What’s so special about leaves, you may ask? Not a whole lot, aside from their nutritional value, detoxing abilities, and overall refreshing taste when prepared right—which these five Miami health-focused cafes and delis are tossing your way. Your coworkers will no longer roll your eyes at your boring lunch with these creative salads in view.
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Ody and Kenny Lugo, the masterminds behind Giardino Gourmet Salads, have been serving South Florida communities since 2004 and pride themselves in quality and fresh ingredients. Customers can order from their list of specialty salads or make their own, starting with a base and topped with over 60 ingredients, which are then chopped and tossed directly behind the counter. Their handmade croutons are heavenly, found in Ody’s Toss—a mix of baby leaf and romaine greens, pears, walnuts, cucumbers, blue cheese, ginger dressing, and pumpernickel croutons.
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A husband-and-wife team created the Pura Vida concept to gather the local community over a unified love for healthy food, intended to be enjoyed at all times of the day. Pura Vida’s salads are as aesthetic as they are tasty, tossed with powerful combos that are bound to keep you full for the remainder of the work day. All five of their salads are perfection, but regardless of your mood of the day, you can’t go wrong with the Garden Greens. This super bowl consists of arugula, spinach, mixed greens, cucumber, cherry tomato, carrot, pickled cabbage, radish, sprouts, scallion, chickpeas, micro cilantro, and sunflower seeds, tossed with tahini and apple cider vinaigrette.
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Mario Laufer’s Carrot Express has come a long way since its origin at the Alton Road gas station in South Beach, with over 15 locations offering its signature healthy (and delicious) lifestyle. Obviously, nothing screams “healthy” more than a salad (although Carrot Express offers an expansive menu of hearty entrées, sandwiches, soups, burgers, and bowls), and the Roasted Brussels Sprouts Kale salad delivers with a unique flair. A combo of brussels, kale, julienne granny apples, candied pecans, golden raisins, and their lemon-apple cider vinaigrette, this salad is a popular one and can be served with an added hormone-free protein.
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Branded as a health company, Dr. Smood promises scientifically-backed, nutritional dishes that are prepared with well-researched techniques and ingredient pairings for the most beneficial value. All of their food items are certified organic, wild, and plant-based—a health-conscious eater’s dream. Get the Kale Caesar salad, a concoction of kale, spinach, confit tomato, capers, croutons, and cashew parmesan. We would “kale” for this right about now.
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Calling all vegans: the fast-casual spot SoBe Vegan serves up yummy plant-based dishes that make you forget all about being vegan. The bright and colorful interior mirrors their plates, and you leave feeling both healthy and satisfied—especially after consuming one of their salads. We recommend the Spicy Cobb, which is a romaine lettuce base with bacon, chick’n tenders, organic sweet corn, organic avocado, grape tomato, blue cheese dressing, and buffalo sauce.
Photography by: Veselova Elena/Getty Images
