Mouthwatering Wednesday: Houston area restaurants serving unique salads and healthy dishes to kickstart the new year!

With 2024 in full swing and people trying hard to stick with New Year resolutions, we wanted to share a list of restaurants featuring unique salads and healthy dishes that will help you on your journey! Check out these Houston area restaurants.

1600 Bar + Grille
1600 Lamar St.
Houston, TX 77010
713.739.8000

Kick off the new year with healthy offerings at 1600 Bar + Grille. Indulge in the Chipotle Glazed Salmon made with Baked Salmon, Glazed with Chipotle Pepper, Farro-Orzo Pilaf, Roasted Sweet Potato, Broccolini and Beurre Blanc or the Thai Salad, a crisp green salad with shredded cabbage, fresh herbs, roasted peppers, pickled carrots, coconut ginger dressing and topped with toasted sliced almonds.

Adair Kitchen
West University | 5176 Buffalo Speedway Houston, TX 77005 | 713.554.0017
Galleria | 5161 San Felipe Suite 390 Houston, TX 77056 | 713.623.6100

Known for its fresh ingredients and focus on simple yet delicious dishes, Adair Kitchen provides a multitude of healthy offerings for your new year’s resolutions. Choose from an extensive menu of grain bowls including the popular Super Foods Bowl ($12) or the Tuna Poke Bowl ($14), or try refreshing salads like the Kale and Quinoa ($12) or Chicken Harvest ($13). Adair Kitchen also offers a cold-pressed juice bar with flavorful health-forward juices ($8.50) like their Think Pink made with beet, pineapple, strawberry, grapefruit, ginger, and lime, or the Ginger Spice with spinach, carrot, green apple, celery, ginger and lemon.

Andiron
3201 Allen Pkwy Suite e100,
Houston, TX 77019
281.974.1513

Modern live-fire steakhouse, Andiron, who recently introduced Chef Michael O’Connor as executive chef have added new leaner options during their new Friday lunch for those looking to eat healthier in the new year. In addition to flavor-packed salads like their Wedge Salad, Chicken Cobb, and Grilled Caesar, Andiron also offers a delicious Chicken complimented by mustard tarragon and roasted vegetables and their Maine Scallops on top of Butternut Squash, Persimmon, and Lotus Root.

Arnaldo Richards’ Picos
3601 Kirby Dr.
Houston, TX 77098
(832) 831-9940

Premier Mexican restaurant, Arnaldo Richards’ Picos, offers a variety of delightfully healthy dishes perfect for kicking off the new year. Indulge in their Southwest Chopped Salad with crisp romaine, bell peppers, grape tomatoes, green onions, corn kernels, black beans, and cilantro with a chipotle, honey, lime vinaigrette or their Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad with baby spinach, caramelized red onions, warm goat cheese crusted with toasted pepitas and a hibiscus-infused vinaigrette. Picos also offers over 12 vegetarian options including their delicious Grilled Vegetable Mixta with charbroiled seasonal vegetables, served with roasted poblano and cilantro dressing.

The Chelsea
888 Westheimer Rd Suite 119,
Houston, TX 77006
281-846-6955

Start the new year off with some healthy choices from Chef Andre Garza at The Chelsea. Located within Montrose Collective, savor the fresh flavors of the Shrimp and Scallop Verde ($24) made with coconut leche de tigre, torn herbs, and garlic crisp or the Tuna Tartare ($19) made with miso, urfa Biber chile, and house pickles.

Eloise Nichols Grill & Liquors
2400 Mid Lane.
Houston, TX 77027
713.554.0136

Kick off the new year right at charming all-day café, Eloise Nichols, with their delectable salads. Indulge in the popular and unique Not Jennifer Aniston’s Salad with farro, pistachio, chickpea, parsley, mint, cucumber, red onion, feta, dressed in extra virgin olive oil, or check out their classic Cobb Salad with grilled chicken, romaine, roasted corn, cherry tomato, bacon, deviled egg, avocado, pickled onion tossed in gorgonzola dressing.

Home Run Dugout
1220 Grand W Blvd.
Katy, TX 77449
833.384.6881

Home Run Dugout offers a wide variety of delightful dishes ideal to kick off your new year on a healthy note. Indulge in the Southwest Bowl ($13) made with sushi rice, roasted sweet potato, wild arugula, corn and black bean salsa, pickled onions and pumpkin seeds topped with avocado lime dressing.

Kata Robata
3600 Kirby Drive, Suite H
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 526-8858

Kata Robata, the sushi and grill restaurant by chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi, features a flavorful and nutrient-rich salad to set the tone for a healthy and delicious year! The Vegan Soba Salad ($13) made with brussels sprouts, micro cilantro, taro, cabbage, kimchi powder, kimchi vinaigrette and nori is well-balanced and packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. This unique salad – which highlights the trend-forecasted buckwheat noodles – may be the perfect dish to start the new year, but you’re sure to crave it all year long!

