In a culinary landscape often dominated by hearty entrees and decadent desserts, salads can often fall to the wayside, reduced to sad desk salads with limp lettuce and bland toppings. Yet, across Seattle, there are salads that radiate main character energy, elevating the dining experience and functioning as memorable starters or satisfying entrees.
At the top of this list is the iconic house salad from Wedgwood Broiler. This steakhouse manages to excel in dishes that are not steak, serving a house salad that conjures up nostalgic memories of 1960s suburbia. A mound of chopped iceberg lettuce is enriched with Cheez-It crackers and salami slices, providing a surprisingly hearty option that often gets overlooked. Ranch dressing is the unwavering choice for this retro-American comfort food classic.
Moving into the heart of Fremont, Tivoli has taken a bold leap by incorporating chicories into its Caesar salad, a daring choice few have mastered. This addition transforms the dish into something vibrant and unexpected. The chef’s innovative approach balances the tangy dressing with the bitterness of the chicories, while Japanese-style toasted garlic breadcrumbs replace traditional croutons, creating a unique flavor experience that sets Tivoli apart.
Over in Eastlake, Son of a Butcher serves a chile-sesame dressed salad that can only be found as an accompaniment to their renowned Korean barbecue dishes. This simple yet flavorful tangle of mixed greens, thinly sliced red onion, and a hint of carrot comes drizzled with a subtly sweet and barely spicy sesame-ginger dressing. This little surprise shines amid the bigger flavors on the table and highlights the restaurant’s attention to detail.
image source from：https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/2025/06/best-salads-caesar-lunch-house
