We can say that “fresh is fabulous” about almost anything. Salad Creations says it about the ingredients that go into their salads. Normally, I would be one of the last people to put salad on my list of things to talk about. It’s not too high on my list of things to eat either.

The amusing part of all this is that I am not a salad person. I like it alright, when my body decides that’s what it wants to be fed, but I won’t normally go out of my way to get it. Not long after Salad Creations opened on the corner of Bishop and Hotel Streets in downtown Honolulu, someone brought a copy of the menu back to the office. I saw the list of toppings, or “throw -ins” as they call them, and started salivating. The rest is history!

A little pricey? Yeah, but you’re very full — it’s lunch! The beauty of the “throw-ins” is that you can add as many of them as you want and the price stays the same! How’s that for a bargain? We’re talking good stuff here. Don’t try to strain to read the list on the picture. Here’s the list again:
Green Peppers
Mushrooms
Green Peas
Alfalfa Sprouts
Bacon Bits
Red Onions
Cucumber
Artichokes
Sliced Almonds
Gorgonzola Cheese |
Black Olives
Raisins
Hard Boiled Eggs
Carrots
Tomatoes
Bean Sprouts
Chickpeas
Croutons
Dried Cranberries
Corn |
Mandarin Oranges
Pepperoncini Peppers
Swiss Cheese
Dried Cranberries
Sunflower Seeds
Chow Mein Noodles
Feta Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Cheddar Cheese |
The only time the price increases is if you add one of the specially-prepared meats from the list that include recipes of chicken, tuna, roast beef, ham or turkey. If you don’t want your salad in a bowl, you can have it in a wrap. Same ingredients, just wrapped up in a whole wheat tortilla.
My one complaint for this place would be the desire to have a plain tortilla that leaves the taste of the inside alone instead of interfering. Whole wheat has a flavor all its own and, unless you’re a true whole wheat fan, it’s not always a welcome one. Perhaps the general manager, Jerry Mullen, can be persuaded to step outside the box and have some of the other kind on hand for those of us who refuse to always eat healthy. Healthy is good but flavor is everything!

The wraps are great if you’re on the go and need it “to go.” The salads can be “to go” as well, but you can always have a seat and kick back if you want to just sit for a while and enjoy their air conditioning. The tables are clean and the climate is cool.

The staff are always friendly and helpful and they offer great advice. I’ve never had one of them steer me wrong yet! Even in the choice of dressing! The Honey Dijon is good (that’s low fat, lite Honey Dijon). Couldn’t prove it by me! It’s good! I’ve almost filled out a buy 8 get one free card and I still have a lot to try!

So, anyone can have fresh lettuce, right? Yeah, but do they have a choice of four different kinds of lettuce? That’s mix and match if you like. Do they have all those trimmings? A choice of 16 homemade dressings? How about 6 kinds of soup that are prepared fresh daily? Don’t worry about your sweet tooth, they have fresh baked cookies too. Give it up guys, it doesn’t get much better than this.
The best part? They’re open until 5:30! We all have those days when we just can’t quite get away until everybody else is closed (except McDonald’s). Salad Creations is open late enough to allow you to take a salad home for dinner! You have got to love a place that plans on feeding you, no matter how late you go to lunch! Mahalo to Jerry Mullen and the staff at Salad Creations for making sure we all get fed! Downtown so needed a place like this!
Salad Creations
1102 Bishop Street
Honolulu, Hawai’i 96813
Phone: 808-585-9549