With warmer weather on the horizon, it’s time to lose that bulge many of us have gained during the festive season. Dieting isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, however you can have a healthy meal that will keep you full without going on an official diet. In our quest to trim our waistlines, we munched through salads in the city and rounded up our top 20. We were pleased to find that many places serve creative dishes that are thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying.
The One Restaurant
This chic eatery has a ‘script your own salad’ option, which we love! The ingredients are fresh and the portion will keep you satiated and happy for hours afterward. You can choose to have a vegetarian salad with five vegetables or a salad with a protein and three vegetables.
Open Sat-Thu 8am-9pm; Fri 10am-9pm. The One Khalidiyah, next to BMW Showroom (02 681 6500).
Prego’s
While the pizzas and pastas are great, their delicious salads often get overlooked. We love the seafood salad topped with steamed fish, octopus and shrimps with a very light sauce that doesn’t overpower any of the flavours.
Open daily noon-3.30pm, 7pm-11.30pm. Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area (02 697 9000).
Zaatar w Zeit
This Lebanese chain has an interesting take on the traditional fattoush; with chunks of yummy halloumi and brown bread crackers. The dish is so full of fresh produce with a phenomenal sauce which will soon make this a favourite in your salad portfolio.
Al Salaam Street, behind ADNOC building, Madinat Zayed (02 676 9940). Other branch in Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 8034).
Le Pain Quotidien
We’ve had mixed reviews of this venue; some dishes are great while others are a complete mess. But the one that has stood the test of time is the shrimp and avocado salad. This seems to be a favourite with many customers at lunch time.
Open daily 6.30am-11.30pm. Vision Hotel Apartments, opposite Lebanese Mill, Madinat Zayed (02 643 0194).
Shakespeare and Co.
The quinoa salad here is superb. For the health conscious, quinoa is a very nutritious pseudo-cereal that is packed with nutrients and proteins which will keep you full for hours on end. This venue serves it with a generous assortment of vegetables and what we particularly love is that they don’t drench it in too much sauce.
Open daily 7am-1am. The Souk Central Market (02 639 9626).
Zyara
The Arabic fattoush at this eatery is the best one we’ve had in the city. It comes with fried bread on top, which you can skip if you want to be healthy, or you can ask for toasted Arabic bread instead. The sweet dibs sauce is divine.
Open daily 8am-midnight. East Corniche Street, next to the Hilton Corniche Residence, Madinat Zayed (02 627 5006).
Toki
We wouldn’t normally have just a salad at a Japanese eatery; however the Hijiki tofu salad served here in the Hilton is simply fantastic. With large slabs of tofu, on top of a bed of greens and avocado, this dish is well worth mentioning as a complete meal. Tofu is also an excellent alternative source of protein, for those of you who are trying to consume less meat. A must-try in our books.
Open daily noon-3pm, 6.30pm-11pm. Hilton Abu Dhabi, Al Khubeirah (02 678 7700).
Slices
This cute eatery has a mini salad bar with veggie and protein choices, as well as some interesting sauces such as the yogurt dressing. A regular sized serving gets you five salad choices as well as a protein and they are extremely generous with their portions. We have yet been able to finish a regular portion!
Open Sun-Thu 7am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm. Al Mamoura B, Al Muroor (02 491 8559).
Beach House
This chic venue at the Park Hyatt has a stunning view to go with your stunning lentil salad! Service is impeccable and there are several salad options available, although we particularly liked the hearty, red lentil option.
Open daily noon-3pm, 6pm-midnight. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas, Saadiyat Island (02 407 1234).
Oléa
While most people visit this venue for the buffet, they have a great Caesar salad on the à la carte menu. Instead of croutons, the salad has two long sticks of crunchy garlic toast that are delicious.
Open daily 6.30am-11am, noon-3pm, 6.30pm-11pm. The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Saadiyat Island (02 498 8888).
Chamas
The salad bar at this Brazilian restaurant is the best we’ve seen in town; with rows of fresh greens, veggies, cheeses, nuts and ready-made salads that will delight your senses. Although the venue is intended primarily for the carnivores among us, the vegetarian option gets you an open salad bar, soup and access to the desserts.
Open daily 7pm-11pm. InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen (02 666 6888).
Jones the Grocer
We particularly like the Thai beef salad. With strips of succulent meat and a sweet sauce, this protein-packed meal will keep you going strong all afternoon.
Mamoura Building B, Al Muroor (02 443 8762). Other locations: Pearl Plaza Tower, near Oryx Hotel, Khalidiyah (02 639 5883).
Soulful
Another great Mamoura eatery, this little venue has an assortment of delicious salads, either ready-made or that you can order. We love the pumpkin salad, which comes with pine nuts, feta cheese, slices of sweet plum and tons of lettuce.
Green Emirates Building, Mamoura, Muroor Road (02 643 3669).
Nolu’s café
Although you might have to wrestle people to get a table here, once you do, make sure you order the quinoa salad. Fresh and full of flavour, it’ll put a smile on your face.
Open Sat-Wed 8am-10pm; Thu-Fri 8am-11pm. Al Bandar (02 557 9500).
Sushi Central
Who knew that combining salad and sushi would turn out so good? The tuna avocado this venue offers sits on top of a large bed of lettuce that you can drown in a delicious soy-based sauce.
Open daily from 11.30am-3.45pm, 7pm-11.45pm. 7th Street, Khalidiyah (600 52 0007).
Al Mayass
This Armenian eatery has a lot of fresh dishes but we absolutely raved over the Itch salad. The portion is not particularly large but it is full of burghul (similar to couscous), which is very filling.
Open daily noon-1.30am (last order 11.30pm). Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Al Markaziyah (02 677 3333).
Vasco’s
Although the salad bar here is modest, the choices available are all you need to make a delicious dish. We like the spices and sauces.
Open for lunch Sun-Thu noon-3.30pm, Fri-Sat noon-4pm, open for dinner 7pm-11pm. Hilton Abu Dhabi, Al Khubeirah (02 681 1900).
La Brioche
We particularly love the Mediterranean salad. Aside from the usual suspects, it has grilled aubergine and courgette.
Open daily 7am-midnight. Khalifa Street, Al Markaziyah (02 626 9300). Various other locations.
Bliss House
Despite being known for their huge subs, this venue also does excellent large salads. The chicken breast salad is a healthy option.
Open daily from 11am-midnight. Khalifa Street (02 678 6788). Other location: Mushrif Mall (02 690 4422).
Tche Tche
This Arabic eatery does a mean chef’s salad, full of greens, cheese, roast beef and tomatoes. Very filling and very satisfying.
Open daily 8am-midnight. Block B, Corniche Tower, West Corniche Road, Al Khalidiyah (02 681 1994). Other location: Al Raha Mall (02 555 6411).
