Salad is to China like kale was to the West a year ago: new, in-your-face nutritious and bound to make at least half of the population roll their eyes upon its mention.
Jason Guo, the manager behind Guangzhou’s first branch of Sexy Salad (Shenzhen has three already), is convinced mixed greens will be the country’s next craze. “Chinese still don’t understand salad,” he asserts, sporting a moisture-wicking tee and khaki pants. “We’re here to help.”
Sexy Salad doesn’t expect patrons to wolf down a pile of romaine every meal of every day – even Guo admits that would be “unbearable.” Instead, the chain encourages customers to replace three meals a week with a dose of clean veggies to slim down and reenergize.
A local farm in Shenzhen sources all of the produce, which, though not organic, is washed no less than 42 times with filtered water before being shipped to each Sexy Salad location and various supermarkets in Hong Kong.
Robust salads are sold in women and men’s portions with the total calorie count (including dressing) printed beside each description on the menu. Ingredients are weighed to ensure recipes remain consistent.
The Thai king vegan tofu salad with Thai coconut curry sauce (RMB48/58) is the most unique Asian-inspired dish listed, though the tofu proves too rubbery and the diced purple sweet potatoes share the same consistency as sedimentary rocks. The vaguely spicy coconut curry sauce would compensate for such downfalls if it were a bit creamier.
For a more traditional pick, the shrimp avocado salad with grapefruit grape seed oil dressing (RMB68/78) is prepared well with ripe avocados and zesty grilled crustaceans. The lettuce is quite bland and tough, however, which affects the overall texture and appeal.
Whole-wheat dumbbell wraps sold in tuna mushroom, pan-fried chicken breast and egg white with spinach (RMB38) serve as the only starchy food on the menu.
Avoid the attractively named but overpriced power juices (RMB38): the cold-pressed bottles at Tous les Jours (located down the hallway) are tastier and RMB10 cheaper.
If the food itself doesn’t sound appealing, perhaps Sexy Salad’s insurance policy will: an upset stomach proven to result from a meal at the restaurant will receive full medical coverage and a reimbursement. We’re just wondering what compelled the eatery to introduce such a policy in the first place…
Price: RMB80
Who’s going: fad dieters, well-dressed Chinese
Good for: tracking calories, insuring an upset stomach
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