Le Jardinier
5500 Main Street
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 714-3015

Healthy dining is an innate feature of the experience at Le Jardinier, the modern, French fine dining institution by The Bastion Collection. In partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston where the restaurant resides, Le Jardinier features a one-of-a-kind Culinary Canvas dish inspired by the museum’s Rembrandt to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the Amand Hammer Collection exhibit. The Beetroot Salad: A Play on Light ($18) made with red beets, fresh green apples, horseradish and creamy avocado, mimics the chiaroscuro – or strong contrasts between light and shadow – found in the exhibit’s artwork. The result is a vibrant amalgamation of colors and flavors both pleasing to the eye and the palate. The dish will only be available through the duration of the exhibit, which ends sometime in January.

In addition to the Culinary Canvas dish, the restaurant offers a gluten-free bread service as well as a slew of other health-focused and vegetable forward dishes. Le Jardinier, which means “the gardener” in French, is centered around the idea of highlighting only the freshest in-season ingredients, ensuring that all the elements of a dish are only consumed when they’re at their peak.

MaKiin
2651 Kipling St Ste 101
Houston, TX 77098
832.695.9999

MaKiin, the recently opened upscale Thai concept by Kin Dee owner, Lukkaew Srasrisuwan, features two unique salads on its menu – both light and flavorful options for the new year. Check out the Duck Garden Oasis ($35) made with lemongrass sous vide duck breast, microgreens, edible flowers, pine nuts, and pomegranate seeds topped with roasted rice powder, fresh herbs, and spicy chili flakes sauce or the Soft Shell Crab Papaya Salad ($23) featuring freshly sliced green papaya, carrots, string beans and juicy cherry tomatoes topped with cashew nuts and crispy soft-shell crab.

Mandito’s Tex-Mex
5101 Bellaire Blvd.
Bellaire, TX 77401
713.590.7333

Step into the new year on the right foot with Mandito’s Tex-Mex flavorful salad and bowl options. Delight your tastebuds with their Tex-Mex Kale Spicy Caesar ($15) with kale, cotija cheese, crispy tortilla, and spicy Caesar dressing or their Mandito’s Iceberg Wedge ($12) featuring iceberg wedges, spicy ranch, chorizo, corn, black beans, avocado, cheddar and crispy tortillas. Looking for something a bit heartier? Check out their Grilled Salmon Bowl ($26) with a grilled salmon fillet, grilled lemon, baja slaw, black bean relish, over a bed of Mexican rice.

Marmo
888 Westheimer Rd Suite 109
Houston, TX 77006
832.626.3400

Step into the new year with several healthy alternatives at Marmo, the swanky Italian chophouse located at the Montrose Collective. Menu highlights include the Roasted Carrot Salad ($17) complete with hazelnut vinaigrette, truffle honey, and smoked ricotta and the delicious Hamachi ($21) – a vibrant dish topped with basil, fresh avocado, and squid ink rice chips over a bed of passion fruit ponzu.

Ostia
2032 Dunlavy St
Houston, TX 77006
713-324-9288

Ostia, Montrose’s favorite neighborhood joint, widely known for its rotating menu has added a few healthy alternatives for the new year. Enjoy the Shaved Apple Salad with kohlrabi, fennel, dates and pecans. Not feeling a salad? Try the Tuna Crudo made with chilies and satsuma. Complement these dishes with Ostia’s refreshing mocktails, in honor of Dry January.

Postino might be known for its bottles of wine and boards of bruschetta and charcuterie, but the wine bar’s food menu is filled with a variety of veggie-fueled and vegan dishes including, but not limited to, Postino’s The Bounty board featuring a rainbow of vegetables and plant-based treats such as heirloom carrots, cauliflower, broccolini, pickled sweet peppers, spicy marcona almonds, watermelon radishes and cucumbers that pair nicely with an almond hummus, a green goddess dressing and a house-made ranch yogurt dip. The Crunchy Vegetarian panini is loaded with fresh veggies such as crisp cucumbers, broccolini, a vibrant cauliflower slaw, and Roma tomatoes, as well as luscious, whipped feta, a flavorful romesco sauce and sharp white cheddar. Super filling and nutritious, Postino’s Brussels Sprouts Salad features kale, brussels sprouts, Manchego cheese, spicy Marcona almonds, bacon and dried cherry with a creamy lemon Manchego dressing. The Hannah’s Field is served with kale and heritage grains tossed with apples, apricots, toasted almonds, pecorino stagionato and topped with pickled red onions and a zesty apple cider-mustard vinaigrette. In addition to these vibrant veggie dishes, guests can opt for Postino’s gluten-free bruschetta.

Skeeters Mesquite Grill
Weslayan | 5529 Weslayan St. Houston, TX 77005 | 713.660.7090
Kingwood |121 W Lake Houston Pkwy, Kingwood, TX 77339 | 281.361.7168

Start your new year off on the right foot, at go-to neighborhood concept, Skeeters Mesquite Grill and try out the new Protein Plates and Burger Bowls. Small, but mighty, their new Protein Plates are packed with protein and flavor! Highlights include their Chicken Breast Protein Plate ($7.95) with a 6 oz. chicken breast and steamed broccoli, their Shrimp Skewer Protein Plate ($8.95) featuring five grilled shrimp and steamed veggies, or their Grilled Blackened Salmon ($10.95) served with roasted asparagus. The restaurant also has a multitude of fresh salads, including the Farm Chicken Salad (11.95) with mesquite grilled chicken, spring mix, strawberries, walnuts, red onion, feta, sweet green dressing.