If you’re ordering the grilled chicken salad in lieu of the cheesy cheddar burger for the sake of your waistline, you may want to rethink your options. Many of your favorite chains’ salad offerings aren’t any better than the entrees you actually crave. In fact, a striking amount of restaurant salads hide over 1,000 calories in between the leafy greens, grilled proteins, and creamy dressings. Next time you’re eating out, make sure to avoid the bowls below—they all pack in over a grand of calories!—and opt for The #1 Healthiest Menu Option at 40 Popular Restaurants instead.
1
TGI Fridays Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette
TGI Fridays
1,220 calories, 84 g fat (19 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 1,770 mg sodium, 82 g carbs (10 g fiber, 52 g sugar), 40 g protein
2
California Pizza Kitchen The Original BBQ Chicken
Chopped Salad
California Pizza Kitchen
Per full size: 1,180 calories, 74 g fat (18 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat),1,630 mg sodium, 77 g carbs (18 g sugar, 13 g fiber), 54 g protein
3
The Cheesecake Factory Cobb Salad
The Cheesecake Factory
1,530 calories
4
California Pizza Kitchen Waldorf Chicken Salad
April Benshosan
Per full size: 1,320 calories, 94 g fat (22 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 2,020 mg sodium, 75 g carbs (55 g sugar, 10 g fiber), 54 g protein
5
California Pizza Kitchen Quinoa & Arugula Salad
California Pizza Kitchen
Per full size: 1,070 calories, 70 g fat (9 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 1,650 mg sodium, 92 g carbs (23 g sugar, 14 g fiber), 29 g protein
6
Ruby Tuesday Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad
Twitter/ Ruby Tuesday
1,163 calories, 73 g fat (12 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 2,552 mg sodium, 67 g carbs (5 g fiber, 8 g sugar), 42 g protein
7
The Cheesecake Factory Barbeque Ranch Chicken Salad
The Cheesecake Factory
1,750 calories (all other nutrition infomation unavailable)
8
Buffalo Wild Wings Santa Fe Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing, Soft Tortillas, and Grilled Chicken
Buffalo Wild Wings
1,340 calories, 86 g fat (19 g saturated fat, 1.5 g trans fat), 2,670 mg sodium, 92 g carbs (16 g fiber, 16 g sugar), 49 g protein
9
Romano’s Macaroni Grill Parmesan Crusted Chicken Salad
Yelp/ Cindy B.
1,080 calories, 48 g fat, 9 g saturated fat, 910 mg sodium, 100 g carbs (7 g fiber, 16 g sugar), 64 g protein
10
The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad
The Cheesecake Factory
1,740 calories (all other nutrition info unavailable)
11
Ruby Tuesday BBQ Chicken Salad
Ruby Tuesday
1,165 calories, 67 g fat (12 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 2,905 mg sodium, 74 g carbs (7 g fiber, 21 g sugar), 49 g protein
12
The Cheesecake Factory Chinese Chicken Salad
The Cheesecake Factory
1,760 calories
13
Buffalo Wild Wings Honey BBQ Chicken Salad With Honey BBQ Ranch Dressing
Buffalo Wild Wings
1,180 calories, 76 g fat (19 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 4,070 mg sodium, 75 g carbs (7 g fiber, 41 g sugar), 48 g protein
14
Ruby Tuesday Mediterranean Chicken Salad
Ruby Tuesday
1,060 calories, 70 g fat (10 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 3,499 mg sodium, 49 g carbs (38 g fiber, 13 g sugar), 44 g protein
15
Buffalo Wild Wings Buffalo Chicken Salad
Buffalo Wild Wings
1,130 calories, 74 g fat (21 g saturated fat, 1.5 g trans fat), 3,290 mg sodium, 80 g carbs (10 g fiber, 10 g sugar), 33 g protein
16
IHOP Chicken & Spinach Salad With Grilled Chicken
Yelp/ Ceeny M.
1,100 calories, 73 g fat (24 g saturated fat, 0.5 g trans fat), 2,200 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (4 g fiber, 33 g sugar), 69 g protein
17
Applebee’s Oriental Grilled Chicken Salad
Applebee's
1,290 calories, 85 g fat (13 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 2,300 mg sodium, 84 g carbs (10 g fiber, 51 g sugar), 50 g protein
18
The Cheesecake Factory Caesar Salad
Yelp/ Elizabeth R.
1,330 calories (all other nutrition information unavailable)
19
Applebee’s Southwestern Chicken Salad
Applebee's
1,040 calories, 64 g fat (15 g saturated fat, 1 g trans fat), 2,630 mg sodium, 64 g carbs (11 g fiber, 9 g sugar), 54 g protein
20
California Pizza Kitchen Thai Crunch Salad
California Pizza Kitchen
Per full size: 1,180 calories, 73 g fat (9 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 1,710 mg sodium, 88 g carbs (51 g sugar, 14 g fiber), 55 g protein
21
The Cheesecake Factory Sheila’s Chicken and Avocado Salad
Yelp/ Jenni T.
1,930 calories
22
IHOP Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad with Grilled Chicken
IHOP
1,080 calories, 85 g fat (25 g saturated fat, 0.5 g trans fat), 1,950 mg sodium, 12 g carbs (2 g fiber, 7 g sugar), 67 g protein
23
The Cheesecake Factory Chicken, Mango and Avocado Salad
The Cheesecake Factory
1,570 calories
24
California Pizza Kitchen Italian Chopped Salad
California Pizza Kitchen
Per full size: 1,010 calories, 82 g fat (17 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 1,650 mg sodium, 24g carbs (7 g sugar, 5 g fiber), 48 g protein
-
![]()
The One Restaurant Chain That Gets an F
Hint: It's not McDonald's. -
![]()
15 Things You Don’t Know About Olive Garden
Their mints aren't like the other Andes squares... -
![]()
19 Salads Worse Than a Whopper
-
![]()
30 Salad Recipes for Weight Loss
Savory, sweet, wrap-inspired, and more! -
![Jack in the box combo meals]()
The Best and Worst Menu Items at Jack in the Box
The "worst" options might kill you... -
![Ezekiel sprouted whole grain bread]()
15 Reasons People Are Obsessed With Ezekiel Bread
Finally some bread that you can get behind! -
![]()
25 Best & Worst Low-Sugar Protein Bars
Maintain lean muscle and curb cravings. -
![Woman eating banana]()
21 Reasons to Eat More Bananas
Lose weight, reduce bloat, and increase energy.
