Where to Chow Down on Delicious, Fresh Salads in the Illawarra
Eat fresh and green this season at one of these tasty local spots
Had a few too many heavy meals recently? Haven’t we all!
Craving some light leafy goodness? We hear ya!
Summer is the perfect time to dive into delicious, fresh salads. With the produce at its peak and the weather practically calling for them, there are plenty of spots around town serving up these tasty delights.
We’ve rounded up a bunch of places around the Illawarra to get your salad hit this season because yes, you actually do make friends with salad.
Picture this, you’re parked out on a cool rooftop bar on a warm, summery day, munching on a delish Watermelon & Watercress Salad with fried chickpeas and lemon and mint dressing. Oh, and you’ve got a tasty cocktail next to you to boot!
If that sounds like a wonderful time then you better get yourself to The Fitz Cafe & Bar in Bulli… see ya there!
Fresh salad in a cafe overlooking Austinmer Beach, can’t get much more summer in the Illawarra than that, hey?
They’ve got classics like the Chicken Caesar and Salt and Pepper Squid or try something different with the Pear and Quinoa Salad or the Beetroot, Orange and Halloumi Salad, all sound pretty tasty to us.
If you’re looking for something a little different than the usual cukes, lettuce and tomatoes then check out Jin’s Place in Corrimal.
This Asian-fusion restaurant has warm and cold salads with plenty of choices for toppings. Can’t decide between the warm BBQ beef salad or the vegetarian salad with lemon & soy dressing? Might as well get both!
This one-of-a-kind Evil Eye-themed cafe has locations in both Fairy Meadow and Wollongong and is wonderfully decorated with everyyyyyttthiing Evil Eye… even some of the food and drinks.
They’ve also got a decent salad selection with the Moroccan Salad being right up our alley for a tasty bite. The other salads on the menu also sound mighty fine as well!
One of the Illawarra’s newest 100% plant-based eateries, you know their salads [and everything else they serve] is gonna be seriously delish.
We’re desperate to tuck into their Mah’s Bowl this summer, filled with roast vege, hummus, greens, sauteed tofu and kimchi. Talk about a flavour sensation.
Another joint in Wollongong with a strong focus on health, nutrients and ethically sourced produce – which we absolutely adore.
The display fridge shows off their selection of freshly house-made salads, which always look beautiful, bountiful and ready for the chomping.
This cafe in Port Kembla has made a splash on the scene since opening in 2022 and is the place to be on a sunny day.
And if you do happen to find yourself there on a sunny day [or any day for that matter] then we can vouch for the Poke Bowl full of colourful goodness. We’re also loving the look of the Taco Bowl for all the Mexican flavours.
Their salad menu is literally called “You don’t make friends with salad” so we totally dig their sense of humour here.
We also dig that you can build your own salad, choosing from a range of bases, fillings, proteins and dressing, it’s like a pick-your-own adventure but with food.
Not just a spot for a gorge high tea or insta-worthy brunch, the salad menu here deserves a proper look-in as well.
We’re feeling healthier already just by reading about the Nourish Bowl with quinoa, avocado and fresh herb hummus. We’re also getting revved up by the sounds of the Slow Braised Greek Style Lamb Salad – opa!
Pop down to the Waterfront in Shell Cove for a tasty lunch with a top-notch view at Georgia Rose.
Get all verdant with the Green oak leaf salad or take yourself to Hawaii with the Salmon poke bowl. Either way, you might as well treat yourself to a lush cocktail or glass of tipple as a reward for making such wonderful choices.
Having your salad inside a nursery, can’t get much closer to the source than that, right?
The salad of the day here often features homegrown organic produce and a great opportunity to stroll around the nursery and pick up some seeds and plants for a little grow-your-own salad at home kind of dealio.
12 :: Pickled Ink Kitchen
This friendly kitchen in Berry has just released their summer menu and we’re hankering to get our lips around their Soba noodle salad with basil, edamame and avocado.
They’ve also got a fridge stocked with other seasonal specials including salads, so it’s a great excuse to make a little day trip to that part of town.
13 :: The Fern & Anchor
Head over to Lake Illawarra for a scrummy salad at this friendly cafe on Addison Ave.
Right now, on the menu, there’s a Chicken & Cashew Salad, a Roast Vege Salad and a fun sounding Kia-Ora bowl to choose from and they all sound equally yummy.
Just a heads up they’re closed Sundays and Mondays, so make sure to pick another day for your veggie fix.
The motto here is: “Good salads are a religious experience” so you just know anything you choose is gonna slappity slap!
The salads here are created daily and follow the seasons and honestly all look like a rainbow of fresh flavour. Every time we swing by, there’s something new and exciting to try, and their social media posts make us want to take a bite out of our phone screen! Even if salads aren’t your thing, this place will likely convert you big time.
Okay, so that should be enough to keep you filled full of goodness for a while.
And don’t forget to head to our restaurant directory for even more tasty spots around town.
Now, lettuce eat!
