Healthiest Salads in Hong Kong

With a hot and humid summer in full swing, all we crave in this unbearable heat is a light and healthy bowl of greens. Sounds boring, but with a bunch of creative salad restaurants out there, you’ll find no limit to the innovative and health-conscious options.
 

Grassroots Pantry

Grassroots Pantry owner Peggy Chan has worked for renowned hotels and restaurants, including The Peninsula Tokyo and Brunoise in Montreal, before she opened her own venture in Sai Ying Pun. When Chan first decided to open a restaurant, she did so with the goal of bringing homemade, nutritious food to Hongkongers that otherwise wouldn’t get their five-a-day dose of veggies and fruit. Not only does Grassroots Pantry serve innovative dishes, it also holds workshops and seminars to educate its customers on living a healthy lifestyle. The menu is constantly changing and depends on the season and produce the café has on hand, but expect a range of international dishes such as palak paneer (an Indian spinach and cheese dish), Thai curry and Japanese cold soba in addition to its great salads. One that’s currently on the menu is the quinoa salad, made of dried fruits, walnuts, toasted sunflower seeds and orange hazelnut vinaigrette. Remember to check out the events page on their website to sign up for one of their cooking classes.
12 Fuk Sau Lane, Sai Ying Pun, 2873-3353, www.grassrootspantry.com.

Eat Right

Eat Right’s goal? To make healthy dishes look appetizing and taste delicious for heath-conscious diners that don’t want to skimp on flavor. Expect wholesome, organic ingredients that won’t make you feel guilty about clearing your entire plate. Besides being refreshing and full of flavor, their salads also pack a serious nutritional punch. Try out some of their signatures, namely the Cuban bean, avocado and basmati rice salad tossed with tomatoes, onions, kidney beans, coriander, cumin, black pepper, salt and vinegar (328 calories). For a hit of protein, go for the baked salmon fillet with beetroot and quinoa salad with arugula, spinach, feta cheese and vinegar (386 calories), or the Thai chicken and mango salad (280 calories) which is flavored with a hint of spice. On top of that, owner Martin Lorentsson has created an Eat Right Food Program for busy Hongkongers who want to keep in shape and follow a healthy diet. All meals are custom-made and delivered to your doorstep.
23 Staunton St., Central, 2868-4832, www.eatright.com.hk. Check out their Facebook page for daily lunch menus, news and promotions: www.facebook.com/eatrightrestaurant.

Applegreen

Applegreen’s menu offers a huge selection of healthy dishes, from spaghetti and flatbreads to snacks and desserts. However, their salads are what truly stand out. You can choose to build your own or select one of their scrumptious creations, such as the Diane salad with sliced chicken, rice noodles, almonds, iceberg lettuce and black pepper; the sesame orange chicken with sliced chicken breast, lettuce, green onion, carrot, crispy wonton, cucumber, mandarin orange and sesame ginger dressing; and or shrimp tostada with shrimp, crispy tortillas, avocado, romaine lettuce, onion, tomato, garlic vinaigrette, guacamole, corn, black beans, green onion and sour cream—just to name a few. 
Various branches including Shop 713-715, Grand Century Place, 193 Prince Edward Rd., Mong Kok, 2628-3711, www.applegreen.com.hk.

Light

Trekking up the quiet, steep slopes of Sai Ying Pun, it’s hard to miss this brightly colored petite organic joint. Stephenie Ng, Light’s owner and chef, says that cooking is her meditation. A vegetarian and former chef at the World Peace Café in Wan Chai, Ng found her niche cooking up delicious, healthy, organic dishes. Most of her ingredients are freshly imported from a farm in China, while some are locally produced. Light offers 12 main courses, and each one comes with a salad. Try out their Mediterranean salad with artichokes, olives, pickles and sun-dried tomatoes; the penne tofu warm salad; or Ng’s favorite, the rainbow salad, which consists of oranges, pineapples, baked potatoes and all kinds of greens.
1 Second St., Sai Ying Pun, 2559-9098.

O Green Café

Chef and owner Vivi Cheung is no stranger to the organic scene in Hong Kong. She helped open organic food shop Organic Land and owned another organic restaurant called Hot Dish before opening O Green Café. This place has healthy written all over it. As its name suggests, O Green specializes in organic cuisine with a range of rice dishes, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and, of course, salads. It even serves desserts that are vegan and gluten-free. To ensure quality ingredients, O Green sources its produce from the UK, US, Europe and local farms. Try out their dinner salads, such as the sustainable seabass with organic mixed beans salad in hazelnut pesto sauce; the organic tofu salad with avocado, mixed quinoa and fenugreek; and the chia seeds green salad in flaxseed goji berry vinegar.
G/F, 27 Hillier St., Sheung Wan, 2850-6996, www.ogreencafe.com.

More Rabbit Food

Here are a few more of our favorite places for a salad fix.

Dressed

Build your own salad with your favorite greens, toppings and dressings. You can also choose to create your own wrap.
Various shops, including the newest at Shop 2602, 2/F, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, 3-27 Canton Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2375-3848.

Just Salad

Choose from a range of pre-designed salads and wraps. If they don’t tickle your fancy, you can always have one custom-made.
G/F, Shop B, 30-34 Cochrane St., Central, 2850-6818.

Fusion Gourmet

Go for classics such as the Caesar, or opt for a new recipe such as smoked ham hock salad with potatoes, fresh parsley and shallots, topped with mustard dressing.  
1/F, The Pemberton, 22-26 Bonham Strand East, Sheung Wan, 2545-0068.

Heichinrou

Salad at a dim sum restaurant? You heard right! While you’re ordering up delicious dim sum, make sure to ask for the pumpkin with assorted fungus and vegetables salad from the light and healthy summer menu.
Various branches, including the newest at G/F-1/F, Nexxus Building, 41 Connaught Rd., Central, 2868-9229.

Raising The Bar

More, you say? Dig into the awesome salad and appetizer bars at these places.

Gold

You can choose from a mouthwatering selection of greensat the appetizer buffet counter or order from Gold’s contemporary European menu.
2/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham St., Central, 2869-9986.

Grand Hyatt Steakhouse

They don’t just serve juicy steaks—their salad bar is one of the best in town, with a chef custom-making your Caesar in a huge wooden bowl.
2/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai, 2584-7722.

H One

Before your meal, choose from a variety of internationally inspired salads and greens at the appetizer bar.
Shop 4008, 4/F, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St., Central, 2805-0638.

Isola

Enjoy your greens with a stunning view of the Victoria Harbour. Isola’s appetizer bar with different veggie mixes, cold cuts and condiments is pretty hard to beat.
Shop 3071-75, 3/F, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St., Central, 2383-8765.

Toss Your Own

Want to make your own fresh salad at home? Buy local.

Wild Roots Organic Farm

Wild Roots Organic Farm provides fresh seasonal vegetables such as lettuce, beetroot and carrots. Orders can be delivered to Central with one day’s notice. If you’d like to visit the farm, they also hold tours.
San Uk Tsai, Tan Chuk Hang, Fanling, 9731-9120, www.wildrootsorganic.com.