-My Order-

Human Feed ($14.80, 3 cold + 2 warm + 1 protein) + 1 add-on protein ($3)

• [Base] Romaine Lettuce
• [Cold Feed] Red Cabbage w French Dressing, Tomato Salsa, Thai Glass Noodles
• [Warm Feed] Char Siew Eggplant, Egg White with Spinach
• [Topping] Spring Onion
• [Dressing] Signature Chili
• [Protein] Pesto Sous Vide Chicken Breast, Spicy Blackened Chicken

-The Review-

I was thrilled by the unique options on their menu. Their offerings certainly set them apart from most places. For instance, they provide choices like cauliflower rice and broccoli rice, though I preferred to stick with my romaine lettuce base to fairly judge their supplements and proteins. However, I was disappointed with two aspects.

First, many things on their menu turned out to be high in fats.

The red cabbage was excessively coated in French dressing, which typically contains 13% carbs, 86% fat, and 1% protein. It would have been better if the cabbage had been thinly shredded.

The Spicy Blackened Chicken was prepared using chicken thigh, and after removing the skin, only about half the amount of chicken remained. Additionally, it seemed they had added oil during the cooking process.

Even the Sous Vide Chicken, which is supposed to be the healthiest standard option without an additional charge, included Pesto. Pesto is usually high in fats due to the nuts, olive oil, and cheese content.

Second, the taste profile of the items were very one-dimensional

The Thai Glass Noodles, which I was excited about, lacked acidity and did not capture the expected Thai flavors. Adding more lime/lemon, garlic, and fish sauce could enhance its authenticity.

Similarly, the Tomato Salsa was missing the bright flavors of lime, cilantro, and onion.

While the signature chili had a satisfying kick and texture, it didn’t offer much beyond that in terms of flavor complexity.

Overall, the bowl tasted predominantly spicy and oily. I found that adding some White Wine Vinegar at home significantly improved the flavors, suggesting that they might consider incorporating more acidity into their offerings to enhance taste profiles.

If I had to buy it again…

I would definitely opt for the Egg White with Spinach. It was the standout item in my bowl. In terms of protein, the Sous Vide Chicken Breast was also very well-prepared. It remained tender and appeared to be the least oily option available.

However, as someone mindful of my caloric intake, I didn’t find the additional calories from the oil and fats (even if they are healthy fats) justified. Those calories would have been better spent enhancing the natural flavors with ingredients like onion, cilantro, and lime in their supplements.

Personally, I prefer the Thai flavors at Omnivore and the salsa at Urban Mix/Patrons.

Nevertheless, The Salad Shop is still worth trying. They offer vegan-friendly options, and if you’re bulking, this place might be a better fit for you than for someone like me watching calories closely.

[Edit: 29 Jul 2024] I decided to give The Salad Shop a try again and this time round I picked the Beetroot Yogurt along with Brussels Sprouts. I also opted for the simpler cold feeds like pickled tomato and boiled egg which did make the bowl a lot less oily. The bowl added up to a total of about 665g.

• 50g Mixed Greens
• 134g Pickled Tomato
• 132g Tomato Salsa
• 56g Boiled Egg
• 57g Egg White Spinach
• 63g Brussels Sprouts
• 125g Pesto Sous Vide Chicken Breast
• 12g Fresh Lime
• 35g Beetroot Yogurt

-Information/Hacks-

Address: UOB Plaza 2, 80 Raffles Pl, #01-20, Singapore 048624

Hours: Mon-Fri, 8AM-4:30PM

Website: https://www.thesaladshop.com.sg/

Hacks: Their queues can get quite long. You can pre-order for self-collection using this link here.