I’m not one to order salads at a restaurant because I often picture a big pile of green with hardly anything on top. But ever since I started yoga, I’m more inclined to hearty salad bowls with fiber, protein and fillings – Power Salad.
A proper power salad is packed with nutrients, healthy fats, protein, vitamins, fiber and most importantly, flavour. Here are some of the places you can indulge in hearty power salads worthy of any appetite!
Teriyaki Salmon Salad Bowl at Light & Salt Café
Possibly one of my favourite salad bowls to eat, Light & Salt Café’s power salad starts from RM9.90 for the basic version and you can opt to top up RM6.90 for cubes of teriyaki salmon or RM4.90 for classic chicken or smoked duck. I say, go for the salmon as it goes really well with this salad combo.
I like how there’s sweet corn and edamame in this bowl, which gives the salad enough textural contrast. The roasted sesame dressing goes well with the teriyaki salmon so you get that sweet, nutty flavour throughout the bowl. Portion is fairly decent – if you’re getting the add-on protein, it should last you a good 3-4 hours unless you metabolise your food quickly.
Light & Salt Café
Jalan 31A, Jalan Kuchai Lama,
Kuchai Lama, Off, Jalan Kubis,
Taman Goodwood,
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-7971 3623
300 Power Salad at 300 Restaurant & Bar
The 300 Power Salad (RM18) is a bigger and heartier version of the classic Caesar salad, topped with roasted pumpkin and flavourful Cajun chicken. I never thought of roasted pumpkin as a good salad component but 300 Restaurant proved otherwise. It’s delicious.
Portion is substantial and you get plenty of protein from the Cajun chicken. I also like that the salad is tossed in dressing beforehand, so all you need to do is pick up your fork and dig-in.
300 Restaurant
85, Jalan SS 21/37,
Damansara Utama,
47400 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Tel: 03-7498 1882
Power Salad at Fin KL
Fin KL is known for their DIY salads and Poke Bowls so naturally, this place is packed on a Sunday. The power salad (RM16) is pretty good though portion could be a bit larger seeing how I’m a big eater. There’s quinoa, almond, edamame, lettuce, cabbage, chicken, tomatoes and mango – bound together with light drizzles of Japanese mayonnaise.
I like this combo because you get a bit of sweetness from the mango with plenty of bite from the beans, almond and quinoa. Relatively substantial and perfect if you’re eating this after a workout session.
Fin KL
Block A3 Lot G2,
Publika, Jalan Dutamas 1,
Solaris Dutamas,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 012-780 0270
Salad in Jar at Aether Café
Aether’s Salad in Jar (RM18) comes in layers – romaine lettuce, purple cabbage, carrots, cherry tomatoes, green apple, egg, cheese and sunflower seed, which you’ll need to shake to mix the ingredients up with roasted sesame dressing. I find the ratio for this salad quite balanced as you get enough savoury notes from the cheese and a nice crunch from the apples and lettuce.
Despite it being meatless, I found the salad filling enough because of the cheese and egg. The roasted sesame dressing gives off a sweet-smoky flavour and surprisingly, goes well with cheese.
Aether Café
G1, Office Block,
Pusat Kreatif Kanak-Kanak Tuanku Bainun
48, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad,
Taman Tun Dr Ismail,
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2856 0416
Fresh Prawn Salad at Theori Café
If you like a bit of seafood in your power salad, the Fresh Prawn Salad (RM15.90) at Theori Café is right up your alley. Theori Café places strong emphasis on the art of moderation so portions are rationed accordingly.
The salad comes with boiled prawns, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, purple cabbage, egg, green apple and almond, with roasted sesame dressing. This reminds me of a prawn cocktail salad, but a with sesame dressing instead of the traditional Thousand Island dressing. I prefer the former as flavours are more subdued.
Theori Café
9-M, Jalan SS 21/37,
Damansara Utama,
47400 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Tel: 016-333 8404
Kaisen Harusame Salad at Nippori Café
I was pleasantly surprised with the Kaisen Harusame Salad (RM26) at Nippori Café – a cosy little spot in Empire Damansara. Known for their set lunches and hearty bento boxes, Nippori Café serves a pretty impressive version of their power salad.
The Kaisen Harusame Salad features fresh salmon sashimi on a bed of mixed lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, leek, orange, with sesame seasoned glass noodles on top. I thought that was a clever touch as the noodles (served cold) had a nice bite and added some textural contrast to the vegetables. Portion is fairly substantial so this alone, makes a decent enough meal.
Nippori Café
Empire Damansara,
102, G11, Jalan PJU 8/8,
Damansara Perdana,
47820 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Tel: 03-7733 8592
Loaded Chicken Salad at Simply Green Salad
Those looking for a healthy lunch can opt for the Loaded Chicken Salad (RM25.90) at Simply Green Salad – they have several outlets across Klang Valley with option for takeout or delivery. The loaded chicken salad is fairly sizeable and comes with plenty of edamame, which I like.
There’s also cashew nut, green apple, red apple, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, corn, seaweed and Cajun chicken breast for protein. I do feel this salad could do with more dressing as the light, tangy flavour of the mayonnaise binds the flavours together better.
Simply Green Salad Outlets
Fraser Place: Lot 163, No 10, Jalan Perak 50450 Kuala Lumpur
The Gardens: LG-K29, Lingkaran Syed Putra Mid Valley City 59200, Kuala LumpurBangsar Village: 2, Jalan Telawi 1, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
KLCC: Concourse Level, A2, Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang, 50450, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 018-218 0100
There you have it – 7 Power Salads options that taste great and are packed with flavour. Dressing makes or breaks a salad, and in my opinion, I like Kewpie’s Roasted Sesame Dressing best as it elevates a ho-hum salad to something flavourful. 😉
*Written in collaboration with Kewpie Malaysia. For more information about Kewpie Power Salad, click here.
