The Mandarin Chicken salad from Saladworks contains grilled chicken, mandarin oranges, Asian noodles, shredded carrots, red cabbage, cilantro, green onions, almonds, crispy wontons and an Asian sesame ginger dressing. It’s one of their more popular salads due to the sweet and savory flavor combination.
Salad Ingredients
Here is a breakdown of the main ingredients in the Mandarin Chicken salad:
- Grilled chicken – Grilled white meat chicken provides protein
- Mandarin oranges – Sweet segments of mandarin oranges add flavor
- Asian noodles – Ramen noodles or soba noodles provide carbs
- Shredded carrots – For crunch and nutrients
- Red cabbage – Adds color and cabbage crunch
- Cilantro – Fresh herb flavor
- Green onions – Scallions add flavor
- Almonds – Sliced almonds add crunch
- Crispy wontons – Wonton strips add texture
- Asian sesame ginger dressing – Binds ingredients with sweet and savory flavor
Nutrition Information
The Mandarin Chicken salad contains a variety of healthy ingredients that make up a nutritious meal. Here is the approximate nutrition information for the salad:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 430 |
| Total Fat | 13g |
| Saturated Fat | 2g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 75mg |
| Sodium | 880mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 44g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4g |
| Sugars | 12g |
| Protein | 29g |
As you can see, the salad provides a good amount of protein from the chicken, fiber from the vegetables and noodles, and has minimal saturated fat and trans fat. The sodium content is a bit high, most likely coming from the dressing, almonds and wontons. Overall it makes a filling and nutritious meal.
Taste and Texture
Here is an overview of the different textures and flavors you get in each bite of the Mandarin Chicken salad:
- The chicken is juicy and savory from being grilled
- The mandarin oranges taste very sweet and juicy
- The Asian noodles add a soft, starchy texture
- The shredded carrots are crunchy
- The red cabbage has a crisp, fresh flavor and crunch
- The cilantro provides a fresh, aromatic flavor
- The green onions have a sharp, pungent taste
- The almonds are crunchy and nutty tasting
- The crispy wontons add a nice crispy texture and richness
- The dressing has a sweet yet savory ginger sesame flavor
When you combine all these ingredients in one bite, you get an explosion of flavors and textures – sweet, savory, creamy, crunchy. The mix of ingredients comes together nicely to create a refreshing Asian-inspired salad.
Popular Add-Ons
The basic Mandarin Chicken salad is delicious on its own, but Saladworks allows you to customize your salad with extra add-ons and premium toppings. Here are some popular additions people get with this salad:
- Wonton strips – Get extra crispy wontons on top
- Mandarin oranges – Add more sweet mandarin segments
- Slivered almonds – Extra crunchy almonds on top
- Snow peas – For extra veggie crunch
- Edamame – For a boost of plant protein
- Bok choy – Adds texture and flavor
- Water chestnuts – Crunchy and sweet addition
- Sesame seeds – Toast sesame seeds add nutty flavor
- Ginger dressing – Get it on the side for dipping
These premium toppings can enhance the flavors and make your salad even more filling. The wontons, almonds, snow peas and edamame are especially popular add-ons.
Dressing Options
The traditional Asian sesame ginger dressing pairs perfectly with the Mandarin Chicken salad. However, if you want to change it up, Saladworks allows you to swap the dressing for one of these other options:
- Balsamic Vinaigrette – Tangy balsamic flavor
- Caesar – Creamy, garlicky Caesar dressing
- Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette – Sweet raspberry dressing with crunch walnuts
- Italian – Robust Italian dressing with herbs
- Ranch – Cool, creamy ranch flavor
- Thousand Island – Sweet and savory thousand island dressing
The balsamic or raspberry walnut vinaigrettes pair nicely and still give you a fruity sweetness. Or go for a creamy Caesar or ranch if you prefer those flavors. While the original Asian dressing is recommended, it’s nice having options to switch up the flavors.
Is it Healthy?
Overall, the Mandarin Chicken salad is a healthy choice and makes for a nutritious light meal or lunch. Here is a quick rundown of why it’s a smart choice:
- High in lean protein from grilled chicken
- Contains fiber from vegetables, noodles and wontons
- Has vitamins and minerals from fresh produce
- Minimal bad fats from oil-based dressing
- No trans fat or cholesterol from meat or dairy
- Lower in carbs than sandwiches or burgers
- Provides filling food from protein and fiber
Going light on the dressing and avoiding fried premium toppings will keep it as a healthy meal under 500 calories. The variety of flavors and textures also keeps your palate satisfied. So enjoy the salad guilt-free!
Price
The Mandarin Chicken salad is one of the premium salad options at Saladworks. Here is how the pricing breaks down:
- Regular size – $9.99
- Large size – $11.99
- Premium toppings – $1.00 – $2.50 each
- Dressing on the side – $0.69
This salad costs a couple dollars more than their basic salad options. But you’re paying for higher quality ingredients like all-natural chicken, mandarin oranges, soba noodles, and crispy wontons. The regular size makes a filling lunch, while the large is big enough for dinner or two lighter meals.
How to Order
There are a few ways you can order the Mandarin Chicken salad from Saladworks:
- Order online for pickup
- Order through the Saladworks app for pickup
- Call your local store to place a pickup order
- Go into any Saladworks location to order and eat there
- Use third party delivery apps like UberEats, DoorDash or GrubHub
Ordering online or through the app allows you to customize your salad exactly how you want it with premium toppings. Pickup and delivery help you get the salad quickly and easily. Or enjoy the salad freshly made at a Saladworks location. Choose the most convenient option for you!
Conclusion
The Mandarin Chicken salad from Saladworks mixes grilled chicken with oranges, noodles, veggies, crunchy toppings and a sweet Asian dressing to create a flavorful and filling salad. It contains lean protein, fiber, vitamins, and minimal bad fats or carbs. Customizing with premium toppings allows you to enhance the flavors even more. Overall it provides a satisfying lighter meal that tastes great and is good for you too. Stop by your local Saladworks or order online next time you’re craving this sweet and savory salad.