I’m the kind of person who will happily eat a salad for lunch every single day — especially if it’s loaded with crunchy toppings, creamy dressing, and something a little salty or sweet.
So when I came across YouGov’s latest (Q1 2025) popularity rankings for restaurant chains, I couldn’t help but wonder: Where are people actually getting their favorite salads?
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The folks at YouGov’s rank restaurants by how many Americans have a positive opinion of each brand — not just name recognition.
From that list, I pulled the usual salad spots — like Sweetgreen and Saladworks (RIP, Souplantation) — plus a few chain restaurants that, in my opinion, have surprisingly good salads.
So, let’s dive into the rankings — from least to most loved.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 36%
Percent who like it: 22%
My take: Chopt has one of the most creative menus on this list, but I guess it’s not everyone’s favorite. The Mexican Caesar with jalapeño dressing is packed with flavor and has a little kick. Oh, and the Kale Caesar? Also super addicting.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 41%
Percent who like it: 25%
My take: Sweetgreen is a big name in the salad space, especially in cities like L.A. The Harvest Bowl is warm, satisfying, and full of fall flavors like apple, sweet potato, and wild rice. I’m honestly surprised it didn’t rank higher — maybe because it hasn’t fully hit middle America yet.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 44%
Percent who like it: 27%
My take: Saladworks has been around forever, and I’ve heard mixed reviews—so I’m not too surprised it ranked low. Personally, I’d go for the Roasted Turkey Club Salad: lettuce, radiatore pasta, roasted turkey, bacon, diced tomatoes, and of course, some ranch dressing.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 54%
Percent who like it: 33%
My take: Honestly, Jason’s Deli might have the best salad bar on this list. The Nutty Mixed-Up Salad is weirdly addictive — cranberries, cashews, chicken, feta, and balsamic vinaigrette. It’s exactly the kind of salad I’d throw together at home. I’m a little surprised only 33% of Americans said they like it.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 62%
Percent who like it: 37%
My take: OK, Baja Fresh isn’t exactly a salad spot, but the Baja Ensalada is a hidden gem. It’s loaded with fresh ingredients — your choice of chicken, steak, or shrimp and cotija cheese, salsa, and of course, those addictive tortilla strips. You really can’t go wrong.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 57%
Percent who like it: 37%
My take: One of my favorite things from McAlister’s is their Savannah Chopped Salad. It’s generous, flavorful, and filling — everything a salad should be. Grilled chicken, dried cranberries, almonds, tomatoes, and Gorgonzola, all tossed in a delicious sherry shallot dressing – YUM.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 93%
Percent who like it: 52%
My take: Clearly, I’m a big fan of Mexican-inspired salads. Chipotle isn’t a traditional salad spot, but you can basically turn any burrito into a salad. I usually go for chicken or steak, fajita veggies, and the chipotle-honey vinaigrette (which, by the way, is wildly underrated). Bonus: You can basically create any flavor profile you want, and I’m a big fan of that.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 95%
Percent who like it: 60%
My take: A lot of people think “soup and sandwich” when they think of Panera, but don’t sleep on the salads. The Fuji Apple Chicken Salad is crunchy, sweet, and full of texture. Definitely one of their best menu items.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 95%
Percent who like it: 63%
My take: The Cheesecake Factory might be known for their pastas and cheesecake, but what a lot of people don’t realize is — they make a killer salad. The Santa Fe Chicken Salad is spicy, crunchy, and massive, while the Vegan Cobb is one of the few plant-based salads that’s actually satisfying and filling.
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Percent of Americans who have heard of it: 97%
Percent who like it: 68%
My take: America’s favorite salad comes from… Olive Garden. Honestly? I get it. The endless house salad — iceberg, olives, onions, pepperoncini, and that addictive Italian dressing — is iconic. Add in the breadsticks, and you’ve got a lunch people keep coming back for. I wouldn’t call it the best salad in America, but I totally get the love for Olive Garden.
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So there you have it — America’s ten most popular salad spots, ranked by recent popularity data from YouGov.
And while places like Sweetgreen may be trending, it’s Olive Garden that’s still holding down the top spot.
But two questions remain…
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I want to know:
#1: What do YOU think — did your favorite spot make the list?
#2: And do you agree with America’s #1 salad pick?
Let’s hear it in the comments!
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