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?
Boke Bowl’s lamb dumplings. Photo credit: The Oregonian
Dumpling Week 2025 is almost here! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it now: Dumpling Week is one of the best food weeks in Portland. This is the 11th year that The Oregonian has put it together, and it takes place from Friday, February 7 to Saturday, February 15.
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.
