Committing to healthier eating doesn’t have to mean sacrificing extra time — or flavor. There are plenty of delicious places around Louisville to grab healthy eats on the go. These are some of our favorite local spots for fresh, satisfying salads!
bar Vetti
Neighborhood: NuLu
More info: barvetti.com
There are lots of delicious dishes to be had at bar Vetti, including pizza made with local ingredients. But word around town is that this Italian eatery might also be home to the city’s best Caesar salad. The full-sized option boasts four wedges of little gem lettuce, dried apples, granola, and parmesan. Anchovy dressing comes on the side, so you can drizzle on as much as you choose. The Caesar is also available in a half-sized option — in case you want to save room for other delicious dishes.
Blue Dog Bakery & Café
Neighborhood: Crescent Hill
More info: bluedogbakeryandcafe.com
Blue Dog is known for its European-style bread and pastries, but the Frankfort Avenue restaurant features so much more than that! No time for Blue Dog’s cafe-style dining? Place a carryout order online to pick up one of four salads on the menu. There’s the Cobb salad, salad niçoise, lyonnaise salad, and the winter salad, which boasts pomegranate seeds and roasted cashews.
We’re partial to the Cobb, which features bacon, a hard-boiled egg, tomato, blue cheese, avocado, and house chicken salad on mixed greens, topped with a sherry-walnut vinaigrette.
The Eagle
Neighborhood: Tyler Park
More info: eaglerestaurant.com
House-brined and dredged fried chicken and Southern sides are the stars of the show at The Eagle — but don’t sleep on the salads. The menu offers three selections, all available in half or whole sizes. You can also add blackened grilled shrimp. Try the Southern Chopped, with roast chicken, bacon, and toasted pecans, or the Summer Salad with pickled blueberry, feta, and a peach vinaigrette.
The kale salad is especially popular, with Tuscan kale, apple, bourbon-soaked raisins, cornbread croutons, and sharp cheddar, then topped with a cider vinaigrette. Pop by for a quick bite on Bardstown Road or place an online order for carryout.
Green District
Neighborhoods: Downtown, St. Matthews, Middletown, Highlands, Old Brownsboro Road Crossing
More info: gdsalads.com
What began as a single St. Matthews salad spot in 2017 is now an eight-location destination for salads, wraps, grain bowls, and more. Green District’s freshly chopped ingredients — combined with housemade dressings and more than 40 topping choices — make for endless fresh and healthy combo options.
Try the Hide & Go Greek for a high-fiber option or the Tequila Mockingbird for a low-calorie meal. You can also build your own salad with two greens and grains, one cheese, four fruits and veggies, one dressing, and one crunch. Protein can be added for an extra charge. There’s also a kid’s menu, and online ordering is available.
Haymarket
Neighborhood: Indian Hills
More info: haymkt.com
Haymarket offers a variety of fresh produce and farm-raised meats from Ashbourne Farms in La Grange — and the River Road spot offers a variety of made-to-order meals, including a couple of tasty salads.
Try the Harvest Salad with Ashbourne Farms mixed lettuce, maple vinaigrette, roasted winter squash, spiced pepitas, local goat feta cheese, and pickled red onion. For a protein punch, add Broadbent bacon, za’atar-crusted tofu, lemon herb grilled chicken, or herb-roasted Faroe Island salmon.
In Season
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: getinseason.com
West Main Street’s In Season serves farm-to-bowl dishes made with produce from its farms in Glenmary, KY. Everything is made fresh and from scratch, with ingredients that are sliced, diced, and cooked to order in-house every day. Build your own bowl by choosing greens or grains, a protein pick like free-range teriyaki chicken thigh, and extras like smashed avocados or local micro greens. The selection of finishes includes everything from opal apples and shredded cheese to fresh lime tortilla chips and honey-roasted walnuts.
A seasonal section of the menu offers limited-time specials like the opal apple brie salad, which boasts opal apples and honey-roasted walnuts. Wash it all down with an unsweetened Rishi organic tea or an Elixir kombucha. Online ordering for pickup and delivery is available.
Lueberry
Neighborhoods: NuLu, Old Louisville, St. Matthews
More info: lueberryacai.com
In addition to açai bowls, smoothies, and supertoasts, Lueberry offers a variety of protein-packed salads to satisfy any craving. Try the Lue-Berry Blast, a mix of spinach, romaine, strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, grapes, almonds, goat cheese, granola, and goji berries, topped with a sweet açai berry-balsamic vinaigrette. For something with a bit of meat, order the Killer Cobb with romaine and iceberg lettuce, blue cheese, avocado, tomato, croutons, apple, sunflower seeds, an egg, and turkey bacon crumbles dressed with buttermilk-rosehip ranch.
Safier Mediterranean Deli
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: safierdeli.com
Almost every made-from-scratch dish at this halal restaurant fits into the quick-and-healthy category — salads included. Those looking for a meat-free option will appreciate the vegetarian platter with grape leaves, hummus, falafel, mutabal, rice, tabbouleh, mujadara, and a spinach pie. For something a little heartier, the Greek salad — with ripe black olives, feta cheese, and Greek house dressing — is also available with chicken or beef.
Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen
Neighborhoods: Gardiner Lane, Lyndon, Springhurst
More info: vinaigrettesaladkitchen.com
Salads, grain bowls, and soups are on the menu at Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen, with online ordering available for pickup and delivery. Try the Bluegrass Blueberry salad, made with spring mix, red onions, crumbled feta, strawberries, apple chips, and Kight pecans, with blackberry sorghum vinaigrette.
If a grain bowl is more your speed, we like the Bibim Noodle Bowl, with yakisoba noodles, optional shrimp, chopped superfood, edamame, ginger-sautéed vegetables, pickled red onions, a hard-boiled egg, black and white sesame seeds, and gochujang vinaigrette. There are also seasonal soups to help you stay warm during the cold winter months.
Wiltshire Bakery & Café
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: wiltshirepantry.com
A staple in Louisville since 1989, Wiltshire Pantry expanded its reach to the downtown area with a bakery and cafe in 2022. In addition to serving up the yummy pastries and desserts Wiltshire is known for, the West Main Street location also offers a variety of grab-and-go dishes, including fresh salads in vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Try the hippie bowl with local greens, grain salad, seasonal rotating veggies, chickpeas, and lemon-tahini dressing. Alternatively, grab the salmon salad with local greens, Verlasso salmon, shaved fennel, oranges, and Castelvetrano olives, topped with a citrus vinaigrette. Order online ahead of time to ensure your salad is ready to go!
Here’s to getting your greens!
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