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Be prepared; this isn’t your average article about salad. We’re not here for shredded iceberg and a sad splash of bottled ranch. No, this is National Salad Month, and Arkansas is serving up flavor bombs in a bowl: beautiful arrangements of seasonal veggies and chargrilled proteins, many of which are locally sourced. These salads are so good that they’ll make you question every boring side salad you’ve ever accepted. They’re loaded, layered, and craveable creations—bright, bold, and begging to be the main event.
From Delta barbecue bliss, to Central Arkansas hot spots, to Ozark garden freshness, these 11 must-try salads offer substantial meal experiences and deserve to be pursued like the legends they are.
Cornbread Panzanella & Salad Shaker
The Grange at Wilson Gardens | Wilson
Tucked in the charming town of Wilson, The Grange builds its salads like love letters to the land. Imagine chunks of cornbread soaking up a tomato vinaigrette, nestled between greens, grown right outside the window. Their shaker salad features grilled chicken, sun-ripened tomatoes, house-pickled veggies and homemade dressing that changes with the seasons. This happens when farm-to-table gets a Southern twist, featuring simple ingredients and complex flavors, with nothing rushed.
Warm Winter Salad (Off-Menu!)
Milford Track | Little Rock
OK, listen closely. This one isn’t even on the menu, but if you know, you know. Layers of warm grilled vegetables, slightly caramelized, rest on a bed of fresh greens with just the right amount of tangy balsamic vinaigrette. It’s hearty, cozy, and somewhat like your favorite fleece blanket in salad form. If you’re in Little Rock and feeling bold, ask for it. You might receive a wink from the kitchen.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Stoby’s | Conway
It’s Arkansas strawberry season and Stoby’s is serious about it. This salad begins with tender baby spinach and then incorporates grilled chicken, crisp bacon, salty feta, and sweet cashews. Top it off with juicy strawberries and drizzle on housemade poppy seed dressing, and you’ve got a flavor combination that screams southern tradition.
Thai Chicken Salad
Big Orange | Little Rock & Rogers
Colorful and crunchy, this salad offers a vibrant break you didn’t know you needed at a burger-heavy spot. Shredded carrots, cabbage, mint, cilantro, and marinated chicken are tossed with a zesty Thai peanut dressing that captures every flavor note. It’s fresh, bold, and looks almost too pretty to eat. (Almost.)
Rios Family Farm Salad
Yeyo’s NWA | Multiple Locations
When your salad is sourced straight from the family farm, you know you’re in for something special. This ultra-fresh creation starts with local greens, adding layers on crisp carrots, peppery radishes, and crumbles of salty feta. Tossed in a zesty lemon-garlic dressing, it’s bright, crunchy, and refreshingly simple—until you top it off with one of 11 protein options. It’s the kind of salad that proves you can eat clean and still crave every bite.
Barbecue Ham Salad with Blue Cheese
The Dixie Pig | Blytheville
You haven’t lived until you’ve tried smoked ham on a salad—especially when it’s been hickory smoked the same way since 1923. Dixie Pig piles thin-sliced barbecue ham over crisp lettuce and douses it in a creamy, housemade blue cheese dressing that should probably come with a warning label: may cause obsession. It’s smoky, tangy, salty, creamy—all the things.
Mexican Cobb Salad
Tacos 4 Life | Multiple Locations
Taco Tuesday, meet Salad Wednesday. This twist on a Cobb salad features romaine topped with grilled chicken, black beans, corn, avocado and tortilla strips, all tossed in a chipotle ranch that’s spicy in the best way. It’s bold, filling and full of Tex-Mex joy.
Salad Plate Sampler
House of Wylie | El Dorado
Can’t decide? You don’t have to. House of Wylie allows you to choose four scoops from favorites like chicken salad, broccoli salad, pimento cheese, tuna salad or egg salad. Add fruit salad on the side and you’ve got a sweet, savory picnic on a plate that will leave you happily full and ready to stroll downtown El Do.
Sesame-Encrusted Goat Cheese Salad
Local Flavor | Eureka Springs
This one’s interactive. You get a warm round of goat cheese rolled in sesame seeds, nestled next to fresh greens, sweet apples and candied nuts. Slice it open, let it melt into your greens and spread it around. Add grilled chicken if you’re smart—and make it your main meal. It’s texture, crunch, warmth, and zing all in one glorious forkful.
Burrata & Beet Salad
YaYa’s Euro Bistro | Little Rock
This salad isn’t a side—it’s an experience. Creamy burrata pairs with roasted beets, citrusy orange supremes, toasted pistachios and drizzled hot honey vinaigrette. It’s sweet, savory, tangy and downright luxurious. Start your meal with this, or choose not to share and make it your main dish.
Watermelon & Feta Salad
Crisp & Green | Bentonville
This fast-casual, health-forward spot makes clean eating feel indulgent and their seasonal Watermelon Feta Salad is the ultimate summer refresher. It offers a beautiful balance of juicy watermelon, creamy feta, fresh greens, and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette that ties everything together. The menu features salads that cater to every umami taste bud – Sante Fe, Indian curry, Greek, and just loaded veggies!
Endless Toppings
As most of these restaurants do, there are plenty of ways to dress up a bag of lettuce from the farmers’ market. Look around for what you have in your pantry or veggie drawer. A salad is a great way to use up leftovers on a Sunday night. Many love the tried-and-true recipe for garlic ranch from Old South Restaurant, but honey, the Arkansas food of the year, makes a great dressing that you can add to fruit-topped salads or to bring a bit of Asian flavor to your favorite greens.
Quick Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
- Pinch of salt & pepper
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a Mason jar or small bowl.
- Shake well (or whisk) until thoroughly combined and creamy.
- Drizzle over your favorite greens, grilled chicken or roasted veggies.
Optional: Add a clove of minced garlic or a sprinkle of chili flakes for a little kick!
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