A local takeout restaurant has landed a spot on Yelp’s top restaurants in the country.
The Good Salad, 371 Laurelwood Road in Santa Clara, is No. 8 on Yelp’s annual list of the 100 best restaurants in the county.
Offering pickup and delivery, The Good Salad features six signature salads, including its popular Blazing Chicken. Made with Halal chicken breast, Yelp reviewers say it is “to die for.” But with more than 40 mix-ins, customers can customize any bowl or build a salad from scratch.
Every ingredient, from the proteins to the dressings, are made in-house.
“I wanted to try out this back-of-house model, so we could put out higher value options,” said owner Sanad Al Souz. “We wanted a menu that had a variety of ingredients that covers all the dietary restrictions and covers all areas of the world, culinarily.”
Prior to being a restaurateur, Al Souz worked in the tech industry. While on the big corporate campus where he worked, he noticed the cafeteria’s salad bar always had a long line. That experience planted the seed that there might be demand for just the kind of restaurant The Good Salad would eventually grow into.
Now in its fourth year, The Good Salad grew out of the pandemic, which left people wanting no-contact dining options.
Although he has since opened three other locations — in Palo Alto, Los Altos and Campbell — Al Souz said finding the Santa Clara location was a bit lucky.
“Usually, industrial areas are just warehouses, and this location had a kitchen, so that was odd, but it worked out,” he said.
Since Al Souz didn’t have a culinary background, he hired a chef to help him realize his vision for the menu.
In addition to takeout, the restaurant also offers catering.
Since opening his other locations, Al Souz said he spends most of his time ensuring consistency and dealing with balancing how to ensure customers get fresh ingredients without creating exorbitant food waste.
As a result, he said he actually hasn’t spent much time at the Santa Clara location in the past year.
“For that location to reach that level speaks to the team there,” he said.
The Good Salad is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information or to place an order, visit thegoodsalad.com.
Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com
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