What to Eat When: You Can’t be Bothered to Make Your Own Salad

Salads? Very demure, very mindful. A salad is the answer to many of life’s questions, what can I eat right now that won’t require that much effort? A salad. I forgot my lunch at home, what do I order? A Salad. What do I do with my leftovers? A salad. Why is life so burdensome? A salad…can cure that.

For this week’s What to Eat When Guide, we’re listing down our favourite salads, where to get them, and just when to get them.

When You’re in a Spontaneous Mood…

The Fix: Osana Wholefood Cafe

Al Nadi St, Maadi.

What to Get: The ‘Salad of the Week’

When it comes to specialties, Osana’s menu is ever-changing. Using only fresh and wholesome ingredients, Osana is all about fostering well being. Every other week, Osana presents new fun salad variations, from shredded beet and quinoa salads to spiced aubergine and yoghurt salad.

When You’re on the Run…

The Fix: Nabat

Branches all over Egypt

What to Get: It's Shrimply Good

Other than boasting a pun-filled menu, Nabat’s salads are quite generous with the portions, and just as delicious. Our salad of choice is no exception, with shrimps, baby greens, cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce for that extra flare. 

When You’re Feeling Green…

The Fix: Lychee

Branches all over Egypt 

What to Get: The Loaded Veggie Salad

Not green in colour but rather green in nature, Lychee’s Loaded Veggie Salad is one that’ll immediately make up for all those lost years in childhood where vegetables were the culinary equivalent of the babadook. 

When You Need Some Mean, Lean Protein…

The Fix: Salad Master

Branches all over Cairo

What to Get: Make Your Own Giant Salad Bowl

This is where you go crazy. With everything-but-the-kitchen sink as an option to add to your salad, Salad Master lets you be the master of your own fate. We’d suggest the barbeque chicken, demurely paired with grilled aubergines, red onions, and red beans. 

When You Forget to Pack Your Work Lunch…

The Fix: Beano’s

Branches all over Egypt

What to Get: Chicken Caesar Salad

If the many all-day remote-work sessions at Beano’s taught us anything at all, it is that the classic coffee spot makes one of the best Caesar salads you can find. And the best part? You can have it delivered to your office when you forget to pack your lunch…

When Your Sweet Tooth is Tingling…

The Fix: Dip & Dip

Branches all over Cairo

What to Get: The Seasonal Fruit salad

We know, we know, who would go to Dip & Dip to just get a fruit salad? Well, certainly not us, because you bet we’ll be dipping every single fruit cube in chocolate. Hey, it’s still technically a salad! 

When You’re Craving a Salad That Isn’t Really a Salad…

The Fix: Let’s Poke

Abu Al Feda, Zamalek

What to Get: The Bulldog Katsu

We know what you’re thinking, is a Poke ball a salad? Well, we would argue it’s in a bowl, has multiple vegetables, and can easily be tossed like a salad, so yes. Hawaii’s national comfort food, chicken katsu in a ‘salad’ is as fulfilling as fulfilling gets. 

When ‘Salad’ is Just a Metaphor for Dips & Dressings…

The Fix: Mini Beirut

Branches all over Cairo

What to Get: Fattoush & Hummus

Nothing screams Arab comfort food quite like a bowl of creamy hummus, a bowl of fattoush salad, and a couple cute - and demure - loaves of pita bread. This is the sort of meal you’d go for when you’re attempting to redefine the word ‘salad’ to fit your diet.