Tired of having to swap out ingredients in your pre-made salad? Time Out checks out some of the best create-your-own salad bars across Shanghai.
Max & Salad
What’s on offer? This Jingan
spot’s customised salad option
allows you to choose from around
50 different types of ingredients.
Customers pick their toppings by
selecting the poker chips on display,
each detailing the ingredient and
the calories per portion. There is
no minimum selection needed,
but the staff recommend seven to
eight items for a filling meal. We got
complimentary kidney beans and
croutons in our salad, and you can
select up to two free dressings.
Try their low-calorie apple yoghurt
dressing for a sweet kick.
Good for Knowing your daily
nutrition intake. The store prints out
a receipt that details how much of
your daily calories, iron, vitamin and
protein requirements have
been fulfilled.
Average price per person 55RMB
Max & Salad is at 282 Yuyuan
Lu, near Wulumuqi Bei Lu, Jingan
district, and four other locations
around town.
Meal Salad
What’s on offer? Meal Salad’s DIY
salad includes a colourful, standard
base of mixed greens, purple
cabbage, carrot, cucumber and
sweet potato. You can then choose
three additional toppings for free.
The regular salad (28RMB) is filling,
but you can add protein choices
(6-8RMB) or more toppings (from
3RMB each) as required and each
salad comes with a complimentary
piece of wholewheat bread. While
the menu boasts an extensive
list of ingredients, on our
visits we’ve found that
not all of them are
available at all
times, while some
have simply been
discontinued.
Good for A cheap
bite. At 28RMB,
the basic salad
is a great value
lunch on the go.
Average price per person 40RMB
Meal Salad is at Level 4, Reel
Shanghai, 1601 Nanjing Xi Lu, near
Changde Lu, Jingan district and five other locations around
town.
Salad Express
What’s on offer?
Buried in the Super
Brand Mall basement,
Salad Express’ venue
is small, but their
salad bar offers over
50 different options
(starting from just 2RMB) and
11 salad dressings. There’s no
minimum number you need to hit,
and you can even order just protein
or just toppings if you want to. Some
of the more interesting toppings
here include coix seeds and buttered
toast. The salad is presented neatly,
and is convenient for takeaway.
Good for Generous servings. We
had a thick slab of roasted chicken
breast (12RMB) and half an avocado
(8RMB) for our salad, and left full.
Average price per person 45RMB
Salad Express is at B2, Super
Brand Mall, 168 Lujiazui Xi Lu, near
Lujiazui Ring Road, Pudong.
Saladgreen
What’s on offer? There are almost
60 toppings at this joint near
Jiangwan Stadium, divided into
clear sections such as ‘Roasted’,
‘Cheese’ and ‘Fruits’. The calories
per portion are listed on the menu
(though they conveniently avoid
doing this for the dressings, of which
you can add two for free). There is
no minimum order, but you have to
select a base of either mixed lettuce
or romaine lettuce, and the starting
price of 12RMB seems a touch high.
Still, the diversity of options makes it
a worthwhile salad stop.
Good for Easy selection process
from the neat and tidy menu.
Average price per person 55RMB
Saladgreen is at 99 Zhixing Lu,
near Daxue Lu, Yangpu district.
Souperfresh
What’s on offer? Offering a buffet-style
salad bar, Souperfresh serves
up seven vegetable bases, over 20
other toppings and ten dressings
to choose from. You also get to pick
from ten ready-made, classic salads
such as a creamy potato salad,
egg mayo or quinoa salad. The
buffet also offers soups, breads,
sandwiches, pasta and rice. Try the
super cheesy pizza bread and curry-like
Spicy Thai pumpkin soup for
hearty accompaniments. A note of
caution though: this store is slated
to close in August and it is yet to find
a new location.
Good for Having a variety of options.
And adding heartier sustenance.
Average price per person 68RMB
Souperfresh is at
3213 Hongmei Lu,
near Chengjiaqiaozhi
Lu, Minhang district.
Sproutworks
What’s on offer? A
familiar option around
town, Sproutworks
offer a range of ‘sides’,
which are like mini-salads,
of which you
can choose two to six (30-70RMB)
from 14 pre-made options. The
sides frequently change, but some
of our favourites include the Indian
carrot salad and the southwestern
bean salad. Also try the light, fresh
kale with red quinoa side. You
can also opt for one of the fresh
tossed salads.
Good for A reliable, reasonable
meal; check out the lunch deals.
Average price per person 50RMB
Sproutworks is at B2, Super Brand
Mall, 168 Lujiazui Xi Lu, near Lujiazui
Ring Road, Pudong and four other
locations around town.
