10 Standout Salads From Metro Manila Restaurants
Salads don't have to suck, as proven by these taste-and-texture parties on a plate.
(SPOT.ph) Salads get a bad rep for (supposedly) being tasteless and barely filling. Y'know, stuff you'd only ever consume in the name of #health. But oh, what a disservice those notions do, considering how pleasurable of a medium salad can be. See, good salads exist—edible compositions that invigorate and tantalize the taste buds with their respective medleys of tastes, textures, and colors, much as they nourish the body and, dare we say, the soul. These are some of our favorites that are darn delish in their own right—so much so that we find ourselves hankering for them again and again.
Also read:
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Standout salads in Manila:
Roka Salata from Cyma
Ah, the OG Cyma fave. The Roka Salata (starts at P510/solo) is one of those reliables that never goes out of style—think the little black dress of the salad world. Every element contributes a distinct character to this ensemble—from the crisp romaine to the deep green arugula, sweet-tangy sun-dried tomatoes, buttery candied walnuts, and nutty Parmigiano Reggiano shavings. The Greek vinaigrette that accompanies it is topnotch, too, being made with high-quality olive oil that makes for a fruity undertone.
See a list of Cyma branches.
Smoked Duck Salad from Mijo
Mijo takes a page from the flavors associated with Peking duck in their ever-clever Smoked Duck Salad. They smoke their own duck breast using santon wood, then serve it in thin slices over a vivid mix of greens and candied walnuts in a tangy-sweet plum vinaigrette. Orange wedges balance out the richness of the duck, and wanton crisps add textural contrast to keep you going back for more forkfuls.
Mijo is at 4987 P. Guanzon Street, Poblacion, Makati City.
Grilled Octopus Salad from Wildflour
The best of the sea and the land come together in Wildflour’s Grilled Octopus Salad (P495). Its chunks of charred octopus are as tender as they’re lightly charred; adding color, texture, and vibrancy to the mix are chunks of mango, shaved cabbage, peanuts, and fresh herbs. The end result is as meaty and satisfying as it is refreshing—ergo, perfectly lunchable stuff.
See a list of Wildflour branches.
Organic Kale With Broccoli and Edamame from 1120 House
Mixing up colors is one way to keep salads fun and flavorful, but this all-green number (P495) is one happy exception to the rule. Uniform hues aside, there’s plenty of variation in tastes and textures as it’s got kale, broccoli, julienned green apples, edamame, and green grapes for a mix of fibrous, crisp, tender, juicy, nutty, earthy, and sweet. Sure doesn’t hurt that the vegan matcha-yogurt dressing on the bottom rounds out the mix beautifully.
1120 House is at Metroclub, Estrella Street corner Amapola Street, Makati City.
Toyosu Salad from Ginza
Restaurants really ought to put sashimi on salads more; try Ginza’s Toyosu Salad (P900) and you’ll see what we mean. It stars succulent slices of great-quality fish—just the thing to bring its base of fresh, crisp greens to life—plus a wasabi-soy vinaigrette to tie everything together.
Ginza is at G/F Agustin 1 Building, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas and 2307 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.
Grilled Romaine Salad from Duck & Buvette
There was a time in the mid-2010s when grilled salads—that is, salads where the greens or some other component would be torched or charred—were all the rage. Call it gimmicky if you must, but the grilling process adds a wonderful smoky element—and in the case of Duck & Buvette’s Grilled Romaine Salad (P380), takes things up a notch so it's anything but your usual caesar. Forming the backbone of the salad are whole wedges of romaine given a quick go on the grill. The dressing’s no bottled goop, mind you—Duck & Buvette makes their own from scratch, and it’s as creamy as it is heavy on the anchovy and garlic. From there, it's topped with roasted garlic cloves, Parmigiano Reggiano shavings, capers, and toasted almonds. You’ll need to use a fork and knife for this one, but that makes it all the more satisfying to eat in our book.
Duck & Buvette is at 2/F, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Main Wing, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.
Kashmir Organic Salad from Kashmir
From well-loved Indian restaurant Kashmir comes this colorful salad celebrating local produce from Kai Farms. It honors the assertive flavor of local dark leafy greens, specifically red amaranth, kamote tops, alugbati, and talinum; illuminating the mix is a dreamy coconut-yogurt dressing. Edible flowers like butterfly pea also add color to the mix, and you get subtle pops of crunch from crispy chickpeas, toasted cashews, and ube chips loosely sprinkled on top.
Kashmir is at L/3, One Bonifacio High Street, 5th Avenue corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City.
Japanese Tomato Salad from Kazunori
Composed of Japanese tomato slices, onion, basil, and chopped almonds, Kazunori’s Japanese Tomato Salad (P320) is easy to overlook. Don’t let its seeming simplicity fool you. This Japanese composition is a testament to the importance of using good-quality ingredients: the tomatoes are succulent and sweet; the onions, fresh and juicy; the basil, rightfully aromatic; and the almonds, toasty with a subtle crunch. Adding umami to the mix is a soy-based dressing with just a hint of shiso for (welcome) zest.
Kazunori is at G/F Mazda Makati Building, 2301 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.
Hollywood Bowl from Green Bar
Not all salads are vegan, but if you are after a vegan salad—or just feel thinking outside the meat-and-dairy box—Green Bar's Hollywood Bowl (P530) is the one to go for. Here, mixed greens, purple cabbage, and tomatoes make for a fiber-filled base—but it's also one hearty number thanks to quinoa, a creamy chickpea salad, kidney beans, seasoned house seitan, sunflower seeds, and their own coconut "bacun." The dressing part of the equation is a creamy vegan "ranch" we'd down by the spoonful. Don't you underestimate this one.
Green Bar is at 106 Aguirre, Legazpi Village, Makati City.
Prawn, Pomelo, Chicken and Coconut Salad from People’s Palace
The Thai know (many) good things about using fruits to brighten up their salads—a principle you’ll see at play in what’s called yam som o, a.k.a. pomelo salad. One great take on the dish is the version by People’s Palace (P580), where juicy wedges of the citrus are matched with plump, barely cooked prawns; shredded chicken; a shower of fresh herbs; and a lime-brightened coconut dressing that’ll transport you right to Chiang Mai. Mix everything together and you get the marriage of hot, sour, salty, and sweet flavor profiles—as any great Thai dish ought to deliver.
People’s Palace is at G/F Greenbelt 3, Makati City.
Bonus: Burrata Salad from Prologue d’Fined
This stellar starter from Prologue d'Fined is less a veg-dominated salad in the traditional sense, and more a creative composition that’s as indulgent as it is refreshing. A must-order it is, either way. Its literal centerpiece is a blob of fresh burrata—cut into the cheese and you’re met with a dreamy, creamy, practically molten interior. Its accompaniments of sweet mango cubes, and cherry tomatoes, and a vanilla-passionfruit dressing are just the thing to bring your senses back to equilibrium.
Prologue d’Fined is at G/F MITSUKOSHI BGC, 8th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City.
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