You know the one.
By Annie Campbell Updated October 01, 2020
The Kardashian empire has given us everything from beauty lines, top-notch memes, and endless hours of guilty-pleasure reality TV. But as the show comes to an end after 20 seasons, it seems their impact on the food world is summed up in a single dish (or plastic bowl rather): the Kardashian Salad.
If you’ve seen a single episode of KUWTK, it is very likely you’ve seen the sisters shaking the life out of their giant salad bowls, or munching on lettuce through deep conversations about vacations to Maui or the latest family wedding. Fans have seen this staple meal for years, and finally we have an answer to the question, What the heck is in that salad??
The Kardashians’ go-to bowl comes from a local health food restaurant called Health Nut, which the Kardashians have been frequenting for years. Surprisingly, this is a pretty casual neighborhood spot, selling their signatures salads and wraps for just over $10.
The most common order from the Kardashian crew is the Chinese Chicken Salad. The salad is made up of chopped romaine lettuce, shredded chicken breast, shredded carrots, pickled ginger, chow mein noodles, and a creamy sesame dressing. If you don’t trust any old dressing you find in stores to mimic the same Kardashian salad flavor, you can actually order the exact dressing (called The Sesame) from the Health Nut website. To assemble, all you have to do is combine all of the above ingredients in the bowl or container of your choosing, and get to munching.
By the way, I have to give them credit—their signature salad shake probably is the best method for achieving ideal dressing coverage.
To complete the order, the sisters often add a Mango Iced Greentini, which is a refreshing combo of green tea, mango, and honey powder. It also happens to be the restaurant's most popular drink.
So, what did I think? The first time I tried making my own version of the salad at home, I thought, “Huh, pretty tasty. Probably not good enough to eat again, but good flavor and texture.” However, as the week went on, and I found all the ingredients left in my fridge, I began to make it again and again and again. Before I knew it, I had eaten this salad 4 NIGHTS IN A ROW. And you should know, I am the furthest thing from a salad person.
The Chinese Chicken Salad worked its magic powers over me, and somehow I ate this salad on repeat without ever getting bored or fatigued. The shredded chicken had enough protein to keep me full, while the crunch of the chow mein noodles offered enough texture to feel satisfying. Even without the exact dressing (I used this creamy sesame from Whole Foods), I was hooked. All that to say, I finally understand how the Kardashians can eat the same salad for almost the entirety of a 20-season TV show.
Now please excuse me while I go buy more lettuce and rotisserie chicken to make dinner tonight.
