What's the best restaurant that balances taste and being healthy? I prefer Cava when I can't cook at home. What are the other places that qualify? No salad recommendations pls.

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sh58585@reddit

Chick fil a, 12 piece grilled nuggets with a kale crunch side salad is around 350 cals and good amount of protein, plus buffalo sauce is very low cal. Super filling!

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thinking257@reddit

They are super filling because unfortunately they use a washtub of MSG 😭

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Chick Fil A has good fruit salad that can be swapped as a side in place of fries too. It’s typically berries, apples, and mandarin orange wedges. I used to swap that and get grilled chicken there frequently after I had bariatric surgery. So fast food didn’t completely derail my healthier diet.

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djambates75@reddit

Snappy Salads has a dressing called "Sweet Parsley Vinaigrette" and its amazing.

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NastyKnees@reddit

Sachet in Highland Park is a Mediterranean restaurant that has more than just your typical Greek, Italian, Spanish food.

Their lunch is more affordable than dinner. I suggest their Yellow Beets! Its the only reason I like Beets now!

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magadag@reddit

Grow up and eat a salad

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TroyAndAbed2022@reddit (OP)

Nothing against a salad... Just wanted this conversation to be about other items since it's obvious salads from all places will be healthy enough

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magadag@reddit

Shit sorry, Caught me at a bad moment. I should have just moved on without commenting.

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TroyAndAbed2022@reddit (OP)

It's ok man.. I understand. I've done it before as well. No issues

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goodjuju123@reddit

Kalachandjis. https://kalachandjis.com/our-menu/

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TroyAndAbed2022@reddit (OP)

I eat a lot of Indian food and this looks pretty basic but it's been recommended to me so many times now that I have to check it out.

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Apprehensive-End9358@reddit

I'm a huge Mendocino Farms fan personally!!!

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carolinedow13@reddit

Yessss

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babababrandon@reddit

Their hippie sandwich is great!

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Apprehensive-End9358@reddit

Yessss that's my absolute favorite! I crave it so often

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arlenroy@reddit

Oh shit! Thank you friendo! I didn't know there's one a few blocks from my house! I'm going there after work for dinner!

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Chasqui@reddit

A while back Mendocino had BOGO offers - good times!

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Fiss@reddit

Love Mendocino

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TroyAndAbed2022@reddit (OP)

God this looks good.

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yoo987@reddit

I second this!!

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Complex_Method8916@reddit

Packin’ Bowls

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happyklam@reddit

Flower Child. Bit more expensive than CAVA, maybe? Not as many locations. But definitely healthy and very tasty.

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SnooEagles103@reddit

Came here to say Flower Child!

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yoo987@reddit

Second this with the exception that they cook with seed oils :/

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Hot-Education4582@reddit

Seed oils are still healthier than animal fats or butter

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sah___mei@reddit

They're explicitly prohibited in early stages of AIP, but otherwise I agree that Flower Child is solid.

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No_Internal9345@reddit

Maybe don't eat out if you're doing an early stage autoimmune protocol?

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yoo987@reddit

True, however still not good for those with inflammatory diseases and/or having an anti-inflammatory or low fod map lifestyle.

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commuter22@reddit

How about their counterpart? True Food Kitchen seems to be the same concept.

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sah___mei@reddit

True Food served me a flour tortilla after I specified "gluten-free." I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it's a pretty egregious oversight in my book.

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Liberteabelle1@reddit

Chicken Yakisoba noodles is da bomb!

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A214Guy@reddit

Came here to say FC!!! Definitely a step up from Cava and frankly I miss Zoe’s original menu every time I’m in Cava

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happyklam@reddit

I miss Zoe's SO MUCH. Their Salmon Harissa bowl thing was a go-to for me.

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Ok-Interview9217@reddit

ngl that sucks man, but maybe try some avocado or like a good salsa instead

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burberrycondom@reddit

Their steak is great

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ScrubySpidey@reddit

Definitely more expensive than cava, but worth the price IMO. I’d take FC over Cava any day, easy choice.

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Brassanthe@reddit

Mo Bettahs. Get their Pulehu chicken with steamed veggies and rice. It's my go-to meal after a really good gym pump.

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New_Substance_6753@reddit

LOL I went to cava yesterday and as a vegetarian, I told them to make sure there was no cross contamination. 5 bites in, I find a piece of meat in it. Never going back.

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Fun-Organization2600@reddit

Jumping in on another grocery store rec - Trader Joe's has a wide selection of prepared meals that can probably accomplish your goals and are tasty

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Apprehensive-End9358@reddit

I second this!

