caesar style dressing, rosemary sage croutons.
One of the most famous salads in Portland, its name precedes its legendary reputation. Of course I wanted to know what the fuss was all about and got on a fast mission to try it shortly after moving to Portland. I’m happy to say that it lives up to the hype and then some – the ingredients are simple but beautifully prepared and dressed to perfection. It’s oddly hearty and satisfying and a big portion can really fill you up. –JR
1401 SE Morrison Street, Portland. https://nostrana.com/
Som Tum Thai: Paadee
What’s in it: Papaya salad, peanuts, dried shrimp, cherry tomatoes, green beans (GF).
I love this classic, uncomplicated version of papaya salad at Paadee. It’s a great dish to wake up the palate, as it is full of flavor and vibrant ingredients. Even though papaya salad is known for being spicy, it’s great to see that Paadee will meet you where you are in terms of spice comfort level. –JR
6 SE 28th Avenue, Portland. https://paadeepdx.com/
The Herbivore Score (it’s a salad in a sandwich): Peter’s Bar & Grill
What’s in it: Pepperjack, pesto aioli, tomato, onion, cucumber, avocado, iceberg, Mama Lil’s peppers, oil & vinegar. Served on Grand Central’s Como bread.
Peter’s is my current favorite under-the-radar spot in Portland. I like to joke that I wonder which god they sacrificed to in order to make the food taste so good. The reality is the cooks are great at what they do. Case in point, this sandwich, which feels like a hearty salad between two slices of Grand Central Bakery’s Como bread. It’s crunchy, it’s spicy, it’s creamy, it’s a gem! I like having turkey added to the sandwich to make it even more filling. 10/10 will always eat again. –MC
5701 NE Fremont Street, Portland. https://www.petersbarandgrill.com
Next up: CSAs and Farmers Markets
Judith Rich
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