Beijing’s Salads That Satisfy
For a meal fit for a healthy lifestyle yet still unique, salads can be a great way to go. With fresh, imaginative ingredients, personalized sides and a tasty dressing, a simple salad is transformed from a pile of leaves into a delicious, wholesome treat. Below are a few places around town that offer salads done right.
American Cafe
This venerable favorite is the place to go for a loaded salad. The Cobb salad (RMB 50) – piled high with blue cheese, black olives, boiled eggs, tomato slices, and chicken – is a bountiful take on this product of 1930s Hollywood. Other highlights include the chef salad (RMB 50) and the Tex-Mex-inspired taco salad (RMB 38). With generous portions of both the salads and toppings, you won’t leave hungry.
Daily 7am-10.30pm. 1/F (behind Ozone Fitness), Blue Castle Apartments, 3 Xidawang Lu, Chaoyang District. (8599 7428/29) 朝阳区西大望路3号蓝堡国际公寓1层
Vineyard Cafe
While the salads (RMB 15-51) here may not be gargantuan, options like apple, walnut & brie, bacon & parmesan, and standards like Caesar and Greek are big on quality. The weekday lunch deal (RMB 55-60), which includes a pizza, soda and side salad, is fine bargain.
Daily 11.30am-11.30pm. 31 Wudaoying Hutong (north of the Confucius temple), Dongcheng District. (6402 7961) 东城区五道营胡同31号
Element Fresh
Priding themselves on healthful inventiveness, Element Fresh offer a spin on the classic Caesar salad by adding crispy crayfish (RMB 58), while other salads feature innovative additions like hard salami, blue ginger vinaigrette, aioli, and fresh mint. The salad menu also includes a selection of seafood options like the shrimp and papaya salad (58) and the grilled salmon salad (98). Eclectic international inspirations like the laffa bread salad (RMB 68) – served with goat cheese and a miso-yogurt dressing – reflect a bold sense of salad adventurism.
1) Mon-Fri 10am-11pm, Sat-Sun 7am-11pm. Shop 833, Bldg 8, Sanlitun Village, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District. (6417 1318) 朝阳区三里屯路19号The Village南区8号楼833单元; 2) Daily 10am-11pm. Tian’anmen A2-112, Qianmen Avenue, Chongwen District. (6702 0364) 崇文区前门大街a2-111
Salad bar at Sizzler
In a league of its own, Sizzler’s extensive, all-you-can-eat salad bar (RMB 39) has earned plenty of loyal appreciators. The more-than-just-salad bar is stocked with a variety of hot soups, prepared salads, an assortment of lettuces, fresh fruits and dozens of toppings and dressings. All main courses also come with the option of the salad bar, so come hungry to make the most of it.
1) Daily 11am-9pm. 2/F, Jiamao Shopping Mall, 33 Guangshun Beidajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District. (6471 3876) 朝阳区望京广顺北大街嘉茂购物中心二层; 2) Daily 10am-10pm. B1-30 Glory Mall, 18 Chongwenmenwai Dajie, Chongwen District. (6714 0399) 崇文区崇文门外大街18号 国瑞城购物中心 B1-30; 3) Daily 11am-9.30pm. FF16, Food Fo层rum, B1/F, The Malls at Oriental Plaza, Dongcheng District. (8518 6315); 东城区东方新天地1区地铁层食通天大街FF16商铺; 4) Daily 11am-9pm. B1/F, Grand Pacific Mall, 133 Xidan Beidajie, Xicheng District. (6651 5283). 西城区君太百货地下一层; 5) Daily 11am-10.30pm. Ritan Park International Club, 21 Jianguomenwai Dajie (next to St. Regis Hotel), Chaoyang District. (6532 0475) 朝阳区建国门外大街 21号(国际俱乐部旁边); 6) Daily 11am-10pm. 2/F, Anzhen Hualian Department Store, Anzhen Xili, Chaoyang District. (6441 9996) 朝阳区安贞西里华联商厦2层; 7) Daily 11am-10pm. 102 Beilishi Lu (west of Fuchengmen Hualian Department Store), Xicheng District. (6835 0610) 西城区北礼士路102号阜成门华联商场西侧
Panino Teca
Ample portions of fresh ingredients tossed and served in massive bowls. The signature Panino Teca salad (RMB 45) adds bright accents of flavor – like mozzarella, corn, tuna and anchovies – to classic salad fixtures.
1) Daily 8am-11pm. 1 Sanlitun Beixiaojie, Chaoyang District. (8454 1797) 朝阳区三里屯北小街1号; 2) Daily 8.30am-midnight. Sanlitun S2-11, Bldg 2, Sanlitun Village, 19 Sanlitun Lu (across from Aperitivo and Nali Patio), Chaoyang District. (6416 1416) 朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯Village2号楼S2-11
Before and After
As the name alludes, Before and After prides itself on starters (cold appetizers) and finishers (icy and fruity desserts). Any informed discussion of Beijing’s best salad should honor this restaurant’s monstrous dabancai (RMB 38) – an enormous bounty of greens and veggies drizzled with a sweet sesame dressing and accompanied with slender grissini bread sticks.
Daily 11am-10pm. A13 Warehouse Complex, Nanxincang, Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng District. (6405 6978) 饭前饭后，东城区东四十条南新仓古仓群A13
Turkish Mum
Tabbouleh and fattoush, found at several fine Middle Eastern restaurants around town, are some of the world’s most refreshing salads. Turkish Mum throws some more unique dishes, including a cool and creamy walnut salad (RMB 38).
Daily 11.30am-11.30pm. 3 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (8532 3979) 土耳其妈妈，朝阳区工体北路3号