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Harami__Salami@reddit

CRISP & GREEN!

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deadstar1998@reddit

I usually just eat some of Whole Foods prepared meals

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TroyAndAbed2022@reddit (OP)

I always find that whole foods items look much better than they taste. They are always under seasoned for my taste. I love their cold pasta salads though.

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davis214512@reddit

Malibu Poke Eatzi’s or Central Market prepared food.

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TroyAndAbed2022@reddit (OP)

I had poke once out of a food truck and hated it. I should try it again.. just to see if got a bad one the first time around.

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relliott15@reddit

Poke Bop is amazing and you can build a bowl from scratch. It’s my go-to for anything poke related.

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SimpleVegetable5715@reddit

It’s like sushi, especially if you’re getting ones with raw fish. It has to be really fresh and kept cold or it goes off fast.

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rickmoney21@reddit

Pine isle has great poke!

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DMTryp@reddit

Dat fried musubi

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clear-as-mud@reddit

To piggyback pine isle is exactly what poke is like in Hawaii. So glad to have finally found a place in Dallas that sells it

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LumpyPhilosopher8@reddit

There is a great Poke place on the corner of Mockingbird and Greenville ave. (It's right next to the UPS store) It's called "Poke Sushi Roll" I've been eating there probably twice a week since before covid and I've never gotten a bad meal there. It's a tiny hole in the wall place but it's really good food. Their sushi has never failed me either. And they've got great prices

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SimpleVegetable5715@reddit

Central Market food was frequently drizzled in butter or olive oil. But hey, the olive oil might be fine for OP. I do think they’re very transparent with ingredients, they could probably ask the staff.

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BlipBleepo@reddit

Central market prepared food uses an absurd amount of butter. I used to work there.

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CatteNappe@reddit

You might take a look at Oasis Cafe on Greenville Ave. Not like a Cava, or Flower Child, or any number of places with Mediterranean or Asian "healthy" leaning food. It's home cooking, and simple home style TexMex, but it's the only place I've been to anywhere where the hash browns aren't dripping grease and the fries aren't sponges for oil. I think you will find it quite tasty, and well prepared to limit your cholesterol exposure (well maybe not the chicken fried steak, I haven't tried that one).

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Consistent-Trust1097@reddit

Snappy Salads is one of my favorites. I love the grain bowls.

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John_Palomino@reddit

RIP Salad N Go.

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x97sfinest@reddit

Oh wow. Did they all close? I liked their wraps.

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John_Palomino@reddit

All the Texas locations did. I think they stayed open in OK

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Consistent-Trust1097@reddit

I didn't know what you were referring to until I Googled it....that really sucks!! I never tried Salad N Go, but my relatives loved them.

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John_Palomino@reddit

They were EVERYWHERE so I'm a little surprised you didn't know about them. They were FAST and inexpensive. Probably why they didn't last.

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SimpleVegetable5715@reddit

They were everywhere, but many of them didn’t open much or at all. It was very weird.

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Consistent-Trust1097@reddit

I've seen them around but never went myself. But I didn't know they closed a bunch of locations :/

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HopingToBetter@reddit

This was truly one of the worst places to go in 2026. I would go, multiple times a week, to pick up salads for my team. RiP.

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msondo@reddit

La Bodega in Bishop Arts

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deadpixel746@reddit

One bite

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kitkat214281@reddit

Maya’s Modern Mediterranean in Hillcrest village

Snap Kitchen’

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HETAL1@reddit

Snap Kitchen is not exactly a restaurant but its pre packaged meals are the best for the price! I live on Snap Kitchen meals to go. They're really good and healthy as they come. That's a good suggestion. You can get at Snap Kitchen locations or Whole Foods.

Similar to Snap Kitchen, Sprouts and Whole Foods have really good foods to go. You can eat in at Whole Foods.

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kitkat214281@reddit

You can also occasionally find them on the Too Good to Go app!

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Sad_Finish9031@reddit

“Cooking Borscht” at Carrollton has a verity of borscht and soups, but takeout, pickup or delivery only

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svxnn@reddit

No chains but i prefer local ethnic/international food when it comes to this. Local pho place and local Momo place, mom and pop owned, always provide healthy meals for a decent price.

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Maharba19@reddit

Fadis Mediterranean

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Cgo1978@reddit

Where does Fadis still exist? I was just thinking about them recently!

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Maharba19@reddit

Sure does! The location on Knox had a recent interior renovation

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texian1515@reddit

SW corner of Knox and 75

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muhnamesgreg@reddit

Hear me out: torchys. There are some tacos you can get and really be totally fine on calories. Green chile pork and the shrimp one are examples

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too-fun-sidekick@reddit

Cava is hot garbage

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TroyAndAbed2022@reddit (OP)

I love it. We just have different tastes my friend.

