Salad Creations at Campus El Segundo

By Michael Jenkins on January 16th, 2009

Today I stopped by the recently opened Salad Creations at Campus El Segundo. This development, located at the corner of Douglas and Mariposa, has been cranking out grand openings for the past few months with the additions of Z Pizza, Kaya Sushi, and others. But for now, lets talk about the salads.

Salad Creations is built on the “have it your way concept”. Guests first choose a size for their salad along with the main ingredient. There are two sizes, essentially big or small, with the Full Creation ($6.99) and the Jr. Creation ($4.99). For the main ingredient, there are four choices: Iceberg Mix, Romaine, Spring Mix, and Spinach. I thought that the set up was similar to the Subway style of ordering a sandwich; foot long, black forest ham on wheat. Only at Salad Creations its more like Jr. Creation with Spinach.

With the size and main ingredient chosen, there are options for making the salad to your liking with additions called “throw ins”. There are almost 30 to choose from including nuts, various peppers, cranberries, and several cheeses. You can also add a protein to your salad with tuna, ham, roast beef, and several types of chicken to choose from. Oh, I should mention that the Jr. Creation only comes with four throw ins while the Full comes with more.

After the salad is stocked to your satisfaction, dressings are the next step with 20 to choose from. They can also make the dressing to your liking by combing a few of them. Finally, you’re given the option to toss or chop the salad. Using their words, if the salad is chopped you “get more taste out of every bite.”

At the register they offer an up-sell; for $1.99 more you can get a combo by adding two items from a list of sides. Its a typical combo offering with drinks, chips, and desserts as options.

For my visit I got a Jr. Creation with spinach, olives, blue cheese, garbanzo beans and pecans. I opted for a tossed salad with the balsamic vinaigrette thinking it would go good with the spinach. I bought into the up-sell at the register and selected Sun Chips and a chocolate chip cookie. Since I was heading back to work, they wrapped everything up for me to-go.

The salad was extremely tasty. The spinach was firm but not unnaturally crispy. The ingredients came together nicely (for me, of course, yours will be your own). The pecans, blue cheese, and balsamic blended to form a taste that reminded me of the cheese balls my mom used to make.

The interior of the store was bright and pleasantly cramped, with tables along the right wall and the line for orders separated by a velvet rope sort of thing to the left. The staff was very helpful and eager to get to each guest as the line formed. Actually, there was next to no line; it was crowded but the speedy chefs, dressed in colorful chef hats and white coats, quickly served up the salads.

They also have wraps and soups on their menu, including Italian Wedding Soup (yum). I WILL be back!

I should also mention that this is the first store to open in California with four more coming; The web lists another in the “Los Angeles area” and others in Orange County, Riverside, and the San Francisco area. I’m glad that Salad Creations made its California debut right here in the South Bay.

Salad Creations
2259 East Maple Ave
310-640-SALAD
http://www.saladcreations.net

[rating:4/5]

Also featured as “First to Review” on Yelp.