7 Chain Restaurant Caesar Salads, Ranked

Despite being created by an Italian immigrant living in Tijuana, Mexico, Caesar salads have really caught on in the United States, especially over the past century. Now, you can find a Caesar salad at almost any sit-down or fast-casual restaurant — from steakhouses and mall food courts to trendy salad bars. What started as a dish of improvisation during scarcity has turned into a dependable American staple. It's creamy, salty, crunchy, fresh, and highly customizable due to its pretty simple recipe.

But not all Caesar salads are created equal, especially in terms of their quality. If done incorrectly, a number of mistakes can be made, and the salad can come across as very bland, sloppily thrown together, or underdressed. That's why I set out to test the offerings of several different chains. This ranking cuts through the jungle of romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, and kale, and uncovers where the best Caesar salads can be found. To do so, I considered the flavor and texture of each component, as well as how memorable and unique the salad was. Whether you're a die-hard traditionalist or like a bit of a creative edge with your Caesar salad, this list will point you to which ones to order.

I didn't expect to like this one much — and I didn't. It was on the pricier end of this list and came in a larger tray than some of the others I sampled. 

The flavor of each ingredient was always just short of average. The croutons stood out to me immediately because they were uncomfortably soft. They reminded me that croutons are essentially just pieces of bread. But that's not the only way they surprised me. Although I expected them to be savory, even garlicky, they were sweet. Yes, sweet. It was as if someone ripped up a potato bun and tossed all the pieces into a salad.

Then came the Caesar dressing — the element I was most notably disappointed by. I feel strongly that a good dressing is a staple for any salad, especially for a Caesar, as it's a basic salad that could use the extra help. While the amount of dressing was pleasing, its taste was not. It was very, very salty. Perhaps it was meant to offset those sweet croutons. The Parmesan was also pretty bland, as was the watery iceberg lettuce. Unsurprisingly, my favorite part of this meal was the duo of Cheddar Bay biscuits that accompanied it free of charge. And honestly, they almost saved the experience.

Panera Bread's Caesar salad wasn't terrible. It was a fairly tasty offering from the chain, though it did have some outstanding flaws that earned it a low ranking on this list. But first, let's talk about what I loved: the dressing. Unlike Red Lobster's mayo and salt concoction, Panera Bread's Caesar dressing was all that I hoped it would be. It was tangy and well-balanced. The lemon was prominent, and it even had pretty distinct notes of olive. If you're not a fan of olives or olive oil, this might not be the one for you, but I enjoyed the personality it offered this salad.

Now, let's talk about what I didn't love: the croutons and bread. Both had textural issues, which is upsetting coming from a restaurant that specializes in bread. The croutons didn't have the same bite as freshly baked bread, and they actually felt a bit stale. Despite looking like a picture-perfect baguette, the side of bread was hard to chew. It was stuck somewhere between being neither moist nor crisp enough. The lettuce also didn't have much flavor — not that lettuce usually does. All in all, Panera's Caesar salad wasn't horrible, but it failed to hit the mark. I won't be chasing it down for a second round any time soon.

Truthfully, this salad had me very tied up because it wasn't bad at all. It was actually kind of enjoyable –  if you don't think about it too hard — but I could tell the ingredients were low-quality. The Parmesan on top was flimsier than the other salads, and it lacked a notable flavor. Similar to Red Lobster's croutons, the croutons in this Applebee's salad were unexpectedly sweet and had an odd, artificially yellow color. They had a softer texture than Red Lobster's croutons, making it clear that they can lose all value if not toasted properly. The dressing tasted a bit more like ranch than it did Caesar, which didn't bother me much. It was creamy and vinegary, and still added depth to the dish and made the experience pleasant. The salad also came with a perfectly seasoned breadstick that resembled the flavor of a wonton wrapper from a crab rangoon, which complemented the salad well.

The chicken is what really piqued my interest in this one. At first, I was going to rank this one a bit higher because the protein was perfectly moist inside and had aesthetic grill lines on its exterior. Then, I realized the inside was a little too moist and rubbery. It didn't have the usual stringy texture of chicken. Overall, the meat just came across as very processed.

As a Sweetgreen fan, it pains me to place this salad right in the middle. I embarked on this quest fully expecting Sweetgreen to take the crown, but I couldn't get behind this salad. That isn't to say the salad was necessarily bad, though. Despite being one of the more affordable salads on this list, it was made with very high-quality ingredients. The chicken was moist and tender, but it was sadly unseasoned and flavorless. The bread accompanying the meal was equally bland. Thankfully, the Parmesan shreds had a sharp aroma and pronounced tang. While many of the other salads mentioned here were limited to croutons, Parmesan, and lettuce, this salad additionally brought in ingredients like tomatoes, lime, and Parmesan crisps (effectively baked cheese crackers). Not to mention the base was a mix of both kale and romaine lettuce, rather than basic iceberg.