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Dawnzarelli@reddit

I also love Cava. But try Luna Grill. They have many locations but I go to the one off Walnut Hill Lane.

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DMTryp@reddit

Fr

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RoboPeenie@reddit

Luna Grill!

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Dawnzarelli@reddit

Easily my favorite. I wish they had a location more toward downtown, uptown, any where south of Lemmon really.

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Sguidroz@reddit

Celebration!

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j_husk@reddit

Bellagreen hits that middle ground for me. There are healthier places for sure, but it's healthier than most and tastes pretty good.

Generally speaking Mediterranean food near you is a good thing to search for. Sushi is another.

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comebackasatree@reddit

Modern Market over in Preston Hollow is always pretty solid

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ZTYTHYZ@reddit

Seconded. Their salads and bowls put a lot of other places to shame.

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Mediocre-Broccoli944@reddit

I just found Sweetgreen-delish and large enough to split over two meals!

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LebronsHairline@reddit

HG Supply Co, Chop Shop, Bread Zeppelin, Andalous Mediterranean Kitchen, Fadi’s, Kebabs to Go. Korean BBQ can also be very healthy too if you pick the right meats.

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Mutombo_says_NO@reddit

Andalous 100000^

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boyyouguysaredumb@reddit

Hg supply is so insanely expensive for the portions

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Chepy2437@reddit

True food kitchen in legacy west

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WheelChairDrizzy69@reddit

You can game chipotle to be pretty healthy. Double chicken no dairy, all the veggies, beans, half rice, and salsa will do just fine. Guac works too. No chips.

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eelynek@reddit

And I believe they’ve introduced Protein Cups for a smaller portion option

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commuter22@reddit

Sodium levels are pretty high in their food if I recall?

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FitReporter650@reddit

Particularly high in the bean, so I’d cut that in half too. Just have to be diligent the rest of the day with your sodium intake, but that’s just the game with eating out. Chipotle is generally a good option if you cut out chips/tortillas, and reduce the portions of rice and beans.

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TroyAndAbed2022@reddit (OP)

Restaurant food will never be as healthy as home food. It would be hard to find something perfect.. if you're eating outside, unless it's a salad.. I think you'll have to compromise on some aspects.

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TroyAndAbed2022@reddit (OP)

I love chipotle as well. Yummy..

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Celcius_87@reddit

Andalous Mediterranean Grill in Las Colinas

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Iglooman45@reddit

Seasons 52 in Plano. Pricey but all entrees are below 590 calories.

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Old-Mixture1246@reddit

True Food Kitchen is a good place to check out too. https://www.truefoodkitchen.com/locations/dallas/

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oktodls12@reddit

ChopShop and BellaGreen.

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Ok_Foundation2125@reddit

Love both of these!

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TheSpivack@reddit

SweetGreens is really good.

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PeoniesShoesandbows@reddit

Piada!!

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Careless-Resource-72@reddit

Hutchins. The taste is so far to one side that it balances out any shortcomings of health on the other. /jk

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HolyForkingBrit@reddit

HG Supply Company.

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comfy_casual@reddit

Crisp & Green

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Upstairs_Balance_464@reddit

You might want to read up on the latest research about the link between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol. Guidance for lowering blood cholesterol has recently changed.

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Trillion_G@reddit

Flower Child

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SimpleVegetable5715@reddit

Some restaurants have a heart friendly/lower calorie section of the menu. Only ones I can think of off the top of my head are chains, but I know I’ve seen it at smaller places too. Might be called something like “lighter options” too.

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CityBohoGirl@reddit

My rotation: Flower Child, Mendocino Farms, Original ChopShop.

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heauxsmadd@reddit

bread zeppelin, chipotle, halal guys, sweet green, hawiian bros

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Dorkier@reddit

Bellagreen

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xxxmarshiexxx@reddit

rip salad & go

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Nearby-Oil-8227@reddit

Little Greek!

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Polipop395@reddit

True Food Kitchen is excellent clean and creative food with great service and nice ambiance. Cosmic Cafe just reopened. Flower Child is very good. The Dallas location of Seasons 52 closed. The ghee at Indian restaurants isn’t terribly healthy. The veggie platter at Ethiopian restaurants is delicious while understanding it’s heavy on the olive oil. Overall, Dallas restaurants suck if you’re trying to eat healthy!

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TroyAndAbed2022@reddit (OP)

Yes I just wanted to find more options other than Cava.