One of the most beautiful salads I’ve ever encountered, from Reeva.
Welcome to Portland Salad Week 2025! We’re glad you’re here.
The last time we did Salad Week was back in 2022, and we are really happy to bring it back again this year. I’m also thrilled that Judith Rich is back and helping immensely in preparing this week of salad. We have another person joining us, too: Bryan Vance from Stumptown Savings. This is a fantastic newsletter that helps you save money at the grocery store. He inspired us to do a tasting of supermarket and grocery store deli salads, which you’ll see later in the week.
But as we start this week that’s all about salad, we thought we’d ask the question, What’s a salad, anyway?
It’s back! Portland Salad Week 2025 is almost upon us. We’ll be celebrating our love of salad from July 14 to 18 on Bridgetown Bites—look for roundups, reader suggestions, unexpected tidbits, and more.
There are a whole bunch of salads recommended by Portlanders online—thanks especially to those who submitted their pics through the online form and for those who answered via Facebook. Here are some of their recommendations for salads + a mention of salads we haven’t tried, but want to.
Reader Recommendations
Another great salad from New Seasons: Lemongrass Chicken
You’ve seen Part One of Salads We Like during Portland Salad Week—here’s Part Two!
Papaya Salad: Sivalai Thai
Photo credit: Yelp
What’s in it: Green papayas, carrots, tomatoes, peanuts, chili cooked in lime sauce.
We love a good ol’ papaya salad and this one definitely delivers. It’s high in flavor and texture and a little goes a long way. Sensitive palates may want to start slow, as the heat can quickly creep up on you. Those with more tolerance will find themselves reaching for seconds and thirds. –JR
A big salad from Garden Monsters—The Hercules with chicken
Over the years, I’ve heard people ask, “So where can I get a big salad in Portland?” If they are a New York transplant, they are probably thinking of those chopped salad and panini spots that were (are?) ubiquitous in Midtown Manhattan. Or the kind of “Big Salad” referred to in Seinfeld. But really—sometimes you just want a big salad, no matter where you come from.
Here are some places where you can get the classic “Big Salad”—but instead of a bowl of “big lettuce, carrots, tomatoes like volleyballs,” a la Seinfeld, you can get a mix of diverse ingredients that will be delicious and satisfying—enough for a whole meal (sometimes two, if you play your lettuce cards right—Romaine stands up better overnight compared to mesclun greens).
Canteen
Photo credit: Yelp
Self-described at a “world famous organic juice and smoothie bar,” the food here I would say is nutrient dense, healthy, and fresh—the kind of place I like to go when I need to nourish myself. They offer two substantial salads at their SE Stark location:
Walnut Taco Salad: mixed greens, carrot, red cabbage, avocado-curry sauce, walnut taco crumble, pico de gallo, cashew nacho spread, avocado, green onions.
Quinoa Confetti: quinoa, curried cashews, currants, apple, celery, mint, cilantro, lime, balsamic vinaigrette. (Add a bed of balsamic dressed greens for $2.)
I usually get a smoothie with my salad (The Orange One is a fave). I love eating here. Definitely put it on your list of tasty healthy crunchy food spots.
