Chicago is a city known for it’s deep dish pizza & hot dogs. So why you might ask would I choose to focus on salads? Of course I love a good slice of pizza & hot dog as much as the next “Chicago-ian” (I miss it already!) but balance is key. Plus salads tend to get a bad wrap & I’m here to tell ya they can be healthy, delicious, satisfying, & likely even prettier than your Cub’s hot dog… These are the four best salads in Chicago:

1. Brussels & Kale Salad from Blue Door Kitchen & Garden: To say I’m hooked on this salad would be an understatement. Honestly, I’m pretty sure there was one week where I ate it every single night for dinner & my roommate didn’t even question it. Instead, she ordered herself one because everyone who has ever had it knows it’s that good. The combination of the salty bacon & sweet maple-tahini dressing is enough to have you wanting more.

2. California Salad from Doc B’s: Someone please tell me this “California” salad actually exists in Cali & that it’s not just named that because of it’s wildly fresh & tasty ingredients?! Seriously, the roasted garlic dressing served with this kale salad is good enough to drink. Ugh ok fine. Well, you know where my first stop back to Chicago will be…

3. Malnati Salad from Lou Malnati’s: Leave it to Chicago’s #1 pizza spot to have yet another menu item (ok fine, they’re entire menu is 100%) that’s equally as delicious. This salad perfectly compliments their pizza but also stands on it’s own as a filling & tasty meal. Loaded with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, mushrooms, Volpi salami bits, gorgonzola cheese, Romano cheese, & their Sweet Vinaigrette, this salad is a must try in Chicago.

4. Chopped Salad from Portillo’s: Any salad with pasta in it is a friend of mine! I mean, what’s not to love from this salad that basically has every ingredient you could ever want in a salad: romaine & iceberg lettuce mix, ditalini pasta, diced chicken, crispy bacon, tomatoes, gorgonzola cheese, green onion, red cabbage & Portillo’s famous, homemade house dressing. While we’re on the topic of their dressing, I recently discovered you can purchase them in jars. Obviously I stocked up on a quite a few before moving to LA so I’m one happy camper over here!