The big issue was the dressing. As I mentioned, I believe wholeheartedly that dressing is what makes or breaks a salad. My issue with this one was that it had a very fishy taste. It's clear that Sweetgreen prioritized the anchovy flavor profile over notes like garlic, lemon, or olive. While anchovy is a main ingredient in many Caesar dressings, it usually isn't this distinct. Its taste was very pungent, so if you're an anchovy fan, you may like it more than I did.

I like kale, so I liked this Chopt Caesar salad. But if you don't like kale, you'll be sorely disappointed with what this salad has to offer, because "kale" is pretty much all it is. However, there are a few bites of lettuce sprinkled throughout, making it definitively a Caesar salad. I considered ranking it lower for its lack of substance, but that's just it: There's nothing wrong with this salad, and there's also nothing remarkable about it.

Chopt Creative Salad is a fast-casual salad chain founded in the early 2000s, so it hasn't been around for as long as other chains. Its first location was in New York City's Union Square, and its goal was (and is) to bring nutritious lunch options to hustling and bustling Americans. And that, it does. This salad came pre-mixed with evenly distributed crunchy croutons, aged Parmesan, and creamy Caesar dressing. It required zero preparation on my end and it seemingly prioritized being "ready to eat" and packed with nutrients, instead of being aesthetically pleasing and worthy of an Instagram feature. Plus, as a creative salad restaurant, Chopt's salads are fully customizable and made to suit individualized taste. So its base kale Caesar salad might have been utterly simple, but it can easily be spruced up with grilled chicken, Parmesan crisps, tomatoes, avocado — you name it.

Just Salad's Caesar salad was the most classic version of the dish I tried, and I really enjoyed it. This is the first item on this ranking list that I could see myself legitimately reaching for if I were hung up running errands all day, had a serious Caesar salad craving, and needed to stop somewhere for lunch. It had larger Parmesan shavings, the croutons were delectably buttery with noticeable hints of garlic and a great crunch, and came with a small slice of bread. The bread was a perfect size: thin and not too heavy. Plus, I appreciated that it had a subtle olive oil flavor baked into it. The dressing was a harmonious blend of zesty, creamy, and salty, and was not overbearing.

The chicken was also a very satisfying aspect of this meal. Similar to Sweetgreen, the texture of Just Salad's chicken maintained an ideal balance of both soft and sturdy. It was moist but was not at all soggy. Unlike the rubbery chicken at Applebee's, this chicken had a nice shred to it. And unlike Sweetgreen, Just Salad's chicken had an actual umami flavor and was not watery, which made the salad feel more substantial. So as far as chicken goes, this one checked all the boxes. 

When I first looked at Yard House's salad, I was unimpressed. It looked measly and didn't appear to have many toppings. However, once I tried it, I was pleasantly surprised by the unique toppings that weren't visible at first glance — like pistachios, raisins, and roasted Brussels sprouts. The sweet and nutty elements gave the salad a nuance that none of the others on this list came close to. I also tend to dislike Brussels sprouts because they can taste bitter, especially when cooked incorrectly. Luckily, these Brussels sprouts weren't burnt or bitter at all. They had just the right amount of char, which added smokiness to the otherwise fresh ensemble.

Its dressing was the best one I tried. It was noticeably darker in color, leaning more beige than white, and had a strong, tangy flavor. The portion size was generous and matched the amount of greens. Paired with sharp Parmesan, juicy baby tomatoes, and savory croutons, the toppings on this salad worked together to cover a full spectrum of flavors. It showcased a depth and variety of flavors and textures that other salads didn't come close to. I'll definitely be ordering this one again next time I find myself at a Yard House.

At its core, this ranking is based on flavor, quality, and how much each salad stood out. I prioritized salads that were more substantial and had an interesting variety of toppings, because they changed my idea of what a Caesar salad can look like. I also looked at each component of the dressing. Dressings that had lemon, garlic, and olive notes ranked higher than ones that were heavy on mayo or anchovy. If the salad came with chicken, I also looked at the protein's texture and moistness. Similarly, the croutons were judged heavily on how crunchy they were, and if they provided a buttery, garlicky nuance to the salad or simply fell flat. The Parmesan cheese and green base were not as important in my ranking, as it didn't vary too much across salads, but I did look at how aged and fresh they respectively tasted. 

Ultimately, Yard House's kale and romaine Caesar salad took first place because it checked all my boxes. Its inclusion of unique ingredients made it memorable, the dressing was the most flavorful one I sampled, and it had a perfectly balanced combination of buttery, roasty, sweet, salty, and zesty flavors. It was a no-brainer!