The Best Salad in Toronto

The best salad in Toronto is a toss up, especially in a city that caters to so many vegan and vegetarian diets. There are the kinds of salads that make for a healthy appetizer before digging into a juicy steak; and then there are those (like most on this list) that easily make for a meal in itself. With toppings like seared tuna, quinoa, tofu, sweet potato and almost any other imaginable ingredient, it might be true that in Toronto you actually are able to win friends with salad.

So where to go when you want to win friends? Here are the 12 best salads in Toronto.

Urban Herbivore

Urban Herbivore in Kensington Market is ground central when nothing but a make your own salad will do. Choose your greens (spinach, arugula or spring mix) and then mix in up to six fresh and gourmet ingredients like tempeh, celery root, avocado and tofu. Unlike some of the salad chains, there's no extra charge for certain toppings, plus pumpkin and sesame seeds are free. More »

Fresh

A trip to Fresh isn't complete without an order of their famous Megalife. This massive salad packs a punch with the inclusion of greens, marinated tofu cubes, grilled spinach, alfalfa and sunflower sprouts, grated carrots, parsley, toasted nuts and seeds plus an excellent choice of dressings like wild ginger or peanut lime. More »

Live

This raw food haunt on Dupont has many salad options but go for the walnut and kale that comes with carrots, beets, sundried tomatoes, nuts, raisins and more. Don't forget to load up on the tahini dressing which is so divine and worth picking around the raisins for. More »

Zoe's Bakery Cafe

Zoe's on King West has a ridiculous variety of gourmet salads like grilled portabello mushroom, blackened beef, nicoise, California spicy chicken and more. All are top notch and are available in either a full or half portion in case you want to indulge in a soup, sandwich or something else on the menu. More »

Le Gourmand

The Cobb salad at Le Gourmand is one of the most filling and complete salads around. Although I find it strange to see so much corn in a Cobb (hah) everything else on the plate is in perfect balance and only the dressing leaves a little to be desired. More »

The Beet

The Farmer’s Market Salad from The Beet is exactly what it claims to be - a chunky cut harvest of fresh organic veggies and assorted greens bursting right out of the bowl. Available in both small and large size, the bigger option is more than enough for a light lunch split between two. More »

Loic Gourmet

Loic Gourmet in Leslieville has a variety of prepared salads to choose from, in addition to their other fresh fare. Try the potato salad which is creamy and divine, or if feeling less starchy how about the dill infused shallot and beet. More »

Union

Simplicity and perfection come together in Union’s goat cheese and bacon salad. This amazing presentation packs immense flavour. A lightly fried potato crouton, strip of thick and crispy house bacon, and whipped goat cheese balance atop arugula laced with balsamic vinegar creating gourmet simplicity at its best. More »

Utopia Cafe

The grilled tuna salad from Utopia is all about the perfectly seared tuna strips that sit on top of fresh greens and intensely flavoured garlic sauteed mushrooms. It's just one of the many salads available at this College St. hangout. Greek, Caesar, grilled chicken, salmon and shrimp are also on the menu. More »

Hibiscus Cafe

If you're looking for value, Kensington's Hibiscus Cafe gives you more salad bang for your buck than almost anywhere. There are nine daily prepared salads to choose from but I highly recommend the tabouli and cilantro combo which has a fresh, palate cleansing effect. Bonus! All salads are served with a homemade soup on the side. More »